“Alright,” Crow nodded when Penelope announced that she needed to go back to her post. While he would have liked to keep her close after the stress his nightmare had brought, he didn’t want her to get caught in his bed chamber by the next guard to relieve her without a good reason. He supposed he was just going to have to settle for meeting up with her in the Great Hall later.

As the knight exited the room, he climbed down from his bed and made his way over to his wardrobe to get dressed for the day. At first, he didn’t notice it, but after a brief period of silence passed, he realized Preston was being unusually quiet. He glanced furtively over his shoulder as he slid his linen nightshirt over his head. The servant was waiting patiently for him by the door as usual. Normally, his relaxed behavior wouldn’t have bothered the viceroy, but it seemed strange for the boy to be acting so mild mannered about what he’d just learned.

“You’re surprisingly calm,” he commented, casting Preston an estranged look. “I would have thought you’d be quicker to gloat about being right.”

“I don’t need to brag to feel satisfied,” the attendant shrugged.

“Of course you don’t,” Crow muttered dryly. He turned back to finish getting ready, and then paused as another thought came to him. “You aren’t going to speak to anyone else about this, are you?” he asked warily, facing the servant again with narrowed eyes.

“I have no reason to,” Preston shrugged again. He wavered for a moment before speaking up again. “I suppose I do have some questions though.”

“I’d be shocked if you didn’t,” Crow smirked at him amusedly.

Preston seemed to take his comment as permission to speak his mind. “I know I was right about your feelings towards each other,” he tilted his head in an innocently confused manner. “But you almost seem like you’re already courting Penelope. Why are you hiding it?”

Crow didn’t answer right away. Though the attendant had figured them out, he was still reluctant to open up to him completely. It seemed unwise to let any more people know about his relationship with the knight until they were ready to come forward. However, Preston’s words from the previous morning gave him pause. Perhaps he could trust the boy just a little more.

“It’s complicated,” he finally said in a low voice, leaning back against the footboard of his bed and folding his arms over his chest. “For one thing, we’re not actually courting. It’s true that we’re together in our own way, but it’s not the same kind of relationship that you’d see the other nobles here partake in.” He lifted his shoulders. “For another, I don’t have the greatest reputation at the castle, and I don’t want to ruin her name. We’re not going to tell anyone until I can be sure her good name won’t be sullied.”

“I see,” Preston mused. Another thought seemed to come to him, and he studied the viceroy with new interest. “You make it sound like you’ve been thinking about this for a long time. Just how long have you two been together?”

“Longer than I’ve lived here,” Crow chuckled. “Technically we were together two years ago, but there was a long gap in the middle. Altogether, I believe it’s been closer to four months.”

Preston whistled, “Does anyone else know about this?”

“A few people do. Her father is the only other person in the castle who does, which is why we need to keep it quiet.”

“Wow,” the attendant shook his head. He opened his mouth to ask another question, but Crow held up a hand.

“That’s enough for now,” he said. “I’m sure that the more we talk about this, the more questions you’re going to have, and I can’t spend the whole morning giving you answers.” He stepped away from the edge of his bed and beckoned for the attendant to follow him. “Come on. Let’s get something to eat while breakfast is still being served. I’m hungry.”