Crow leaned into the kiss as Penelope brought her hand to his cheek, equally ecstatic and relieved that they could finally be together without fear of repercussions. It was the first time he’d ever felt so at peace about their relationship. Even though there were some who would wag their tongues in disapproval, no one could do or say anything to pull them apart. It was freeing to know that their fathers’ consent could offer so much protection. Even if the rest of the kingdom casted them disgusted scowls, all they needed was the approval of John and Albin to court in the open.

When Penelope pulled back, he mirrored her grin. Most of the people whom he’d wanted to witness their first major display of affection were present in the Great Hall. He could see them gawping and glaring with the realization that their opportunities to grab for power had disappeared with the passionate kiss. Particularly, he noticed Elizabeth swear and avert her gaze. She had said that she’d given up on pursuing him, but he could tell she was upset about “losing” to a woman she considered beneath her. He also caught sight of Kane and a few other noblemen take on disappointed looks. Their frustration gave him a smug sense of satisfaction, knowing that they couldn’t try to use the knight for her rising stardom in the inner kingdom anymore.

Most amusing of all was William, who looked completely enraged by the scene they had caused. Crow watched as the older knight stormed over to John, probably with the intent to convince him to break off their courtship. He rolled his eyes. Even though their relationship didn’t affect the other man in the slightest, it seemed he couldn’t bear to let them be together. He found it petty that William would continue to try to keep them apart more than two years after their mission in Younis, when their lives had diverged so far from his that they rarely even spoke to one another.

“Think so?” he turned back to Penelope with a playful smirk, sitting down beside her on the bench. As he did, he slipped his arm around her middle and squeezed her against his side in a half embrace before letting go again. Almost as soon as his hand was back in his own lap, he started at the sound of a gleeful voice.

“Oh my gods, oh my gods!” Naida squealed, rushing over to their table from where she had been sitting with a group of her fellow knights. “It took you two long enough! Are you finally courting?”

Crow laughed. “Calm down,” he chided her with a wave of his hand, though truthfully he found her excitement bolstering in a room full of people who weren’t nearly as happy as the princess. “But yes,” he confirmed with a nod and a fond smile at Penelope. “Her father gave us his blessing a few days ago, and the king approved it this morning.”

“[i]What[/i]?” Naida gaped at them. “Wait, you’ve been planning this for days? Why did you keep telling me you weren’t interested in each other?”

“Because you don’t know how to keep your mouth shut,” Crow smiled at her slyly and leaned across the table to lower his voice. “Want to know a secret? We’ve actually been together for almost half a year.”

“You’re lying,” his sister’s eyes widened as round as disks.

“Nope,” he shook his head and pressed a kiss to Penelope’s cheek. “She’s the reason why I accepted the title of viceroy and left behind my life as a thief.”

“You know, I always knew there was something going on between you two,” the princess asserted and then turned to the lieutenant with a frown. “But if you were together the whole time, why did you pretend like you were just friends until now?”