Skirts whispered over the stone pathway behind him. Mouse separated himself from Spar, putting the proper distance between a princess and an unmarried man. Moments later, Eleda appeared around the corner, brows slightly knitted.

At the sight of Mouse, she hesitated. “Were you… also called upon?”

Mouse blinked. “No, I—I was just passing by.”

Eleda cast a questioning look at Spar, who smiled and gave a playful bow. She nodded back politely. Turning to Mouse, she leaned in closer. “Do you know what this is about?”

“No idea,” Mouse lied. You'll find out on your own soon enough.

Eleda nodded. She hugged herself nervously, glancing at the dusty door. Muslin layers in a dusty green swirled around her, carried on the light breeze. “It’s so nerve-wracking, getting called one by one. I wish the other princesses would share what happened.”

How could they? Who wants to admit… the obvious? Still, he nodded, keeping up the charade. “Ah, I wish so as well.”

Eleda hesitated one more second and cast a quick glance at the door. She sucked in a breath and bobbed her head at Mouse. “I should go.”

Mouse nodded. “Good luck.”

“Right. Well.” Eleda adjusted her flowy skirts and closed her eyes, visibly composing herself.

The door opened. Felix rushed out in trousers and a loose nightshirt. “Clarita, I…”

His voice faded. He glanced left and right, taking in Mouse, behind the door, and Eleda, in front of him. “Oh, hello.”

“Are you looking for the beastfolk princess? She ran off that way,” Mouse offered helpfully, happy to redirect the misery.

“It’s fine. I’ll find her later.”

“Your Majesty. I was about to head up.” Eleda greeted him with a curtsey.

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Felix nodded. He glanced at Mouse and smiled. “Why don’t we all go up together?”

“T-together?” Mouse choked.

Taken aback, Eleda blinked. “Both of us? At the same time?”

“Why not? You’re both elves, after all.”

“There are many differences between the sun and the moon elf,” Mouse started.

“All the better. If both of you are there, it'll be easier to compare your techniques.”

A faint blush colored Eleda's cheeks, and she glanced at Mouse. Despite the blush, there was an appraising note in her glance, as if she was really considering it. “Are you sure, Your Majesty?”

“Will you have the stamina?” Mouse blurted, resisting the urge to cover himself with his arms before Eleda's gaze.

Spar chuckled.

“Actually, I find it invigorating, believe it or not. I know some disagree, but I’ve always felt it’s quite, er, restorative.”

Mouse gulped. “Is that so.”

Felix laughed, looking down at himself. “Indeed. I forget everything else, the time, my clothes… ah, what are you waiting for? Come in, come in.”

Before Mouse could excuse himself, Felix grasped his hand. He led Mouse and Eleda away, into the building.

Despairing, Mouse stared back at Spar. As the door shut, Spar shot him a salute, a knowing smile on his lips.

Mouse flipped Spar the bird.

There was no time for anything else. The door slammed shut, leaving Mouse, Eleda, and Felix alone in the Mage-Emperor’s quarters.

Before he knew it, Mouse was swept into a sumptuous bedroom. Sheets laid disturbed on the bed, spilling off a thick mattress. Candles guttered low in their stands. The wood floor was laid with thick rugs. Books piled high atop a desk and spilled down the side, some opened, others dog-eared and worn, spines broken.

A pang of homesickness hit Mouse’s heart. It looks like Moss’s desk. All the books, the papers, the arcane symbols… it was almost entirely the same.

Except that I've never been this concerned in my sister's bedroom.

Right. Better speak now, before I get discovered the hard way. He glanced at Eleda, then shook his head at himself. There's no time. I'll just have to say it in front of her

Mouse swallowed. “Felix… I have something important to tell you.”

Distractedly, Felix yanked off his shirt. “Yeah? Er, yes?”

Mouse backed away. “Um… I’m not… uh, you might think…”

“Ah, there’s the good shirt.” Felix yanked a fresh shirt on and nodded to the pair of them. “Sorry about that. Shall we proceed to the study?”

“I’m actually… wait, the study?” Mouse asked.

“So we can discuss your magic, like I’ve been doing with all the princesses. Didn’t they tell you?” Felix asked, glancing from Mouse to Eleda.

Mouse and Eleda shared a look.

Felix frowned. “What did you think I was doing?”

Eleda cleared her throat. Mouse glanced aside.

“Magic practice, that’s all, just magic practice. Clarita showed me her transformation, but she rushed out before I could ask her to fully transform… ah, well.” Felix sighed regretfully.