“You know,-” Elica said, peering into her drink, “-this doesn’t taste at all like the wine from last night.”

“Do you not like that? It’s the type we typically drink.”

“Oh, so I take it that yesterday’s is what’s typically used for events? I’m not a real big wine drinker, so I’m not quite sure what’s different, just that something is...”

“I kind of got that, you hardly drank any of it yesterday. Then again, it’s probably best you didn’t drink much of that,” he said with a slight chuckle.

“Why, what was wrong with it?”

“I just requested a special type is all, never mind it. So then, tell me more about yourself, I haven’t really been told anything,” he said, taking a drink of his own.

“What do you want to know,” she said eyeing him suspiciously, not willing to let his ‘special request’ comment slide just yet.

“Anything really, like what was your life like?”

“Nothing special,” she said with a sigh, “probably just like every other persons’ in town.”

“That doesn’t really tell me much… Come on, I want some details,” he urged as a slight breeze brought the smells of the garden to them.

“The sheltered noble type I see,” Elica grumbled, rolling her eyes. “Fine, I’ll tell you, so listen closely,” she said, watching as Valafar perked up. “Well, I’m the only child of my parents, I’ve heard that’s the same for you.”

“That’s not quite true, but go on,” he dismissed.

“Really? I guess I was told wrong then. Anyway, my family led a fairly normal life I suppose, my mother is a tailor and my father is a dyer. Before yesterday, I was also working at the dyery as an apprentice.”

“Huh, I suppose given the town, that is pretty typical. What about your experiences, certainly some interesting things have happened,” he said.

Elica watched as his eyes flicked to her hair before responding, “are you referring to things due to the kiss?”

“Well, it does give you a higher chance of things happening I’d say.”

“Well, I think it’s the main reason I got into this situation, so I guess that's a pretty big event worth mentioning don’t you think,” she said with a short laugh.

“Funny,” he remarked with a straight face. “Not anything else though? No attention, proposals, gifts, any of those sorts of things?”

“Well, I suppose I got some extra glances, but, at this point, I've probably been seen by most in town, so it isn't that big of a deal. As for proposals, I've never really given any suitors a chance.”

“So there have been suitors,” Valafar marked, raising a brow.

“Attempted ones, yes. Why do you ask?”

“It’s just that, it is probably safe to assume that the offers came from prestigious families. Even if you didn’t care for them, it wouldn’t have been a bad deal for you, no?”

“Well, they weren’t all bad I suppose, the other apprentice I worked with was one for example, but I guess I wasn’t willing to compromise,” she said, lifting the cup to her lips again.

“Not willing to compromise huh? I’m getting the feeling rather, that the issue is that you already have eyes for someone.”

“Avoid that topic Valafar,” Elica commanded sternly, sharp eyes peering into his from over her cup.

“I see,” he said with a nervous laugh. “My apologies, I was unaware it was a sore subject.”

“Whatever, what about you though, you said it wasn’t quite true that you were an only child.”

“I will answer that, but I have to give you one small warning beforehand, okay?”

“As long as you don’t have to kill me after you tell me, I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Well then, you mustn’t talk about this to others since it’s kind of a house secret, okay?”

“That’s fine, just tell me,” she urged, his warning simply exciting her more for this apparently valuable secret.

“Well, I do have an older brother, Rainer, but he disappeared years ago after my mother died.”

“Disappeared? You have no idea what happened to him at all?”

“Well, he sympathized with my mother, and always despised our family. So, I think he just kind of took some of his things and took off.”

“Really! By the way, what do you mean he sympathized with your mother?”

“Oh, that? I suggest we leave that topic for another time,” Valafar said, his eyes turning away from Elica’s and towards the garden.

“If you think that’s for the best, okay. What about your father though, didn’t he ever look for him after he left?”

“Possibly, but we don’t exactly get along either, so he has never cared to let me know any of the details.”

“I see. Well, I hope he’s okay.”

“Me too. He’s a strong, capable person, so I’m sure he’ll be fine,” he replied, his voice turning slightly forlorn as he turned his face back to the table. “Well, let’s eat, we’ve barely touched anything.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” she replied, turning her attention to her meal.