Lucan had left his room in search of the maiden he had come to distate because of Evirelda's crying. He walked with a frown on his face making those who crossed paths with him stop to let him pass believing something truely terrible had happened to him for him to be like that. He held the flower crown tightly in a fist that had destroyed the flowers from how much pressure he delivered into them. He went to the garden and stood there while he stared at Penelope who was standing facing the other side as she waited for him. He noticed that she was dressed in a red dress that looked nearly the same as her hair.
"Aren't you cold?" he asked to gain her attention.
Penelope turned at around after recognizing his voice. She smiled when she faced him but he had a flat look on his face. She walked towards him slowly while blushing but still trying to maintain eye contact. Lucan fought off the urge to frown at her as she smiled at him.
"Sir Reginald. You came." she said surprised but in a low whisper.
"I had to otherwise you would have froze out here in the cold wouldn't you?" he responded seriously.
Penelope blushed more but still she looked into his eyes wanting him to be the first to look away but his piercing gaze was slowly making her weaker. After two minutes of silence Penelope finally looked away from Lucan. He silently rejoiced at his victory over Penelope then he turned around to walk back into the palace.
"Why don't we watch The stars together for the time being?" she asked pointing her delicate fingers to the night sky.
"You have a long journey tomorrow morning and I wouldn't want to make you get less sleep." Lucan said to her without looking at her.
He started walking slowly but after hearing her not take even one step he stopped to look at her. She was staring at him like she had forgotten how to walk and was expecting him to carry her. Lucan squinted his eyes at her but she just blinked innocently and looked at the stars.
"Princess Penelope," he said trying to be as calm as possible,"I don't have the time to watch stars with you tonight so please come with me."
"Are you busy?" she asked still looking up.
"Not right now but I need to sleep because we will be escorting the prince somewhere before sunrise."
"Where?" she.asked and finally looked at him.
"That is information I cannot tell you." he answered sighing.
"Very well, Sir Rdeginald." she said and Lucan finally felt relieved,"Leave without me. If anything happens to me then you should know it will be your fault."
Lucan frowned and walked towards her before picking her up I'm his arms. She was surprised at first but she enjoyed his touch and relaxed in his arms. Lucan continued to frown at Penelope but he said nothing. When he left her close to her room, she looked very sad.
"Good night milady." he wished her.
"Good night sir Reginald. I will miss you." she responded in a low tone.
Lucan quickly left the corridor, leaving Penelope alone. She entered her room where her sister was already sleeping. Lucan went back to his room and was soon asleep. Back in Eve's and Elizabeth's room, Eve sat beside the bed lost in thought.
"So when will we be going back to Zeth?" Elizabeth asked lying on the bed with her head hanging from the edge.
"Why not ask mother about it? I really don't think she will want us to go home alone." Eve said as she detangled her hair.
"That prince didn't show up but he kept on watching you." Elizabeth said sympathetically,"I wonder why princess Evirelda even told us about the stupid search."
"So Crow didn't show up either?" Eve asked looking at her friend who looked rather too calm.
"I knew he wouldn't show up so I didn't keep my hopes up. You shouldn't have either."
Just then a knock was heard at the door and Eve went to open it. It was Crow who stood in an all black outfit and he looked serious and tired. Eve was about to call Elizabeth but Crow grabbed her hand to stop her from doing so.
"I need to speak to you first." he said releasing her hand.
Eve glanced inside the room to look at Elizabeth. She slowly closed the door so Elizabeth wouldn't see Crow there.
"Who is it?" Elizabeth asked.
"No one. It was just Penelope again." Eve said.
"Then are you still outside?" Elizabeth inquired in curiosity,"I hope you aren't still waiting for that boy."
Crow squinted his eyes at how the two of them were addressing his sire and he saw how Eve turned pink out of embarrassment. Eve gripped the sides of her dress as she looked at Crow who remained silent.
"Is that how you address people in private?" Crow asked.
"No. She is just... upset." Eve said.
"Really? Because we didn't come here to see you?" Crow asked tilting his head.
"Yes and no." she answered nervously feeling Crow's gaze on her.
He didn't respond and started walking away and Eve followed him shortly after. They walked in silence for a few minutes and Eve looked around at the walls to distract her and to occupy her mind.
"Are the wall suddenly interesting?" Crow asked making Eve snap her eyes away from the wall.
He chuckled lightly seeing how pink her face had become from embarrassed. She looked like a ghost in her white night gown. He smiled at her and suddenly felt old. He had a niece who he didn't know until he had been awoken.
"What do you want to talk about?" she asked.
"Our relationship." he said.
Eve froze in one spot and stared at him with an aghast expression on her face. Relationship?
"I am very sorry but I cannot do such a thing." she said.
"What are you talking about?" Crow asked stopping to look at her.
"Elizabeth is madly in love with you and you are....."
"Hold on a minute." Crow stopped her realising that she had misunderstood him,"I don't....."
"I know that Elizabeth might not be as important to you as she is to me but I would never betray her."
"Princess Eve!" his thundering voice said and his eyes had turned a pale but bright blue,"You have misinterpreted my statement."
"Meaning?" she asked glaring at him.
"I was going to tell you that you and I are relatives." he said sighing loudly.
"Relatives?" she asked with a shocked expression.
Crow smiled devilishly seeing.her expression but his smile fell when he noticed Elizabeth standing behind a corner peeping at them. He squinted at her and.she slowly moved away from her hiding place behind a pillar. Eve looked at her friend briefly before turning her attention back to Crow.
"Go on." Eve urged him curiosity apparent in her voice.
"I'm your uncle." Crow said and put on a bright smile.
"Uncle?" they asked in surprise and a door on their right opened to reveal Briceaus.
"It is quite late." Briceaus said in a whisper with droopy eyes.
"My apologies your majesty." Crow apologized with a bow and Elizabeth and Eve bowed too,"We'll go somewhere else."
Briceaus closed the door and Crow begun to walk away. The two women followed him while leaving a slight distance between them. Eve looked at Crow in a new light and for the first time she took note of their similarities. The realization hit her and she nearly tripped on her dress. Crow and Elizabeth looked at her in alarm but after she had steadied herself they got back to walking. They went to the drawing room and sat down together. A maid came in seconds later to ask if they would like anything.
"Did anyone call you here?" Crow asked in annoyance as he looked at the maid.
"No." she answered embarrassed.
"Leave us right now." he said dismissively.
"Actually.....I would like some biscuits." Elizabeth said suddenly, much to Crow's annoyance.
The maid glanced at Crow as if she was silently laughing at him then she left to get Elizabeth's biscuits. Crow didn't speak until the maid returned with the biscuits. He was aware that.the palace maids were particularly fond of gossip and the last thing he needed was news spreading that he was a relative of the royals of Zeth. When she was gone and he couldn't here her or sense her anywhere near the drawing room he finally spoke.
"You should be kinder to me now." he said.
"Shouldn't you pamper her as well because she is your one and only precious niece?" Elizabeth asked holding Eve's face between her palms.
"I don't pamper anyone." Crow stated simply while picking up a biscuit.
"Don't eat my biscuits." Elizabeth said pouting as she picked up the tray having the plate of biscuits.
Crow's mind went back to earlier that evening when he had told Ceaser that he was Eve's uncle.
"So you are like my..... father-in-law?" Ceaser asked smiling.
"Never call me that." Crow said frowning with a pleading look in his eyes.