The time flew by in the following days as Delilah’s anticipation upon seeing her father again, grew tenfold. That… and her questions left unanswered only accumulated faster.

Among those questions, Delilah was mostly stuck on just one topic.

Will we really get to see a castle?

How big are castles?

Are there a lot of people there?

Are they shiny?

Do they have fountains?

What about statues? Relics? Antiques? Old portraits and paintings?

How big are the training grounds of the knights?

Is there a garden?

Can I become a knight?

The questions were endless.

When Owen finally came back into sight, Emeria sighed in relief. At least if she had to hear the questions again, they wouldn’t be directed at her anymore. And then maybe she’d actually have some answers. Emeria had only ever seen the castle from the square. She’d never been inside.

But no, after some squeals and a big hug for her father, mere moments later she found herself standing in the kitchen with Owen while Delilah was talking animatedly at the table with the two knights that had stuck around with their king. Owen said that the rest of them had already gone over to Rivedge for their lodging for the night, and that he’d stay there, in the little village, just across the road from the two of them, with his remaining knights.

Somehow, just being those short few feet away, separated by a counter, in the small area of the kitchen, it felt overwhelmingly intimate for both Owen and Emeria. At first, they didn’t know what to say.

Owen reached out a hand to her and after just a few seconds, she took it, grasping it firmly in her own. As if a weight had fallen from his shoulders, Owen sighed and leaned lightly against the counter. As he did, his head became at a more even level to hers.

“So…”

“So?” Emeria repeated the same word back to him, making him chuckle.

“I never did get your name,” he joked, squeezing her hand once, “so unless you want me to just keep calling you Saph forever…?”

Though it was a joke, and she was smiling, she hesitated for only a moment, feeling wary despite how comfortable she was with him, despite how cared for she felt. Names were quite powerful, no matter your status.

“Emeria.”

“Emeria?”

“Mhm.”

Smiling ever brighter, he lifted the back of her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles ever so lightly, one at a time.

“That’s pretty.”

She couldn’t help it. Emeria blushed, licking her lips. Every part of her felt tingly all over, just being this close to him again. Every part of her wished that their playful love hadn’t ended with only one night. She wished, in an alternate world, that she had never walked away in the first place.

But, she’d known the risks when she made her choice. She knew what staying meant. And she hadn’t been able to jump into something, having known nothing of him. And after? After she did know his true name?

That… that was a different risk entirely, one she couldn’t accept again. Knowing he was the King, she’d maintained her stance on the matter. No good would have come from her stepping up into the spotlight. No good.

Staying away hadn’t only been for Dellilah’s sake. The more she saw of him, the more she was inclined to stay, to talk with him, to explain everything. But that couldn’t happen without…

She shook those thoughts away when she noticed his amused, yet happy expression, as his gaze stayed on Delilah and his knights.

“…The history books I read didn’t have the knight’s code written down. What is it? Can you recite it for me? Is that allowed?”

Emeria watched Delilah do her wide-eyed gaze at the knights, begging them to tell her everything they knew. And she watched them fall for every bit of it. They were practically fawning over her as they eagerly recited it for her.

“To protect and serve…”

Certainly, her excitement and questions about not only the ever-elusive knight’s code but also about her father, were charming those poor knights. Emeria smiled, seeing the bright look in her daughter’s eyes, the shining smile on her face lighting up the room and atmosphere.

It was tempting not to break it, but as Emeria felt a small tug on her hand, looked to see Owen’s face, she braced herself for the conversation that would follow. They kept their voices low, actions minimal.

“Will… Would you both want to…”

Despite thinking over his words in the past hours and days, it was hard to say when she was right in front of him, knowing everything that he did, every risk and danger that would come their way. He was afraid of the answer, he suspected. But this was a question that needed to be asked, it needed to be clearly answered before anything else.

“…come to the palace? In the Capital?”

Emeria finished his question, and he nodded his affirmation that those were the words that were intended to finish his question.

She’d thought about this very question over the last days, knowing the path wouldn’t be easy no matter which answer was given.

Yes?

It meant going into a lion’s den of mistresses and a Queen. Of those who may harm her or Delilah.

No?

That was more difficult. Emeria might not have a status among nobles and royalty, but Delilah did. And her existence, no matter where, was still a threat to those wanting the throne, wanting someone of their choosing as the heir.

She’d thought about it long and hard.

But, ultimately, it wasn’t up to just her. Delilah had a choice in the matter too. And given everything–

“She, Ariana, might try something… she has before, we just never had the evidence…”

Owen was looking down at their hands, still clasped together. Emeria could see the turmoil in his expression, in his eyes.

He’d thought about this too, hadn’t he? She thought to herself. Somehow, it was endearing, just to know how much thought and careful consideration he’d put into this. He wasn’t forcing, he was asking. He was telling risks.

He was going to leave it all out in the open.

No lies to get her to say yes.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Suddenly, just very briefly, just a few seconds, she stood there in silence. In her mind, it was ages. It was years, as she thought back on a previous encounter. One before she’d even met Owen that very first time.

Had anyone really given me a choice before? About something this big?

A choice… with pros and cons on both sides. A choice… that was hers to give the final decision on. It was powerful. It was…

Freeing.

It was something she hadn’t realized she was waiting for. A moment, just like this. A moment to choose what she thought best.

She squeezed his hand, gently encouraging him to lift his gaze to hers.

“I’ve been thinking maybe we should come. And, if she does try something, it’ll be an attack of higher value. She might get sloppy.” Emeria shook her head when he started to open his mouth, his face nearly screaming in protest of her words. “And I’m not saying this like I’d come with to be bait.”

His expression calmed, mostly. He licked his lips nervously, his brows still furrowed, only now, they were over gently narrowed eyes.

“But it’ll be dangerous, not just for Delilah, but for you as well.”

She gave him a faint smile.

She knew alright. But she was also smart.

Out here, in the middle of nowhere? How easy would it be for Ariana to simply get rid of them? How easy would it be to pretend it was an attack by mercenaries? Or to actually hire mercenaries and then remove them once their use was up and they became a liability?

All too easy.

But in the palace… despite being all that much closer to the source of danger, if she managed a few trustworthy and loyal allies within those walls? Those few could be stronger than anything else. They’d be safer making allies than exposing their village to violence.

Her mind was already made up.

“And do you think that it’ll really be safer here? She’ll find out who we are either way, she’s going to know about Delilah being your child. Even if you spared us a few guards, what are the chances that it will be easier for her to get away with murdering us here than if she did it in the royal palace, which is riddled with witnesses?” She sighed, closing her eyes momentarily.

“Besides,” she continued, “Delilah already wants to go live in your castle.”

“She does?”

“She does.”

At that, he let a small laugh escape. They both did, even though their smiles melted faster than snow in spring. Now, he grabbed her other hand as well. He put all of his sincerity into his words and she felt it.

“I will protect you. Both of you, as best I can. I swear I’ll try.”

She squeezed his hands. A single nod. “I know. I know you will.”

But…

Not even a king can protect against everything.