CHAPTER 67: THE VELVET GLOVE AUCTION

"May I come in?" a soft voice said from the doorway.

It was Marcus.

Evelisse wiped her face fast, even though she hadn’t cried.

"Sure," she said, trying to sound casual.

He walked in, calm as ever, and sat beside her on the velvet settee. He didn’t look at her. Just at the box.

"It’s the same lily," he said quietly.

Her head turned.

"You know about it too?" she asked.

He nodded. "Not just saw it. I dreamed it would come back. In this exact box. After a contest."

She blinked. "Then why didn’t you say anything?"

"I didn’t want to ruin your win," he said gently. "You looked proud."

Evelisse stared at the flickering fire. "Do you think it’s a warning?"

"I think it’s a message," Marcus replied. "But not one meant to scare you."

"...Then what?"

"A reminder. Someone wants you to remember what you saw. What you know."

"...Why?"

Marcus looked at her now. "Maybe because you’re braver than they expected."

She didn’t answer right away. Her chest was warm and cold all at once.

"I should tell Mommy," she whispered.

"You will," Marcus said, "but not tonight."

He leaned in and held out his pinky.

"We promise, right? Like before?"

Evelisse smiled faintly.

"Pinky promise," she whispered, linking fingers.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

The next morning, Evelisse stood in the Duchess’s garden, the silver box clutched under one arm.

Queen Seraphina was trimming dream roses, her long sleeves rolled up, sunlight gleaming in her hair.

"Mommy," Evelisse said softly.

Seraphina turned with a gentle smile. "Good morning, darling. Did you sleep well after your cake conquest?"

Evelisse hesitated, then held out the box.

Seraphina froze.

Her eyes flicked to the moon lily, then to Evelisse.

Slowly, she closed her pruning shears and walked over.

"I see," she said.

"You said you took care of it," Evelisse whispered.

"I did," the Queen said gently. "But some roots run deep."

"Is it bad?"

Seraphina knelt beside her. "Not for you. Not anymore."

Evelisse stared at her. "So you know who sent it?"

"I have guesses," Seraphina said with a tired smile. "And I’ll find out for sure. You don’t have to worry."

"...Promise?"

The Queen’s eyes glinted. "I swear on my crown and my garden."

Evelisse finally relaxed.

Seraphina plucked the moon lily from the box.

It wilted in her hand the moment she touched it.

"Magic," she murmured.

Evelisse’s eyes widened. "Did it die?"

"No," Seraphina said. "It recognized who I am. And it folded."

Evelisse had no idea what that meant.

But she nodded anyway.

The garden shimmered in late morning light, dew still clinging to the dream roses as Queen Seraphina rose with the elegance of a storm calmed by willpower alone. The silver box remained open on the bench, its moon lily now curled in on itself, petals dimming to a twilight blue.

Evelisse said nothing more. She held her hands clasped before her like the perfect little royal... but her toes curled against her shoes.

She bowed respectfully. "Thank you for explaining, Your Majesty."

Seraphina arched a brow. "Evelisse, darling, you only call me that when you’re trying to hide something."

Evelisse blinked rapidly. "I would never."

Fluffy, hovering just behind a hedge where no one could see him, deadpanned, "She absolutely would."

"I’ll never let anything go wrong with my baby, not this time." Seraphina promised, kissing Evelisse’s forehead, and returning to her roses.

But Evelisse’s heart didn’t calm.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

She left the garden slowly, the box clutched tight under her arm like it might fly off if she blinked. Her boots scuffed the stone steps. Birds chirped somewhere overhead like they hadn’t witnessed emotional whiplash. Fluffy hovered nearby, head down, tail twitching.

The silence was prickly. Too many thoughts. Too many unanswered things.

So when Evelisse turned the corner of the corridor and slammed straight into someone, she let out a muffled squeak.

"Oof—!"

A dramatic gasp followed. "Princess Evelisse! I am mortally wounded!"

Evelisse looked up.

"Caelith," she groaned. "You walked into me."

He staggered back like he’d been pierced by a sword. "Alas, I perish by collision. The royal guards will write tales of my tragic demise—’He fell by forehead and tiny elbow.’"

"...You’re very dramatic this morning."

"Thank you. I practice." He grinned, then leaned down slightly, lowering his voice. "So. Want to talk about the moon lily?"

Her eyes snapped up to his.

Caelith’s tone softened, still playful, but a little more careful now. "You flinched. When you opened the box yesterday. Thought nobody saw, didn’t you?"

"I didn’t—"

"You did." He smiled, tilting his head. "And I just so happen to specialize in noticing things people pretend not to feel."

Evelisse glanced around. The corridor was empty, save for one very offended pink fox spirit glaring from behind a potted plant.

"I don’t know who sent it," she admitted. "But Mommy does. She said not to worry."

"Classic Queen Seraphina. Elegant and enigmatic." Caelith tapped his temple. "Well, guess what? You’re not alone in this mystery game. I’m officially signing on as your trusty sidekick."

"Sidekick?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, okay. Co-detective. Partner-in-sparkle. First-and-best friend. Choose your preferred title."

Evelisse finally cracked a smile. "I’ll think on it."

Caelith grinned, smug. "Good. Because partners trust each other. And I trust you to look adorable while bidding on weird glowing junk in front of a crowd tomorrow."

"...What?"

"The Velvet Glove Auction," he said with a wink. "Charity event. Weird tradition. You bid not with gold—but by tossing your glove into the ring and agreeing to a dance. Highest glove offer wins the item. Ridiculous. Embarrassing. Definitely chaotic."

She stared at him.

Caelith pointed at her firmly. "Prince Jared signed you up."

"HE DID WHAT?"

Fluffy facepalmed with both tiny paws from the shadows. "Your brothers sometimes attract chaos like a sugar-crusted magnet."

’Fluffy! Shhh...’

"Are we trusting this one?" Fluffy muttered. "His hair is suspiciously perfect."

Evelisse didn’t answer. But then—

Caelith glanced ever so briefly toward Fluffy’s direction.

A flicker. Just a heartbeat.

’Did he—?’

Fluffy frowned. That had been too precise. Almost like... he saw Fluffy.

But when Caelith spoke again, he was already stretching, it was as though nothing had happened. Arms behind his head like a lazy cat. "Anyway! Prepare yourself, Your Teacupness."

"...What do I get if I win something?"