Everyone shut up.

Agatha slowly looked up at Merlin.

“Either the School Master dies or we die, Agatha,” the wizard impressed. “So if I were you, I would be wholly focused on Sophie instead of stymphs.”

His echo resounded across the Woods.

Agatha could see Tedros staring at her.

The rest of the group frowned at her too, dead silent.

“Might as well kill ourselves now, then,” Cinderella cracked.

Agatha twirled to her. “Or kill you since you’re a vile, black-hearted beast who no one can stand!”

Cinderella went beet red.

A stillness fell over the group, with everyone looking away.

Agatha glanced at Tedros, but he couldn’t meet her eyes either.

Merlin lumbered to his feet, brushing his hands of crumbs. “Another reason I’ve stayed a bachelor all these years . . . ,” he said, heading towards the path. “The joy of eating alone.”

“I’m not apologizing,” Agatha declared.

Tedros chomped on an apple, ambling beside her.

“I’m not. She deserved it,” Agatha pushed, trying not to look back at Cinderella with Pinocchio, a ways behind. “You would have done the same thing.”

Tedros didn’t answer.

“Look, if you’re going to make a scene about it, I’ll apologize, but only if she apologizes first,” said Agatha.

Tedros gnawed at the apple core and tossed it aside. “What is she apologizing for, exactly?”

“Tedros, she’s done nothing but torment us since the day we met her.”

“None of it bothered you before. If anything, you’ve gone out of your way to be civil to her until ten minutes ago.”

“Because I can only take so much!”

“Or because you found a convenient whipping girl during a moment of self-doubt.”

“What?”

“Agatha, do you remember first year we were in Dovey’s Good Deeds class and you told me I was dumb as an ass and then—”

“You threatened to kill me?”

Tedros pointed at himself. “Self-doubt.” He pointed at her. “Whipping girl.”

The prince cocked a smile. “Takes one to know one.”

Agatha folded her arms. “Well, you didn’t apologize to me back then, so why should I apologize to her?”

“Because you’re a better person than me, obviously.”

“Is that the defense you’re going to use in every argument from now until we die?”

“Works, doesn’t it?”

Agatha groaned. “Fine. Given that it’s impossible to get her alone at the moment, I’ll wait until there’s a more suitable time and plac—”

“Hey, Long Nose!” Tedros shouted to Pinocchio. “Mind walking with me for a bit?”

Pinocchio grimaced. “I’d rather not, given your air of entitlement, but seeing you’re a spoiled brat who will heckle me with emasculating taunts if I don’t, I’m sensing I don’t have a choice,” he said, shuffling towards the prince.

Tedros blinked at him. “It must be exhausting to always tell the truth.”

“Why do you think I’m not married?” said Pinocchio, walking off with him.

And just like that, Agatha was alone with her mentor.

She expected the old princess to attack her and make a public spectacle of this, but instead, Cinderella trudged ahead, slouched and shifty-eyed, looking like a shamed child.