Julia

  "I will miss you, little sister!" Peter hugged her tightly. "What do you think about me visiting you at the academy? You could show me everything!"

  Babette, who was standio them, wrinkled her nose. "You are a mortal, Peter. What do you want at the Academy? It is only for witches and wizards! And please, finally take off this nightgown! That's ridiculous!"

  That was not true. In fact, the nightgown suited him very well. He rarely looked 'ridiculous' and when he did, it was well pnned and served to annoy the queen and the king. However, the ohat actually looked ridiculous didn't even have to make an effort. Babette clearly had a talent when it came to choosing unfttering clothes.

  Peter, who was still hugging his sister, looked at his fiancée. "Here? Now?"

  Julia ughed.

  Marko, who had just loaded the st suitcase into the carriage, looked over at them. "You want to undress, Yhness? Is it worth it for us to watch you?"

  "Marko!", shouted Leopold, who was standing behind the carriage.

  "What?" The wolf grinned carefreely.

  "I'm a feast for the eyes! True eye dy!", said Peter. "And if my fiancée wants it, I'll be happy to show this to everyone!" He let go of Julia and made an exuberant curtsy.

  Babette snorted and turned on her heel. She mumbled angrily to herself as she walked bato the castle.

  "I think we do without it!" Julia shook her head. "But please, e to the academy!"

  Peter nodded. He looked sad for a brief moment, but he started to grin shortly after. "I want to see where my little sister learns all the great magic!"

  Finn and Sophie came out of the castle. Sophie carried a basket and talked to the young wolf, who seemed happy about something.

  "We got cookies! From Luise!", shouted Finn. "For the ride! And cake! She baked it, especially for us!"

  "Cookies?" Marko ran to them and looked curiously into the basket, which Sophie pulled away from him, shaking her head. Marko still caught a biscuit and shoved it tentedly into his mouth.

  Soon after, the Queen and the King, Leah, and e to say goodbye to Julia. Some moments ter Julia and her servants were already on their way back to the Academy. On the way, they enjoyed cookies, and cake, and talked about the ball. Finn was still amazed by everything he had seen. They didn't talk about the vampires.

  They arrived at the academy iernoon. It was quiet in the building. Hardly any students could be seen in the corridors and the gardens. There was also little presen staff.

  "Where is everybody?" Marko frowned.

  It was strange. Normally, a lot was going on in the corridors. They walked up the stairs to her home. There was a note hanging on the door. Sophie took it from the door and read it quietly.

  "Apparently, some cases of illness have appeared among teachers and students... Therefore, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, csses are celed and all students are instructed to stay in their rooms if possible", she said. "To avoid greater tagion."

  "The disease that we had?", asked Finn.

  Sophie nodded. "Apparently. Yes."

  "Two days of no lessons. That sounds good." Julia unlocked the door. "After the st few days, I could use a break."

  "I hope no one is seriously ill." Finn opehe window in the hallway to let fresh air into the apartment. "What are we going to do for the wo days?"

  "I will inform myself about what the situation is like among the staff and whether Marko and Leopold have to work tomorrow..." Sophie sighed. "I don't like it. For now, we unpack s and I see what I cook for us. Leopold? Will you apao the Academy’s kit afterward? We o replenish our stocks."

  Leopold nodded. "Of course. I help you with anything else?"

  "No. Better unpack your suitcase." Sophie shook her head.

  Marko put his arm around Finn. "So we could have the wo days off?"

  "I wouldn't rely on that. There was nothing iter about the staff. Only that for students the lessons are celed." Sophie opehe door to her room and put her suitcase iomorroill know more!"

  "I hope my friends are well." Julia sighed and allowed Leopold t her luggage to her room. Finn pushed Marko's arm aside and hugged her. "I'm sure they're doing well. You'll see them again on Wednesday!"

  Julia nodded aly hugged him. "I hope you're right."

  Later, Julia was lying in her bed reading one of her books. Finn had joined her and read a book cuddled on the princess's side, while Marko y over her legs and slept as a wolf. Leopold helped Sophie cook i. It was already te and they were all tired.

  When dinner was served, Julia struggled to keep her eyes open. She was very happy to be able to sleep in the day. Still, she was also worried about her friends. Were they okay? Were they healthy? Or sick? She had no way of figuring it out. Except, perhaps... If she could see it with magic... But the seeing gift was very unreliable. Should she still try?

  Whe on her pajamas and wao go to bed, there was a kno her door. Leopold came in. He held two cups of hot chocote in his hands.

  "Am I disturbing you?", he asked, handing her one of the two cups.

  Julia smiled. "No. Thank you."

  Leopold sat down at her desk chair. "Are you okay?"

  "Yes? Why?"

  "The Vampire Prince had given you a big fright... I'm worried."

  "Marlon is far away now. I hope I don't see him again too soon." Julia took a sip of hot chocote. "But the vampires might e to the castle more often now."

  "You have us. Marko, Finn, and me. We keep an eye on the prince. Do you want to hear something funny?" He wi her. "To cheer up?"

  "Funny?"

  "Well... I caught Marko and Finn kissing in a ste room."

  "A ste room? Really?"

  "Really! They wao skip work. I saw them creep away and followed them! Up to the ste room! A ste room, of all things!"

  Julia ughed. "That sounds unfortable."

  "It also looked unfortable."

  "And? When will we find a ste room?" Julia wi him ughing.

  Leopold pced his cup on her desk and sat dowo her on her bed. "We don't need a ste room!", he whispered in her ear and kissed her on the cheek. "I imagier pces."

  "Oh, yes? And where?"

  "Here?" And he kissed her.

  Julia closed her eyes and ehe moment. She put her arms around him and fot that she was still holding her now fortunately only lukewarm hot chocote, which spilled as she moved. "What! Eh!" Leopold broke away from her and ughed. She had poured hot chocote over his bad shoulder.

  Julia quickly withdrew her arms. More hot chocote spilled over the rim of the cup and poured over Leopold, herself, and her bed.

  They both started ughing.

  "Oh no!" Julia looked at the chocote disaster. "I'm sorry!"

  Leopold stood up. "No kisses with hot chocote..." He looked at her amused. "Good thing, that Marko didn't see that! I'll get you new bedding!" There was also chocote on her duvet.

  "No. Put on something else!" Julia was still ughing. "I get a new duvet myself." She stood up and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm really sorry!"

  "Well! That ectacur kiss!" Leopold opehe door for her, in front of which Marko stood and looked at her with wide eyes. "What happeo you? Is that chocote?"

  "Hot chocote, yes. A small act!" Julia pushed past him.

  "Act?" Marko grinned. "What happened? Did you throw the chocote at each other?"

  Now Sophie and Finn came into the corridor and looked at the chocote disaster. Sophie burst into resounding ughter. "How did that happen?"

  Julia turned red. "My chocote spilled over...", she murmured. “I'll get new bedding..." She went to a small cupboard in the hallway where they kept everything.

  "What?" Marko looked into her room. "It spilled? Really?"

  "Is that important?" Leopold pushed the ughing wolf away from Juliet's room door.

  sasi