Three things happened after Their Royal Highness returned to the city.

  Starting right away, I had a hard conversation with Howl explaining that he couldn’t stay at our estate. I broke it to him gently while we were talking with Rowen, and the fox happily agreed to put up Howl for as long as my brother wanted to stay.

  “We’ve worked on a wedding together before,” the fox pointed out, “We can do it again.”

  Howl crumpled under the monarch’s words, looking to me for salvation, but I only smiled and nodded. There weren’t that many people I was going to trust with my wedding as it was. Having Howl there to keep an eye on things was a bonus. Besides, there wasn’t anywhere to put him at home except the couch... and I didn’t think he’d appreciate my benevolent daily cuddles with Bastian.

  I was not willing to give up the cuddles.

  The second thing was a long overdue look at the trade office I was responsible for managing. Rowen gave Howl and I each a different type of pass to access different parts of the outer palace, and personally escorted us to Howl’s rooms to drop off my brother.

  Then they insisted on leading me to my new office.

  I wasn’t used to being attended to by the ruler of an entire nation, but Rowen seemed more than pleased to take us around. The fact that no one seemed to notice or care that the fox was doing so made it all the more interesting to me.

  “Don’t they have to stop and bow when they see you?” I asked Rowen after the group of ministers walked past us with only a passing nod.

  “Who?” Their red lips curled into a smile. “I’m just one of the many humans running about my business.”

  “They can’t not know…” I stopped when I took a good look at Rowen, who wasn’t wearing a crown or tiara or circlet of any nature to show their position.

  “Where’s the fun in being recognized?” Rowen shook their head, “No. It’s much better hiding in plain sight. It makes it all the more delicious when I do need to put on the pointy hat.”

  I couldn’t help myself; I laughed. “Well, far be it from me to deny you. I’m just as happy to hide in plain sight myself.”

  “That’s why I wanted you.” Rowen stated, a reminder that they had organized this marriage of convenience, and knew all too well, more than they ought. “So much potential, wasted.”

  While it was something I could never do back home, moving to Peldeep and getting to know Rowen let me relax a little more. I assumed they wouldn’t mind a little inquisitive teasing. In fact, they’d probably relish the thought.

  “Any chance you want to tell me who tipped the trough?” I asked, giving the fox a playful side eye as we walked. I couldn’t help wonder which spy had uncovered my secret.

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  Rowen’s eyes crinkled.

  “I have no idea what you mean, Countess Fern,” Rowen waved me down a hall, through a staircase, down another hall and turned left into a small corridor.

  It was a dead end, so presumably one of these doors led to my new office. I was right, and Rowen opened the last door, holding it for me.

  They swept their arm to welcome me inside.

  I nodded and entered my new workplace. The space was clean and bright. Three desks were set in a U, opening to the windows, and the walls were covered in bookshelves. One of the shelves was already stacked with parchment scrolls and logbooks. Three legal ledgers on tariff and trade tax laws took up their one shelf.

  The windows looked directly into the garden, and the mist aster flowers were covered in pearl crescent butterflies. A row of cornflowers mixed with white lilac grew in another flowerbed, attracting bees and ladybugs and green lacewing, and the button bushes were just starting to bud. They would be in full bloom by summer’s solstice. It was a healthy and happy garden and made the empty office that much more barren looking.

  “How many days until the wedding?” I asked the fox, who’d remained in the doorway, watching me inspect the room.

  “Seven, give or take.” Rowen pushed off the door and walked over to the head desk. They pulled a potted lilac out of nowhere and placed it on top. “I think we’ll have time to do it during the Apple Blossom Festival Feast, after closing ceremonies. That depends on how soon the Sumbrian delegation arrives, of course.”

  “I think I can get everything done in seven days.” I said, pulling down a ledger and flipping through it.

  Again, something I could never and would never do in front of a Sumbrian royal.

  “I have every faith in you.” Rowen stated. They tossed their glamorous long hair over their shoulder and walked back to the door. “I’ll send Bastian to pick you up.”

  “And if anymore assassins show up in the meantime?” I was going to be distracted, reviewing each drafted proposal, countering, copying or signing them, as the case may be. Each would have to be memorized before they were officially logging with the pertinent Peldeep minister branch, and I wanted everything done before the delegation arrived.

  There was no telling what headache Sumbria was sending over to ‘help’ run the trade office… probably someone who would just sign all the prefilled in forms willy-nilly.

  “I’m sure you or one of my many spies will deal with the matter accordingly,” Rowen waved away my concern. “They usually attack once in the morning and again around dinner. Only on a full moon is it truly egregious, and they attack during my evening walk. Can you imagine?”

  “I can.” I smiled despite myself. The fox was charming and clearly amused. It was hard not to get caught in their fun. “Isn’t it a full moon right now?”

  “Alas,” The fox sighed. “I might as well stay in and torture someone instead.”

  That dragged me out of the conversation, though my face remained the same. It wouldn’t due to show the ruler of Peldeep that I was afraid. “As you say.”

  “Bastian won’t be around to inconvenience.” Rowen tsked. “But with all of the festivities I’m sure I’ll find someone to play with. Maybe my son needs a hand with his courtship?”

  “I’m sure he’d love that,” I lied. Rowen caught it and their smile grew even wider.

  “I like you, Peregrine Fern,” They stated simply.

  “Thank you, Your Highness.” I replied, purposefully not returning the sentiment. “Now, may I be excused?”

  Rowen laughed again, their fangs gleaming. “I’ll allow it. Do what you can, and Murphy’s across the hall if you have any questions. That sloth might be slow, but he’s a tome of useful knowledge.”

  “I will.” I bowed to Their Highness, and breathed a sigh of relief when the fox finally left, closing the door behind them. Still a royal who could execute me where I stood, sure, but I think I handled that well.