The garden buzzed with light and laughter, all tangled up with the scent of tea and roses. Anastasia—well, Anastasio now—couldn't stop staring at his reflection in the silver teapot, eyes wide like he'd just seen a ghost. A chuckle slipped out, low and warm.
"Bring me a mirror," he told one of the maids, his voice smooth but you could hear the command in it.
The maid blushed, nodded, and took off like her shoes were on fire. Stephanie just crossed her arms, watching the whole scene with this look that said, "Of course he's already acting like he's always been a man."
"You know," Stephanie teased, "that spell only lasts half an hour. Full-body transformation—literally everything."
She grinned. "If you're curious, you can check out the whole package."
Clarisse nearly spat her tea, coughing while Estella tried (and failed) to keep a straight face.
"Stephanie!" Clarisse gasped, shooting her a look. "You can't just say that!"
Stephanie giggled behind her hand. "What? I'm just being honest."
The maids finally showed up with a full-length mirror and set it in front of Anastasio. The moment he got a good look, his jaw dropped.
Staring back at him was this tall guy with broad shoulders, golden hair just a bit shorter than before, and those wild blue-green-silver eyes. He stood so confidently, even the guards looked like they couldn't breathe.
"Wow…" Anastasio ran a hand through his hair, still in shock. "I look—"
"Handsome?" Danielle jumped in, grinning.
"Like a hero from a storybook," Anastasio finished, eyes glued to his reflection.
Danielle leaned back, all smug. "Well, Anastasia's history. Say hello to Anastasio, new heartthrob of the Empire!"
Stephanie burst out laughing and clapped. "Honestly, that name fits. That face could ruin lives."
Anastasio flashed a smirk, clearly loving every second. "I get thirty minutes, right?"
Stephanie winked. "Yep. Do whatever you want. Just remember, time's running out."
That was all Anastasio needed. He turned to one of the younger maids and shot her a wink.
"So," he said, voice dropping low, "am I handsome?"
The poor maid froze, face going beet red. "Y-Your Highness, I..I..."
And down she went, fainting with a tiny squeak.
For a second, the garden fell silent. Then Estella cracked up so hard she nearly fell out of her chair. "She fainted! Anastasia, you just killed her with your charm!"
Clarisse rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "See, this is what happens when you turn him into a walking fantasy, Stephanie."
Stephanie held up her hands. "Don't look at me, I just cast the spell. He's the menace."
Anastasio just grinned wider. "Hey, not my fault I got good genes."
Clarisse shot to her feet, eyes shining. "Alright, now I really want to try it! Come on, Stephanie, turn me into a guy. I want in!"
Stephanie didn't even look up, just took another sip of tea. "No. One flirtatious man is more than enough for this garden."
Clarisse stuck out her bottom lip. "Oh, come on! Please?"
"Nope. Still no."
Across the garden, Anastasio seemed completely unfazed by the commotion. He turned his attention to a poor servant nearby. "You," he called, his voice smooth and confident. "What's your name?"
The girl went scarlet in a heartbeat, hands shaking. "Y-Y-Your Highness, I... um..."
"Hey, relax," Anastasio said, stepping a little closer.
That did it. The girl let out a squeak, dropped her tray, and stumbled backward so quickly she tripped over her own feet.
Danielle gaped at him. "You actually scared her!"
Estella nearly doubled over laughing. "Oh, this is hilarious! He's having way too much fun with this."
Stephanie just rubbed her forehead. "Seriously, is flirting the only thing you can do in that body?"
Anastasio flashed a wicked grin, lounging back in his chair. "Well, I could always..." He leaned even farther, clearly enjoying himself. "...get one of them pregnant."
Danielle just about choked on her tea. "NO! Don't even joke about that!"
Anastasio burst out laughing. "Relax, I'm only kidding!"
Danielle shot him a glare. "Not funny."
He raised both hands. "Alright, alright. No more jokes." But then he crossed his arms and slouched, looking like a sulky kid in time-out.
Estella pointed at him, still trying to catch her breath. "You look ridiculous sitting like that!"
Anastasio frowned. "What now?"
She just grinned and pointed at his dress. "You're still wearing your princess gown."
He glanced down and froze. That tight, sparkly pink gown clung awkwardly to his broad chest and muscular arms. Even the guards were clearly fighting back laughs.
He looked up, sounding defeated. "You can laugh, you know."
Estella finally lost it. She laughed so hard her chair wobbled. Clarisse joined in, wiping tears from her eyes. Danielle tried to hide her giggles behind her hand, but failed. Even the maids and guards started snickering.
Anastasio groaned, turning red. "Stephanie," he hissed, "fix this. Right now."
Stephanie just shrugged, that mischievous little grin on her face. "Nope. You're way too entertaining like this."
Anastasio let out a heavy sigh and hid his face in his hands. "You're evil."
Stephanie just laughed. "Maybe. But you do look good in that dress."
He shot her a glare, but didn't say anything back. For all his size and that deep voice, Anastasio still moved with a gentle touch—crossing his legs, smoothing his skirt without thinking, fingers brushing his hair away the way he always did.
Stephanie grinned, poking at him. "See? Still a lady deep down."
He gave her a flat look. "Habits don't disappear in half an hour."
She smirked. "Then wait another thirty minutes, big guy."
"I'm sixteen," Anastasio said, trying to sound stern. "And you're eight. At least try to be fair."
Stephanie just tilted her head and smiled, all smug. "Fairness? Not in this palace. I'm the Empress's daughter, remember?" She lifted her chin, all regal. "You're just a concubine's son."
He just shook his head and let out a little laugh. "You really are a tiny menace."
"Thank you!" Stephanie said, all sweet and innocent.
Then, without warning, Anastasio stood up. Stephanie's eyes went wide.
"Wait, what are—" she started, but he was already scooping her up like she weighed nothing.
"Hey!" she squeaked, legs kicking in the air.
Anastasio grinned down at her. "You're tiny. Like, seriously—smaller than my sword."
"Put me down!" she shrieked, struggling. "I'm not that small!"
He just laughed. "You barely reach four feet, Stephanie. You're basically a pixie."
Danielle was practically glowing, hands clasped together. "Oh my goodness, this is the cutest thing I've ever seen!"
Even Clarisse couldn't hold it in. "A huge guy carrying a tiny princess. That's priceless."
Estella was laughing so hard she had to cover her mouth. "Look at her face! She's turning red!"
Stephanie's cheeks were blazing now. "Put me down right now!"
"No chance," Anastasio said, grinning even wider. "I think I've got a little time left."
"You're impossible!" she shouted, pounding tiny fists against his chest. Nobody could take her seriously, everyone was in stitches.
"Told you," Anastasio teased, "Way too cute to be scary."
Stephanie stuck her lip out, arms crossed. "When this spell ends, you're going to regret this!"
Anastasio just winked. "Promise?"
She groaned. "You're the worst!" But her smile gave her away.
Danielle wiped tears from her eyes, still giggling. "Every tea party should be this much fun," she said, catching her breath.
Anastasio set Stephanie back in her chair, gentle as ever, and gave her a crooked smile. "You're even smaller than I pictured," he teased.
Stephanie puffed out her cheeks. "And you're way too tall."
He just grinned. "Looks like we're even, then."
The garden filled up with laughter again. It was soft, warm, and just plain happy. For a little while, nobody cared about the throne, or the pressure, or all the secrets hanging over their heads. Right then, they were just siblings. Loud, messy, and totally themselves.
Time slipped by, and thirty minutes vanished before anyone noticed. That's when Anastasia—well, Anastasio for the moment—started glowing. Golden light shimmered around her, and she shrank back into her usual self. Her voice softened, her hair spilled down her shoulders again, and the warmth faded away. Finally, she was just Anastasia.
She caught sight of herself in a mirror and let out a huge sigh. "Finally…" she muttered. "For a second, I thought I was stuck as a man forever."
Stephanie burst out laughing. "See? It wasn't so terrible, was it?"
Anastasia just scowled and held up her dress, which was now a complete disaster—silk all stretched and ripped from the transformation. "Not bad? Steph, look at my dress! You definitely owe me for this."
Stephanie just shrugged, not even trying to look sorry. "Hey, that's not on me! You're the one who couldn't stop flirting with everyone."
Clarisse, already heading for the dining room, called back, "Oh, please, Anastasia. Admit it, you made a very dashing gentleman."
Danielle piped up, "Dangerously handsome, actually. I think half the maids almost fainted."
Anastasia groaned and covered her face. "Don't remind me."
They made their way to the dining hall, where breakfast waited. Sunlight poured through the crystal windows, making the long golden table shine. The air was thick with the smell of roasted meat, fresh bread, and sweet soup.
Everyone slid into their usual seats, Stephanie at one end, Danielle on her right, Estella next to her, and Clarisse beside Anastasia. And just like that, the royal family was back to being themselves.
As soon as they started eating, Clarisse lurched forward like she'd just remembered something wild. "Hey Steph, can you hit me with that transformation spell too?"
Stephanie's fork nearly flew across the table. "Excuse me? Absolutely not!"
Clarisse pouted so hard I thought her face might freeze that way. "Why not? You let Anastasia do it!"
Stephanie huffed. "That's because she begged for it!" (Total lie. She just did it on a whim.)
Clarisse folded her hands, eyes huge and dramatic. "I can beg too! Pleeease?"
Estella snorted. "Clarisse, you're a menace."
Danielle rolled her eyes, took a heroic sip of water, and cut in, "Let's not blow up the castle again before dessert, alright? We have bigger problems."
She set her cup down, all serious. "Our little competition."
The room just… deflated. All that bickering faded out, and suddenly every clink and scrape of silverware was loud as thunder.
Estella, steady as ever, sliced at her steak. "One of us has to end up Empress."
Danielle grinned, a bit too sly. "Wonder who's gonna draw that short straw."
The four of them—Steph, Estella, Clarisse, and Anastasia—locked eyes in that awkward sibling stare-down, nobody daring to blink first. The tension was so thick you could've served it for dinner. Then, like it was choreographed, they all glanced away at once, pretending nothing was wrong.
Anastasia was the first to break, smirking. "If I had to bet, Steph's taking the crown. Emperor and Empress adore her. Probably the people too."
Stephanie almost choked. Her fork just hovered in the air. "Wha—Me? No way. I want nothing to do with that mess."
Clarisse, mouth full of bread, mumbled, "Why not?"
"Because…" Steph floundered, then blurted, "Because Anastasia deserves it more."
Anastasia blinked, then let out a tiny laugh. "That's sweet, but nah. I don't want the throne. Wouldn't know what to do with it. Plus, I'd rather not turn into Father, thanks."
Boom—instant silence. Even the servants paused, like someone hit stop on the whole room. The air felt heavier right away.
Danielle finally spoke. "You don't have to be like Father to be Empress, you know."
Anastasia nudged back, "Then maybe you should do it, Dani."
Danielle looked like she'd just been slapped by a wet fish. "Me?"
Clarisse's eyes went wide. "If Danielle's Empress, I demand she doubles the army! Strongest Empire ever!"
Estella groaned. "Double the army? Oh please. Then we'll need a million mages too. I'd rather boost the mage order."
Danielle thunked her spoon down—calm but firm. "Can everyone chill? I don't want it either!"
Stephanie finally cracked a smile, poking at her food. "Like it or not, our parents definitely do. Especially Father. He wants to see which one of us comes out on top."
Anastasia leaned back, chin in hand, suddenly thoughtful. "Speaking of, how did your moms prep you to be Queen Bee anyway?"
Clarisse let out a noise halfway between a groan and a scream. "Don't remind me. Mine drags me out of bed before sunrise for sword drills. She says the Empress has to be able to kick some butt if needed."
Danielle nodded, all grim. "Mine's obsessed with politics. Treaties, laws, lectures… my brain's mush."
Estella piped up, "Mine's all about manners and diplomacy. 'A ruler must never lose her cool, especially around snakes.' Got that hammered into my head."
All eyes landed on Stephanie, who'd gone suspiciously quiet.
Anastasia nudged her gently. "What about yours, Steph?"
Stephanie stiffened a little. For one second, she looked like she might bolt. Then she pasted on a smile. "Oh, nothing intense. Just wants me to study magic and not cause trouble."
Anastasia caught the tone but, bless her, let it slide. "Gotcha."
Conversation drifted to lighter things—favorite food, new dresses, the latest palace gossip. The pressure melted away, replaced by laughter and the usual sisterly teasing.
When dessert vanished, they all got up, ready to scatter.
Clarisse stretched like a cat. "Training grounds for me!"
Stephanie smoothed her skirt. "I'll be in the library."
Estella flashed a gentle grin. "Garden's calling my name."
Danielle yawned. "I'm taking a nap. Don't judge."
Cue more laughter as they split, each off to their own thing.
Stephanie's little group of guards and maids followed her down the marble hallway. Noon sunlight poured in through the huge windows, tossing gold everywhere and making her look even smaller by comparison.
Her footsteps bounced lightly off the marble, not too loud, but just enough to remind her she was alone. Anastasia's words from earlier kept looping in her head like a song she couldn't turn off. The Emperor and Empress adore you. Sure they did. If they actually knew what was really going on? That'd be a whole different story.
She followed her mom's directions—no wandering, just straight to the royal library. Those huge doors swung open (someone really needed to fix those squeaky hinges), and the scent hit her. Old paper, ink, a hint of dust. Strangely comforting, actually.
Stephanie drew in a shaky breath, trying to steady herself, and stepped inside. Her footsteps disappeared into the maze of shelves and endless rows of books. It was quiet, but not in a creepy way, more like the library was holding its breath right along with her.
Sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling, turning everything gold and soft. For a moment, she almost forgot she had anything to hide.
She let out a quiet laugh, barely a whisper. "Time to study… and keep my secret safe," she murmured, like it was her own little spell.
And just like that, the palace went still again. Another day, another secret, wrapped up in silence.
To be continued...