“Looks like I’ll have to rescue you from that dismal fate,” Crow returned Penelope’s smirk when she spoke about dancing with strange men. Though he still disliked the thought of any other noblemen approaching her with the intent to win her attention at the party, hearing her remind him that she was only interested in him took the edge off his jealousy. Besides, it was just one night. If any of the others were so bold as to ask her to let them court her, she could just turn them down. There really wasn’t any reason for him to be concerned about it. As soon as she gathered the support she needed and convinced the king, their long wait would be over.

As they continued to walk back to the bridge that would carry them toward the castle, Crow found the silence to be both peaceful and tiring. He’d managed to forget about how exhausted he was for most of the day, but now that the sun was hanging lower in the sky, he was starting to feel the effects of his consistently poor sleep. He stifled a yawn and tucked his chin slightly as they walked past a small group of people headed in the opposite direction, hoping they wouldn’t recognize his face beneath his hood. Luckily, they didn’t even spare him a passing glance, and he and the knight went on their way uninterrupted.

He followed along at Penelope’s side as she guided them back toward the clearing where they had first met up. “I think you should,” he mused in response to her question, letting his eyes wander absently over the surrounding trees. “You said you need to meet with that couple, right? The Lenz’s? If you go back first, you’ll have more time to get done with whatever you still need to do.” He shrugged, bringing a hand to his mouth as he let out the yawn he’d been holding back before. “When I get back, I’m just going to nap until supper.”

Casting a quick glance over his shoulder, he checked to make sure they were far enough away from the main road not to be spotted and then reached to take her hand again. “I’m glad we had so much time together today,” he smiled at her affectionately. “I had fun visiting your hometown. The market was interesting, the house was nice, and I enjoyed hearing all those stories about you as a kid.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Thanks for sharing this part of your life with me, love.”