The servants had set up a cozy, private room with a balcony. Fragrant wildflowers stood in ornate, ivory vases. According to Dorper, they had been a favorite of Prince Evander’s during his stay at the palace. After they’d finished eating, she recounted Rhinoceros’s revelations from the night before. Armin frowned into his coffee cup. “How are we even going to get past the ice?”

“Via flying ship,” she replied. “If we go high enough, the ice won’t reach us. Even if it attacked, these ships have magically-enchanted hulls.”

“I appreciate your offer to come and help, Rilla. But we have an entire Anti-Magic Army and numerous alchemists. Your teammates told me of the ambush you set up in the mountains with Trollsbane. An offensive move like that would work, I should think.”

Rilla placed her hand over his. “You don’t get it. It’s not a possessed troll you’re going to face. According to someone who worked for her, she’s a mage.”

He raised his brows. “A powerful witch?”

“Nobody knows, but she won’t succumb to Trollsbane. It took an army of fairies and witches to confine her to Tundra a hundred years ago. Sorry to say this, but a platoon of magicless soldiers armed with alchemical weapons might not even get past her enchanted trolls.”

He sighed. “I suppose you’re right, but I don’t want to deprive—”

The door slammed open, making both Rilla and Armin startle. Captain Coyote and Lord Bluebeard stormed inside, followed by the Magistratus. “Here she is!” said Rilla’s traitorous betrothed. “Plotting with the Prince, as we suspected.”

The Magistratus waggled his finger at Rilla. “Your Majesty, you must not wage war against the Snow Queen.”

“We were on a date!” she exclaimed.

The Magistratus exchanged a confused look with Captain Coyote. Lord Bluebeard growled. “It is a form of human courtship.”

“Do such occurrences involve the discussion of war plans?” asked the captain.

The corner of Lord Bluebeard’s lips lifted. “On occasion.”

“I’m planning a diplomatic mission,” she said. It was the first thing that had come to mind. “I’ve noticed that the agriculture here isn’t as developed as it could be. If I can set up trade between Steppe and the United Kingdom of Seven, that should bring an influx of livestock and crops to our country. Maybe they can lend us a few farmers to give us some lessons.”

The Magistratus folded his arms, his eyebrows raised almost all the way to his horns. “And the Snow Queen?”

Rilla shrugged. “She’ll be confined to her new country, beyond the mountains. “Prince Armin will increase the protection around his father and brother, so the trolls don’t get at them. I have no intention of approaching that madwoman.”

For several moments, the Magistratus stared into Rilla’s eyes. She met his gaze, keeping her mind blank, in case he could read the deception on her face. She dared not move her gaze to Lord Bluebeard, who would be able to tell with one glance that she was lying. “Very well,” he said.. Rilla was about to leap off her seat when he lifted a palm. “However, you must appoint a regent before leaving.”

She beamed. “Lord Bluebeard.”

Lord Bluebeard’s eyes lit like blue flame, and a smile spread across his face. Rilla could not help but meet his ecstatic expression with a smile of her own. “Cendrilla,” he said, voice choked with emotion. He knelt before her chair and clasped her hands. “You have made me the happiest man in the Known World.”

“You’re welcome?” She frowned.

“Where would you like me to perform the wedding ceremony?” asked the Magistratus.

Armin choked on his coffee.

“Wait, what?” yelled Rilla.