"Every year," she replied, kneeling to Evelisse’s height. "But this ti, I think you should make one for when it’s ti."
"I will!" Evelisse promised. "A really good one!"
With a satisfied hum, the Duchess drifted away, allowing the royal family to explore.
The town square transford as night deepened. Lanterns glowed brighter. Perforrs flooded the stage. Butterflies made of light danced in the sky.
Vendors shouted cheerfully.
"A bowl of Starfall Noodles—twirl it, it twinkles!"
"Try dream-mango ice! May cause mild levitation!"
Evelisse tried both.
And promptly floated a few inches off the ground.
"Help," she giggled, drifting into Lucien, who caught her easily.
"I told you not to eat anything that glows more than you," he muttered.
"You didn’t *forbid* it," she countered, wiggling midair.
"Semantics."
Jared walked by casually, sipping tea. "Should we tie a string to her?"
"You’ll have to catch first!" she sang.
But eventually, the effects wore off and Evelisse landed back beside Marcus, who was handing out leaf crowns made from sothing that slled like rain and cinnamon.
"For luck," he said, placing one on her head.
"Will I win sothing?"
"Maybe. Or maybe you’ll avoid sothing worse."
"You talk like a wizard," she whispered.
"I read a lot," he replied, smiling.
Finally, the sky dimd further. The town bells rang softly, signaling the start of the LanternWish Race.
Wooden tables appeared by magic in the central plaza, each covered with paper lanterns—round, oval, long, and shaped like animals.
"Everyone gets one," Felix whispered, handing Evelisse a pink moon-shaped one. "Paint your wish. Whisper it. Then let it go."
She dipped her brush in the paints and drew a crown, then a fox with tiny wings, then stars above a house that looked like ho.
Jared leaned over her shoulder. "That crown looks suspiciously like yours."
"It’s symbolic!" she said proudly.
Lucien offered a faint smile. "Symbolism’s dangerous in royal hands."
Seraphina stepped beside them, brushing Evelisse’s hair gently. "When you make your wish, speak it from your heart. Even if it’s small."
Evelisse nodded.
She leaned down.
Held her lantern close.
And whispered, "Please let this peace last forever."
With trembling fingers, she released it.
Lanterns of every shape rose slowly, drifting on magical wind currents into the sky.
The crowd murmured.
So beautiful.
So serene.
But then—
Evelisse’s lantern paused.
Glowed brighter than the others.
Then—
BOOM.
A soft explosion of silver sparks burst from the lantern.
And the smoke curled into the unmistakable shape of a crown.
Gasps rippled across the plaza.
Jared dropped his drink.
"That... doesn’t usually happen, right?"
"Nope," Felix said, eyes wide.
"That’s new," Marcus added.
Lucien stepped forward, scanning the horizon.
Seraphina’s eyes narrowed.
Even Aldric stopped mid-sentence from where he was speaking with nobles.
Evelisse stared at the sky.
’That was my wish.’
But why did it look like a sign?
A symbol of sothing... more?
From the shadows near the garden wall, sothing stirred.
A glint.
A figure.
Cloaked.
Watching.
Fluffy’s voice dropped low. "We’re being observed."
Before Evelisse could turn, the figure vanished behind a hedge.
She felt it again.
That prickling sensation.
That... humming.
Not in her ears.
But in her bones.
’What does it an?’
The feeling didn’t leave Evelisse, even as the Festival of Stars entered its second day. The magic in the air crackled with too much cheer to ignore, but sothing under it itched—like a song being played slightly off-key.
And now she stood, small hands curled around a polished moonstone baton, face-to-face with ten other noble children in the festival square. Their breaths puffed like clouds in the early morning chill, nerves buzzing as the announcer prepared to blow the start whistle.
"Children of noble blood and spirited hearts!" the trumpeting announcer bellowed. "Welco to the Starling Gas! Agility, charm, wit, and grace shall be tested!"
Evelisse blinked up at her mother.
Seraphina nodded encouragingly from the sidelines, veil tucked back in a crescent-moon circlet. Her father stood nearby with crossed arms and a proud smile. Even her brothers leaned on a nearby railing with a mixture of mock-bets and wide-eyed interest.
"Well," Jared muttered, passing out imaginary coins, "two gold says Evelisse survives the first round without tripping."
"Three that she wins the whole thing by mistake," Marcus said, sipping enchanted lemon tea.
"I accept," Lucien muttered, watching her with his brow pinched.
Evelisse gulped.
The whistle blew.
And the first round began.
TheRibbon Dash.
Children raced down a field of enchanted floating ribbons that darted and weaved in the air like playful fish, ant to be caught mid-leap.
One boy lunged and fell flat. A girl squealed as her hair got tangled.
Evelisse?
She walked forward, hands open.
And every ribbon ca straight to her.
One by one, they coiled gently into her arms like they knew her.
The crowd gasped.
A system window blood softly in her vision:
[Trait Detected: Aura of Ease – animals, enchanted objects, and non-hostile spells are instinctively drawn to you.]
[Temporary Trait Upgrade Activated: Competitive Spirit! (Passive bonus: 30% instinctive finesse during gas)]
Her eyes widened. ’I... what? I didn’t even—’
The crowd cheered.
Even the Duchess clapped in surprise.
Jared whispered, "She’s cheating with adorableness. This isn’t fair."
Marcus blinked. "That’s not how physics works. Or ga logic."
Evelisse returned with all the ribbons draped over her like a walking cloud. "Was... that okay?"
The announcer stared. Then cleared his throat.
"Princess Evelisse wins Round One!"
And so it continued.
Round Two: Star Toss.
A coordination challenge where enchanted stars had to be thrown into spinning rings.
The rings moved faster when nervous. Children panicked.
Evelisse?
She told her star gently, "You’re very lovely. But please do your best, okay?"
Then lobbed it.
Direct hit.
Three tis.
Perfect center.
Round Three: Puzzle of Whimsy.
A puzzle board covered in laughing tiles, each cackling if you placed them in the wrong slot. Children scread and giggled and groaned.
Evelisse tilted her head. "You’re all laughing because you don’t like being touched wrong, hmm?"
She humd a lullaby, then placed each tile where it humd back.
Solved in a minute.
The announcer didn’t even try to hide his awe anymore.
"Our young Princess has completed Round Three with... intuition?!"
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