Seeing the box that contained Rei’s body had shaken Warren more than he cared to admit. Instead of going to lunch, he stayed holed up in his room, sitting on the bed with his knees pulled up to his chest and a hand on either side of his head.

Why can’t I stop trembling?

Devri had come knocking at one point, clearly worried judging by her tone, but after several minutes without a response from him she left. Part of him wished she had stayed; after all, she was the one who helped him back to his room after they came back inside. Embarrassingly, his knees had given out and she’d had to half-drag, half-escort him upstairs, and when she insisted they call the royal family’s doctor he refused.

After what felt like an eternity of sitting there, curled up in a ball and shaking so bad his head hurt, Warren slowly rose and peered out into the hallway. Seated against the wall with her head resting on her knees, sound asleep, was sweet Princess Devri.

How long was she waiting here? He wondered, feeling guilty.

He kneeled down, gently shaking her shoulder to wake her.

“Hmm?” she said, half-asleep. “Ah, Sir Warren! I was worried for your wellbeing and thought I would wait a bit but-“ she laughed, her cheeks flushing. “I suppose I fell asleep.”

Warren helped her up and she thanked him. “There are few servants in this hall,” she explained, “and it seems no one saw me, or else I’m certain I would have been scolded for sleeping on the hall floor.”

“Yeah,” Warren said blankly, trying to hide his trembling hands. Princess Devri, however, wasn’t fooled. She took his hands in hers, regarding Warren with wide eyes.

“Has it…” she began quietly. “Has it been like this the entire time…?”

Warren nodded, lowering his gaze.

Princess Devri cupped his face in her hands. “It’s okay, Warren.”

The princess clapped a hand over her mouth. “Ah, my apologies. ‘Sir Warren’ would be preferable, would it not?”

Warren was so caught off guard by this question that he couldn’t help laughing. “Actually no,” he said with a smile. “Just Warren is fine.”

Princess Devri giggled. “‘Just Warren’ it is then. I would ask that you refer to me as ‘Devri’, but I doubt anyone of my court would approve of such informality. So I supposed ‘Princess Devri’ will do.” She laughed again, but only for a moment. “But our name preferences are not what we are here to discuss.”

Warren’s expression darkened. “Right.”

He led the princess into the bedroom and she shut the door behind herself. Warren returned to his spot on the bed, resisting the urge to curl back up as Princess Devri sat beside him.

“So let’s talk,” Princess Devri told him.

“I-I don’t really want to,” Warren admitted.

Princess Devri nodded, understanding. “We don’t have to, then. May I stay for a short while, though?”

Warren only nodded.

“Would it…” She started. To Warren’s surprise, the princess seemed unable to think of what to say.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, I was just wondering if it would be alright if I spoke, even if you didn’t want to.”

“I…I guess so, sure.”

Princess Devri smiled, though there was something somber about her expression. “Thank you.” She let out a shaky sigh. “I am…how do I phrase this? I suppose I am…afraid.”

Warren eyed her with confusion but said nothing.

“For Rei. For you. For the both of you when he returns. It certainly won’t be easy,” she said with a soft, sad laugh.

“Of course it won’t,” Warren said suddenly. “I always knew it wouldn’t be.”

“You always knew,” she said with wide eyes, “yet this was your first time reacting this way?”

Warren was all too aware of his still-shaking hands. “Hearing about the horrible stuff he went through and actually seeing…” he couldn’t continue. “They’re two different things,” he whispered.

Princess Devri surprised him with a hug, which he was incredibly grateful for. “I understand, I assure you. I had heard of his death, but actually witnessing the aftermath of the battle-“

“Wait,” Warren said. The princess’ face was pressed against Warren’s shoulder, muffling her voice, but he definitely heard her correctly. “You s-saw what happened?”

Princess Devri pulled away, wiping her eyes on a handkerchief. “It was so very tragic,” she whispered. “If only…If only…”

Warren stood up and wrapped his arms gently around her. With a loud sob she buried her face in his shoulder.

“Thank you,” she said after a few moments.

“Er, no problem. I can be your shoulder to cry on, if you need it.”

The princess wiped her eyes again, a hint of a smile on her lips. “I appreciate that, though it isn’t exactly what I was referring to.” She spun in a little circle for no particular reason, giggling as she did. “I just appreciate you. You laugh when I laugh and cry when I cry. I can fall asleep in the hallway or twirl for the fun of it and you never seem to mind.” She looked away. “I know I can be strange at times and my teachers often find me bothersome, but-“

“I think you’re pretty great,” Warren cut in.

Princess Devri laughed. “I think the same of you!” she sat down on the bed again and Warren sat next to her. “Ah, Prince Rei will be so jealous of our budding friendship, Sir Warren.”

Warren couldn’t help laughing. “He sure will.”

He glanced down at his hands. They were still trembling, though not nearly as much as before.

“I’m grateful for your friendship,” he told her. “I think I’m too much of a mess when I’m left alone.”

The princess let out another laugh. “As am I. Maybe we can both be messes together.”

“Heh. Maybe.”