“Professor Marin and I could make use of the old chandelier in our laboratory, if it’s going to be replaced,” he suggested.
“An excellent idea,” said Dean Whittaker. “Your highness, Leorias works for Professor Marin as a graduate researcher in the ‘Lectrics department. Professor Marin herself regrets that she hasn’t been able to greet you yet. It’s her understanding that you, like your brother, have some interest in ‘lectrics?”
Just my luck, thought Ceri.He works for the professor everyone is coming here to see.
There was going to be no avoiding Leo. If she wanted to keep her studies on track, she was going to have to find another way to fight whatever it was that had come over her since meeting him.
“Ceri has already offered to assist me with my research,” said Leo.
Dean Whittaker beamed at him and Ceri. “Excellent, excellent. Professor Marin does extraordinary work. I’m pleased that it’s finally receiving the attention it deserves.”
Ceri imagined that Dean Whittaker was pleased on behalf of the entire school, which would certainly be boosted by her family’s involvement.
The rest of the dinner passed without further disruption. Ceri kept finding ways to keep the dean talking until long after almost everyone else had left. If Leo noticed her stalling tactics, he gave no sign.
She didn’t know why she was trying to delay their evening plans. It was purely research—nothing else would be happening.
Finally, the dean gestured to a servant to take his wine glass. “I’m afraid it’s past my bedtime. Do you need someone to help you find your way back to your room, your highness?”
Leo looked at Ceri.Stop it,she told her heart.No fluttering allowed.
“I’ll manage,” she said to Dean Whittaker. “Thank you for allowing me to sit at the high table.”
Leo nodded his head towards one of the doors that led into the courtyard.
Ceri followed him.
The sun had set while they ate; the night air was cooler than Ceri had expected.
“Are you still feeling up to a hike? It’s not far to the observatory, but you’ll want some better shoes,” said Leo, gesturing to the heels on her loafers.
“These are excellent shoes,” said Ceri. She flicked her wrist towards the heels—the gesture was unnecessary, but it added a bit of pizzazz—and they shrunk, lowering her to the ground.
Leo had been taller than her even with the added inches of the heels, but now he towered over her. She wasn’t surprised: pretty much everyone did.
His lips had parted. He stared from her to the shoes. “The way you do that so casually. So effortlessly. Even the others here that have studied magic tend to struggle with it, if they can even do it at all. Myself included.”
Ceri shrugged her shoulders, trying to ignore how good his words made her feel. “You should see my brother. I learned what I know from him, and a little from my mother, when she was around.”
“I’m sorry, is she—”
“No, she’s alive.” What she was supposed to say next was that the queen had been forced to return to her homeland to settle a disagreement over her inheritance, and that she had to remain there until her uncle died or forfeit everything.
She couldn’t bring herself to lie again. “Are you ready to leave now?” she asked him.
“I need to collect some things from my lab,” said Leo. “You should grab a jumper as well. It’s colder at the top of the mountain.”
Ceri met him back in the courtyard a few minutes later. He was carrying a large rucksack and a metal container of some kind, and he’d also brought a quilted blanket. Ceri felt underprepared with just her Winwold jumper in her arms.
“Do you need help with anything?” she asked.
“I’ve got it,” said Leo, right as he dropped the metal container. It rolled on the grass and landed near Ceri’s feet. “Well, maybe if you could grab the tea.”
Ceri picked it up cautiously, expecting it to be hot. “There’s tea in here?”
Leo smiled. “It’s a vacuum flask. One of the chemistry fellows is testing them out. They keep drinks warm for hours.”
Ceri could have warmed the tea for them with her magic, but she didn’t feel the need to point it out. It felt like showing off.
