Page 137 of The Crown’s Temptation

It’s resting in your hair.

He was quiet. "That is not how it goes."

"I know that, obviously.”

"The correct version ends with, “the crown was always there.”

“You are most certainly wrong,” I said with a laugh.

He cleared his throat dramatically.

A little hare hopped here and there

Looking for a crown to wear.

He searched all day, Till Owl did say,

The crown was always there.

“Very wrong,” I said, unimpressed.

“So my and Saurin’s versions are both incorrect?”

I listened to the room beyond the curtain. "Maybe hers is more correct than mine." I paused. “And it may be more accurate than yours.”

I grinned. "But mine is better."

Colsar snorted.

"Now I must truly get strong,” I said.

"Yes, lest the children never get to learn your version of the Hare and the Crown."

"Exactly." I sighed against him. "I wanted them to have everything right and so I waited. But now I wish I had just shared the version I like."

“I will admit, your version is better," Colsar said.

"You are only saying that because you must."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Or I will not give you any more babies if you find my nursery rhyme-telling skills insufficient."

He opened his mouth but I interrupted.

"Accuracy and sufficiency are not the same thing."

Colsar looked at me. Then he burst into laughter.

I could not help but stare. I had not seen him laugh in so long.

"Your laugh," I said.

"What about it?"

"I am so glad I get to hear it again."

Fiorakis quieted. Saurin left the room.