“Morning,” Crow greeted Naida and Penelope in return as he sat down across from them at the table. He was glad that they all happened to be getting breakfast at the same time, since otherwise he would have had to spend the meal by himself. Well, either that or he would be harassed by the nobles who had been trying to win his favor in order to be looked upon highly by the king. He wasn’t sure which idea he disliked more, and he was relieved that he wouldn’t have to find out.

At his sister’s question, Crow shrugged. However, before he had a chance to answer her, Penelope spoke up first. He glanced at her and shifted uneasily as she brought up the name his father had used during the ceremony. He wasn’t sure what to say. It wasn’t like he had been on board with the idea of giving away such a personal part of himself, but Albin hadn’t given him a choice. For the sake of the life and future he’d promised to give the knight, he’d had to do it.

“Right, well…” he started slowly, looking up to meet her gaze. “When I met with the king the night we got back from the outer villages, that was one of the things he spoke to me about.” He sighed, deciding he might as well tell them what had happened. “He said that if I was going to be representing him and the kingdom, I had to go by a ‘respectable’ name. My title as a thief wasn’t good enough, so he asked me to tell him what my birthname was, and, well…” He shrugged again.

Naida glanced between him and Penelope for a moment. “If it was that important to you, why didn’t you just give him another fake name?” she asked. “Father wouldn’t know the difference.”

“I considered it,” Crow admitted. “But there were already a few other people who’ve learned what my real name is, so I guess I just thought ‘what’s the point?’ Besides,” he offered her a smile. “I’m already getting used to hearing people call me Collin again. It was uncomfortable before, and it still is, but it doesn’t make me cringe the way I used to.”

“That’s good,” Naida grinned back at him. “I certainly like it.” She nudged Penelope teasingly. “What about you?”

Crow rolled his eyes at his sister’s obvious attempt to get a reaction out of the knight. In the next moment, his attention was drawn away from the conversation as Preston appeared with a plate of food for him from the kitchen. He said a quick ‘thanks’ and was about to eat, but the attendant stopped him.

“Oh, right,” Crow muttered, folding his arms over his chest as the boy tested to make sure his meal hadn’t been poisoned. “I forgot you do this now.”

“It’s for your own safety,” Naida chuckled, seeming amused by his reaction.

“That doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Crow said blandly, taking a bite of his food once Preston had finished inspecting it.