The Baker’s Apprentice

He's a baker. Not a traitor.

An enemy of the kingdom? The worst thing baker's apprentice Hanno has done is burn some cream puffs. Wait, all right, he might have accepted a tiny bit of magical help with his baking. From a secret source. Was that a bad idea?

When he was rejected as a wizard's apprentice, Hanno needed a new path. So he apprenticed with a pastry baker instead. It's a respected career with a bright future. He's been making friends and finding a place in the kitchen.

When the baking lessons got challenging, he didn't ask for help. But the pressure to succeed got intense. The offer of magical help popped up and he just ...didn't say no.

Now the King's Wizard is looking for a traitorous rogue magic user. Hanno has a bad feeling it might be himself. Ridiculous, right? Bakers don't get beheaded for treason.

Probably.