Agathe

  The wind was cold.

  She ed her scarf tighter around her ned tinued walking through the rge pace garden. The leaves of the trees shone in yellow, red, and e, and the air smelled of autumn. It was quiet in the castle garden. Not even birds could be heard.

  She was satisfied. She had tested her husband's illegitimate son and he had passed. He was clearly smart and pursued his own goals. She was able to use both to her advahe young man wao be part of the royal family. And that's exactly what she wao take advantage of. But where should she pce him?

  She khat the von Schmalberg's held trade retions with the vampires and had thus gained siderable wealth. The von Schmalbergs bought special semi-precious stones from the marshnd, which they had processed into jewelry, which was very popur with the on people. Their you daughter, a mortal, had turned een a few weeks ago... Would that be a good pce for Torsten? The family opur with the on people. If Torsteo marry her, this would have a positive effe the opinion of the people and overshadow the sdal. But he would be close enough to the royal family there to give the queen a stomachache...

  Oher hand... For some time noolves have been fleeing to the snd... So far, the vampires had dohing against the refugees and refused to hand them over because, as they said, the queen had nothing to offer them iurn. After all, she refused to marry her you daughter to the vampire prind heir to their throne... Something she hadn't told Julia about. Only her husband knew about it and he shared the Queen's opinion. They would not send their daughter to the vampires, even if the vampires repeatedly sent her a marriage offer for the prio ect their nds. The prineeded a bride, but that would not be Julia.

  Julia was too precious to be sent to the vampires. But wasn't there a vampire prioo? The girl would have to be eighteen now... Agathe smiled. She had found a pce for Torsten. Now she had something to offer the vampires.

  The refugees were a thorn in her side. Every wolf that escaped was oaxpayer less. She demanded high taxes from the werewolves and from the elves, with which she financed most of her military and medical care. As a result, she did not have to burden her people with high taxes.

  And what if the fugitives were pnning a major uprising across the border?

  She had stopped the minor u in the try for the time being. I weeks, there had been no more u and it should stay that way.

  She had tried to see the future, but all she saw was great magic.

  And in one vision she had seen her owh.

  Something that could not happen under any circumstances. Unfortunately, she did not see how it would happen or who the perpetrator was. But if it had to do with the riots, then they had to be strictly prevented and remain as such.

  But at least, for the vampire problem she now had a solution sirading alone was no reason for them to support her kingdom in the fight against flight. Torsten was supposed to marry the young vampire princess and thus ect their kingdoms. Then the vampires would help her to stop the escape of the werewolves (and also some elves). And the illegitimate son would be far, far away.

  She would ihe royal family to the solemn ball for her daughter and discuss everything with the von Bluthofs. And she also wao invite her illegitimate son.

  She sat down by her firepce with a smile, since she was now baside the castle, and made the guest list for the ball.

  Julia

  "You're cheating!" Laughing, Leopold threw his cards oable after Julia had won the game.

  "I don't cheat! You're just a bad loser, Leo!" She ughed too.

  Marko, who sat o her feet as a wolf, snorted in amusement and nudged her with his muzzle so that she would scratch him behind the ears. Something, he obviously enjoyed when he was in wolf form. Leopold had bee aced to the big wolf into which Marko transformed.

  Finn sat reading on the floor and used Marko as a pillow. "And what about the cards in your sleeves, princess?"

  "What cards?" Julia hid her arms uhe table. In fact, there were cards hidden in her sleeves that Finn had noticed. "You're imagining that, Finn!"

  "I'm not imagining it!" Finn stuck his to at her. Julia returhe gesture with a grin.

  "I am shocked!" Leopold crossed his arms pyfully annoyed. "I'll never py cards with you again! I only py with Marko now."

  Marko snorted and rolled his eyes.

  "I didn't cheat! That's a lie!" Julia also crossed her arms. Some cards slipped out of her sleeves.

  Leopold and Finn burst into resounding ughter, into which Julia joined in.

  "Do you have magic lessons tomorrow?", asked Finhey calmed down.

  Julia nodded. "Yes, but I would like to do without it."

  "Don't you like your utor?", asked Leopold. "I thought she was nice?"

  "She's nice, but I'd really rather didn't have magistead, all three forms of magic showed up for me. Now I'm not just a princess, no, a lot will be expected of me!"

  Marko got up and trotted to the door, where he ged back. Julia watched the transformation with i until she noticed that he was missing something crucial. She held her hands in front of her eyes.

  "I'm tired!", he announced, yawning. "I'm going to sleep."

  "Marko!", cried Julia. "Get dressed!"

  The werewolf stood in front of them without any clothes and ughed. "Of course."

  Finn stared at him with wide eyes and red cheeks. Leopold just shook his head. "Couldn't you have transformed bato our room?"

  Marko grinned. "Maybe..." He left the room.

  "He did that on purpose!" Finn was still red. Even his wolf ears had bee slightly reddish.

  "Definitely", Leopold agreed.

  Then they heard Sophie's indignant voice. "Marko! Get dressed! Why are you naked?"

  "I was warm", they heard Marko answer ughing.

  "Clothes! Immediately!"

  Julia shook her head.

  Leopold sat dowo her and grabbed her hand. "So?" He looked deep into her eyes. Julia became restless. "You didn't cheat?" He wi her and kissed her hand. She blushed. Something she did a lot tely.

  Finn watched her with a smile, then turned back to his book.

  "I would never cheat." Julia rubbed the hand Leopold had kissed.

  Leopold grinned and leaowards her. "I don't believe you," he whispered in her ear. Then he leaned back with a satisfied grin. "Fancy a sed round? Without cheating?"

  Marie

  She and Theo made garnds out of colorful paper, which Marie had been provided by the academy. The teachers were so enthusiastic about her idea that she hardly had to spend any money herself. They were given materials to make the decorations, were allowed to use the kit, and the flour and everything else they needed.

  They sat in Marie's room. Her roommate was not there. She wao go to the library of the academy, which was always open until midnight so that the students could study as long as possible.

  Theo was enthusiastic about the idea anizing a party for the princess.

  " I e to the party?", he asked.

  Marie thought about it for a moment. She couldn't invite him as a guest, that would be a sdal, but she wanted him to join the party. "We're going to need someoo refill drinks... How about that?"

  Theo nodded. "That's what I do! Yes! As long as I’m at the party too! Will there be music?"

  Marie deed. "Hiring musis would be expensive. We don't have that much money, even if everyone gives some money."

  "Don't any of your cssmates py an instrument?"

  "I don't know, but I ask tomorrow m... Great idea, Theo!" She hugged him briefly, then tio make her garnd.

  Theo grinned sheepishly.