As Crow continued to talk with Naida, their conversation was occasionally interrupted by a few more noblemen and women like Wayne, who approached the viceroy to offer him various small favors and make sure he was aware of their family name. Each time, he just offered them a curt ‘thank you,’ though he knew he would never take them up on any of the things they tried to give him. He may have chosen to let himself enter into noble life, but that didn’t mean he was going to give in to the pandering of people who just wanted to use him to gain power for themselves and their family lines.

Naida seemed to find their persistence entertaining. As each noble stopped by, she watched them with a scrutinizing gaze, trying to practice picking up on the little signs that they were lying. Every time she and Crow found themselves alone again, she would ask him if she was right or wrong, and he would give her pointers.

The thief found his time with his sister to be enjoyable, despite the countless other unfriendly faces in the Great Hall. She took his mind off his lingering stress and helped him to see some of the things he was going to like about being a nobleman—namely getting to be with people like her and Penelope, who he felt like he could relax around. Between her friendly banter and the wine they’d been drinking, he found the banquet to be much more bearable than the ceremony had been.

Eventually, the afternoon turned to evening, and Crow waved Preston off when the boy offered to refill his glass again. He was a bit inebriated from the three drinks he’d already had, and he didn’t want to risk getting drunk. Aside from his own personal reservations about it, there were far too many people around who hated him. He needed to keep his wits about him, just in case he needed to defend himself or get away from anyone who might decide to throw caution to the wind and attack.

He was just beginning to think he’d made a good call when he caught sight of someone else approaching the table. Turning away from Naida, he expected to see another nobleman coming over to “wish him well” and offer more favors. Instead, he blinked in surprise as his eyes landed on Penelope.

Having not been able to get a good look at her all day, he was caught off guard by how beautiful she was in her dress. His gaze swept over her, mesmerized. The clothing she wore flattered her attractive figure and the emerald green color made her eyes look bright. He lightly bit the inside of his lip, wishing he could compliment her, but forcing himself to hold his tongue as the knight spoke to his sister.

When Penelope turned to him next, he stared at her for a moment longer before he snapped out of his trance and offered her a smile. “Thanks, love,” he said softly.

“You know, you’re the first person today who’s said anything nice to him and actually meant it,” Naida grinned at her friend and took another sip of her wine. Though Crow had stopped drinking, his sister had let herself go a bit more. “Definitely a light at the end of the tunnel,” she added after a pause, nodding sagely.