The evening meeting Eucemon held with his knights in the Randall castle parlour was mostly silence, except the noisy occasional nibbling of a kebab from Astana.
Astana, not seeming to understand at all, lowered the snacks the princess had packed for him and lightly asked:
"So, how we getting the rest in?"
Eucemon's brows furrowed immediately at that.
He was seated at the end couch that had a full view of the door, left elbow on the armrest, rubbing his temple every now and then as if an impending headache was threatening to bloom at any moment. He was thinking back to Athusa's blank stare a mere two hours earlier as nine more knights had joined them at the castle — he had told her the contingent was twelve knights.
He did not lie exactly. The first contingent was indeed twelve. Except, the second contingent had come north with them too and that was an additional twenty.
Astana mused aloud.
"Well. Summer here right now isn't that bad but it probably still gets pretty rough in the evenings."
The second contingent was camping a bit at the outskirts of Eastgate, to not draw attention from the townsfolk with too many outsiders at once.
"They should relocate to the inn." Eucemon quietly relented. He did not want the knights in the outskirts to be left exposed to the elements for that long.
"And Astana, whose fault was it the princess got such a terrible impression of us all?" Freya scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You never even wanted to read before, but sure had a great time misleading the princess today."
Astana blissfully had spent the remainder of the afternoon happily learning letters with Athusa. The Randall princess had given Eucemon a dirty look when she learned Astana was completely illiterate from his inability to read the inn's course menu.
"...'s not my fault she is nice to kids." Came the immediate defense. There was a pause.
"She's a good teacher." He added too.
"You." Freya crossed her arms. "She probably thinks badly of Euce now! What kid fights that well, but also hasn't had an education? If only she knew you were completely slacking in studies!"
"And don't you think how you probably look too?" Astana shot back. "Frey, you're the only other woman who is a knight besides Lady Lucila in the kingsguard and your sword's more a fit for a mountain bear! None of us here are exactly normal."
As if to make his point, Astana gestured at Gilraine, who was sitting beside him as still as a carved statue. It was unusual for a Star Seed to have another Star Seed as their personal guard, and permitting Gilraine to be in Eucemon's service was proof of the king's affection and generosity for his younger son.
"This is not about us being a bit different from the other knights," Freya shot back. "You… why you-!"
Her voice wasn't even sure how to describe how shameless it was. That afternoon, Astana had leaned into the Randall princess's warmth as if he was just an innocent child with glittering eyes. It reminded her of what she heard back in the imperial capital of that cat that had hoodwinked several homes into believing he was a stray in need of a home.
"You're a scammer." Freya realized.
"Take that back!" Astana huffed. "I was following his instructions to keep an eye on her and make sure she's ok! Who else can fit incognito that well?"
He pointed the kebab at Eucemon.
"Euce, why not tell her the Duke was like a father? Why even hold back?" Astana didn't look sorry at all as he continued his complaints. "Say you liked her for a long time and the Duke told many stories of home."
More mischievously, the child posed with his kebab as if it was a locket.
"The love at first sight seeing beautiful sister's portrait… I completely understand." Cheerfully, his mouth opened wider to take another bite.
Astana yelped as he bit into solid ice instead: the kebab he was holding was frozen solid.
"Hey! Wow?! Why are you being like this, Euce? If you're this petty she won't like you at all, you know!"
Eucemon's brows were darkly furrowed. He got up and went for the door without a word.
"What are you saying?" He heard Freya smack Astana on the back as the child spluttered. "Weren't you just totally taking advantage of the princess with your cute face?"
The boy seemed to deflate at that.
"Ok, ok. I'll tell her I was from the assassins' order and Euce lied to save me."
Freya sighed.
"I didn't mean for her to completely misunderstand, you know." Complained Astana. "I would never do that… it's thanks to him I still have my head. But he really should tell her he likes her at least. It's not that hard."
…
Athusa had reportedly retired to bed early, having been exhausted by the prior night of little sleep. But seeing the faint glow of light from her chambers, Eucemon immediately knew she was unable to sleep again.
"Gilraine will take up the guard tonight." He informed, raising his voice just a little. "If someone is coming, just throw the bell, he will immediately help you."
Would she possibly prefer Freya instead?
"Or if you'll like, Freya can come. She can stay with you inside. She's a great fighter too."
There was no response still. He rapped twice on the door, and then paused.
"Are … you alright?"
The light was snuffed quickly, leaving only a very faint glow. She must have kept only one candle.
"If you can't sleep still, Astana can prepare something for you to take."
There was no response to the offer, but the faint sounds of slippered feet on stone drew close to the shut door. Even quieter, Athusa's voice came.
"… stay a little."
He turned, leaning against the door. There was the sound of a thump on the other side.
"Don't sit on the ground." He said. "It's cold enough in the evening. You'll get sick."
"It's ok." Came the tired response. "The cold is nice."
"Why?" He asked.
The pause was longer this time.
So, it was because she felt the cold would make it more difficult to cry?
"It's alright to cry." He offered.
There were faint sounds from inside. Muffled.
He sighed, before taking a seat on the ground too.
The girl on the other side of the door right now wasn't the noble Randall princess who would ascend her father's position.
She was just a girl who mourned the loss of the uncle who loved her, or so she had once thought. It was difficult to reconcile the man who had carried her on his shoulders with the one who now saw her in the way and wanted her gone.
"Athusa," Offered Eucemon. "Would you like to try learning magic again? It's never too late."