I watched in the magic mirror as the dreadful hour arrived. Louis was taken to a scaffold, which he nonchalantly ascended. I knew that only a short walk away, the true royal family hid within Notre Dame cathedral.

The peasants made long speeches about how they had captured King Adam and how with his death, their demands would be met, that they may live under tyranny no longer.

"Any last words, Your Majesty?" one of them sneered.

"Look at my eyes," Louis replied.

The peasant frowned. "They aren't blue."

"Look at my right arm."

"No scars!" He scowled. "You're not King Adam!"

"I never said I was."

The peasant's face turned dark red. "Well, if you're foolish enough to take his place, you shall have it!"

Louvre lifted her sword, but instead of removing her brother's head, she slit the rope binding his hands behind his back. "May the Wolves of Paris, slain at the steps of Notre Dame so long ago, live again!"

Hearing the signal, the forest caretakers dashed from alleys and quickly surrounded the throng, arrows nocked carefully.

Louis clicked his tongue. "Interesting situation we have here. You could kill me, but then you'd all probably die as well. You wanted a revolution, and this is how war goes." After a pause, he added, "But it could still be different."

"How so?" a peasant demanded.

"I have more reason to hate King Adam than any of you! He stole me from my family at a young age and forced me into serving long hours of strenuous work for very little pay and no benefits. He left me with an injury that kept me in constant pain for years, almost killing me of gangrene, not to mention how difficult it was to do my job! Like all of you, I wanted the chance to kill him, and I finally got my chance…but I spared his life, not because he deserved my mercy, but because he wasn't worth it. Why should I be hanged for treason or rot in a dungeon? If I killed him, he would suffer no longer, but my suffering would only be beginning. He's not worth it!"

There were murmurs of agreement among the mob.

"Is it worth it today for you?" Louis continued. "What will it be? Kill King Adam and put him out of his misery while you suffer through the horrors of war, or force him to take responsibility for his mistakes by making things right?"

He motioned with his hand, and Webster and La Plume ascended the scaffold.

"We could schedule audiences and pass laws right now. We can make things right without any bloodshed. Isn't that what you wanted? We can get the real King Adam here. Any of you who have complaints can stay and talk to him until we get everything sorted out."

The mob had quieted, so Louvre waved the flag with the fleur-de-lis. Catherine Potts slipped away from the fringes of the crowd and offered a passing carriage driver several coins for a ride. Within half an hour, the royal family arrived, staring in horror at the crowd surrounded by bows and arrows.

"Join me!" Louis invited from the scaffold. "I believe your loyal subjects have a few qualms, but they've agreed to try a diplomatic solution."

Adam massaged his head as if trying to relieve a migraine, but he ascended the scaffold and began speaking to the crowd. After several lengthy discussions, they determined the cause of their unhappiness was not through fault of the royals failing to rule well, but through mayors and other public officials who failed to take their responsibilities seriously or put their own avarice above the needs of their people.

"I promise these officials will be thrown to the wolves!" Adam declared. "Figuratively speaking."

"Make them your forest workers until their hearts change," Louis suggested. "I can make them see the error of their ways without using violence."

"I've seen that amber sparkle in your eyes before. Promise you won't wound them?"

"Not purposely."

Adam extended his arm. "Very well."

They shook hands.

Louis had been right. All would end as it should. Adam, Belle, and the children were safe and would continue to rule France. The lazy and corrupt officials would be suitably punished. No one had been killed. Now the only problem that remained was facing my parents.