Friedrich

  A servant gave three letters to him that had just arrived. A letter from the Baron to him, a letter from Julia to Agathe, and oo Peter. Julia rarely wrote to aher thaer. Friedrich grinned. When she wrote to her mother, it robably about something important.

  Was he disappoihat she didn't write a letter to him? Sure. But Julia had a mind of her own and he suspected that she resented her parents for sendio the academy. Did he miss his daughter? Sure. But it was for her own good and he hoped she would eventually realize it.

  He opehe Baron's letter before bringing the other two letters to their owners. The baron asked for a neoio visit their children's new home. Friedrich decided to answer him quickly.

  He met Peter in one of the long corridors. He was deep in thought. "Peter?" He stopped his son, who did not seem to have noticed him. What was he thinking about? Peter looked at him in surprise. "Here's a letter for you. From Julia." He held out the letter to him.

  "Oh." Peter smiled and took the letter. "Thank you."

  "Babette's father asks when we want to see the rest of your new home. I thought of this weekend."

  Peter grimaced. "Oh."

  "For that, wear something..." Friedrich looked at his son's colorful, eye-catg clothing. "Something more inspicuous, please. You don't want to annoy Babette unnecessarily? An appropriate appearance is very important to her." Although the young woman's choice of clothing was sometimes slightly bizarre, he did not want to judge the taste of his future daughter-in-w. heless, it was important to Friedrich that his son looked appropriate to his new role.

  "I'll look great, don't worry," Peter replied with a mischievous grin. Then he walked away with his letter.

  Friedrich shook his head. He did not uand his son. It seemed to him that only Julia uood him.

  , he made his way to his wife's office, who was still upset. And all because of a former servant and her son.

  Why couldn't they just keep quiet?

  It had been a brief affair. Nothing of importance. He had fun, nothing more. And he had paid her money so that she would remain silent. So that no one khat the child was his.

  Finn

  When he woke up, Marko was still asleep at his bedside. Carefully, he climbed over him and took the adventure novel from his bedside table. With the novel, he went into the living room to read. Sophie sat there knitting a sweater. She hummed a soft melody. Julia sat on the sofa and read another book she had bought. Wheiced Finn, she smiled. "How are you?", she asked him.

  "Better. And you?"

  "Good. I'm gd I skip csses tomorrow." She wi him.

  Sophie ughed. "I'll cook something for dinner," she said, putting aside the sweater she had started and going into the kit where Finn had seen Leopold.

  Finn sat dowo the princess. "Leopold said you two kissed?"

  The princess looked at him slightly startled and blushed. "Did he?"

  "Yes. How do you feel about that? It's not an easy situation, is it?"

  The princess sighed. "I don't know. And yes, it's not easy. But it doesn't feel wrong... Even if it is."

  "Have you talked to him about it?"

  Julia shook her head. "Holy, I avoided him."

  Finn ughed. "You 't avoid him forever. At some point, you'll have to talk to him about it."

  "You're right... I talk to him after dinner. I promise. Thank you, Finn. You're a sweetheart, do you know that?"

  "My grandma always said that to me..." Finn missed his family. "It will probably be true then. Right?"

  "Definitely. Do you like the novel?", the princess ged the subject. She poio the book that y on his p.

  "Yes, very much. I don't want to put it down."

  "I'm happy about that."

  Agathe

  Agathe held her you daughter's letter in her hand and smiled.

  Her daughter wrote that she didn't expect very good grades. She didn’t smile because of that. No. She smiled at her daughter's st written words. The news was great, and for now, she didn't care about her daughter's grades. She had three very intelligent children who had left the academy with top marks. Maybe Julia just needed more time... And all three forms of magic had shown themselves in her. Power. Her you child would be powerful.

  Agathe had seen it ing. Many years ago she had see magid finally the time had e. She had never been quite sure if Julia brought the magic or if it would appear differently. Visions were often far too imprecise... There was a high probability that Julia herself was this witch, and Agathe was certain that this was the case, but it could have been someone around her. She hoped for a powerful witch, and she got one. Four children were witches and wizards, and one of them articurly powerful. Aer would marry soon. She hoped for witches and wizards as grandchildren. If there's ohing Agathe wanted, it ower. And a strong family ower.

  Strong leaders of the try and herself as a powerful queen.

  What would Julia achieve for her?

  She had thought of letting her help Lea, but now she had another idea... There was only one small catch. Julia was a little clumsy. But as a particurly powerful witch, she didn't o wield a sword... Maybe her daughter's pce was o Cleo’s? In the military?

  But first, she had to avert a greater camity.

  Her husband's illegitimate son.

  She would see him at dinner and then she would decide if he was useful to her or if he had to disappear.

  But ohing was certain for her: that servant had to disappear.

  Agathe took a pen and paper and wrote to Cleo.

  She didn't like it when someoood in her way. She didn't like it when there was a sdal arouhis sdal made her appear weak and she detested weakness. The queen was not weak. She owerful! She was the try!

  But the try was also weakening. The sudden o of illness worried her. If the people were sick, then the queen was weak. She trusted that Fritz would get the situation under trol. A disease that could cost witches and wizards their lives was a major threat.

  Julia

  After dinner, she and Leopold stayed in the dining room while Marko, Finn, and Sophie did the dishes.

  "You wao talk to me?" the elf asked. "Yes. It's important..." How could she talk to him about their kiss? Were they together now, or should they pretend that nothing happened?

  "It's about the kiss?" Leopold smiled knowingly. "I liked it very much. How about you?"

  Julia nodded. "Me too, yes. But... You are my servant. I shouldn't have kissed you."

  "And I shouldn't have kissed you." He wi her. "So what do we want to do?"

  "I don't know..."

  "Princess? I really like you..." Leopold seemed uain. Julia felt the same way. She looked at him silently. He was her servant. She rincess...

  "Marko said we should just try it." Leopold ughed. "As if it were so easy..."

  "I think Fin simirly... So..."

  "Do we want to try? Princess? Even if it has to remain a secret?"

  She nodded. "Is it a secret if Marko and Finn know? I think Sophie knows too... So..." She made a decision. "My name is Julia, not Princess."

  He took her hand. "Julia." His smile widened. "I'd rather be called Leo."

  ?Leo.“

  He moved the chair closer to her. His face was very close to hers. "May I?", he asked.

  She nodded, she was not capable of more. Her heartbeat was rag.

  He kissed her.

  "Oh, dear!" Sophie was standing in the dining room. The two moved startled away from each other. As quickly as possible. Both blushed.

  "Sophie!" Julia looked at the old servant in shock. "Um..."

  "Young love." Sophie smiled. "To be as young as you two again! That would be nice." She wi them. "Don't worry, I be silent. The princess and her servant. This is so romantic! Just like in a novel!" She put her hand on her heart. "So toug." Then she looked sternly at Leopold. "Now, young man. Please stay away from the princess's room! And if the two of you are alone in a room, the door stays open!"

  "What?" Julia ughed. "Really?"

  "Really!" Sophie nodded. "After all, I am responsible for your well-being! So: The door stays open!"

  "Dear heaven." Leopold shook his head. "Isn't that a bit silly?"

  "Certainly not!"

  Soft ughter could be heard from the boys' room. Sophie groaned. "And I'm afraid for Finn and Marko this rule applies too!"

  "For Marko and Finn?", asked Julia curiously. "Are you sure?"

  "We'll see..." With that being said, Sophie left the dining room.