Joshua tilted his head as he watched Blanchette hugging his grandmother, tears streaming down her face. "Huh? What's up with you? That's my grandma."
Lancelot stepped beside him, nodding slowly. "Oh… that makes sense. She looks just like the late Lady Elizabeth, Blanchette's grandmother. Except Lady Elizabeth had red hair, not purple."
Blanchette pulled away from the hug, her eyes still wet but her posture returning to its graceful poise. She sniffled and bowed her head slightly. "I'm sorry, ma'am, for my behavior. It's just… you look so much like my grandma."
Joshua's grandmother chuckled warmly, brushing a strand of hair behind Blanchette's ear. "It's quite alright, dear. You can call me Grandma from now on." She held out her hand, offering something small and round.
Joshua and Lancelot both took a cautious step forward, their eyes narrowing in alarm.
"Is that… mold?" Joshua muttered.
Blanchette didn't seem to care. She took the apple with trembling hands, and as soon as her fingers wrapped around it, a vivid memory flashed before her eyes, her own grandmother offering her an apple, smiling just like this.
"Thank you, Grandma," she whispered with a watery smile, her red, puffy eyes beaming with gratitude.
They boarded the carriage and began the journey back to the noble house of Kaizer.
When they arrived, King William and Queen Juliet watched from a high window as the carriage doors opened. Joshua was the first to leap out like an excited child. Blanchette stepped out next, moving with elegance and grace. Then came Lancelot, stoic and upright as ever. Merlin followed closely behind him, jumping down and landing on Lancelot's back by accident, her face burning crimson.
"So that's one of his family members," King William muttered. "One of the witches he spoke of."
Queen Juliet narrowed her eyes, her expression sour. "Ugh. Now I see where that filthy werewolf learned his manners."
An old woman stepped from the carriage, their grandmother. Juliet squinted at her, recognition flickering behind her eyes. "That woman… she looks just like your moth..."
Before she could finish, King William let out a low growl. He gritted his teeth, and in a sudden, violent blur, he shattered the window they'd been standing behind and launched himself through it. In an instant, he appeared before Joshua's grandmother, sword raised, ready to strike.
No one had time to react, no one except Lancelot.
He intercepted the strike, steel crashing against steel. The force of the blow sent him flying, smashing through the carriage, wood splintering everywhere. He landed with a sickening thud and lay motionless, blood trailing from his forehead.
"Lancelot!" Merlin screamed, rushing to his side. Her hands glowed as she began to heal him.
Joshua leapt in front of his grandmother, crouching low like a wolf, his ears twitching, tail bristled and upright. His body trembled, but he stood firm.
"Witch!" King William roared, eyes filled with fury. "Why have you stolen my mother's face?!"
Everyone stood frozen, except for the old woman herself. She calmly met his rage with a gentle smile.
"How rude, young man," she said coolly. "I was born with this face."
"Stop lying!"
"King William, she never..." Joshua tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Was it fear? Despair? He couldn't tell. He knew he couldn't stop the next strike, not in time. His body was already preparing to throw itself in front of the blow.
Even if I die... I'll protect Grandma.
William lunged again.
"Grandma!!!" Joshua shouted.
But someone else had moved.
Blanchette stood between them, arms raised, her small frame defiant. Her voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"Enough, Father! You've done enough!" she shouted. "This woman was just born with the same face as Grandma, that's all! Apologize. Now!"
Joshua stared at her, stunned. Whoa… she's scary. Better not make her mad.
The King's sword dropped to the ground with a heavy clatter. He fell to his knees, trembling, his head bowed low.
"I… I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."
Blanchette softened. "It's okay, Dad." She walked over and hugged him tightly.
Moments later, the maid Amy was guiding Joshua, Merlin, and their grandmother to their rooms.
"So," Grandma began casually, "why was that young man so angry?"
Amy glanced back. "You mean King William? It's said his mother was killed in front of him by the werewolf king. He… devoured her. Gruesome, they say."
"Oh," Grandma said, blinking. "So your family killed his mother, grandson."
Everyone turned to her in shock.
Joshua rubbed the back of his head, sighing. "Yeah, but can't you phrase it better? Anyway, my uncle's not family anymore." His tone darkened. (He's more monster than man now… an immortal werewolf who devoured a noble.)
Merlin slapped him on the back. "Lighten up."
Joshua smiled faintly.
They arrived at a room with a refined wood finish and golden trim.
"This is your room, madam," Amy said with a small curtsy.
"Oh, it's huge!" Grandma chirped as she stepped inside. "Now, where's my luggage?"
"We got rid of the trash in your bags," Amy replied matter-of-factly.
All three of them stared at her, wide-eyed.
"But," Amy continued, "if you check the closet, you'll find new clothes, more fitting for the environment."
Grandma darted to the closet with surprising speed, squealing at the sight of the dresses.
"I've never seen her move so fast," Joshua whispered.
"She was booking it," Merlin agreed.
Amy turned toward them. "Shall we move to the next room?"
Joshua and Merlin answered together, "Yes."
As they followed Amy down the hallway, Merlin nudged Joshua.
"So… is Lancelot married? Or have a girlfriend?" she asked with a sly smile.
Amy answered before Joshua could, her tone clipped. "No, ma'am. But if you have thoughts of becoming his girlfriend, it won't happen. Lancelot is from a branch of the noble Kaisens. Their duty is to protect the Kaizers. They're born knights. They only marry within their branch to keep the bloodline strong. Usually arranged marriages."
"So… like cousins?" Joshua asked, wrinkling his nose. "Gross."
"Cousins. Even siblings."
Joshua and Merlin stared at each other in horror.
"Gross!" they cried in unison.
Merlin's face fell. She trudged behind them, defeated.
Joshua gave her a firm slap on the back. "Don't give up, Merlin."
"You're right!" she declared, lifting her arms. "I'm Merlin, the most beautiful witch!"
Joshua whooped and began bouncing around her, hyping her up while Amy walked ahead, unimpressed.
"We've arrived at your room, ma'am," she said, gesturing toward a room of shimmering glass and marble.
Merlin gasped. "It's so pretty!"
Amy turned. "Shall we continue?"
"Yeah, let's go," Joshua nodded.
As they walked, he glanced at her. "So, Amy, what's your story? How'd you end up here?"
"That has nothing to do with you, sir," she replied without looking at him.
"You don't have to call me sir. I'm Joshua."
"I know your name. But I only call my friends by their names. And you don't fall into that category… sir."
Joshua smirked. She's sassy. We're definitely going to be friends.
Amy stopped in front of a cold stone door. "We've arrived at your room." Without another word, she turned and walked away.
"Not gonna lead me in?" Joshua called after her. "Guess not. I definitely feel mistreated."
He stepped inside and froze.
The room looked more like a prison cell. The walls were bare brick. Two stiff beds sat under an arched window, and his bag was tossed in the corner. On the floor.
Lancelot was already there, doing push-ups, bandages wrapped around his head.
"I brought your bag in," Lancelot said without pausing. "Welcome to the warrior's den."
"My room is ass," Joshua muttered, face contorting. "And I'm sharing it with you. Great."
"What are you complaining about? You get armor. New clothes are for women." Lancelot stood and handed him a polished silver chestplate.
"Cool!" Joshua grinned and threw it on over his hoodie. But a moment later he began shifting uncomfortably. "It's too hard to move…"
He peeled off the neck guard and pelvis armor, letting his tail swing free, kicked off the heavy boots, and slipped on his black and green ones instead. The chestplate, gauntlets, and shin guards he kept.
"That's better," he said, jumping lightly on his feet.
Lancelot nodded in approval. "Not my style, but yeah. Makes sense for your fighting style. Heavy armor would only weigh you down."
That evening, the entire household sat around the grand dining table. King William sat at the head. Queen Juliet at the other end. Merlin next to Lancelot. Joshua beside Blanchette. Grandma on his other side.
The table was massive.
The silence was even bigger.
Everyone ate quietly, tension lingering like a heavy fog.