- Lishinia -

  Thankfully, Crown Prince Deryl was facing toward Lishinia, or he might have seen the large hand reach out and close the door to their suite.

  Lishinia’s heart dropped to see it. Her poor lady! Not only did Peregrine have to suffer being mistreated by the crown, but that knight commander would think the worst after hearing their royal idiot.

  “I’m surrounded by incompetence.” Deryl ground out, slapping Lish away as soon as she was finished with the last golden cuff button. His Royal Heinous patted his hair and admired his evening attire in the mirror.

  There was exactly half a second where Lish debated hitting the crown prince with one of her Perks… but stepped back.

  It wouldn’t help her mistress to knock out this vermin… Probably.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you, Your Highness?” She asked, looking down and pretending to be demure.

  “You can leave my sight.” Deryl ordered, and Lish was only too ready to oblige.

  She only wished she could attend the ball and protect her lady from that Peldeep ruffian and everyone else.

  The gods knew no one else in this palace would be looking out for her mistress.

  …

  - Peregrine Fern -

  We joined the line of glittering bodies lining up at the entrance to the hall. As a knight and a Sumbrian royal, neither Bastian or I were too high up in the order of precedence, so we hovered comfortably near the end of the line.

  There were only a handful of people behind us, the closest being a hedgehog beastkin who’d reached level fifty last fall, and her husband, who was happy just to be there to support his ‘dearest’.

  “Charlie’s a renowned gardener in Servalt, don’t you know.” Hermie said, extolling the virtues of his wife. “She’s the only reason the queen’s gardens haven’t wilted under all this rain. Her Majesty even gave her an award–”

  “Hermie, I’m sure they don’t need to know all that.” Charlie poked her husband, but blushed nonetheless.

  “But dearest–”

  “Please.” Charlie turned to me and changed the subject, “And you miss, what do you specialize in?”

  I hesitated long enough that Bastian offered, “Miss Peregrine is an archer.”

  “How did you know that?” I almost forgot the couple entirely, turning to my escort. I shouldn't have been so surprised, since I was known at the Glades...

  “Uh–” Bastian reached into his item pouch and pulled out a picture.

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  Of me.

  Shooting.

  In the Dungeon Valley Crest.

  “How did you get this?” I asked, my stomach dropping out from under me. No one in Sumbria knew I was out challenging dungeons. My mother had made sure of that, going so far as to book the entire dungeon while I was training.

  Even my party members were carefully selected for their loyalty.

  “Their Royal Highness.”

  “So you just walk around with the lady’s picture, eh?” Hermie’s voice cut in. The hedgehog couple were staring at us with knowing smiles.

  “I do.” Bastian’s grip on the picture loosened, and in a sad voice that pulled at my heartstrings he asked, “But, uh, if it makes you uncomfortable, you could have it?”

  “No,” I said, ignoring the feeling that I was making a terrible mistake by not destroying the evidence in front of me– if only Bastian didn’t look so crestfallen at the idea. “Actually…”

  I could feel my ear twitch in embarrassment… but seeing how Bastian had been put on the spot and chose honesty… I pulled out his portrait from my storage ring.

  Bastian stared at his portrait and then met my eyes.

  “What a pair you two!” Charlie laughed.

  “There you are.” The unhappy voice of Crown Prince Deryl cut into our shared moment and I stiffened.

  As if we had agreed beforehand, Bastian and I stored our portraits perfectly in sync before turning and greeting my prince.

  “Knight Commander,” Deryl looked between us and smirked, as if he’d accomplished something great. Then his face fell. “Why are we standing at the back of the line?”

  “Countess Peregrine is a countess, and not an elite.” Bastian pointed out.

  “Well I am a prince!” Deryl cut in front of us and looked for all the world like he was going to break protocol and head to the front of the line.

  He was supposed to be my original escort– and could only enter with me. Lucky for both of us that Bastian had his own invitation.

  “Oh, look,” Charlie said, “they’ve opened the doors.”

  The hedgehog didn’t seem to care at all that Crown Prince Deryl shot her a scathing look for daring to speak to him.

  The line moved surprisingly quickly, thank the gods, the attendants welcoming each guest as they entered. I garnered a few stares when they announced us, but nothing too hostile.

  The crown prince immediately broke off to go and ingratiate himself with the other royals.

  Good riddance.

  “You two have fun now.” Charlie told us, dragging off her husband towards the table of snacks.

  “We will,” Bastian replied.

  The entire hall was decorated in spring flowers; tulips, daffodils and peonies popping up everywhere. Overhead, floating lights illuminated the hall, and servants were walking around with platters of drinks.

  Guards stationed in the alcoves kept watch, though they were mostly for show when the guest list was composed of attendees over Level 50.

  “Duchess Calisto said we should stay close to the front,” I whispered. “She’s going to welcome each of the debutantes personally before the dancing starts.”

  He nodded, and we moved closer to the dance floor.

  “Welcome friends.” Duchess Callisto’s voice was carried by magic to every ear in the hall, and everyone quieted. “It is good to see you after the long winter. As you know, North Sumbria is the first line of defense between Valaria and the Northern Ice Fields, and I am pleased to say that we have successfully defended against the monster surges for another year. This is thanks to my son... who I see has already slipped away.”

  Their Royal Highness Rowen was standing beside the duchess as her escort, and hid a laugh by gently coughing behind one hand. Duke Julian von Slyke was notoriously absent from social gatherings; even I had heard the rumors, and I was Sumbrian.

  Duchess Callisto shook her head, but continued, “This season there is much to celebrate. Valaria has kept peace another year, and we have even seen connections open between neighbors that had previously been closed.”

  I assumed she meant me, and felt a bit of heat in my cheeks.

  “It is through all of our hard work and sacrifice that we stand here today, and by the dedicated work of the Continental Council that we continue to grow.” The duchess smiled warmly, changing the tone of her speech. “And so, it is my great pleasure to introduce you all to our newest peers and distinguished guests!”

  I stepped forward with the other debutantes.