A World Without Princes

Agatha tells Hester and Anadil, two Nevers, about Sophie and Tedros. They ask Agatha whether Tedros or Sophie will make her happier, arguing that it’s Tedros, as they long for school to go back to the way it was. Hester and Anadil hate life with no boys because the entire focus of their own lives is now their girlhood. Another Never, Dot, joins them, and she’s grown thinner. Dot likes the new school, though the other witches hate it; Hester says kissing Tedros is the only way to fight Sader. Meanwhile, Sader says Sophie will have to slay Tedros if she wants to keep her happy ending with Agatha. Sophie sees that the girls in the school are thriving without boys, and Sader says this will be ruined if Agatha kisses Tedros. Sophie wants to be Good, but Sader says she must keep the couple apart. Hester and Anadil remind Agatha that, as a Never, Sophie “will end [up] Evil and alone” (118). They want to get Agatha and Tedros together, but when they see a butterfly, they realize Sader is listening.