One of the guards, a tall skinny brown mouse, pushed his way past the guard at the front. “King Rat has heard about the Princess. Is it true she’s the most beautiful princess in the whole of Enchantia?”

So Skye had been there spreading the word!

“It’s absolutely true,” Delphie declared. She swept Priscilla’s veil back. The guards’ eyes widened. Priscilla really did look beautiful.

“The princess is looking for a husband,” Delphie told the guards. “There are many lords and princes who want to marry her. But she has heard about King Rat and she believes that he might be her perfect match. Take us to him!” she instructed grandly.

To her delight, the guards swung round. “Follow us!” said the lead guard and dropping down on to all four feet, the guards scampered off down the road.

Delphie heard King Rat before she saw him, coming from one of the open first floor windows.

“Where is this Princess?” he was shouting in his harsh voice. “I want to see her. She can’t be more beautiful than Aurelia. She…” He stopped as if someone had just spoken to him. “What?” he said sharply. “She’s here?”

King Rat suddenly appeared at the window. Delphie gulped. He looked just as frightening as she remembered him.

His nose was pointed, his whiskers were long and sharp, and his beady eyes gleamed red. He was wearing a spiky gold crown and a long gold cloak and was staring at Delphie. “Well, she’s not very beautiful,” he began, pointing at her. “She’s just a child and rather a small one at that…”

“I’m not the princess!” Delphie stepped to one side to display the newly transformed princess. King Rat looked at Priscilla. For a moment he didn’t say anything and then a smile crossed his face. “Now, she is beautiful!”

Priscilla opened her mouth but no sound came out.

“What’s she saying? What’s she saying?” demanded King Rat. He preened his whiskers. And what does she think of me?”

Delphie cleared her throat. “The Princess has a sore throat at the moment and can only whisper.” She bent towards the toad princess and nodded as if Priscilla was talking to her. “King Rat, my princess says she has never seen such a fine figure as you, your majesty. She compliments you on your… your…” Delphie racked her brain. “On your wonderfully curling whiskers,” she invented, “and your very shiny fur! She would just love to be your wife!”

King Rat smoothed his paw over his greasy fur. “Well, of course, people do say I am very handsome,” he said haughtily. “And she is certainly more beautiful than that Princess Aurelia.” He leaned out of the window. “Very well. I will marry you, Princess!” he called to Priscilla as if he was doing her a huge favour. “I will marry you – today!”