Fortunately, Arianne had only been teasing Michael. In the end, they both settled on naming the mutated owl Wisdom.
Owls were often associated with intelligence and insight, and the name felt fitting. It also leaned gender-neutral—perhaps slightly masculine, but still balanced enough not to matter.
Soon after, Michael and Arianne left the garden. As they walked back through the estate, the moment of quiet between them stretched a little too long for comfort.
Eventually, Michael had to bid farewell to the princess. He then had one of the castle stewards request an audience with the Duke. The request was accepted without issue, and he wasn't kept waiting long.
The Duke's study was quiet.
Sunlight filtered through tall windows, casting soft shadows across rows of books and polished furniture. The scent of old paper and faint incense lingered in the air.
At the far end, Duke Evermoon sat behind a wide desk of darkwood, his expression unreadable—until he saw Michael enter.
