Pitch didn’t see Azor again for several days. At least, she didn’t think she did.

Every once in a while, she managed to catch a glimpse of his false eyes in some dark corner, just out of view…then she would step forward for a closer look, and find herself staring at nothing.

Still, she knew he was around. She didn’t hear his voice in her head the way she had before, but she felt his presence constantly, like a faint strand of spider silk cleaved to her skin.

It was unsettling to her, and at the same time oddly comforting.

She tried her best to ignore the feeling, however, and instead focused on reacquainting herself with life in her old home.

She met the Queen for at least one meal every day, and lately she had even begun to eat during those meals. She slept soundly in her bedroom; she read books in the garden; she visited her father’s tomb. On the twelfth day, the first of her new dresses arrived: it was brilliant white, and it fit like a glove. She looked in the mirror and caught herself smiling.

Then she remembered the spider silk, and her smile dimmed somewhat.

She realized she could never truly relax with Azor around: knowing he was there automatically reminded her of why he was there, and the ominous warnings he had left her with.

And one night, in the courtyard, she decided it was finally time to do something about it.

“Azor??” she called. “I know you’re around here somewhere; come out where I can see you. We need to talk.”

For a moment, there was only silence. Then a shadow appeared behind a nearby tree.

“…There’s nothing to talk about,” it said. “I’ve already said all I needed to say to you.”

“Well, now I’d like to say something, if you don’t mind.”

“I think it’s about time someone gave you an ultimatum,” Pitch said sternly. “I want you to leave…either that, or meet with my stepmother face to face, once and for all.”

“Meeting her isn’t going to change my mind.”

“Well, it might. And if you really are here for my sake, I think it’s the least you could do. That is why you’re here, isn’t it? For me??”

Azor didn’t reply.

Pitch walked over to him— and this time he didn’t disappear. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Azor…I’ve been here for almost two weeks, and nothing has happened,” she said softly. “You can’t expect me to live in fear for the rest of my life…and you can’t just keep skulking around here, waiting for something to go wrong…”

“I just…I’d like to try to be happy,” she added. “And I can’t do that without you…I mean, without your cooperation.”

Azor switched his eye-tail, thinking. “…Exactly what do you expect me to say to this stepmother of yours??” he asked after a while.

“Well, I…I’m not sure. I suppose you should just be your usual self— I’ve already warned her not to expect much.” Pitch smiled. “To be honest, I expected you to choose to leave…aren’t you missing your roses by now…?”

“Always…but they don’t need me right now.” He narrowed his false eyes. “In fact…I was beginning to think that my presence there might have done them more harm than good. After all, without me, no hunters will come to trample them underfoot…or lop off their stems out of boredom…”

Pitch gave him a solemn look. “…I think that’s the saddest thing you’ve ever said to me,” she said.

“How so?”

“Well, I know how much you love them. And therefore…how painful it must be to think that they’re better off without you.”

Azor pushed her hand off his shoulder. “…Don’t start pitying me again,” he said. “It’s no more painful than anything else I’ve had to endure…In any case, I will meet with your Queen if that’s what you want. Perhaps she will finally show her hand.”

“Azor…”

“You told me to be my usual self: well, you must know by now that I am usually suspicious.”

And suspicious he remained, when the pair finally met the Queen for tea the next afternoon.

It was an overcast day, and dim, silvery light streamed through the sitting room windows. The silverware glinted in its otherworldly glow.

The Queen also seemed to have a glow about her— Pitch suspected she had been using her beauty machine again. Something about that contraption still unnerved her, even now that she was beginning to feel safe…she tried to put it out of her mind, and reached for the sugar.

“Margaret has told me so much about you,” the Queen said to Azor. “For instance, that you subsist on nothing but water…is that true?? Could I possibly tempt you with some herbal tea, or perhaps a little solid food…?”

Azor didn’t reply. He simply sat and stared at the Queen with narrowed false eyes.

Pitch glanced at him, then at her hostess. “…If he needs anything, I’m sure he’ll let you know,” she said, stirring her tea.

“…He doesn’t really intend to speak to me, does he?”

“Well…to be honest, I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Does he dislike me that much…?”

“Don’t take it personally; he dislikes everyone.”

“But he must like you.”

The Queen smiled. “He came all this way to protect you from me…and even now that your other friends have gone, he remains…I think he must like you very much.”

Pitch kept her eyes trained on her cup, hoping Azor wouldn’t notice her blushing. “I…suppose,” she muttered.

“In any case, it’s very nice to have him here, even if he won’t talk. In fact…there’s something I’d like to say to him.” The Queen leaned forward in her chair. “Mr. Azor, I give you my solemn word; I will do nothing to harm Margaret for the rest of her natural life,” she said. “You may not believe me, but in any case it won’t matter for long— after all, I imagine she’ll be living with someone else soon enough.”

Pitch blinked. “What…do you mean by that?”

“Well…I didn’t really intend to bring it up now, but I suppose we would have to talk about it sooner or later— marriage, my dear.”

“…Marriage??”

“Of course. You are your father’s only heir, and as such, the future of this kingdom lies in your hands. And after my recent purchase, we are in dire need of resources…I think the time is right for a very lucrative royal wedding~.”

“Of course, I don’t mean to rush you…not that there’s any need,” she went on. “Anyone would consider themselves lucky to marry such a lovely princess; no lord or lady in the land could refuse you. It is simply a matter of finding the right opportunity…if you like, I could send out some messengers; find out who’s ‘on the market’, so to speak…or we could have a ball! Yes, a grand gala event to celebrate your return! We’ll invite lots of young royals, and if you happen to meet anyone you like, well…”

Pitch strained her face into a smile. “That sounds…very exciting,” she said. “Of course, I fully expected to have to do things like this again…I certainly didn’t think I would come all the way back here just to…hang around…”

“Then you like the idea??”

“Well, it’s…good…at least, for the people to know that I’ve returned. I imagine they haven’t had anything to celebrate in a long while…”

“Oh yes, things have been quite dreary around here since you’ve been away. But all that is about to change, isn’t it??”

The Queen reached across the table and took Pitch’s hands in hers. “Oh, Margaret…I’m so happy for you! For us! For the joyous days to come…! I feel as if the winds of destiny are blowing all around us!”

“Yes…there does seem to be a chill in the air…”

“The two of you must excuse me; I’d like to start preparing right away!” The Queen rose from her chair. “Margaret, my dear, you will have the wedding of your dreams no more than one year from today! Mark my words!”

Pitch watched her stepmother leave the room. “…Azor, I’m a fool,” she said in a frightened whisper.