Apparently Penelope’s will broke faster than Crow had expected. He glanced at her amusedly, knowing full well that a little could go a long way for the lightweight knight. At least he could hold his liquor well enough to have a couple drinks without losing control of himself. As long as one of them stayed alert, he was still hopeful that they could keep his sister in the dark, especially if she didn’t intend to hold back. With that thought in mind, he lifted his own mug to his lips to take a long draught of the honey-colored drink.

Unsurprisingly, the mead was rich and sweet. It was of a finer quality than anything the villagers on the border could make with their limited resources, and it slid down his throat so smoothly that it was dangerous. He set the glass back down on the table, impressed that even the aftertaste wasn’t bitter. If he hadn’t restricted himself to two mugs, he could have easily forgotten to pace himself and polished off more than he could handle. It was like drinking a liquid dessert.

“It actually does,” he admitted, returning Penelope’s smile. “But I still have to say I like Evelyn’s mead the best. This one might be smoother, but you can’t compete with nostalgia.” He winked at her playfully. “Not that it matters what I think anyway. I noticed the glares I got when we came inside. This place would be just fine even if I said I hated it.”

“Maybe now, but not for long,” Naida rebutted, taking another swig of her cider. “Everyone is still getting used to the idea of you being the viceroy, but once they settle down, you’ll have the power to ruin a tavern like this with just a word.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about that,” Crow wrinkled his nose. He already had to be careful enough to protect his own reputation. The idea that he could hurt someone else with just a thoughtless remark was a weighty burden to bear.

“You get used to it,” the princess assured him sagely.

“Hm,” Crow grunted noncommittally and turned back to Penelope. “How’s your drink?” he asked, attempting to change the subject to something more pleasant than his newfound responsibilities.