Someone was sitting at the desk. Their hair was mostly obscured under a conical hat with a wide brim, black as night; it short it was a witch's hat. There was also a black robe. Slender hands traced the words in one of the spell books.
Definitely a witch.
"Who are you, and what are you doing in my library?" Auberta demanded of the witch.
"Addison," The Witch said without looking up, in a very annoyed tone, "And I'm reading, which is traditionally what one does in libraries. Usually in peace, but perhaps that's just a silly expectation. So you're the new ruler eh?"
Where sarcasm is concerned, most folks agree it is better to give rather than receive. And not even getting the witch to look up just annoyed her greatly. That said, Addison's awareness of her being the princess without even looking up caught her a bit off guard.
"Yes, Princess Auberta Una Febland the first," She announced herself.
"I can see why there might not be a second," the witch said before she could continue.
But continue she did, "And this is my castle."
"Do you even know the name of the castle you have claimed?" The Witch asked.
As a matter of fact, she did, recalling the title of one book, an her out of body look around confirmed it, "Four Wood Castle," She said.
"Wonderful, now let's try something challenging. Do you know who founded Four Wood Castle? Who designed and built it? Do you know the name of the peoples of Winter Wood, Spring Forest, Summer Vale, and Autumn Hills?"
Auberta did not.
In fact, she did not know those were official names for the various forests, but she wasn't going to admit that part to this witch.
"I just arrived recently, still getting to know the place, what are you, auditioning for the royal tour guide position?" Auberta asked archly.
"Oh, royal usurpers with a sense of humor, that's fresh," now the Witch turned around, his hazel eyes shifting hue just slightly and penetrating her with their gaze. He was slender build but now that he turned around she could definitely tell he was male. She couldn't decide if she liked his nose. On a girl, it would have been considered a touch unfortunate, for it was prominent, but there was a slight bend to it that made it stand out and it made his almost too pretty face a bit more like it belonged on some ancient statue of a man in some ancient army crossing the rubican. Now that he was looking up and the brim of his hat wasn't directly in way of view, she could see his hair was black and had a widow's peak, like someone might wear for a cheesy Dracula costume.
There were two hairs on his chin, two tiny hairs not even as long as the fingernail on a pinky. She felt a fantastic urge to yank them off so she pulled her gaze from them and looked him right in those eyes.
"You're a boy," She declared. Indeed, he was about her age, a year older tops.
"Under such vigilance, surely the land is secure," He said dryly.
"And a bit of a jerk," Auberta continued at the sarcasm. Sarcasm was fine, even soothing when she used it, but she wasn't keen on it directed against her, "Why are you dressed like a Witch, and using a girl's name?"
"I dress like a witch because I am a witch," Addison declared, "And I am not using a name, Addison is my name."
"First, witches are girls," She wrinkled her nose, "Guys are, well, Warlocks or something."
"I beg your pardon," he said, "Warlocks are oathbreakers, and I maybe many things but I've never broken a promise. Partially," He admited, "Because I don't like giving them, but that just shows prudence and indepence. I am a Witch, not a warlock. Both have reputations of dealing with dark powers, but of the two witches are far more honorable, thank you very much. I assure you, boys, err men, can be witches. I am a witch. I am a man, ergo proctor something or another men can be witches."