Dorothea was quiet a moment. "So ... your parents, they fell out of love with each other, they divorced and moved apart, but they both still and always loved you so you shuffled between them like a rooly ball. And they both are married again to other people, and oh your world just sounds so complicated but so full of people and emotion and life and freedom. Why, if people could live in [i]that[/i] way -- your life, so upside-down -- then they could live in any way they very well pleased." No one in the kingdoms would even consider the concept of doing anything but what was expected of them, usually (except perhaps in Verinia). What seemed normal to Sam was very strange to the princess.

The mention of Liam, however, made her shift a bit on Sam's shoulder, and she laughed. "Liam and I have been head-over-heels in love since we were nine years old. He'd fallen out of a tree and scraped his leg, and I -- being a very solemn and strict little girl, so unusual for me -- I kissed his wound to make it better. Naturally he stopped crying immediately, and that was that. Fate sealed. He might tell you a different story, though." She giggled again, just remembering all the ways Liam had twisted that tale around to make himself seem like the hero. "He is incredibly kind and incredibly noble, but he's not fake like all the pompous aristocrats that try to impress everyone they meet. Liam wears his heart on his sleeve, he wants to help people, and he doesn't mind if everyone knows the Prince of Itelia is human like anyone else. And I love him absolutely to the bottom of my soul." She paused, and shifted quietly. "I'm not sure I've ever really told him." She only hoped she would have the chance.

After a moment Dorothea stepped over to Sam's other shoulder and leaned her head down mischievously. "What about you? Is there a boyfriend back home worrying himself crazy for your safe return?"

August was mostly tuning them out, half-listening whenever Narissa or the Prince were mentioned, but mostly he watched the skies and the forest on either side for signs of potential danger. The Shades were an indication that the fairies were stirring, and that was never good news for travelers on this road. He set his jaw and walked a bit slower, hoping Liam would hurry the hell up and overtake them.