Sunlight. Mouse stopped. Why was I running? What was I running from? He turned and looked at the palace. It looked normal, not fleshy. He shuddered and wiped himself down, then shook his head. No, no, no, I’m not crazy. I can’t act crazy.

The visit to Xenozar flashed through his head. Waking you. He scrubbed his forehead. What does that mean? What does any of this mean? The demoness princess, too, told me to sleep, to dream. Is this some kind of conspiracy? Wait, does this mean Xenozar and the demoness are colluding?

His brows furrowed at that. No, that makes absolutely no sense. I’m not even sure she knows about him, and if she does, why collude with a man who’s been locked up for decades, without an ounce of ability or skill, who mostly seems borderline insane? This… there’s more to the picture. I have the pieces, but I don’t know how to frame them yet. I need more.

He glanced back at the palace, then toward his rooms. I should probably get back. Dayander will be there soon, and if I’m going to make the case to be set loose, I’ve got to look responsible.

Taking off at a jog, he swept his long legs over the low grasses outside the palace, enjoying the softness of cut grass against his bare feet. At the pillar, he paused, then grit his teeth. Even if I’ve been cooped up in bed, I should still be able to climb something that high! It’s barely taller than I am!

He set his hands to the pillar, wrapped his legs around it, and reached up, then pulled with all his might.

His hands slipped. One skidded over the vine wrapped around the pillar. Sharp pain bit his palm.

“Ow!” Mouse lifted his hand. A thorn jabbed into his palm.

He glanced at the plant. Flat leaves, shiny texture, hairy vine. Poison redsap? Oh, well, it isn’t that poisonous. Mentally shrugging, he drew the thorn out and climbed on.

Cresting the balcony, he laid there for a moment, limbs draped over the railing. Damn. I am so out of shape. Huffing in a breath, Mouse stood and climbed over the railing. Casting a glance to either side, he hurried to the balcony door and slipped inside, closing the doors carefully behind him. Without the latch, they wanted to sag open, but after a few jiggles, he got them to sit. Hands out, he backed away from the doors. Stay… stay…

Dayander cleared his throat behind him.

Mouse whirled, hiding his hands behind his back. “Oh, Dayander! What a coincidence, I was… just…”

Not only Dayander, but Felix, Cel, and Sabelyn stood in the doorway, all crowded in. Sabelyn flashed a vicious grin, only to immediately hide it when Felix glanced her direction. She raised her hand.

“A gray-skinned woman, biting the court nobility and servants? And you said she was locked up! Look, we’ve caught her red-handed! Blood on her dress!”

Mouse glanced down. His palm dripped blood on his nightdress, the wound not yet closed. Dammit, I forgot poison redsap can also serve as a blood thinner. “No, this is…”

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Dayander rushed over and put his hands on Mouse’s shoulders. Exerting force his wrinkled, aged frame seemed incapable of, guided Mouse back to the bed. “You aren’t well, Your Highness. Please, you have to rest! None of this galivanting around.”

Behind Dayander, Cel stared at the floor, a contrite expression on her face. Feeling Mouse’s eyes on her, she frowned at him, annoyed. Mouse grin-grimaced at her, apologetic. I couldn’t stay locked up all day!

“She’s the one! She must be. How many other gray-skinned women in nightdresses are there wandering the castle?” Sabelyn insisted.

Mouse frowned. An image flashed through his head—a haughty undead in a pseudo-military uniform, laughing. “There can only be one pale beauty around here.” He licked his lips and glanced at Dayander. There’s at least one other gray-skinned woman…

Golden-brown curls filled his vision. Felix looked up at him, his eyes liquid gold. “Mouse, please. It wasn’t you, was it?”

“No… no, of course not. Why would I bite people? This blood…” Mouse said. He shifted his hand out to show Felix the wound.

Sabelyn shook her head. “She’s insane. You can’t trust what she says. She might not even know she’s done it. No, she escaped her bounds, and that’s proof enough. Lock her up again, it’s the only way to be safe!”

“For your own safety, Mouse,” Dayander insisted.

Felix’s hand wrapped around Mouse’s. His eyes dipped to the wound. A pulse of healing magic passed from his hand to Mouse. Warmth washed away the pain. The wound knitted shut.

“Thank you,” Mouse said.

Dayander leaned in, nervous. “Your Majesty, please, have mercy. Mouse isn’t s—”

“Have mercy?” Sabelyn laughed. “If he had any more mercy—”

The world fell silent around them. Mouse glanced around, and to his surprise, found Sabelyn, Dayander, and Cel all frozen.

“I trust you, Mouse, but things have changed. The palace is a dangerous place now, ever since the Arena. Are you stable? Can you navigate the palace, and all its intricacies?” Felix asked, serious.

He’s not a farm boy anymore, Mouse realized, gazing down at the man before him. Felix had begun to bloom. Before long, he’ll be a formidable force.

“Mouse,” Felix prompted.

Mouse smiled at him, flicking his hair over his shoulder. “Your Majesty. I will stand by your decision regarding me, whichever direction you choose. However, I believe I can stand by you effectively enough to not hold you back. And… Your Majesty might find insanity proves a powerful excuse when one needs it.

“But I promise, if you ever judge that I would be more useful to you bound in my bed, then to my bed I will return.”

“Then… I’ll hold you to that.” Felix paused. He gazed into Mouse’s eyes, almost struck. His hands tightened around Mouse, so tight it became painful. He leaned in.

“Your Majesty?” Mouse prompted. Why hasn’t the world gone back to normal?

“Ah! Oh, right. Yes.” Felix released Mouse’s hands and stepped back. He closed his eyes for a second, then snapped his fingers.

“—ane. She should be treated gently, not suspected for every last thing.”

“—she’d be Imperial Consort already. Let’s not be ludicrous.”

Eyes flashing, Felix glared at Mouse. “Did you bite those women?”

“Never. Naturally not. I would never.” His acting skill has improved, as well. What happened while I was unconscious?

“I will give you a week—one week!—to discover the true culprit, or you will be charged with high crimes. Do you understand?”

Mouse curtseyed. “This servant thanks Your Majesty for such grace.”

“Your Majesty!” Dayander protested.

Felix whirled on him. “Do you defy the Mage-Emperor? Defying the Mage-Emperor is the same as defying the Barrier Pact itself!”

“I… of course not, naturally not.” Dayander shrunk back.

Sabelyn froze, mid complaint. She flicked her eyes from Felix to Mouse, and they narrowed.

Mouse stared at the floor, suitably apologetic and determined.

“I expect results.” Felix whirled. The cape draped from his shoulders swooped after him, and he retreated.

Sabelyn hesitated a moment longer. As she left, she hissed, “You won’t have His Majesty’s favor for much longer.”

Mouse stared at the floor and refused to react.