Crow watched Caeser watching the night sky; lost in his own thoughts. He could guess that his master was thinking about the princess and the time the had spent together.
"I suppose the lady is occupying your mind." Crow said going to sit on one of the two chairs beside the window.
"Not really. I was thinking about Bezel." answered Ceaser without turning to look at Crow.
"What about him?"
"If he hadn't attacked first we might have lost."
"He was too big headed."
"Upset is more befitting. I wonder why he was anxious to marry Eve."
"It makes my skin crawl to say this but she is beautiful." Crow said as though he was disgusted,"I guess."
Ceaser turned around and went to sit opposite of Crow. There was a small table between them with a glass jar of water and two cups turned downwards to prevent dust from entering. The music from the great Hall was audible and ever so vibrant. Ceaser took one of the cups and poured himself some water.
"You placed the curse on her and now I want to know why." Ceaser said after drinking half the water.
Crow also took a cup to pour himself some water but he forgot to turn it up so the water spilt down. He quickly thought of something to save himself from embarrassment and he smiled when he did.
"I meant to do that." Crow stated,"This glass and the princess are the same. They both have a capacity that is turned upside down."
"I don't understand."
"You'll understand....when you are older."
"You haven't answered my question."
"It felt right. To just take her out of the picture before she ruins my master and corrupts his mind with thoughts about butterflies and flowers."
"You needn't worry about that. I've never imagined myself as a married man."
Crow smiled and put the cup he was holding back on the tray that was on the table.
"What about you?" Ceaser asked then he gulped down the rest of the water in the cup.
"What about me?" Crow asked crossing his legs while he lay back in the chair.
Ceaser tapped the armrest as he examined Crow who was looking at him with half closed eyes.
"Elizabeth I think. You and her."
Crow chuckled heartily even though Ceaser remained silent and frowning. Crow poured himself a glass of water and drunk it quickly and bid Ceaser a good night. He walked to Ceaser's bed side and stood with his arms crossed on his chest in shape of an x and then he turned to a rock. Ceaser continued tapping the armrest until he started feeling sleepy. He shut his eyes for a few seconds but he couldn't fall asleep because someone came to knock at the door. He didn't ask who it was and waited for the person to go away but the door was opened instead.
"Are you sleeping, your grace?" Evirelda's sweet voice asked.
"I was about to." Ceaser answered.
Evirelda peeped at the bed and saw no one there and frowned. She opened the door wider and then saw Ceaser sitting by the window looking at the ceiling. She entered and shut the door then tipsily walked to him. Ceaser looked at her when he smelled wine from her.
"Did you drink?" he asked.
"I thought it was water." she answered touching her chest because it felt warm,"It's hot."
"How much did you drink?" he asked standing up.
He scooped her up into his arms and felt her temperature. She was cold so he placed her on the bed and covered her.
"First, I found a glass sitting unattended to on a table and I drunk it because I was thirsty. Then when my chest started burning I screamed and a man having a glass of water, or so I thought, came in. I took the glass from him and drunk it too."
Ceaser tsked and got on the bed with her.
"Sleep now, Evi." he whispered to her.
He planted a light kiss on her forehead and shortly after that she fell asleep and so did he. In the morning, he woke up to the sound of Evirelda crying beside him. He squinted his eyes because of the bright light seeping through the window but he soon adjusted and concentrated on Evirelda.
"What's the matter?" he asked alarmed seeing that she had made her side of the blanket wet with tears.
"Ahhh...ha....when I woke up...I found s
Sir Raphael staring at me....then he said he was going to take my soul....ahhhh... because I got drunk...." Evirelda explained between her sobs.
Ceaser frowned deeply and looked around the room for Crow. He hugged Evirelda and promised her he would get revenge for her. A few minutes later she quietened down so he asked one of the guards outside his room to take her to Terra's room.
"I want Fifi." Evirelda said refusing to go with the guard.
"He'll take you to Fifi then." Ceaser said.
"No! I want mother not Fifi!"
"Then go!"
"But I feel dizzy and scared!"
Ceaser picked her up and stomped to Terra's room. He was used to entering rooms without knocking so he just pushed open the door.
"Mother, your daughter...."
Ceaser shut his eyes when he saw Terra and Julius on the bed together. It was the first time he had seen them looking so intimate so he was momentarily startled. The king and queen were equally shocked to see him there with Evirelda. Evirelda was turned the other way so she didn't see anything. Before anyone could say anything, Ceaser walked out of the room and he made sure to cover Evirelda's eyes as well.
"What was happening?" Evirelda asked,"Why did you cover my eyes?"
"Shut up." he warned her.
"What's the matter, your grace?"
He ignored her question and took her to her own room where Fiona was waiting outside for Evirelda.
"Good morning, Fifi." Evirelda said as Ceaser put her down.
"Good morning princess and good morning to you my prince." Fiona said smiling at Ceaser.
Ceaser walked away leaving Fiona behind still smiling. She sighed softly as she fantasised about him even though he had ignored her. Ceaser walked around the palace aimlessly because he felt disoriented by the image of his mother and Julius. It was foolish, he knew, but he couldn't get the thought to sit in his mind. They were married and had a daughter together so why did it hurt him? He hit the wall and bits of the hardened stone broke off and deep cracks formed a pattern spreading out from his hand.
"Morning, sire." Crow said from behind Ceaser.
"Where were you?" Ceaser asked breathlessly.
"Bathing." Crow answered coming to stand in front of Ceaser,"Why are you breaking walls?"
"You scared Evirelda. She was crying."
"Not good enough a reason to break a wall, don't you think?"
"I was....renovating."
Crow raised his brow at Ceaser's pathetic excuse but he didn't ask for the real reason. They silently walked back to Ceaser's room and Ceaser went to bath. While in the tub, he imagined Terra and Julius bathing together and laughing. He shouted in frustration making Crow come into the room to check on him.
"Tell me what is bothering you." Crow said worried about his master.
"Why would she do that with him?"
"What? Who is she? The princess?"
"This is not about the princess!" Ceaser roared.
The walls vibrated at the sound of his voice and Crow let him calm down for a while.
"Then who?" Crow asked calmly.
"Mother." Ceaser whispered,"And... and that Julius."
"What did she do with him?"
"They've betrayed father."
When he said that, he sent a mental image to Crow if what he saw. Crow inhaled deeply knowing that his next words might make Ceaser even more upset.
"They are married and they love each other."
"I know but....father loved her too."
"Did he? I never lived with your father but what he felt for the queen was a lowly version love." Crow said seriously,"But I know he loved you."
Crow left to allow Ceaser to think for a little while. Ten whole minutes went by and Ceaser remained unmoving in the tub of cold water. He got out of the water after he had calmed down and went to get dressed. Crow was drinking tea and eating biscuits by the window. He didn't say anything to Ceaser because he was confused about why he had given advice when he was aching for fight or some sort of dispute in the palace. It was still very early and most if the royals and nobles we're still asleep so the palace grounds were quiet. Those awake were the servants and the royal family of Dreg.
"Thank you." Ceaser said coming to stand next to Crow.
"What for? I am regretting my decision of dishing out foolish advice. I want a fight."
Ceaser chuckled and Crow did the same.
"We've never watched the sun rise together before." Ceaser said.
"Those are things married people do." Crow said and then he moved away from the window leaving Ceaser imagining Terra and Julius watching the sun rise together.
Crow sensed the sadness from Ceaser then went and place a hand on his shoulder.
"I will not stop you if you want to kill them. I want a fight."
Ceaser smiled sadly then Crow covered him in a brotherly embrace.