Friday, November 27
7:00 A.M.
Eis Schloss

Something weird just happened. I mean, even weirder than usual.

Nadia and Princess Komiko and I were having breakfast in the hotel when Prince Gunther came up to our table, carrying a steaming mug of coffee.

“Hi, Prince Gunther,” I said. “Do you want to sit with us?”

We scooted our stuff over to make room for him, but it turned out he didn’t want to sit with us. He wanted to talk. To me.

Alone.

I swallowed and threw the girls a panicky look behind the prince’s back. “Um, sure, Prince Gunther.”

I got up and followed him to a nearby table. It was beside one of the enormous picture windows looking out across the mountains, snowcapped and majestic against a sky that was already promising to be as clear blue as yesterday’s.

“I really do love your village,” I said as I sat down, since I got the feeling he could use some cheering up. He hadn’t smiled once since coming into the dining room. “It’s just so charming. And the people are so kind. And I so enjoyed meeting your parents last night. They are the nicest people.”

I was aware that I was babbling, but that’s what you do when the boy your cousin is cheating on asks if he can talk to you alone at breakfast.

“Thanks,” he said. “Pastry?”

“Sure,” I said, and took one to be polite. “So what’s the matter?”

I already knew what the matter was, though. So when he said it, I wasn’t surprised.

“Luisa.” He exhaled, and a plume of flaky crumbs flew out of his mouth and landed in a gentle fan pattern across the table. “Have you seen how she is acting? What am I saying, of course you have, she is your cousin. Olivia, I am sorry to put you in the middle, but I do not know who else to turn to. There are times—like yesterday, at the skating event, with Goo Goo Bear—when I think she does not even like me. That maybe … this is hard for me to say, but sometimes I think that she likes someone else. And the truth is … well, there are times when I think I like someone else, too.”

“Gunther!” I cried, reaching out and grasping his hand. “I’m so sorry! But if you like someone else, that would be amazing! I mean—”

Seeing the look on his face—a mix of wonder and alarm—I quickly let go of his hand.

“I mean, that’s so interesting. If you like someone else, and you think Luisa likes someone else, maybe it’s time for you two to stop being boyfriend and girlfriend, and just be friends. Then no one will get hurt. Right?”

He looked down at his wrist. “But … what about this?”

I remembered the bracelets Luisa had gotten them that said L + G.

“Oh. Well, you’ll have to give yours back. I think that’s the polite thing to do.”

He considered this. “And what about our matching evening wear?” he asked. It came out ewening vear. “We are both wearing Claudio to your birthday ball tomorrow night.”

“Oh, Gunther,” I said. “That’s all right. You can still wear matching clothes and just be friends.”

He thought about this. “Well, yes … I guess so.”

“Look,” I said. “You don’t have to do anything right now. Why don’t you talk to her first, and see how it goes. Maybe everything will work out.”

I knew everything wasn’t going to work out, but people could still surprise you.

Prince Gunther smiled for the first time since he’d sat down.

“All right,” he said. “Thank you, Princess Olivia, for this advice. I knew if I came to you, you would help me. You are the person who has always been nicest to me in the whole world … except for my parents, of course.”

“Aw,” I said, and patted him on the hand. “Thank you, Gunther. I’m glad we’re friends.”

“I’m glad, too,” he said. “My parents are also glad. They told me last night that they think you are the nicest, most polite girl.”

This was good to hear. Who doesn’t like hearing that someone thinks they’re nice?

“I liked them, too,” I said. “Are they going to watch you ski today?”

“Snowboard, and yes. Then they will hand out the medals at the closing ceremony.”

“That’s right!” I said. “I forgot. Then I can see them before we leave.”

“Oh,” Prince Gunther said, his smile growing broader. “You will see them for sure before you leave.”

“Great,” I said, and got up to go back to my own table. “I’m glad we had this little talk.”

“I am, too,” said Prince Gunther, and waved at me, and at Snowball as well, because of course she was with me. She goes everywhere with me (that dogs are allowed).

I felt much better about things after that.

At least until Grandmère signaled to me from where she was sitting in the dining room and waved for me to come over.

“What was that all about?” she wanted to know.

No “Good morning, Olivia” or “How did you sleep, Olivia?” Just “What was that all about?”

But that’s how my grandmother is. She likes to get straight to the point, especially early in the morning, before she’s had her coffee, and of course her hot water with lemon.

“Well,” I said, “I think Prince Gunther is going to break up with Luisa.”

“Is he?” Grandmère asked, taking a sip of her coffee. “Because of the Duke of Marborough, I suppose.”

I was surprised. “You know about that?”

“I’m a chaperone, Olivia. Of course I know about that.”

“Oh.” I thought about this. “Well, I was worried about his feelings getting hurt, but he says he likes someone else.”

“Does he, now?” Grandmère sipped her hot water with lemon. “And who might that be?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I hope it’s Nadia. I think she likes him. She took the teddy bear he gave Luisa out of the trash and kept it.”

“Hmmm,” Grandmère said. “Well, let’s hope you are right, and that the young lady’s affections are returned. Run along now, or you will be late.”

I looked at the time on her diamond watch. “You’re right! See you later, Grandmère!”