IT WAS the morning of the Derby and Robby prattled about some tips on how Melusine should conduct herself.

"So, let's review. At the lawn picnic, you'll have to eat with perfect civility. . ." Robby started as he paced back and forth, his two front paws clasped behind his back, like how a tutor was to his student.

Melusine nodded for the nth time that day. "I've got this, Robby. I won't stuff my mouth, pick my teeth, or stab the king with a fork. . . no matter how tempting that last one might be."

"Right. Well, it's important to go through everything. Every eye will be on you out there." Robby surveyed the room as if someone else might be listening. "I heard the maids earlier."

She leaned in, frowning. "What?"

"That you and Prince Edric have a secret affair."

Melusine groaned and threw herself back to the bed. "It's not a surprise. That kind of news is bound to come out no matter what, but still. . ."

The rabbit patted her hand in comfort. "I know it sucks. But you brought this to yourself so deal with it."

Melusine frowned. She sat up to protest when Robby pressed a paw to her mouth. "Tut, tut. Speaking of which, how should you address the prince?"

"I'm supposed to address Edric as Your Highness," she said in a flat tone.

"Right! And in case it comes up, his full title is Crown Prince Edric Lombard. Don't call him by his name alone. Just so we don't add fire to the already circulating rumor, hmm? And next, how do you get out of the carriage?"

"Adjust skirts before moving and keep my knees and feet together when swiveling out."

Robby walked over to her. "Melusine, let's pretend I'm meeting you for the first time. 'Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Melissa Ashborn."

"The pleasure's all mine, Duke. . ." Melusine trailed, earning a sigh from Robby.

"Just Robby. Duke Robby. But it is supposed to be a last name."

"Right." Melusine curtsied. Robby took her hand with his right paw and kissed the back of it.

"Now, what did I do wrong?"

"You used the wrong hand," Melusine said. "You should have taken my hand with your left hand—or paw. Otherwise, it's an insult."

Robby hummed in satisfaction, nodding his head. "Very observant of you."

"You thought I wasn't learning anything."

"Don't ever get too complacent. You're only ever one mistake away from a scandal."

There was a knock on the door. "Lady Melissa?" It was Shirley.

"Come in."

The door opened to welcome in the sweet and buttery aroma of pancakes and the syrupy tanginess of strawberries and grapes. The lightly caramelized and almost nutty scent of coffee tickled Melusine's nose and she instantly salivated.

Shirley pushed in a silver trolley filled to the brim with the classic breakfast: pancakes and coffees (as she expected); crunchy buttered wholemeal toast topped with wilted spinach, smashed avocado, and unctuously soft poached egg; baked quiche and caramel-apple stuffed french toast; cinnamon rolls, chocolate croissants, and blueberry muffins; and diced carrots and lettuce leaves (for Robby).

"What is this? My last meal?" Melusine's mouth hung in a mixture of amazement and disbelief.

Shirley transferred each plate to the table by the window. Melusine studied every food laid before her, contemplating where to start and how to finish.

"Well, it's a special breakfast for a special lady," Shirley said, giggling. Viola entered with a cheeky smile on her face and disappeared into the bathing room to prepare her bath.

A crimson paint blotched Melusine's cheeks. She hid her embarrassment behind the mug of coffee and a whipped foam caught the tip of her nose.

Shirley offered her a napkin and almost made Melusine choke with her question. "Is it true that you and the prince were together?" She lifted her brows up and down, teasing. A trace of scandalous assumption hinted at her mentioned word "together."

Robby eyed her accusingly as he munched on his food above the table.

Melusine cleared her throat as she drenched the pancake with the strawberry syrup and daintily sliced through the cloudy fluffiness.

"I don't know how you interpret things between us. With how fast the rumors circulate, I am certain none of them can be closer to the truth." Melusine popped a strawberry into her mouth and looked Shirley straight in the eye. "But just to clear things up, nothing inappropriate happened between us."

Another point was taken. Humans loved rumors.

Shirley gulped, nodding in understanding. Her hand disappeared into her apron's pocket, bringing out a folded piece of paper. "This came with breakfast."

Melusine took the paper and unfolded it. "A message from Prince Edric?"

"It must be. I didn't open it myself."

The windows opened with a blast and the wind rushed inside. Shirley yelped and scurried to close the windows. She didn't see how Melusine trembled at the message.

I am watching you.

THE CARRIAGE pulled around, arriving at the racetrack. Ladies and gentlemen wearing bright colors and big hats paraded behind a line of velvet stanchions.

Viola gave Melusine a reassuring smile and opened the door to the carriage for her.

"This is your stop, my lady."

Melusine faltered. "You're coming with me, right?"

Viola smiled at her reassuringly. "Unfortunately, no. The ladies vying for the prince's hand have their own section. Just continue down the red carpet and search for the pink tents, and you'll be fine."

Melusine removed any trace of nervousness from her face as she bunched up her floral skirts, exited the carriage, and proceeded to the field.

Now I'm supposed to join the other suitors. . . somewhere.

She tried to find the pink tents Viola mentioned but couldn't spot them. A few moments later, Melusine lost her way in the mass of moving hats, unable to see anyone familiar.

I wonder where I'm supposed to go.

MELUSINE WANDERED inside a nearby stable, hoping to find someone to ask. Most of the pens were empty, save for one horse. It retreated deeper into its pen at the sight of her.

"Hello? Any humans here?" Melusine called. "I could use some directions."

As she looked around the stables, a gust of wind caused the door behind her to slam shut.

The frightened door charged through the pen's loose door, kicking and neighing. It barreled right for her.

Melusine reached out her hand as she carefully slid her feet backward. "Easy, easy horsey. Everything's alright," she cooed.

The horse snorted and galloped straight at her.

The horse reared up.

"Aaaahhh!"

And at the last moment, someone darted in between her and the horse. She stumbled safely into a stack of hay as she looked up to see Prince Stefan.

"Whoa, there. Whoa." Prince Stefan tangled his fingers in the horse's mane and gently pulled the horse's head down. The two locked eyes. "Nothing to worry about, big fella. I'll get this girl out of her for you."

Prince Stefan led the horse back to his stall, then turned to Melusine. "Are you okay, Lady Melissa?"

"I-I. . ." Melusine grasped for the right words. Here was the last person she wanted to bump into. She'd been meaning to ask Edric if he already had the talk with his brother and how the conversation ended.

Melusine read the air around him. His aura hummed with a calm buzzing and its outer edge pulsed in steady rhythm in time with his even breath.

"I. . . Thank you. You saved me."

The prince chuckled. "Really? I thought I was saving the horse. These Derby runners are like athletes. Can't risk an injury tripping over a stray human."

The lines around Melusine's eyes hardened. Maybe she judged him wrong. Perhaps, the prince harbored grievances towards her after all.

He must not think of her as weak. She would not be his prey.

Melusine flicked her chin up. "Oh, charming. Did the horse knock the sense out of you?"

Crossing his arms, he said, "No. In fact, I got away without a scratch." Stefan looked down at her, smirking.

Realizing she was still slumped on the stack of hay, Melusine got to her feet, patting away dirt from her skirt. "If I may ask, what are you doing here, Prince Stefan?"

Stefan ran his fingers through his hair. "Look. . . I. . ." He blew a heavy breath as conflicting emotions rose to the surface of his eyes. "The truth is, Edric pleaded with me to keep an eye on you and make sure you do not end up in the wrong place. . . exactly like now."

Heat suddenly enveloped the place, making her hot and sweaty. She fanned her face with her hand. "H-He told you that?"

"Yes. It's a good thing for you because I was contemplating not going."

Then the coldness replaced the heat. Blue icicles covered the walls of the stable, creeping on every surface like crystal spider webs. Her breath fogged. With every begrudging step of the prince, the more the temperature dropped.

He held her gaze and Melusine was unable to look away. "I don't know what it is that you and my brother are up to. He did confess that he was the one you were with that afternoon in Landow. But his clothes. . ." He tilted his head as if the answer could pop out by simply staring at her face. "Something doesn't feel right." Then he shook his head, flashing a grin. "No matter. You would not tell me, would you?"

"No." There was no use making up for an excuse. The best way to do so was to guard their remaining most hidden secret.

With a final smile veiling a silent warning, Stefan turned his back on her, breaking the freezing spell he cast on Melusine.

He paused at the entrance. "Look for the white tents next to the starting line. Can't miss them. Good luck!"

But Melusine's head might have a loose screw as she set after Stefan and grabbed his arms. Stefan snapped his head to her with a look of surprise.

"Where are you going?" she asked, breathless and nervous.

It took a while for Stefan to recover. Blinking, he said, "I'm due to meet Edric. He has his own private tent."

Melusine figured as much. She felt giddy all over. If they must convince Stefan that they were attracted to each other, now was the right time.

"I'm coming with you."

"What?" Stefan shook his head but didn't stop her.

MELUSINE FOLLOWED the second prince in silence until finally, Stefan stopped in front of one of the private enclosed tents ringed around the racetrack.

"Here. You go ahead. I'm going to grab something for us."

Stefan handed Melusine a pass. Taking it, she went into Edric's private tent and spotted him staring intently at the racetrack.

She sneaked up behind him and playfully covered his eyes. As her hands settled over his eyes, she felt him go tense.

"Just play along," she whispered in his ears. Melusine breathed in the prince's woody and spicy scent and shuddered.

At the sound of her voice, Edric relaxed. "There's only one person who could find me here and sneak up on me."

Edric captured her wrist and turned around. Melusine had only been aware of their closeness by then. Their noses were merely inches away.

She took one step back, determined to place the rightful distance, but his grip on her wrist tightened and she cast the idea away.

"Mel," he said, his minty breath fanning her face. "How in the world did you manage to get in here?"

Melusine's eyes fluttered as if in a trance. Her vision focused on those sinful lips. "Prince Stefan was kind enough to let me in."

Interest sparked the light within him. "Is that so? Odd. My brother's always been a stickler to rules."

"Speaking of which. . . I had a funny conversation with Prince Stefan. He said you told him to look out for me."

Melusine's eyes narrowed at the tinge of pink that was blooming on his face. She laughed after realizing he was blushing.

Edric scoffed, turning his head to hide the embarrassment on his face. "Right. I guess you caught me. I did say that to him."

With a light laugh, she poked his side. It was the lightest feeling she ever felt ever since the Fairy Mother temporarily banished her from Theolia. For a moment, she forgot the urgency of her mission. "Prince Edric, that was thoughtful of you."

A smile slipped beneath his scowling face as he half-heartedly swatted her hand away. "Stop it. They're leading the horses to the starting gates now."

Melusine watched as majestic-looking thoroughbreds pranced forward, tossing their heads and nickering. Together, they turned to face the racetrack.

"I love watching the horses," Edric said.

"What strikes me is that they're so beautiful."

"That they are. These are no-show ponies, but they have beauty and grace of their own. Did you know the winner gets covered in flowers?"

"That must be an incredible sight!"

Just then, Stefan let himself in the tent, holding three cups of beer. He handed one each to Edric and Melusine.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything?" Stefan took a swig and drank the beer in two gulps.

Melusine swirled the golden liquid inside and gagged as she smelled it. She smiled apologetically as she placed down the cup on the small circular table.

"Of course not. We're happy to see you," she said.

Stefan's lips quirked. "You are?"

"Come and join us," said Edric. "You're just in time."

In an upright stance, feet width apart, he jerked his chin in the direction of the slick-black steed with a white mane. "I say Twilight-Dash takes the crown."

Melusine mouthed a silent wow and said it in a voice that was overwhelmed with excitement. "Twilight-Dash. He's like the sky at night with the stars."

"That's not a bad prediction, but I've been studying the stats. My money's on Marabelle's Dream," Stefan said. Marabelle's Dream was the white horse with splotches of gray around her body.

The two horses stood side by side.

"Want to bet on that, Stefan?" Edric said, giving his brother a side-eye.

Stefan played his bottom lip. "Sure. The usual?"

"What's the usual?" Melusine chimed in.

Sired by different mothers, the princes had that kind of closeness opposite to what Melusine surmised. Queen Harriet's sour treatment of Edric was an antithesis to Stefan's display of warmth.

Edric clapped Stefan's back. "Ever since Stefan and I were kids, we'd bet each other push-ups."

Stefan grinned. "Not just any push-ups."

"Push-ups while the other person sits on your back."

Edric circled an arm around Stefan's neck, locking him in a chokehold. "So. . . do we have a bet?"

The younger prince laughed a carefree laugh. "You're on."