It was right behind Kokoro, who let out a scream. She jumped away and looked round. It was indeed the Wolf Queen – making her first appearance in quite some time.

‘Wolf Queen!’

They had been caught off guard. They stared, wide-eyed. She was wearing a dress they’d never seen before, but the mask was as bewildering as ever.

‘Well, well, nice to see you all, my Little Red Riding Hoods,’ she said, strutting into the centre of the group.

‘What’re you doing – scaring us like that?’ Masamune and Rion said.

‘My apologies,’ the Wolf Queen said, fluttering her hand, her expression as always unseen behind the mask. ‘You Red Riding Hoods seemed to be having such a good time. So I just popped away for a bit. But I realized I hadn’t told you one important thing.’

‘Important thing?’ Aki asked, head tilted. ‘It isn’t against the rules, is it, for us to all work together to look for the key?’

‘No problem at all,’ the Wolf Queen said. ‘In fact, that’s excellent. It’s splendid to see you cooperating so efficiently. Helping each other is beautiful, so give it your all.’

‘Good.’

‘But there is one thing I forgot to say, and I came here today to tell you.’

She perched awkwardly on the table in front of the sofa.

‘Having a wish fulfilled is all very well, of course. Just understand, though, that the moment you use the key and enter the Wishing Room to realize your wish, you’ll lose all memory of this castle.’

‘What?!’ It was a collective response.

The Wolf Queen chose to ignore it.

‘The instant your wish is granted, you will forget everything – the castle, and all that has unfolded within its walls. You’ll forget each other. And of course, you will forget me.

‘A bit sad, no?’ she added, looking intently into their eyes. ‘If no one’s wish is granted before the thirtieth of March, then your memory will remain intact. The castle will close down, but you’ll remember all that happened. That’s how it works.’

The Wolf Queen gave a little shrug and slid off the table. Kokoro couldn’t imagine what sort of expression she wore underneath the mask.

‘I’m so sorry I forgot to tell you,’ the Wolf Queen said airily.

THE GROUP WERE DUMBFOUNDED.

Kokoro, too, needed time to digest things. They would forget all that has unfolded within its walls – the words were a shock.

‘Are you … joking?’ a voice finally piped up. Rion, sounding puzzled. ‘It’s not as if I don’t believe you, but are you serious?’

Kokoro could fully understand Rion’s confusion. He could understand her meaning, but his emotions rejected it. And he wanted to make sure. Kokoro – and probably the rest – felt the same.

‘I’m utterly serious,’ the Wolf Queen said serenely. ‘Do you have any other questions?’