Julia

  The riding lessons at the weekend had been tiring. One of her cssmates even had the misfortune of being thrown off her horse. The following week was quiet, but Julia couldn't shake the feeling that something was going on. By now, she was sure that her entire css nning something and that she wasn't privy to it. She hoped it wasn't a surprise party.

  On Thursday she received a letter from Peter and one from her parents. Her mother informed her whely the ball would take p honor of her further magic, who she po invite, and that she would sehe court dressmaker with a sele of dresses at the weekend so that she could get a new dress for the ball. Her father greeted her and missed her terribly. Peter wrote about the dinner with Fritz and his fiancée, who was a mortal. Something her mother wasn't happy about. Peter thought it was ridiculous. After all, her first husband had also been mortal. Peter suspected that her mother did not want any mortal grandchildren. Julia had to smile about that. Paul had retly written to her, so Julia khat her mother was already the grandmother of a mortal child.

  Since she was together with Leopold, he kissed her on the cheek every m and evening, and the two went for a walk in the garde night. Julia blushed every time he kissed her. They spent as much time together as they could. Which was not much, because Julia got plenty of homework and he helped out together with Marko i until te.

  In magic css, she mao let a light breeze blow in the room instead of a tornado. Julia caught herself being proud of it. But she was especially proud of the cake she had baked on Wednesday evening together with Sophie and Finn, which they had started to eat at midnight.

  Marko had eaten almost half the cake alone because he loved it.

  On Friday, Marie was restless. When asked about what was going on, she said it was nothing. After css, she insisted on walking in the garden with Julia. Meanwhile, Julia was vihat her cssmates were pnning a surprise party.

  After half an hour, Marie annouhat she had fotten her homework in the and therefoh Julia there. As soon as Marie opehe door, Julia saw all her cssmates throwing fetti and shouting ‘surprise’.

  Her was decorated with paper garnds and oeacher's desk was a rge cake and a gift ed in pink ing paper. Although Julia didn't want to celebrate her magic, she had to smile at the sight. "Thank you", she said as Marie ed her arms around her. "gratutions on your further magic!", her friend announced solemnly. Then she pulled Julia to the teacher's desk and held out the gift to her. "This is from all of us."

  Julia accepted the gift and ope quickly. Now she was curious. Uhe paper were a few beautiful pens, a notepad, and a small, cute stuffed bear with a yellow bow, as well as yellow hair bands.

  Her cssmates did not miss the opportunity to hug and gratute her until Philip cut the cake and handed everyone a piece.

  When Julia returo her hallartment after two hours, she was full and satisfied. The celebratianized by her cssmates was made much easier than the balls in the castle and muicer. There was no musid no one danced, but she had fun. Marie's servant had distributed homemade fruit pund made everyone ugh with jokes.

  Now, she still had to go to the ball that her mother nning, and for which Julia had been released from the lessons. Her mother had written to her that she po ihe royal family from the marshnd. Julia had never met a vampire before and the thought of meeting them worried her.

  Finn wao know everything about the surprise party. Marie's servant Theo had told Marko and Leopold about the phey met in the dining room. There, Theo had helped wipe the tables. Therefore, Sophie was not surprised when Julia came back much ter than usual. Instead, she regretted that there was no cake left for her.

  Later Julia pyed cards with Marko and Leopold.

  "How about we go on a little trip on Sunday?", Leopold suggested to her during the sed round. "To the city? There should be a nice park there."

  Julia looked at him in surprise. "A park?"

  "Yes. Just the two of us." He wi her.

  "What? We are not allowed to e along?", Marko protested ughing. "Unfair!"

  "Gdly." Julia nodded. "But... People might see us there."

  "Would that bother you?" Leopold frowned.

  Julia shook her head. "No. I don't think so... So, yes. Let's go on a little trip on Sunday." However, she was worried that her mother would find out about it. How would the Quee? Or her father?

  "Julia?" Sophie came into the living room with a bowl of freshly baked cookies. "The seamstress is ing tomorrow afternoon at three."

  "Yes, I know. Thank you, Sophie."

  "Good." Sophie put the bowl oable. Now Finn, who had helped her bake, came and sat dowo Marko. "These are hazelnut cookies!", he said, handing a cookie to the other wolf. "With extra chocote!"

  When the seamstress came the day with a sele of the test dresses, Julia was in a good mood. She was looking forward to Sunday. She tried on each of the dresses and finally decided on a bright pink dress with fabric butterflies sewn onto it.

  "You look beautiful!" The seamstress seemed very satisfied. "A very good choice. You will impress everyo the ball!"

  Julia looked at a pale green, simple dress, which she had also liked. "I would also like to take this one." She wao wear it on Sunday.

  "Of course. Do you have another wish?"

  "No. That would be all. Just the two dresses." As always, no ges had to be made to the dresses. The seamstress would sell the rest of the clothes to other nobles.

  The day there was a storm. Thick raindrops knocked furiously against the windows.

  "We probably have to postpone our trip", said Leopold. "How about the weekend after ? After the ball?"

  Julia nodded. "That sounds good." They both stood in front of the kit window and watched the storm. Leopold put his arm around her.

  "Are you looking forward to the ball?", he wao know. "After all, it's going to be a big party."

  "Not really, no. Mom even invited vampires."

  ?Vampires?“

  "Yes. The royal family of vampires. And my new half-brother Torsten will also be there. I'm not sure I want to meet him. Peter didn't say anything good about him. And Fritz's fiancée will be there with her parents too."

  "I saw the headline in the neer. How do you feel about that?" The neer was hung on the door of her hallartment every m. Sophie had ordered them.

  "I don't know..." She actually didn't know. Was she sad? Was she shaken?

  "The queen must have coped well when she ihem to your ball."

  "Or she's pnning something... Why does she ihe vampires? They've never been invited, as far as I remember."

  "Maybe she wants something from them?", thought Leopold.

  "What should she want from them? Our tries coexist peacefully and also trade with each other... Do you think that's the reason?"

  "That could be a reason, yes. Who else will e?"

  "The most important noble houses were invited. So it won't be a small celebration. We will be staying the whole weekend as there is still a festive brunch with the vampires pnned on Sunday."

  "Why?"

  "That's the big question. Mom is pnning something. But I don't know what. Torsten will also be present at the brunch. As part of our family."

  "Then your mother coped really well with the news, didn't she? Or the two things are ected."

  "Maybe, but I don't know how. Maybe she wants Torsten to marry one of them," Julia joked. "And brunch is there to pair him up with a vampire."

  Leopold ughed. "Poor man. I'm not sure he deserves this."

  "If Peter wrote the true, then yes."

  "Vampires drink human blood... Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

  "Maybe Torsten is dessert?" Julia grimaced. "I hope not... That's something I really don't want to see."

  "Me her."