Penelope’s initial excitement in response to his words didn’t slip past Crow’s keen eye. He could tell that she was enthralled by the idea of him accepting Albin’s offer, though she was trying not to show it. However, he wasn’t very surprised. After everything she had told him about her power as a lieutenant in the war and her plans to help the outer villages when the battles were over, he had expected nothing less. If she left her life to be with him, she would lose all of that—not to mention the fact that her family would turn against her as well. They would have each other, but for her, he was all she would have left.

As she told him that it was his decision to make, he smiled faintly, appreciative of her selflessness. Even though it was clear to him that she was excited by the prospect of him rising in status instead of dragging her down into peasant life, she was still more concerned about his happiness than her own. It seemed that while he was concerned about giving her what she wanted, she was equally as determined to make sure he was satisfied with their life as well. The realization made his heart swell with affection for the knight, and he leaned in to kiss her tenderly on the lips in a physical expression of his gratitude.

Still, though he knew she was trying to give him the freedom to choose what he wanted, her answer to his question didn’t make things any easier. All she had done was confirm that she would be supportive of him, no matter what he decided to do. He had been hoping she would tell him to take the offer because she didn’t want to have to give up her own life if there was an alternative or refuse it because she was still content with running away with him regardless of the consequences. Instead, she had left the decision of their fate solely in his hands when he didn’t have the faintest clue how to approach it.

Pulling back from her lips after a long moment, Crow met Penelope’s gaze and lifted his hand to rest affectionately against her cheek. “I love you too, Penelope,” he sighed. “I just want to make the best choice for both of us, you know?” Leaning into her a little more, he lowered his hand again to wrap her up in a tight embrace. “I never thought something like this would even be an option for me… It’s a lot to take in,” he went on, resting his head against hers. “I mean; my whole life is in the outer villages. It’s everything I know and everything I’ve ever wanted. Not to mention, I don’t know the first thing about nobility.” He wrinkled his nose slightly at the thought of joining the ranks of the people he most despised in the kingdom.

Suddenly realizing that he was processing out loud, the thief exhaled again and closed his eyes. “At least I still have time. I told my father that I need to think about it before I give him an answer, and he said I could stay in the castle until I make up my mind. Speaking of which,” He pulled back once more to meet Penelope’s gaze with a frown. “I need to find his attendant soon, because my father said he would show me where my room is.” He shrugged. “I guess they already had one prepared.”