Valentine and Max watched over Lavinia anxiously for the two days she slept. Each spending the day or night at her side. These two brothers had grown fond of her. Some parts of them were happy that she would forever stay with them now. 

Max stayed with her because he was in love with her, Val did so because she had become a friend to him. In these past few months, he had made a friend of her. When he was the loneliest and most scared, she had stepped up, held his hand, and promised him that everything would be fine.

No one was sure what exactly happened, after all, it was the first time anyone had tried such a strong summoning spell. There was no witch or scholar who could answer the questions about the spell and its workings. 

When Lavinia woke up, Val had been right beside her. They didn’t talk much, he just got her food first. “Thank you,” Val said to her.

Lavinia looked up at him. She had a bowl of stew on her lap, which she was clearly enjoying. “For?”

“For standing up to Cythia. No one has ever dared to.” Val explained. 

“I barely remember it.” She grimaced. 

“Are you sad that you will be stuck here now?” Val asked her quietly. She must hate them now. 

“No.” She replied casually. “I don’t even remember my old life anymore. I have nothing there. I can, however, help you fix this world. Make a new life for me, and you too.”

“But it’s very dangerous here. You witnessed Cythia’s behavior first hand.” Val was half-curious and half-horrified at Lavinia’s confidence. “And you told Cythia your full name, that is going to come back and bite you.”

“She can try, but she will fail ultimately.”

-----

At her request, Val had finally brought Lavinia to the gardens. He had asked Tarquin to increase the guards around her for her safety. Val had to ask Tarquin if he was allowed to even let Lavinia come out to the garden.

The fresh air and scent of the flowers calmed her down instantly. She hadn’t revealed to Val her true wish. The fact that she had wanted to stay here forever, she had wished for it and now she got it. She didn’t think she could have asked to stay, but now, she had no choice but to stay. 

She sat down on one of the marble benches and smiled at Val. “You know, I can see everything I wanted to see before.”

He sat beside her. “And what is it that you want to see?”

“The city, the tournament games, the balls. Everything, and so much more.” Maybe this was the world’s way of telling her that this was her adventure now. 

“If you wish, we will get to see everything you want. And more.” Val laughed, a rich and honeyed sound. “We have those all the time anyway. Balls and tournaments happen every other month in regular times.”

“I know.” She kicked a pebble in front of her. She must have kicked it a little too forcefully because it bounced into the little pond in front of them. It disturbed the still waters of the pond. “I wonder, what happens now? How do I affect and change this story?”

“We’ll see together,” Val said. 

------

Tarquin watched Val and Lavinia from the second-story balcony. He had told Val to bring Lavinia to Tarquin’s own personal gardens, instead of Val’s. No one would dare to spy on them in Tarquin’s quarters. The gardens, and Tarquin’s entire wing of the palace by extension, were warded against unwanted visitors. 

They were laughing together, conversing amongst themselves like old friends. Lavinia, he mouthed her name. It was strange to think of her as anything but Fantasy. But the name suited her, Tarquin thought. 

He had a lot of time to get used to her name now, as she would stay here forever. The scene with Cythia had filled him with dark satisfaction. She had the guts to stand up to Cythia, fully knowing how strong Cythia’s powers are. Maybe that was what gave her the courage to do it in the first place. 

Tarquin hadn’t thought of how to help her in this world. She was an Etheri at best, and that meant she needed training. Tarquin had his doubts, but she was powerful. What powers she had, he didn’t know. Tarquin, despite holding a bulk of the Auberjonis power and the power that comes with the crown, didn’t like magic. He found it unrefined and uncivilized. 

He had grown into a habit of using his powers only after Cythia became a major figure. Before that, he didn’t like using his powers at all. If Tarquin had mastered his powers earlier, he could have protected Valentine. His discomfort with his own powers had nearly ended horribly.

Since then, he had kept up his practices, and he regularly had to use his powers now. He kept a lot hidden from his brothers. As a king, his hands were never clean of blood, either innocent or guilty. He knew one of these days, he would have to answer for the disgusting orders he has commanded. And when that day comes, he will accept it gladly.