You couldn’t boil water in the kitchen, so how had she managed? Kokoro saw her taking out a thermos from a denim shoulder bag decorated with heart-shaped badges, stars and lamé.

She unscrewed the top of the thermos and a thin curl of steam rose into the air.

Aki brought over three teacups and saucers from the kitchen, and poured out the tea.

‘Thank you. Help yourself to these if you’d like.’ Kokoro placed her box of cookies on the table.

‘Thanks,’ Aki said, smiling. ‘There’s a kitchen here, but we can’t use it since there’s no running water or gas. Which is so strange, as the castle is lit up inside, and it never feels too hot or too cold. I wonder why.’

Wow, you’re right, thought Kokoro, and glanced up at the ceiling. A chandelier hung down with teardrop-shaped crystals, but it didn’t look like any electricity was keeping it on.

‘But there is electricity. The boys are playing video games, aren’t they?’ Fuka pointed out.

‘You’re so right.’ Kokoro was puzzled.

‘I asked where they got the power, and they said they plugged into the wall socket like normal.’

‘So the Game Room has an electrical socket?’

There was no running water or gas, but there was definitely electricity.

Kokoro heard Aki chuckle.

‘I like that,’ Aki said. ‘Your name for it – the Game Room.’

‘Oh.’

‘That really is all those guys do – play games. I’m going to call it that, too.’

‘The Game Room isn’t the only room with electricity. What about this chandelier?’

Aki flicked the switch on the wall. An orange-tinted light filled the room.

The next time the Wolf Queen made an appearance, maybe they should ask her.

Fuka brought her hands together politely in thanks before the teacup. ‘Thank you,’ she said, and bowed her head a fraction.

How polite she is, thought Kokoro.

‘Please, go right ahead,’ Aki said, and Kokoro followed suit, bowing her head and voicing her thanks. She lifted her cup and sniffed its fruity aroma.

‘It’s apple tea,’ said Aki. ‘It’s also weird how the plates and cups I used were all washed up.’

‘What?’ Kokoro said.

‘The other day I used the crockery, and I couldn’t wash up because there’s no running water. When I came back later, they were all neatly back on the shelf. As if someone had washed them.’

‘Really?’

‘I asked around, but no one had touched them. Maybe the Wolf Queen washes up after we’ve gone.’

‘Quite sweet, if you think about it.’

‘Right.’

Kokoro pictured the Wolf Queen in her mask and dress, doing the washing up. It was quite funny. She had just lifted the cup to take another sip when Aki said, ‘That Ureshino is a bit irritating, though, isn’t he,’ getting right to the heart of the situation Kokoro had been stressing about.