“Trais!” Running up to him, I see his black hair is tied into a low ponytail and he’s in knight’s wear today - a suit of armor with the royal crest emblazoned onto the breast.

He holds my hand and leads me into one of the hallways. “Come, let us talk in a more suitable area.”

We enter a library filled to the brim with books.

“A-Amazing…! So many books!”

“Haha, what a cute vixen you are. This is one of the smaller, private libraries meant for idling about.”

I-It’s at least twice as large as the library in my own estate! “As expected of the royal palace…”

Seating ourselves at one of the empty tables, I notice that there’s no one else in the room.

“So, what business do you have with me today?”

“I would like to ask about… What exactly my friends and I got tangled up into.”

“Haha, as bold as ever.” Trais rests his face in the cusp of his palm thoughtfully. “Fortune favors the brave, but scorns the foolish, petite vixen.”

“…Which am I?”

"Fufu, well I'm not quite sure yet." He seems to think for a bit before speaking again. “Well, I suppose there is no harm in telling you something that isn't really a secret… Are you aware of the two separate factions supporting which Prince should succeed the crown?”

E-Eh!?

Even if I did technically ask, is that something you should be telling a child about within the palace walls!?

“Oh, you look shocked. Even though I am sure it is no great surprise to you.”

“W-Well, I mean it makes sense. However, I was just surprised you would be so forthcoming in telling me this.”

“I am only paying you the same honest courtesy that you have shown me.”

“…I-I see.”

“Anyways, this is quite normal for any noble family with more than one child, not just the royal family. It is always a matter of passing the torch over to whomever would be most competent in their duties and whoever garners the most support.”

“That’s true…”

“This time is a little different though.”

“Ah… Could it be…”

“Yes, Juler is half-Fairfolk. Or half-Elven to be exact.”

"..."

“First Prince Juler is by all means, the rightful heir. Not only is he the eldest and next in line. But he shows great prowess in all areas needed to rule. Intelligent, powerful, kind. He’s able to wield magick as well, which is something the majority of Humans cannot do. Though I suppose some would fear him even more because of this.”

Remembering the magick he used last night, it had lighted the air and it burnt the powder into nothingness.

“Jul’s mother, the late twelfth Queen Freyjr, ruled graciously during her time. Of course, there were many who opposed the King marrying someone of Elven descent… She was killed in a coup d'etat five years ago.”

It feels like a dark pit is forming at the base of my stomach.

It’s logical that Humans would think that their power and authority would be challenged if someone who wasn’t Human were to ascend to the highest position in the nation.

But, for the opposition to be so fierce that they would stage an uprising...

“In all honesty, I’d like to see Jul as the next king.” Trais shows a sad smile, but his eyes are alight with determination. “Even the Second Prince is…”

“Mercurius?”

“Ah, do you know him? He does go to your University.”

“...Well, I suppose you could say we’ve spoken before.”

He thought I was trying to declare my love for him though.

“Well, I’m sure you also know Princess Ceres then. I wasn’t old enough to be there when that happened. However, as the rumors go, she was cursed by Queen Morrigan of the Unseelie Fairfolk.”

The image of Ceres' haunting eyes that seem to look right through you into something that wasn’t there flashes through my mine. Chills run through my spine when the word Curse is thrown about so nonchalantly.

“The story goes that when she was born, three Fairy Godmothers came to bless her. One with beauty, another blessed her with the voice of an angel. The third was still in the process of thinking what to give, when Queen Morrigan came and cursed the child to slumber until the time came for Ceres and Morrigan’s son, Prince Moradin, to be wed. The third Fairy Godmother ended up blessing the child to awaken from this Winter’s sleep. However, no one was powerful enough to break the matrimony. Thus, she will still have to travel to Nottral and marry Moradin on a Winter’s Solstice when she turns thirteen constellation-cycles.”

“What will happen if she doesn’t go…?”

“No one knows… But everyone knows curses are no light matter and shouldn’t be trifled with. Even though she awoke from her sleep, as she grew in age, she became increasingly…”

“…Not there?”

“Yeah. I don’t know too much more about her, since her mother always hid her away from the public eye. Well, that is until she enrolled at the University this year. All I know is that Prince Mercurius is very protective of her. I can’t be completely sure on his motivations or thoughts… But I can only infer that it’s because of his sister’s condition that he doesn’t wish to become the King.”

There have always been countless rumors on the royal family, I heard many of them from the Flower Fairies as a young child.

Some called Ceres a Witch or an angel, the twins a curse to the nation or a messiah to Humanity, that all three of them would bring the rise of Fairfolk and the downfall of Humans. They called them beautiful and mysterious, dangerous and evil, good and blessed. I never knew which ones to believe.

All I know, is that I’ve never heard the full story.

“Anyways!” He claps loudly in front of my face, breaking me out of my reverie. “The reason I’m telling you all this is because…”

“B-Because…?” I gulp.

“Because I hope you’ll become good friends with these three helpless children, petite vixen.”

Trais flashes a kind, gentle smile. Crinkles appear under both his dark eyes, shining with a fleetingness that reminds me of ash to snow.

For some reason, a quiet scorch spreads through my veins.