The velvet dais curtains hadn’t even stopped swaying before Queen Seraphina’s posture shifted. From regal and composed to... flustered?
Lady Irelia leaned closer, whispering again, but this ti Evelisse was too far to catch the words. Whatever was said, it made Seraphina stiffen briefly—then blush. A faint pink rose to her cheeks, so subtle it might’ve gone unnoticed if Evelisse hadn’t been watching her so intently.
The Queen’s eyes darted across the crowd as if checking for eavesdroppers. Then she cleared her throat, turned to her guests, and said in a tone just a touch too high, "My deepest apologies, dear guests. It seems the King has returned. I must greet my husband."
She offered a quick curtsy—not the slow, graceful kind expected from a queen, but the hurried type of soone trying not to look like they were rushing off for a date.
The crowd murmured politely. Seraphina lifted her skirts slightly and walked—no, practically glided—toward the palace steps, her expression caught sowhere between noble restraint and barely-contained giddiness.
Evelisse blinked. ’Wait. Did Mother just... blush?’
"Confird," Fluffy whispered beside her with the enthusiasm of a gossip columnist. "That’s a blush. Royal grade."
Evelisse raised a brow. ’Didn’t she do this exact dramatic excuse thing with earlier yesterday?’
"Yup. ’Urgent private matter known only to the Queen,’ rember? Now known to the King. Is dramatic solo ti their love language?"
She barely suppressed a snort. ’Do they always handle family reunions like covert solo missions?’
"One-on-one emotional ambushes might be their thing," Fluffy mused, twirling in the air. "Romantic. Mysterious. Elegant-o."
The thought sat strangely in Evelisse’s chest. Sothing warm. Sothing... longing? She pushed it down.
She had spent weeks without her mother, a re day of bonding wouldn’t make her needy or clingy, would it?
Instead, she stood and glanced around, spotting her brothers all huddled near the snack tables.
Jared was trying to balance three tarts on his sleeve.
Callum was sketching the dessert table like it was a still-life masterpiece.
The twins, Leo and Lance, were having a debate over whether candied grapes counted as fruit or dessert.
And Felix... Felix was plopped on a cushion, petting a fluffy pillow that he possibly imagined as Snugglewuff’s ear dreamily.
Evelisse strolled toward them and tugged gently on Felix’s sleeve.
He perked up imdiately. "Yes, Princess Muffincake?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Don’t call that in public, brother Felix."
"But it’s your nickna on our sibling code scroll!" he whispered dramatically.
She raised Snugglewuff slightly. "Can you hold him for a bit?"
Felix gasped. "?!"
Evelisse nodded.
He tossed his pillow with a thack.
He gasped so hard, Fluffy wheezed from the sudden intake. Felix clutched the pup as if she’d just handed him the crown jewels. "I—You’re entrusting with the royal fluff himself?!"
"He trusts you." Evelisse smiled sweetly.
"Brother Lucien! Leo! Lance! Did you hear that?! SHE PICKED !"
Lucien didn’t look up from inspecting a grape tart. "Congratulations."
Leo scowled. "No fair. I was going to charm the puppy with my juggling trick."
Lance crossed his arms. "He likes the sparkle I added to his collar."
Felix held Snugglewuff aloft like a sacred relic. "I am honored. I am chosen. The puppy loves most."
Snugglewuff sneezed sparkles all over his tunic.
Felix swooned, clearly basking. "Hehe! He chose ."
Evelisse resisted the urge to roll her eyes fondly. ’They’ve absolutely lost it over this puppy.’
"Beautiful chaos," Fluffy whispered dreamily. "I live for this."
Clearing her throat, Evelisse interrupted the brewing war. "Uhhh—where’s brother Marcus?"
Jared looked up from his tart pyramid. "Went to rest. Said the tiline’s been... taxing."
"Huh?!"
"His words, not ours," Callum added quietly.
"You need him for sothing?" Leo asked.
Evelisse shook her head. "No, no. Just wondering."
Lance nudged Leo and whispered, "She misses her part-ti florist, bro."
"I heard that!" Evelisse snapped, cheeks puffing.
They all laughed, but she waved it off. "Anyway, I forgot sothing in my room. I’ll be back in, like, an hour. Don’t miss too much."
Lucien’s brow twitched. "Alone?"
"Yes?"
"No." He gestured subtly.
Lucien gestured to two guards in dark blue armor. "Do not let her out of your sight. The Queen is occupied. We represent the royal presence."
They bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."
"Oh co on," Evelisse groaned. "I’m not a baby."
"You’re a princess," Lucien replied evenly. "And you’ve attracted enough magical attention for one ceremony, we won’t be so reckless to leave you unattended for that long. They’ll follow at a distance. Think of it like... you’re leading a parade."
Fluffy snorted. "A duck parade."
Evelisse placed both hands on her hips. "I can walk to my room. I’m not planning on overthrowing the kingdom."
Lucien’s lips twitched, but he remained stern. "One hour."
Felix, cradling Snugglewuff like a sacred relic, waved with his free hand. "Be safe, Evy!"
"Bring us back sothing sweet!" Jared called.
"Get brother Marcus if he’s sleep-talking again," Leo added. "He says the weirdest stuff."
"I heard him mutter sothing about mushrooms in the royal bath," Lance said with mock horror.
"Stop adding to the conspiracy," Evelisse groaned.
Lucien raised a single eyebrow. "One hour."
"Yeah, yeah. Duck parade. Got it."
The guards bowed and fell in step a few paces behind her.
As Evelisse turned the corner out of the garden, she let out a low sigh. The palace corridors ahead were quiet, sunlight filtering through the arched windows. Her slippers padded softly across the mosaic tiles.
Once she passed the hedge wall, her expression shifted.
From obedient princess—
—to sly fox.
Fluffy zipped ahead. "You’re planning sothing, aren’t you?"
She gave a mischievous smirk. ’What gave it away? The theatrical pout? The overly sweet tone?’
"You’re not actually going to your room, are you?"
’Oh, I am going to a room at least,’ she said, voice honeyed in her mind. ’Just... not mine.’
Fluffy narrowed his eyes. "Please don’t tell you’re about to sneak into another restricted zone, especially uninvited."
’I’m just going to... snoop. Strategically. Mother won’t mind paying them a visit.’
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