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They were so deeply in love, though, that perhaps they would prefer to be holidaying alone—but there was no way Layla was going to give up her first and only trip out of Ishla

Guilt gripped her

Not because she ht prove a bit of an iuilt was for what Layla was secretly planning to do when she got to Australia

‘Princess Layla, are you scared?’ another little girl asked

‘A little’ Layla spoke a guarded version of her truth ‘After all, I have never been out of Ishla, and so I don’t really knohat to expect, but I ae adventure fortime’

‘Princess Layla…’

All hands were raised Her students adored her They always did their homework now, just for the chance to speak with their princess eachFahid, wanted to speak with Layla before she left and so she brought things to a close

‘Now,’ Layla said to the students, ‘there is no more time for questions Instead it is time for you all to wish me a safe journey’

She smiled at their voices as they did just that

‘Will you miss us?’ they asked

Layla held up her finger and thumb and held them a small distance apart ‘This much,’ she said As they all moaned their protests Layla stretched out her arms as wide as she could reach ‘Or perhaps this much! All of you know that I will miss you to the moon and back’

She would ht a little while later, as she lay on her bed on her sto details for the very last time