Roskva wandered down the hall. Wondering what she would do until lunch. Finding her way to the small dining room where a breakfast was waiting, as was Starkon.

“Good morning!” she called. Starkon looked up but his interest went blank as he saw Roskva.

“Morning,” He said. Returning to his breakfast. “Is Aneira joining us this morning?”

“Unfortunately not.” Roskva sighed as she sat at the table. Serving herself a plate. “They’re not awake yet. Lady Callafon says they didn’t sleep much.”

“I see.” Starkon said. “You don’t think Lady Callafon is spending too much time with them, do you?” Roskva giggled.

“I’m not surprised, I think Lady Callafon is interested in Aneira.” Roskva said. Still laughing. She sobered up quick. Picking at her plate. “I hope Aneira returns those feelings. I’d hate for Lady Callafon to be hurt…” Roskva stared distantly.

“Roskva?” Starkon cleared his throat, and she snapped back to attention.

“Right. Sorry.” Roskva shook her head. “So. What do you have planned today?”

“Nothing that can’t wait for you.” Starkon said, flashing a winning smile. “Consider my schedule, clear.” Roskva stared at him in surprise.

“Are you serious?” She asked. Starkon nodded, Roskva shifted in excitement. “Well. Okay! Let’s go for a walk! Can we go for a walk? Through the gardens? Or through the city?”

“Absolutely! The gardens would be a wonderful walk. We might even take a picnic.” Starkon said. “If you don’t mind the slight wait for me to wash up and dress for a walk?”

“Oh I don’t mind at all. I should probably wash up as well.” Roskva laughed nervously.

“Do you think Aneira will be out any time soon? They wanted to be present for party matters.” Starkon stood up and held a hand for Roskva to take.

“Lady Callafon said they’d be around for lunch possibly.” Roskva said, taking his hand and standing up. “I can’t imagine they’ll be too upset if we get started without them.”

“That’s possible but I think I’ve been on their bad side too much already.” Starkon laughed. He turned to the attendants waiting on the side of the room. “Clear.”

“Aneira doesn’t like that,” Roskva reminded. Starkon’s face darkened for a moment.

“Whoops, I completely forgot.” He forced a smile. “Ah well. Next time.” Roskva smiled, finding his absent minded moments endearing.

“Next time, Oh! While you get ready, I can go down to the kitchen and get the picnic things!” Roskva offered. “I’ll meet you in the sun room?”

“Sounds lovely,” Starkon agreed. The two split up, Roskva ran to the kitchens and put together a lovely picnic basket filled with light picnic foods. She skipped from the kitchens to the sunroom to wait for Starkon.

The sunroom was beautiful as the sun shone down into it. Lovely little wicker seats and a coffee table sat surrounded by plants of every kind, in different variations of sunlight. The heat from the sun shining into the glass made the whole room much warmer than any part of the palace. It wasn’t even midday yet and it was already sweltering. Roskva readjusted her hair, taking care that her eye was covered. She walked about the plants, finding a few flowers and plucking them to add to the picnic basket. Thinking about Starkon, his smile, his laugh. Roskva couldn’t help but admit she was smitten entirely. Which made it so frustrating that he and Aneira didn’t seem to get along in any way.

Roskva paced around the sunroom, feeling the warm sun baking her. Waiting impatiently for Starkon to arrive. She felt a nibble of hunger in the pit of her stomach. She stared longingly at the basket. A sudden worry that maybe Starkon had forgotten her entirely and she was waiting for nothing crossed her mind.

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“There you are,”

Roskva turned excitedly. Starkon entered the sun room.

“Here I am!” Roskva said with a giant smile. “Are you ready?”

“I am, here let me get that.” Starkon said and grabbed the basket. “Oh. You picked the flowers.”

“Yup! They’re so beautiful!” Roskva’s smile faded slightly at the look on Starkon’s face. “Aren’t they?”

“Well when you pick flowers they die.” Starkon said. “Seems a giant waste to me. Especially when some of these blossoms have medicinal properties.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that.” Roskva said sheepishly. She played with her hair instinctively trying to hide behind it. “I thought they were pretty.”

“Next time you should think about more than just appearances.” Starkon said, “You don’t think I’m just a pretty face do you?”

“No!” Roskva said in horror. “You are so much more than a pretty face! You’re so smart! And the way you take control of a situation is amazing!”

“All right, all right.” Starkon laughed. “Flattery will get you everywhere. Look at me, I’m blushing.” Roskva smiled and a blush covered her cheeks as well. Starkon led Roskva through the gardens. Pointing out the different plants growing in the gardens.

“Oh, that does remind me…” Starkon snapped. “I hope you don’t mind me circling back, but your older sibling is a bit odd, aren’t they?”

“I guess I don’t mind.” Roskva shrugged, feeling a bit bothered. “And what do you mean, odd?”

“Odd. I mean. They’re cold as death, pale as the grave? Their eyes seem void of any spark of life whatsoever?” Starkon asked, seemingly hinting at something. “Almost enough to make you believe in Do’laeth.”

“You just haven’t seen Aneira when they’re excited.” Roskva laughed. “Their eyes light up and they're always pale because they spend most of their time inside making sure there’s enough food that’s safe to eat. Probably also why they’re so cold. The kitchen and larder are ridiculously cold.”

“You don’t have to make excuses.” Starkon said, annoyed.

“I’m not. I mean I am but that’s just the way Aneira’s always been.” Roskva shrugged. Feeling there was something going over her head.

“And there’s nothing you’re hiding from me?” Starkon asked, stopping the two of them and looking at Roskva intensely. Giving her the sweetest, innocent eyes that Roskva couldn’t refuse.

“I could never hide anything from you,” Aneira sighed, love struck. “Aneira’s just like that. There was never a reason.”

“Never a reason that you know.” Starkon said. “It might be they’re hiding something.”

“What? No,” Roskva laughed, starting to walk along the garden path. Thinking about the prospect Aneira would hide anything from her would make her burst out into laughter again. “No. Aneira would never.”

“They hid your royalty from you?” Starkon said as he caught up.

“She said she didn’t know,” Roskva waved away.

“Do you believe that?” Starkon asked,

“Of course I do.” Roskva rolled her eyes, but she felt the seeds of doubt flowering in her chest. “Let’s stop worrying about Aneira, we have a picnic to enjoy!”

“Right, of course. I apologize.” Starkon said. “It’s just hard to blindly trust my kingdom to someone I don’t know and can’t quite gauge.”

“I understand,” Roskva said. “Ooh! Here’s a good spot.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Starkon smiled. He put the basket down and took out the picnic blanket. Spreading it out along the ground. Roskva sat and began pulling out the food. “You understand my anxiety, don’t you?”

“Sure,” Roskva said. Placing a napkin in front of Starkon and a sandwich on top of it. Then giving him a glass and pulling out a bottle.

“Lemonade?” Roskva asked, holding the bottle.

“Lemonade?” Starkon repeated, baffled.

“Oh, I had the staff reuse a wine bottle for convenience.” Roskva smiled, uncorking the bottle and pouring two glasses of lemonade for the picnic. Starkon barely picked at his food as he stared off at the mountains towering over the palace. His look completely unreadable. Roskva watched as she nibbled at her food.

“Are you all right?” Roskva asked.

“Hm? Oh, I suppose.” Starkon sighed. “Still processing all the events. It’s a lot to process overnight. I’ve been raised so stringently to care about this kingdom, these people. Handing it over is hard. How do I know your sibling is the right one to lead?”

“They are. I know they are.” Roskva insisted. Then she got an idea. “And I can prove it. Tomorrow we’ll go down to the village and Aneira will show you how well they can lead!” Starkon stared at Roskva again, baffled.

“Yes. I suppose that is something we could do.” He said slowly. Roskva smiled with the biggest grin she could.

“Then it’s settled. I promise you, all your worries will be put to rest.” Roskva said.

“We’ll see.”