Clarita stood, almost knocking her chair over in her haste. “Excuse me.”

Mouse caught her hand. “Please, Clarita. Hear her out. Brittany’s promised to be civil.”

“Have I?” Brittany asked, smirking.

Mouse shot her a look.

Brittany waved him down. “Joking, just joking.”

“What do you want?” Clarita asked, tense. She stood, body rigid, hands propped on the table.

“A chance. Just a chance, Clarita,” Brittany pleaded. She reached for Clarita’s hands.

Clarita drew her hands back, out of Brittany’s reach.

Brittany paused. Hurt flickered across her face. Her hands closed, empty.

Across from her, Clarita flinched. She half reached out, then turned away. Whispering, she said, “You know…”

“I know, Clarita. I know. Is it so wrong to fall in love again?”

She shook her head and stood. “Mouse, a moment?”

Brittany stood as well, but Mouse motioned for her to sit. “Wait here. We’ll be back.”

Clarita retreated through the apple orchard. Her ears laid back on her head and her tail hung low, displeased. She cut a look at Mouse from the corner of her eyes. Mouse smiled back, pretending he didn’t notice her glare.

Across the garden, under a particularly laden tree, Clarita drew to a halt. From where they stood, Brittany barely remained visible. Clarita glanced back at her, and she tossed a cheery salute, boots propped on the tea table.

“How much do you know about undead?” Clarita asked. She drew out a handkerchief and fiddled with it, drawing it through her fingers and over her hand.

“I… a bit,” Mouse said.

“When an undead awakens, they don’t always have all their memories. Brittany… she remembered nothing. I was the first thing she saw. It’s not love, it’s imprinting. Like a baby bird,” Clarita said.

“Is that why you refuse her so vehemently?” Mouse asked, prodding a bit. It can’t only be that. Brittany wouldn’t chase her so devotedly, and she wouldn’t make that face when she turns Brittany down, either.

Clarita hesitated. She worried at the handkerchief. The edges began to come apart in her hands, threads fraying in her claws.

“Clarita, please. I can’t help if I don’t understand.”

Clarita drew a breath. She looked over her shoulder at Brittany. Lazing in her chair, Brittany plucked at the epaulets of her pseudo-military outfit, bored.

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“We were in love,” she said at last, quietly.

Mouse glanced at her. Drawn, Clarita stood still, her fur gray, dark, and cream against the trees, almost a shadow where the leaves dappled her. “Brittany… the Brittany she was, the human Brittany, and I. We were in love.”

“Before…?” Mouse asked gently.

She nodded. Clarita looked at Brittany again. “I barely had time to mourn before… the vampire returned. She isn’t the same woman I was in love with. She doesn’t remember anything, any of our memories, any of…” Clarita sniffled.

Mouse put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

Tears in her eyes, Clarita looked up into his. “I want to honor her memory. The memory of us. Not… fall in love with someone brand new, who looks like her, who thinks she’s the same… but she isn’t. She isn’t my Brittany, and she’ll never be, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it, no matter what I, or she, or anyone else wants.”

“Would the old Brittany want you to suffer like this? Wouldn’t she want you to fall in love again?” Mouse prompted.

Clarita raised her hand. “Please. These wounds are too fresh. She only died last year.”

“And she’s a princess for the undead, just like that?” Mouse asked, startled. A moment later, he caught himself and clasped his hands over his mouth. “Ah--forgive me, I didn’t mean to…”

Clarita shook her head. “It’s quite fine, anyone would be surprised. Brittany was turned by undead royalty in a moment of madness. As the youngest, lowest ranked princesses of our respective nations, it’s natural that we’d meet here. I thought I was ready to meet her, but…” she glanced at Brittany again.

Brittany caught her eye and beamed, then gave her a wink.

Clarita looked away, eyes on the floor. “Not like this.”

“I had no idea,” Mouse said. “I…”

Sucking in a breath, Clarita managed a smile. “It’s alright. You had no way of knowing. And the biting incidents, right? It’s only natural you’d try to solve them peaceably. But… I’m afraid I can’t help you. We’ll have to explain things to His Majesty, and then…”

“I wish it was that easy. Sabelyn is on the warpath for me, Clarita. She’ll take any excuse to kick me out, and the biting incident is her latest ploy,” Mouse explained.

Troubled, Clarita met his eyes. “No one can talk sense into Brittany, and Sabelyn... What are you going to do?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. Not force you to do something you don’t want, obviously, but we’ve got to stop her. Any ideas?”

She bit her lip and glanced in Brittany’s direction. “What if we make her fall out of love with me?”

Musing, Mouse put his hand on his chin. Brittany is doing this to catch Clarita’s attention. If she doesn’t care about Clarita anymore… “It’s worth a shot. Shall we?” Mouse offered his hand.

Clarita took it. “I’ll help you fight Sabelyn and stay in the castle, and you’ll get Brittany to stop harassing me.”

“Deal.” They shook.

--

Mouse returned to the tea table, Clarita trailing close behind. Brittany lounged in her chair and nodded as they arrived, feet still kicked on the table.

He gave Brittany a smile. “I’m afraid Clarita has to retire.”

“What?” Brittany asked, sitting up.

Clarita lifted a hand. “The heat. It exhausts me so.”

Brittany gave Clarita a suspicious look. “What about us? Have you given it a thought?”

Clarita pressed a hand to her forehead. “Ah, the heat, I have such a pounding headache. Mari, please.”

The foxfolk attendant appeared and offered Clarita an arm.

Brittany stood. “I can guide you back. I’m nice and cool, too, since I’m dead and all.”

“No, there’s no need. You and Mouse enjoy the tea. I’ll see you later.” Waving, Clarita walked away, leaning heavily on Mari.