Marie

  After sarie noticed a few ued people on the grounds of the academy. Guards from the castle talked to the principal. Had something happened? Were they here because of the princess? Marie rushed to them, ign the dismissive looks.

  Bring good news, please! Say you've found Julia, please!

  "Is the princess back? I'm a friend of hers!", she shouted to the group.

  A woman with long, red curls looked at her sharply. "A friend?" She was very formidable in her uniform.

  Marie nodded a little intimidated.

  The principal gave her a frustrated look, while the woman looked at her skeptically. Her colleague, an elderly man with short, white hair and deep wrinkles, smiled at her encingly.

  "What's your name, my child?", he asked kindly.

  "Marie! Is the princess back?"

  He shook his head. "Sorry. No. When was the st time you saw her?"

  "After the tour. Her brother came and they went to her apartment. On Sunday, she didn't e to the tour."

  "Do you have any idea where she might be?", the woman asked.

  Marie deed. "No. That’s why I asked! My friends thought she just wao skip the tour, but she wasn't at css today... She's never done anything like that before! Did something happen to her?"

  "We don't know yet!" The elderly man looked worried. " you lead me to her apartment?" He looked at his colleague. "Rebecca? Ye everything with the principal?"

  The redhead, Rebecodded.

  Marie showed the Man the way to Julia's apartment. "You call me Manuel, child. So, you have no idea where the princess could be? We arrived here just now and didn't expect to hear about her disappearance. We’re looking for the prince."

  "The prince was here, but now they're both gone. I'm worried. What if something happeo her? Has the Queen not yet been informed?"

  "So he was here? If something bad happened, we will find out. And no. We knew nothing. Apparently, a letter has bee, but as far as I know, it has not arrived yet."

  Marie nodded with a soft sigh.

  They had arrived at the front door. Manuel knocked. Shortly afterward, the old servant appeared at the door. She wore a dressing gown over her nightgown. She looked shattered.

  "Oh!", she excimed. "Did you find Julia?" Then she looked at Marie. "Hello, Marie!"

  "May I e in?", asked Moritz. "Thank you, Marie. You go now!"

  "Of course." With a dull feeling iomach, she went back to her room.

  She couldn't trate on her homework. Instead, she y on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Her roommate was not there. She had left her bed untidy. Books and clothes y on it. Theo startled her wheormed inside her room. "Theo!"

  "The servants of the princess were still missing today! I heard the princess is still gone?"

  "Yes. Guards from the castle are now looking for her."

  "Really?" Theo dropped onto the bed o her. "Is it something serious then?"

  "Maybe? I don't know. The guards are here because of the prihey didn't know anything about the princess."

  "That doesn't sound good. Do you think they ran away?"

  "I don't know."

  "And what else did you do today? I had to iron tons of undry. That was s! And now my hands hurt!"

  "I'm gd I don't have to do that."

  "Of course!" Theo stuck his to at her. "So? What did you do today?"

  "Hm..." Marie smiled. "I had lunch with someone."

  "Someoheo frowned.

  "Yes! I met him yesterday and today we ate together... And I think... He likes me too! He looks so good, Theo!"

  "How nice of you." Theo sighed. "After everything that has happened, you deserve something good to happen..."

  "Thank you!" She squeezed him briefly. "Do you want to py cards?"

  "Gdly." He sounded sad, but Marie didn't notice.

  Agathe

  The guards had left a day ter than she would have liked. But her husband had insisted that they wait to see if Peter came ba his own. Something she hadn't expected. And of course, the stupid boy wasn't back.

  Torsten had left in the m with Princess Annemarie. Agathe's advisor was now pnning her visit to the wedding in the marshnd. A seamstress was there to sew her a new dress. As soon as possible. Agathe had opted folden fabric. Also, she wanted a matg new suit for her husband. A suit made of the same fabric. She wao make an impression. The seamstress discussed the desired cut with her and soon got to work so that the dress was ready on time.

  Agathe looked out of the window. There was nothio see of the big tent.

  Julia

  Leopold's mother proved to be very hospitable, as far as one could describe it as such. She provided them with delicious food. Her husband stood at the door and always blocked their way. For an elf, he was very muscur. They could have overpowered them, but Julia wao know where they were and why they had been kidnapped first. And she was also very upset about her hair. Finn and Marko stood at the window and looked outside. But Marko seemed very restless as if he wao jump out of the window and run into the forest. Julia had ed herself ihick duvet. Peter disappeared into the small bathroom a few minutes ago.

  Flora just put a ray on the dresser. "Enjoy your meal", she murmured and was about to leave, but Julia stopped her.

  "Why are we here?", she asked. "Why was my hair cut off?"

  "You are here so that some of us bckmail the royal family. They demand the freedom of all elves and werewolves. Also of the bound. I don't like the pn, but... You’re hair… Oh!” Flora seemed to notice the damage for the first time. “Oh no, you poor dear! Why your hair was cut off, I don't know."

  "Freedom?" Marko looked at Finn and then at Flora. "The bound ot be free. To remove the binding spell meah! And Leopold agrees with that?" Now, he growled softly. Flora took a step back.

  "He believes it is the best for our peoples." She shook her head.

  "Oh, he does?" Finn had turned pale. "And if we don't want that?"

  Julia felt sick. She didn't like what she heard. Of course, she was against the binding spells, but no spell could safely undo them. It was impossible. At least for now.

  "Honey?" Leopold's father looked at his wife. "You've already told them enough! e now."

  "Wait!" Julia looked at the couple. "Where exactly are we?"

  "Our vilge is close to the steppe. Deep in the forest. It is also not far from the fairy forests. You 't get out of here!" Hanno looked at her grimly. "Soldiers rarely get so deep into the forest. They won't find you."

  The door to the bathroom opened aer came out. "If we 't leave, why are we locked up?" He had heard everything.

  "Elder's instru!" Hanno locked the door after his wife left the room.

  "So we 't leave..." Julia sighed. "And Leopold wants to get rid of all binding spells..."

  Marko took the still-pale Finn in his arms. Finn buried his fa his chest.

  "That's crap." Peter ruffled his hair. "Shit!"

  They all wore the fresh clothes that Flora had id down for them. Marko wore a grey shirt and brown lirousers. The clothes fit him perfectly. Finn's grey pants and yellow shirt were too big, aer was wearing blue pants and a light green shirt. Both were a bit too small for him. For Julia, Flora had id out a light purple dress and matg cloth trousers.

  There was another knock at the door. Flora unlocked and came in with scissors in her hand and a white ribbon. Her husband stood at the dain. This time in a clearly bad mood.

  "If you like me to, I'll fix your hairstyle, princess." Hesitantly, she approached Julia and was startled when Marko growled at her again. A quiet, grim warning.

  Marko growled away from her and looked at Hanno. He was sidering whether he should overpower the man. Finn held him tight, shaking his head. Peter sat down worriedly o Julia on the bed and looked at the scissors. Then he looked at her questioningly. Julia nodded. She felt that she could trust Flora, so she sat down so that Flora could cut her hair. Flora did not hesitate for long. She cut Julia's hair to a reasonable length and finally tied a bow into it. "So. Now, you look beautiful again."

  "Thank you." Julia nodded.

  "Well then!" Flora left again, almost hastily, and the room was locked. Apart from Marko's soft growl, nothing could be heard. His wolf ears y ft on his head, and he was still staring at the door. "She didn't do anything to Julia!", murmured Finn, tugging at Marko's shirt.

  Julia looked at her refle in the mirror. Her hair now reached just up to her shoulder and was cut into steps. She sighed. "At least I don't look like a plucked chi anymore!"

  Why had Leopold dohat... No. She knew why, she just wished... But what?

  Was she angry? Disappointed? She didn't know. She didn't know what she felt.

  Why?