The third day.
I walked toward the ironwood doors of the West Wing feeling less like a Tutor and more like a knight marching into a dragon's mouth.
Princess Leonora was waiting for me by the entrance, wringing her hands. She took one look at my outfit and blinked.
I was wearing my usual grey dress and apron. But on my head, strapped tight under my chin, was a solid steel helmet I had borrowed from the Royal Guard armory. It was polished to a mirror shine and had a little red plume on top.
"Primrose?" Leonora whispered. "Is... is that a helmet?"
"It is a cranial protection unit," I corrected, tapping the metal. Clang. "Caspian suggested it. And after the Encyclopedia Incident of Yesterday, I am inclined to agree."
"You look..." Leonora searched for a polite word. "...prepared."
"Open the door, Leo. Let's see what the Calamity has planned for today."
The locks clicked. The door opened.
I stepped inside.
SPLAT.
