After a moment, Thea remembered to breathe. “Ah, yes, I’m pleased you could make it to dinner as well, Commander. I know you’re usually quite busy.”

Good gods! I needed some kind of warning before that smile! Even in all the pictures of him in the papers, Thea had never once seen him smile. She was frustrated at herself for her reaction, but happy as well since she knew the commander’s smile was probably an extremely rare sight.

“True,” the commander agreed. His expression seemed a bit disappointed before the polite smile was back. “I’m no less busy now than before, but I do have to eat, and I happened to need to speak with Lord Chronwright soon anyway.”

Thea’s mother tapped the table with her hands, gaining everyone’s attention, before signing, “Now commander, no matter how busy you are, we’ll not have any talk of business or knight’s work at the table. It’ll have to wait until afterwards.” Timetheo translated for her since the commander didn’t know how to sign.

“Of course,” the commander agreed easily. After that, the seven of them focused on the meal.

Thea tried to keep her attention on Luin mostly. The boy had taken to staring at the commander during the meal. He ate, but it seemed like he wasn’t tasting what he put in his mouth.

I wonder if he is afraid of the commander like many people are?

She was a bit of an oddball in that she didn’t harbor any fear of the commander, but chose to admire him and the work he’d done for the empire and the capital. But perhaps that was only because she didn’t work with him regularly. However, Timetheo did work with him, and she had now met him face to face, so she thought the rumors must not have much truth to them after all and was glad she hadn’t paid them any mind.

A small dessert of berry tart and cream had just been enjoyed when Thea noticed Luin clenching his jaw in an effort to stifle a yawn. His expression changed from his usual apathy to annoyance.

Using Luin’s need for an early bedtime as an excuse, Thea was able to extricate herself from the dinner, saying quick farewells and goodnights to her family and the commander. She breathed easier now that she could escape the commander’s gaze which had been on her for a good portion of the meal for some reason.

But before Thea could do more than get up from the table, her mother signed discreetly, “Come see me in the sitting room once he’s tucked in,” and Thea could do nothing more than nod in agreement.

Now the lecture is sure to come. Thea lost her feeling of relief due to that thought, as she and Luin walked hand-in-hand up the stairs and down the hall towards their rooms. But she straightened her back, determined that even if she wasn't sure she could set her mother's worries at ease, she was going to at least try her best.

***

Luin wished he knew more expletives and resolved to look some up in one of the library's dictionaries soon. He inwardly raged at his weakened form while his expression remained carefully neutral. He couldn’t have Thea thinking he was upset at her or her family after all.

He’d wanted to be present for the after-dinner discussion, but now that was ruined by his failed attempt at hiding the exhaustion that weighed him down. He comforted himself with the knowledge that Thea had come with him rather than simply sending him off with the butler. The fact that she hadn’t tried to stay behind without him to talk to the commander made his steps a bit lighter. He hadn’t liked how much the commander’s eyes strayed to Thea throughout the meal.

They arrived at Thea’s old room once more. A set of sleepwear had been left out for both of them, but Thea set hers aside and gave Luin’s nightclothes to him. “Go ahead and change in the other room,” she told him. “Let me know when you’re done, and I’ll come tuck you in, alright?”

“You’re not sleeping too?” he asked as another yawn tried its might against his jaw strength. She wasn’t going to leave him here and go back to the table--back to the commander--was she?

Thea knelt down on his level. “I won’t be long. I just need to have a talk with my mother, and then I’m coming right back.”

Well if it’s a family matter, then…

Luin nodded and went to change. When he came back, Thea had pulled back the covers on the right side of the extra large bed, the side farthest from the door. He crawled up into the bed, surprised by how much he sank into the mattress and how fluffy the covers were. He wondered briefly how Thea had put up with the firmer, smaller bed in the East District apartment after having grown up with a bed like this one.

“Would you like me to tell you a short story?” Thea tucked the covers around his shoulders. “I know being in a strange place all over again can make it hard to sleep. Or I could call for some warm milk to be brought up.”

Though he would have liked to hear any story Thea thought was interesting enough to tell, the thought of drinking something warm caused those accursed yawns to return, and this time, he wasn’t able to hold it back.

“I think I’m too tired. But can I have a story tomorrow? You should go talk with your mother so you can hurry and come back and sleep. You did work all day after all.” His comments earned him a soft smile from Thea.

“Alright. We’ll save the story for tomorrow. I’ll turn the lights low, but if the darkness bothers you, feel free to turn them back up or call for someone, okay? I shouldn’t be too long.” Thea patted the bed beside him in farewell before touching the mana stone for the lights and closing the door gently.

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Luin fought the incoming tidal wave of sleep. But even as he lost the battle to keep his eyes open, he reached out to Ulla to see through her eyes.

The large owl was currently atop the roof somewhere above Thea’s room. Wordlessly, he guided Ulla to take flight, spiraling down and then leveling out as they came even with upper floor windows, most of which were dark.

:Looking for something, Master?: Ulla’s voice in his mind was tiny since he had taken the reins.

:Not sure yet, but…: Luin didn’t finish that thought, as a window for a room that was lit up came into view. With the owl’s keen eyes, he clearly saw rows of book shelves along the walls and two women standing in the room. One was Thea’s mother, and the other was Thea herself, who had just entered.

With silent wings beats, they hovered there, drifting closer, but then Luin noticed the two were conversing with those hand signs that he couldn’t understand but which intrigued him. Staying here is pointless, he thought, and looking in on their conversation made him feel apprehensive. However, there was something else he could do that wouldn’t be pointless.

:Let’s find out where the commander has gone. He may be up to something. And if Thea’s mother has left the dining hall, then perhaps the meal is finished.: Luin felt Ulla’s wordless agreement before they swooped down to find the dining room windows. The lights were still dimly lit within, so they landed on the window sill and peered in.

The four men were still in the dining hall. However, Thea’s brothers seemed to be the only ones seated, while Thea’s father and the commander were standing and making their way towards the door.

Thea’s father is fairly important in the empire even though he is of one of the lowest ranks in the nobility. But the commander is on an entirely different level. Wouldn't it be strange for them to have business with each other? Though perhaps they sometimes work together or speak together over matters concerning the empire. There was still much Luin didn’t know about the current figureheads in the empire he found himself in, and he could only guess at what connection the baronet and the commander had. The history and government books only covered so much, and not many details applied to more current events. He would have to start reading the paper it would seem.

With a glance at the two brothers, the younger of which looked to be venting his frustrations while the older brother made few comments and looked stoically on as if it were commonplace to see his brother like this, Luin had Ulla take off to find where the commander and Thea’s father were going. It was a matter of flying towards the side of the estate that the door had been on and then waiting to see what lights came on. After several moments, Luin had his answer as lights gently flared to life in a window on the third floor.

Luin absorbed a bit of power from Ulla to both help keep himself mentally awake and have her shrink in size, about what a normal, smaller owl would be. They landed on the window sill, owl ears and eyes trained on the two men inside.

***

Cyris took the steps at an even pace, following behind Baronet Chronwright, as they made their way up. The dinner had been the first time they’d truly met, with only the passing glance in the palace once or twice before as each of them had gone about one duty or another. Cyris was a bit amazed that the baronet seemed so at ease speaking with him in private, so used to the sneers, glares, and empty flatter of the palace and his family's dukedom as he was.

“You’ll have to excuse the state of my office, but it is at least a space where we can speak plainly,” Chronwright said, as he picked up a stray stack of papers from the sofa and set them on the desk by the window.

“So repairs on the clock tower will begin soon I’m guessing?” Chronwright asked, as he offered a seat on the one low sofa to Cyris before taking a seat himself on an opposite chair. “His Majesty won’t want it to be out of commission much longer I would assume.” He grabbed two small glasses and a bottle from a cabinet beside him, before setting the glasses on the table between them and pouring a bit of the bottle’s contents in each. The light amber liquid filled the glasses generously, threatening to spill over.

“True," Cyris agreed. "I’ve been told the sooner your wife can begin the repairs, the better. After what happened, I’m wary of sending anyone up there, but I’ve observed all I can from it. I imagine you and your wife will be summoned sometime tomorrow or the day after that at the latest.”

Cyris sipped at the drink. The sweet burn of the brandy trailed down his throat, and he inadvertently sighed. It had been a while since he’d sat and enjoyed a drink. He avoided drinking alone, but that was his constant condition, more or less, so he ended up not doing so at all.

“So, you seem to know my daughter as well. I wasn’t aware that you two had met before, yet you seemed acquainted before even you and I had exchanged words.”

Cyris had been sipping his brandy once again as Baronet Chronwright spoke, and the involuntary pause mid-swallow nearly caused him to sputter. Was it just him, or did he detect a slight change in the Baronet’s tone just now. And why bring up his daughter? Did he think Cyris had some ill intentions towards her? He could imagine no father would want someone like him close to his daughter if he cared for her like the Baronet clearly did for Thea.

Cyris caught himself by clearing his throat and sat his glass back down. “Ah, Tim and I had work that led us to the Eastern District, and Tim brought me along when he went to visit his sister. We only just met earlier today, in passing.”

The baronet seemed to relax into the back of the sofa as he swirled his drink around. “I see, so Tim introduced you.” Cyris couldn’t figure out if he’d just gotten his partner in trouble or if the baronet was truly unconcerned now. “Thea hasn’t wanted to be involved with nobles, so she never debuted. She likes her books and her library, so she’s always done what she loves. I’d appreciate it if you would rein in my son if he tries to get her involved in any of the Central District’s or the Palace’s problems.”

Cyris frowned. “I can try, though it would be difficult where Tim is concerned. But he seems to truly care for his sister, so I think he can be convinced if it comes down to it.” Clearly, at least to Cyris's mind, it was more a warning for him than for Timetheo, since most of the problems of the palace and of the city’s nobles clung to him like smoke on one’s clothes.

Chronwright chuckled. “That boy…,” he sighed and then finished the rest of his drink in one go. “So the investigation led you and Tim to the East District, hmm? He must have been worried about her. Tim’s always thought of her as fragile since he saw her become quite ill as a child once. You wouldn’t say she was fragile or helpless, would you Commander?”

Cyris wasn’t sure what the baronet was getting at, but he saw no reason not to answer truthfully. “Having only just met Lady Thea today, I couldn’t say for sure, but she does not give me that impression. To live on her own and work on her own, and now to take in an orphan on her own, doesn’t sound fragile or helpless to me. There are far more idle flowers in the palace as you know, and Lady Thea doesn’t resemble them.”

“That she doesn’t, and do you feel it is a fault to not resemble them?”

“It is surprising, but no, I would say it is a strength.”

Chronwright nodded to himself. “I think so as well. Then, would you say the East District is safe at the moment?”

“I can’t share details of our investigation before everything is reported to the emperor, but I can say that I’m not certain of that.” From what Cyris had seen using his skills, some very malevolent beings were loose in the capital, and other odd happenings only left him with more questions. And one of those mysteries was following the baronet’s daughter around at the moment. The itch to get back to his investigation began to grow as he was reminded of everything he’d witnessed so far.

I must have really enjoyed this dinner and the respite it gave me. Cyris was surprised at himself. His own family was so unlike the Chronwright household that he would have never thought a family dinner could have been enjoyable, let alone restful.

Just as he opened his mouth to excuse himself, both his and the Baronet’s heads turned towards a commotion coming from outside the office. Cyris was on his feet before the door was thrust open.

Timetheo burst into the room, his breath labored from running up the stairs, but his face was paler than Cyris ever remembered it being. “Commander, the City Knights just sent an urgent request for us. There's been more damage.”

“Where?” Cyris made for the door, but froze when Timetheo answered him.

“It–it’s Thea’s apartment.”

“What?!” “What’s happened to her apartment?” Cyris and Baronet Chronwright asked at the same time.

A loud bang against glass came from the office window at that moment, startling them all into momentary silence, and Cyris was nearly certain he’d seen a flurry of wings fade into the night.