Crow nodded reluctantly when Penelope said she needed to get going. The last thing he wanted was to separate from her when he only just got over his last panic attack, since her presence was so comforting. However, he knew it was more important that they keep their relationship a secret from Eldon, so he didn’t argue over the matter any further. Instead, he smiled faintly at the kiss she pressed to his cheek and let his arms fall from around her so she could put some distance between them.

As the knight made her way over to the door, Crow leaned back on the palms of his hands to watch her go. Even though he didn’t want to part ways, he felt much better than he had just minutes before. His anxiety was completely gone, and aside from the additional weariness from a lack of good sleep, he felt mostly normal. He would be fine without her after she left his bedchamber.

The viceroy glanced between Penelope and Preston as the former spoke up to the latter. Her request made him tense uncomfortably. While he had accepted her help to recover from his nightmares in the mornings, he had only done so hesitantly and because he trusted her. The attendant had certainly won a bit of his trust throughout their time together, but he still didn’t like the idea of relying on the boy to do the same thing. The thought of waking up to Preston’s voice instead of hers was unsettling.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have a chance to protest before the deal had been struck between the two, and Penelope turned to him with a shrug. Knowing she had probably already guessed the argument he would make, he kept his mouth shut and simply let out his breath in a moody exhale. There was no point in trying to fight it anyway. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed help, and Preston was the next best aid if she wasn’t going to be around. He didn’t have any other choice but to accept the situation.

“See you,” Crow yawned, moving to swing his legs over the edge of the bed as she left the room. Now that he was awake, he supposed he might as well get dressed for breakfast. He was too nervous about his dreams to risk fitting in a nap, and his empty stomach craved food. However, as soon as his feet touched the floor, he halted in surprise, looking up to see Penelope hurry back inside his chamber. He blinked confusedly. Surely she didn’t think a little more time together was worth getting caught by Eldon? He opened his mouth to ask what she was doing, but didn’t get the chance to before she explained that the physician was already coming.

The viceroy’s eyes widened and quickly swept over the room as he raced to think of a way to keep the healer from discovering what was going on between them. “Over here,” he hurriedly stepped over to the wardrobe and opened the door, gesturing for Penelope to get inside. With no time to come up with a better solution, it was the best idea he could think of. He just hoped the physician didn’t have a reason to look inside while he was visiting.

“I can stand in front of it while Eldon speaks with you,” Preston offered, walking up beside him.

“Thanks,” Crow nodded to him and turned back to Penelope with an apologetic look. “Sorry, love. Just wait here until—” He didn’t finish the thought as a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Out of time, he closed the wardrobe while Preston made his way over to answer the physician. Quietly, he stepped back over to his bedside, attempting to make it appear that he’d just gotten up while drawing the old man’s attention away from the knight’s hiding place.

It seemed to work.

“Ah, good, you’re still here,” Eldon said gruffly as he entered the bedchamber with his bag of supplies.

“This is early to me,” Crow shrugged, stretching his arms over his head a bit exaggeratedly to keep up his charade. “What do you need?”

“I need nothing,” the physician grunted. He set his bag down on the edge of the bed and began to rifle through it. “Sit down and take off your shirt.”

Crow rolled his eyes. He’d nearly forgotten how unpleasant the old man could be. Nevertheless, he did as he was told to get him to leave as quickly as possible.

Eldon nodded wordlessly, seeming pleased with his patient’s compliance, and stepped over to begin his examination. Naturally, he started by checking the viceroy’s cough. The physician pressed down on and around the spot that usually triggered a fit. It did this time as well, though to Crow’s relief, the episode was short and didn’t bring up any blood as it used to.

“Excellent,” Eldon nodded again. He dug through his bag once more to retrieve a vial of medicine. “This should be the last dose you need to clear the rest of that cough up.”

“Thank the gods for that,” Crow sighed as he took the container from the old man and downed the contents.

“Yes, well, I never said it was the last medicine I was going to give you altogether,” Eldon said carelessly, taking the vial back from the viceroy and stowing it with his things.

“What do you mean?” Crow knitted his brow.

“It seems to me that you need a sleeping draught,” the old man answered without looking up.

Crow felt his blood run cold. Had word of his night terrors reached the healer’s ears already? He shifted his weight warily. If Eldon knew, it was only a matter of time before the physician told his father. He didn’t want Albin to get involved.

“I don’t need it,” he objected with a shake of his head. “I’m sleeping just fine at night.”

“I’m not sure why you’re trying to lie to me right now, but whatever your reason may be, you might as well give up now,” Eldon scoffed. He reached up with his right hand to point a gnarled finger at his patient’s face, getting close enough that the viceroy leaned away from him uncomfortably. “Your eyes are red, and you’ve got dark circles underneath them. A telltale sign that you’re not getting enough rest.” Turning away again, he picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “I’ll prepare an elixir for you to take tonight. Please don’t try to be a martyr and drink it, would you?”

Crow wavered for a moment before he nodded, “Alright.” [i]He doesn’t know about my nightmares after all,[/i] he breathed an internal sigh of relief.

“Very good,” Eldon nodded once more before turning back to the door. “I’ll send the elixir with your manservant later this evening. Good day.” With that, he dipped his head in a curt farewell and disappeared through the door.

As soon as he was gone, Crow moved quickly to open the wardrobe where Penelope was hidden. “Sorry, he stayed longer than I was expecting,” he said with a frown, stepping back again to give her room. “I don’t think he knew you were here though.”