Keith was held back by Their Royal Highness Rowen as he made to fly into the air toward the tea party.

“You can’t,” Rowen stressed, placing a firm hand on Keith’s shoulder. Unlike the jovial pat from earlier, this was a viselike grip that kept him rooted. “Her Grace is there, and we can’t interfere.

Henrietta is safe; she’s just a little embarrassed.”

Knowing that Ria was safe helped settle him. “How do you know?”

The fox grinned. “I’ll tell you if you tell me how you always know it’s me?”

Keith shook off the hand and considered.

“Your eyes,” Keith lied. “They’re always like a fox no matter your form.”

“And you are an evil tyrant who tortures your prisoner in the dungeon and makes her cook and clean for you.” Rowen laughed.

“What?”

“You lied and I played a trick.”

“How much of your trick was lies?” Keith asked, glancing again in the direction of the tea party. He felt relief when he realized that Jacqueline had fallen back to sleep.

“Very little.” Their Royal Highness looked behind Keith and sighed deeply. “But now we have other problems.”

“Hello, Dark Lord, Your Highness,” Crown Prince Deryl sneered as he joined them in the gardens.

Keith immediately regretted not flying off and ruining the tea party.

“Crown Prince Deryl.” Rowen inclined their head ever so slightly.

Keith did no such thing. “What brings you outside today?”

The prince’s eyes darted in the direction of the tea party. “I just wanted to make sure no one caused a disturbance. It wouldn’t do if our delicate flower of Sumbria was harassed by one of your ilk.”

Rowen choked on air. “I hope you do not treat all of your trading partners this way, young prince. Or there won’t be any left by the time you ascend.”

Prince Deryl flushed with anger and growled out, “King Rowen, was that a threat?”

“No. This is.” Rowen’s magic swirled around their body. A great show, but as Keith knew, unnecessary. When everything settled, a giant fox with seven tails took up a significant portion of the garden as it loomed over them. The sheer force that rolled off the fox left Prince Deryl on the ground, shaking in terror. “If you do not change your ways, boy, then no one will find your bones when your own people tear you limb from limb and leave you for the dogs.”

It was too much for Prince Deryl, who scurried to his feet and ran for the palace door, tripping in the process. He was blubbering about telling his father as he ran back inside and out of sight.

“Was that truly necessary?” Keith asked, crossing his arms. “He’ll be king one day, and we’ll both suffer.”

“If he becomes king, we’ll suffer nonetheless.” There was a pop, and a middle-aged noblewoman stood where the fox had been. “Really, calling this beautiful face ‘King.’ He has no taste.”

“You would have chastised him even if he’d called you queen,” Keith pointed out.

“True.” Rowen nodded, adjusting their blue summer dress all covered in flowers. “Some people have no respect.”

“Alright, who scared Crown Prince Deryl?”

The two rulers turned to the entrance to find an exasperated Countess Julia von Slyke. She wore her usual full-plate paladin armor. And she looked angry.

Rowen’s voice dripped honey as they said, “Julia! Congratulations on your wedding. Your wife is sure to make a beautiful bride.”

“Thank you?” Julia gave Keith a confused glance.

“Their Royal Highness of Peldeep and I were discussing your engagement earlier,” Keith explained.

“Ah, and was that before or after you used an offensive skill on one of our guests?” Julia crossed her arms.

Rowen gave up the pretense. “I assure you; I did not use any skills. I merely bared my teeth at the boy. I can’t imagine why a simple smile would leave him so distraught. I guess I’d better go make some formal declaration of apology.” They shared a toothy smile with Keith, fangs showing. “Just another reason to abdicate.”

“And you, Your Viciousness?” Julia turned on Keith. “You didn’t attack the prince?”

“I did not. Though in Their Royal Highness’s defense, the prince crassly mistitled them.”

Julia flinched. “Foolish. But it does not excuse their own poor behavior.”

“Spoken like a true paladin,” Rowen said, approaching the woman with a light hip swagger. They fluttered their eyelashes at Julia. “Care to show me where I can meet with Grand Duchess Calisto after the tea party? I’d like to make the appropriate reparations for being such a rude guest.”

“Your Highness, are you not going to apologize to the guest you accosted?” Julia questioned, but Keith noticed a smile tugging at her lips.

Rowen placed a hand delicately on their bosom. “Of course I will. Eventually. And through the proper channels.”

Keith knew they would find some way to turn the apology into a subtle insult, if it even made it to the prince. “I think I’ll make my way back to the the main hall and wait for Henrietta there.

Have fun apologizing, Your Highness.”

“I will.” The fox took Julia’s arm and walked back inside ahead of the Dark Lord.

Keith didn’t mind; he hadn’t sensed anything from Jacqueline since that first light thrum. He would meet Henrietta in the hall, and they would go back upstairs and get ready for the ball. And he’d finally get to see her in her matching dress.

Despite unwelcome attendees out to murder him, the evening was looking to be very promising. Very promising indeed.