Instead she has a partner who is doing his best to help her, and his best is very good. Besides just being a skilled dancer, he also seems to be really good at leading her - at making the next move feel natural and obvious, so she doesn't stumble or get tangled up or lost.

This is so much nicer.

She's in a much better mood when they finish practicing. And now it's late and she needs to go back to the dorms.

Serafin is so glad he could help!!

"I can walk you back to your dorm," he offers, picking up the lamp from her corner.

"OK!"

And so they walk back to the dorms.

Mytho is hanging out in front of the fountain reading a book today. He notices Duck and Serafin as they approach.

"You were missing yesterday," he says, flatly. 

"Oh! Uh, yeah. I'm OK now, though!"

"That's good."

(Serafin smiles. It is good!)

"There you are," says Fakir, coming from the boys' dorm. "What are you doing out here?"

"Duck's back."

"...OK? She's back, fine. You don't have to concern yourself with her."

"What is your problem?" he says incredulously. "Why are you two even friends? You don't ever seem to do anything but yell at him and lock him in closets!"

"This doesn't concern you!"

"Does so! We're his friends!" She has no idea whether Serafin and her count as Mytho's friends, actually, but Mytho would probably have more friends if Fakir wouldn't lock him up all the time. "And so - so we get to be concerned!"

"Also," says Serafin, "you dropped Duck off the stage at that presentation, and you do not get to tell me not to be concerned about you, personally, hurting my best friend. Oh! And while we're on the subject of stupid things you've done! Did you know that that closet you locked him in had a trapdoor in it leading to a bunch of old tunnels under the library, and if we hadn't gone in after him he'd probably still be lost down there? 'Cause that happened."

For a second he actually hesitates.

" - I didn't drop her off the stage. And if you don't want her hurt, you should stop interfering." He glares at Duck. "I told you to stay away from him, and it would be safer for both of you if you would take that advice."

"You dropped her, and off the stage she went! If you're gonna dance with a beginner it's your responsibility to do your best to make it work, not get in her way as much as possible and then drop her! Also," he takes a breath, "the reason why I am involved with this stuff is because somebody's anger was wandering around loose and decided to hitch a ride with me, and if it hadn't been dealt with I probably would have killed someone, so don't fucking tell me that it's all my own fault for sticking my nose where it doesn't belong! I didn't ask for any of this! The trouble came looking for me!"

Fakir looks angry for a second, and then -

" - you had a shard of the prince's heart?"

"Oh, now he's listening."

"If you've personally encountered one of the shards, then you must be aware of Princess Tutu's role in this."

Duck looks sort of worried again. She inches her way behind Serafin.

"...Princess... Tutu?" he says, with completely unfeigned bewilderment.

"Oh, come on, you must have seen her. White dress, golden crown, magical powers - do you even know the story?"

"....do you know where Princess Tutu is, Serafin?"

"No!! What story?!"