Cyprien Teisser

When the clock struck two, she walked into the living room and froze. Lying under the tree, wrapped in a red bow, was Cyprien Teissere. A red ribbon with a bell hung around his neck.

"Teisser?" she breathed out.

He opened his eyes. The bell rang. — I was delivered to the address. Without an accompanying note.

• What are you doing here? — I don't know. I was in the workshop. Then the smell of ginger, the ringing… and here I am. Is this a new kind of espionage?

Her heart was pounding in her throat. "I made a joke wish at the fair. That someone I liked would end up under the tree..."

He stared at her. — Do you like it? We've been ruining each other's careers for six years.

• It was a joke! "In Himmerfjord, winter is no joke," he said, stepping closer. "Wishes come true literally. So what now? The gift is unwrapped. What do we do?"

The bell rang again, and in the silence a question was asked to which there was no ready answer.