Hi everyone!

Hope you're all doing well. As usual, I would like to start with review responses!

Little Bird: Thank you very much! And I'm very happy to hear you like Columbina! I wasn't sure if her character would mesh with a canon representation of Haruhi, but she seems to be a reader favorite!

lillyannp: Columbina still has much more to do! I'm glad you liked the improvisation so much-I'm trying to keep the performances fresh and interesting!

Aqua Lilly: I agree-things definitely wouldn't be the same without Tamaki being his over-dramatic self! I can promise there will be much more of that.

swimmer1102: Thank you! And yes, the title is French in honor of Tamaki's half-French heritage. From my rather limited knowledge of Spanish and Italian grammar, I managed to piece together what should translate to "The Enchantments of the King" in English. However, I think the word envoûtement may be a touch uncommon compared to other words for spells, charms, magic etc. But, the more common terms didn't seem to flow as well to me. If any French-speakers have an opinion or comments on this, please let me know!

This week's reader question is...Which minor/secondary characters from the manga and/or anime would you like to see in later chapters? I have plans to introduce/follow up with several in the near future, but I want to make sure I haven't missed any reader favorites!

The next post will be on Thursday and will hopefully be followed back to back with another post on Friday or Saturday to make up for last week. I have a fairly clear idea of where I want to go with the next few chapters so writing them should be easy. This next mini-arc should be plenty of fun!

So onto the next chapter-in which Haruhi has a meeting with the king!

Haruhi stood in front of the door to the king's chambers early the next morning, wondering why she had been summoned. Mei had woken her earlier than usual and informed her that she was having breakfast with the king. Typically, if Ryoji wanted to see Haruhi, he visited her chambers himself. Or he sent a messenger with a flowery note decorated with the monarch's drawings of hearts and doves and swirls of all kinds. But a formal request for a visit? The last time this had happened, Ryoji had introduced Yuko as his newest advisor.

In other words, a formal request was never a good thing.

So, Haruhi took a deep breath, steeled herself and knocked three times on the grand door.

"Come in!" Ryoji chirped.

When Haruhi entered the king's chambers, she found the polished wooden table set for breakfast. Ryoji sprang up from his desk and flung his arms open wide.

"Good morning dear! I'm so sorry to call you in so early but I'm sure you have a busy day ahead. I thought breakfast would be perfect time to chat!" he exclaimed, throwing one arm around her shoulders and leading her to the table.

"Sure Dad," Haruhi replied slowly.

"Don't look so suspicious, Haruhi! I had some letters to write this morning so Misuzu asked Mei to talk to you since I couldn't come see you."

Haruhi eased up a bit at that. Maybe she had the wrong idea.

"Tea or chocolate?" Ryoji gestured to the blue and white teapot and silver pitcher on the table.

"Tea, but I can get it—" Haruhi began.

"Oh! Please, let Daddy do it!" Ryoji eagerly poured the steaming hot tea into a delicate china cup and set the cup and saucer in front of Haruhi. With that, he sat down across the table from her.

"Well, what have you been up to lately? I haven't heard a peep from your wing of the castle," he said as he poured himself a cup of drinking chocolate.

"Not much," Haruhi replied carefully. But, even as she said the words, she was reliving the near-disaster at the performance from the day before. She reached for a thick slice of bread and busied herself with buttering it.

"Can't you be more specific dear?"

Haruhi shrugged. "I've mostly been in the library reading. Or trying on dresses for Mei."

"Ah—is she enjoying the troupe's sewing machine?"

"I think so. She's working on it all the time."

"Good! I believe the court inventor just finished his first prototype of the machine. She'll have one for herself in no time. I can't wait to see all of the designs she'll have for you!"

Haruhi managed an awkward smile. Mei's output of dress designs had tripled, even sharing the machine with Renge. She didn't want to think of what Mei would do with a sewing machine of her own. "Yeah, of course."

Ryoji took a sip of his chocolate and considered Haruhi over the golden rim of the cup. Haruhi eyed him curiously. That look usually meant…

"Haruhi," Ryoji began. "I know that you're visiting the city."

She instantly choked on her tea as her blood ran cold.

"Oh no." She stared at her father with wide eyes.

He simply shook his head with a slight smile. "Well, I'm afraid you still haven't mastered keeping a straight face in these matters. We'll need to work on that. It's an important ability for a monarch to have."

"Um…uh…" Haruhi had no idea of what to say. She certainly couldn't lie to him.

Yet, Ryoji surprised her by laughing. "It's fine, Haruhi! You're not in trouble!"

"I'm…not?"

"Of course not! I understand wanting to get out and see the city. Though I see that you've done far more than that. Your performance yesterday was quite something." His eyes sparkled with mirth.

"You knew?"

"The instant I saw you. You've got a natural talent for it!"

"Um…thank you."

"I'm also very impressed by Tamaki's ability for improvisation. He saved the show," Ryoji commented.

Haruhi found herself unable to respond. The entire situation was too unreal. She had defied a direct order from Yuko, yet the king didn't seem upset.

"Now, my visit yesterday answered a number of my questions. But, I am dying to know the answer to two things," Ryoji continued.

"Go…go ahead," Haruhi stammered.

"First, how on earth are you getting out of the castle? I invented all of the ways out of this place and I have no idea how you're managing it."

"Uh…Well…I've had some help."

"I knew it!" Ryoji exclaimed. "That brings me to my next question then: who is helping you?"

Haruhi hesitated. She didn't want to get Nekozawa in trouble.

As usual, Ryoji seemed to read her mind. "Please tell me. I promise I won't let Yuko get them into any trouble."

"Nekozawa," Haruhi admitted.

At that, a knowing smile curved on Ryoji's lips. "Ah. I see. That makes perfect sense."

"What do you mean?"

The king folded his hands and looked at his daughter evenly. "Haruhi, I want you to see what an important lesson this truly is. What Nekozawa did might be considered defiance of the court. However, through this act, he has demonstrated genuine loyalty to you."

Haruhi's head tilted to one side. "What?"

"A monarch can easily find themselves surrounded by a court that agrees with their every whim and fancy. But, your most trusted courtiers will be the ones willing to go against any decree to do what is best for you. Even if the decree happens to be one of your own."

As the advice began to sink in, Haruhi nodded. "So Misuzu…?"

"Has defied me to help me more times than you can imagine. But, such resilience takes practice. And Misuzu's practice primarily came from helping me defy my father's orders. It would be beneficial for you to remember Nekozawa's contribution in the future," Ryoji said.

Silence reigned as Haruhi gathered her courage to ask the next question. Finally, she took another swallow of tea and asked, "So am I still allowed out of the castle?"

Ryoji grinned. "I'm sure you're in good hands with the troupe. What Yuko doesn't know can't hurt us."

Relief washed over her instantly and a grateful smile lit up her face.

"But—" Ryoji added. "do be careful. Yuko does have a tendency to be a bit nosey. I will do everything I can to deflect attention, but I can't prevent her from investigating the matter herself."

"Absolutely," Haruhi agreed.

"Now—tell me everything that's happened with the troupe! I want to know what you've really been up to," Ryoji exclaimed.

And so Haruhi related her adventures with the troupe, beginning with her accident with the troupe's canvas and ending with the incident at her tea with the troupe. Ryoji found it all incredibly amusing and laughed heartily.

"These performers are much more interesting than I thought!" he declared. "I'll have to drop by to see them more often!"

Yet the clock above the chamber's fireplace chimed on the half-hour. Haruhi glanced at the time and bit her lip.

"I know—I know—you have to go. Another performance today?" Ryoji asked.

"Yes."

"Well then give me a hug and you can go." Ryoji bounced up from the table and pulled her into an enthusiastic embrace. "Now go on! Don't be late!"

Haruhi headed for the door. But before she left, Ryoji called out to her:

"Oh and Haruhi?"

She turned back to him.

"Don't be surprised if I stop by to see another performance," the king stated with a wink.

Haruhi laughed and nodded before leaving to change for her performance with the troupe.

And the excerpt for the next chapter is...

Tamaki's blood froze.

A black hooded figure hovered over him. But before he could open his mouth to cry out, the figure darted away.

Tamaki snapped up and glanced about the Great Hall wildly. The cloaked figure was nowhere to be seen.

Oh dear! Who (or what) has Tamaki seen? Check back Thursday to find out!