CHAPTER 69: SNUGGLEWUFF’S SPARKLE DISGRACE

Caelith’s silver eyes met hers. For a moment, he didn’t speak.

Then he gave her a lopsided smile. "Looks like our adventure’s being paused, Princess Pebble-tamer."

She held Pebbleton tighter. "But you didn’t even say goodbye to mother or father... or my brothers..."

"I’ll send my regards," he said gently. "And a much longer letter of apology with dramatic doodles."

The eunuch nodded once. The guard shifted just enough to signal they would wait—but not forever.

Caelith stepped closer to her.

"You’re brave, Evelisse," he said quietly. "You don’t pretend. That’s rare in our world." His gaze dropped to her gloved hands. "And you throw gloves like a champion."

She bit her lip. "Will you come back?"

He leaned down, lips near her ear like he was sharing the kingdom’s biggest secret.

"I have a feeling I’ll be needed sooner than you think." His voice dropped. "Besides, I promised Pebbleton his second dance."

Fluffy squinted from behind a flower pot. "He’s either very charming... or terrifying."

The boy turned, steps light as a breeze. But halfway toward the waiting figures, he paused.

Then looked back. Eyes locked on Evelisse.

A rare solemnity touched his face.

"And Evelisse?" he said. "Keep your window latched at night."

He smiled again. Just a whisper of it.

Then the guard fell into step behind him, the eunuch beside them, and Caelith of Elaris vanished into the castle path—no trumpets, no goodbyes to the court, just the trailing echo of something unsaid.

Pebbleton blinked blue.

The wind grew colder.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

The cold wind whispered past the velvet curtains of Evelisse’s balcony, brushing her cheeks like a secret. Pebbleton, warm in her lap, glowed faint pink. She curled tighter around it.

"He really left," she whispered.

Fluffy bobbed in the air, silent for once, fur dulled.

Then—

A snort.

A sparkle.

A wheezing hiccup.

*"Bwooff."*

"Snugglewuff?" Evelisse blinked, turning toward the small fur-puff nestled near her footrest. It hiccupped again—except this time, a jet of glitter shot from its nose.

Another hiccup.

SPARKLE.

A poof of shimmering dust exploded in the air like it had swallowed a firework.

"Fluffy," Evelisse said calmly, "why is my dog... shimmering like a cursed donut? I thought we had already treated his sneezing previously. Why a hiccup now?"

Fluffy drifted lower, squinting. "You left Snugglewuff unsupervised at the confectioner’s stall, while you were playing besties with prince charming."

"I was not! I was..." Evelisse argued but her voice lowered as she gave it a second thought. "...oh umm..."

Fluffy gave a knowing smirk of accomplishment.

"I thought he only licked one sugar bag!"

"That ’one’ was powdered sparkle cane, aged for ten years and dusted with fairy pollen."

Snugglewuff rolled over, tongue lolling, *sparkling* like a festive pomeranian disco ball.

"Oh no," Evelisse whispered. "He’s going to combust."

He didn’t combust.

But he did leap into her tulle skirts and roll around, leaving streaks of glitter in swirling flower shapes.

"Mother’s going to think I wrestled with a sentient bedazzler."

At that moment, a trumpet blared from the courtyard below.

"ALL ROYALS AND NOBLES TO THE PARADE SQUARE!"

Evelisse flinched. "Oh stars, today’s the Pet Parade!"

Fluffy gave a delighted gasp. "You must enter Sparklepuff. He’s a fashion emergency!"

"Do you think he’s okay?"

Snugglewuff barked. A small sneeze released a puff of pink shimmer from his ears.

"That’s either a yes or internal combustion."

She grabbed his leash, tucked Pebbleton into her satchel, and marched to the dressing mirror.

"I shall enter," Evelisse declared, lifting her chin. "We march with sparkles, pride, and fear."

"Excellent," Fluffy beamed. "Let us disgrace royalty with style."

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

The palace courtyard had been transformed into a runway of color. Ribbons arched between trees. Velvet tents spilled perfumed mist. A golden carpet snaked from the marble steps to the center stage where five judges sat with scorecards and feathered quills.

Pets milled around—regal cats with gemstone collars, armadillos in tiaras, one snake with a monocle. Nobles posed beside their companions like it was a royal debut.

And then came Evelisse.

Tiny. Determined.

Beside her pranced Snugglewuff—twinkling like a fallen star, leaving trails of glitter footprints. Several nobles turned. One gasped.

"She brought a dandelion."

"That’s a... sugar sprite?"

"I think that’s the Ashthorne mutt," a blonde girl sniffed. "Covered in sequins."

"They’re not sequins," Evelisse muttered. "They’re accidental consequences."

Fluffy zipped beside her, invisible to others but smug. "Let them whisper. He outshines the moon."

Snugglewuff sneezed. A burst of sparkles sprayed directly into the monocled snake’s path. The snake hissed. Its owner fainted.

"Oh no," Evelisse muttered. "We’re committing unintentional warfare."

"Contestant 14: Princess Evelisse of House Ashthorne... and Sir Snugglewuff."

The announcer’s voice was tinged with confusion.

Evelisse stepped forward, curtsied low.

Snugglewuff attempted a bow. He rolled, coughed, and emitted a small poof of peach-scented dust.

The judges blinked.

One scribbled: "Effervescent. Dangerous. Curious."

"Tell us, Your Highness," said the Duchess of Corselle, adjusting her feathered hat, "what is your companion’s... theme?"

"Uh..." Evelisse glanced at Snugglewuff. He wagged, sparkled, and licked his nose.

She raised her chin. "He is the embodiment of unfiltered joy and sugar regret."

A pause.

Then the crowd roared.

Laughter. Applause. One old man coughed and accidentally clapped with both monocles.

"Proceed!" cried the announcer.

Evelisse guided Snugglewuff along the carpet. He strutted, twirled (accidentally), and attempted to eat a tulip. A sparkle sneeze followed.

Midway through, someone tossed confetti.

Snugglewuff hiccup exploded in glitter, sneezed twice, and bolted.

"Snugglewuff—!"

She chased him past a noble dressed as a swan. He dodged a magician’s ferret, leapt through a fruit booth, and landed dramatically before the judging table.

He barked once.

Then sat.

Perfectly.

The crowd gasped.

The Duchess dabbed her eyes. "Art."

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Backstage, Evelisse collapsed beside Snugglewuff, both panting.

"You—ran—like—chaos."

Snugglewuff wagged, tongue lolled. Glitter rained gently from his fur.

"You might’ve caused three minor injuries and a wardrobe disaster," she muttered, "but I’m weirdly proud of you."

Trumpets sounded.

"FINAL SCORES!"

Evelisse’s head whipped in that direction, eyes wide in surprise.

’They’ve decided on the results already?’