Evangeline and Fletcher also proceeded to drink out of their respected glasses. However, things were tense. These were questions that had not been mentioned to the folks other than those who were directly related to the situation. It was unique, there had been situations where princes’ and princess’ married someone in their kingdom, perhaps a high appointed official or knight, but it was rare to see two kingdoms merge together, two large kingdoms. Perhaps two smaller kingdoms, towns were better suited for terms, might entangle themselves in marriage, but it was hardly seen in larger kingdoms.

Evangeline hadn’t the faintest idea the last time it had taken place, a marriage of this importance at least. She had gone through history books and attempted to reconcile some sort of timeline of this continent and world, and she could only recount three times that two kingdoms of this magnitude that became joint due to marriage. It was either marriage or war, where two, or more, kingdoms became one whole. When it came to war, it was bloody, and nothing good ever comes out of war.

“Well would you look at that, my glass is empty,” Evangeline said breaking up the moment of silence that settled between the three of them. She hesitnatly got up from her chair, grimacing as her foot hit the floor. However, she passed it off with a false smile and grabbed her empty drink glass. She started to maunever her way past the other tables but turned around and winked at Fletcher and Vance, “I’ll  be back in a second!” 

Evangeline attempted, with all her might, to hustle back to the bar with as little pain as possible and with as little time spent in between steps. She figured she was getting used to the pain in her ankle; it was unavoidable at this point. It was either soreness under her arms or gripping pain in her ankle, it didn’t matter which one inflicted her. They both hurt.

As Evangeline finally found herself back at the bar, she hopped up on another stool and noticed how Leona was sat with a hand under her chin, leaning forward and simply looking at Evangeline. All other patrons at the bar counter had been cleared and were seemingly dispersed at their respected tables. It was almost as if Leona was waiting for Evangeline.

“Where’d everyone go? The bar wasn’t this empty a moment ago.”

“You were gone a little bit, but, I wanted to have a minute alone with you. Mind if I get my co-worker out here so we can have a little chit-chat?”

“Chit-chat?” Evangeline gulped, her heart sinking in her chest. She felt a chill radiate in her spine as the hairs on her arms quickly rose up. Evangeline wasn’t cold at all, as she had a long sleeved tunic on, keeping most of her body heat inside the clothing. The night air outside was bitter, but on the inside of the tavern, it was warm and inviting. 

Leona winked and lifted herself fully upward, leaving the counter top and going to the left, where a door resided on the back wall. She opened the door, and while Evangeline attempted to catch a sight of beyond the doorway, she couldn’t see a glimpse of the inside as Leona shut the door behind her. 

Letting out a little breath, Evangeline put her glass down on the counter and looked past the bar counter, examining the wall that had shelves where alcohol remained. It had liquors, glasses, fruits, wines, and even more stuff that went into running a successful tavern. Her fingers ran themselves across the counter, feeling for a trace of dust, but there was none. It was clean, not a speck of dirt stricken upon its granite top. 

Evangeline, stuck in a moment of boredom and excitement, started to hum a little tune. She didn’t exactly know where it came from, but she hummed it without a thought in her mind. It was sweet, and perhaps a bit sour, and there was an emotion that swirled within her as she thought about it, but she didn’t care to decipher it as it was simply a little hum. 

After a few moments, and whilst being taken away in a moment of song notes, Evangeline was brought back in reality where she felt a soft touch on her hand. It was warm and inviting, and she focused her eyesight on it when she saw the small, umber hand resting in her own. 

“Are you coming, knight?” Evangeline nodded her head, and she felt Leona grab her hand, forcing Evangeline up from her stool. Despite the pain that echoed in Evangeline’s foot, she was too stunned when she acknowledged how gentle Leona’s touch was, and how it felt oddly comforting to be holding hands with — her. 

Evangeline was so surprised by Leona’s hand in her own that she only could catch a small glimpse of her co-worker. They also shared the same, umber skin color that Leona had, as well as being tall and having long dreadlocks. Yet, that’s all Evangeline got to see before she was inside the same room Leona had been in a moment ago with the door being closed from behind her.

“Who’s the other girl working behind the bar?” Evangeline questioined as Leona sat on a couch, motioning for Evangeline to sit as well.

“Boy,” Leona corrected, shaking her head and putting on a small pout. Evangeline nodded her head as a nervous smile lit up her face,

“Boy, right. I apologize. It was the long hair that caused me confusion.” 

“He always gets that. It’s the hair, makeup, and outfits he chooses to wear. Teion always chose a more feminine style to wear, and not only folks understand it. I won’t tell him though,” Leona snickered, placing a hand forward on Evangeline’s thigh albeit with hesitance. “Is this alright? Let me know if you’re uncomfortable at all, darlin’.”

Evangeline was quiet, trying to grasp what was going on. A girl’s hand was on her thigh. A pretty girl’s hand was on her thigh. Leona was a show stopper to any man that would walk by; she was curvy, loud, and it seemed that she didn’t take shit from anyone. Evangeline was intriguied, and when she saw the look in Leona’s eyes, one of desire, she couldn’t help but feel startled. It wasn’t bad, but everything within her was starting to knot up. She didn’t like girls. Then again she didn’t like guys either. So why wasn’t she saying anything? Why wasn’t she saying anything as Leona got closer and closer, bringing her lips closer to Evangelines?

Time came to a stand still when Leona’s lips touched Evangeline’s; it was soft, with sincerity and gentleness. It wasn’t meant to harm Evangeline or scare her away, it was a welcoming. 

The two remained in that way as Leona brought her other hand to Evangeline’s jaw and brought it closer to herself. Evangeline wasn’t exactly sure what to do at first, but she soon let herself start to kiss Leona back. She didn’t like girls, she told herself over and over again. But if that was the case, why did the kiss feel so good? Why did it feel like something she had missed out on for so long?

After a few sparse minutes, Leona separated herself Evangeline as she wore a smile. Evangeline was a bit dumbstruck as she stared blankly at Leona, trying to reconstruct what on the gods planet just happened. She was kissed — by a girl? And did she … like it? 

“I thought I would shoot my shot. You’re a pretty girl, knight. I didn’t want to scare ya or anything; I could see in your eyes that you’re pretty conflicted.”

“No, I just didn’t expect it. I don’t think I like girls, though.” Evangeline whispered the last part to herself, or what was supposed to be to herself, but apparently Leona heard and she snickered. 

“With the way your eyes were closed during that kiss and the way your lips didn’t break from mine, I would beg to differ. Let me ask a question,” Leona said, taking her hands off Evangeline and folding her arms underneath one another. “Would you say no if I asked to kiss you again?”

Would she? Evangeline’s confident, hazel irises soon dimmed down to a confused moss green. It showed feelings of confusion and uncertainty as it relayed how Evangeline truly portrayed the situation. There was a beautiful woman sitting in front of her, wanting to kiss her for gods know how long, and would she be willing to say no? 

“That answers my question,” Leona said quietly, sitting fully back down on the couch and pushing a hand up to lift part of her afro out of her eyes. Evangeline, in response, sat on the edge of the couch, cautiously waiting to get up, but part of her didn’t want to. Maybe she did want to kiss Leona again.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t know what to think.”

“You’re right. You don’t know what to think, and darlin’ I think you got some soul searching to do. I don’t know if you have any idea of what’s goin’ on in there,” Leona pointed to Evangeline’s chest, most likely signifying her heart. “But I can see as clear as day, that you’re hanging onto something that ain’t there.”

“I don’t understand?” Evangeline stammered out as she tilted her head in confusion. In return, Leona let out a laugh, one of energy and vigor. She nodded her head and gazed back at Evangeline, and it took Evangeline a second to recognize that emphasized makeup that Leona wore. It made a statement, with thick, black eyeliner, long lashes, and a few sparkles on the inside of her eye lid, Evangeline was amazed. She doubted she could pull off such a bold look. It didn’t look bad at all; it was more captivating to Evangeline than anything. 

“You have amnesia, right? Did you know if you,” Leona swung one leg over the other, and put her elbow on her knee and hand in her chin, leaning in closer to Evangleine. “Liked girls? Have you ever wanted to kiss a girl? To fall in love and marry a girl?”

“Truthfully, I have been so focused on protecting Princess Anastasia that I haven’t thought much to my love life.”

Leona’s eyes widened, and she smirked, slightly showcasing part of her white teeth. 

“Do you like the princess?” 

“No!” Evangeline immediately jumped upwards, x-ing her arms to signify her point. There was no way in any world, on any planet that she would dare like the princess as anything more than a friend. What blasphemy did Leona try to ask her? 

Leona, in return, nodded her head again and laid back amongst the couch back. She looked to be ready to say something, but she held back her words, leaving Evangeline panicked and swarmed in thoughts of utter nonsense. Many concepets swam in her her mind, and some of those were scenarios of her with Anastasias. It wasn’t with her kissing Anastasia but treating her as a friend; she thought of Anastasia as someone she had to protect, someone who she thought of a friend. She wasn’t sure if Anastasia considered a friend or someone simply tasked to  be her babysitter. 

Was that all Anastasia possibly thought of Evangeline? As another babysitter that King Ragnar assigned to protect her? 

“I apologize. It is none of my business to question your sexuality and who you do and don’t love.”

That, in itself, was true. However, there seemed to be another reason for why Leona likely brought it up to Evangeline. The issue, truly, was people of the same sex having feels for one another, or someone that is not the opposite sex, was seen as forbidden. Evangeline hadn’t heard of someone being murdered for loving the other sex, but she had heard of people being casted away to churches, dungeons, and banished to the woods for such things. If she did like girls, would she, too, be banished? Shunned? Would she never be able to see Anastasia or Fletcher ever again? What would happen?

“That wasn’t the reason I brought you here, though.” Leona stated as she cleared her throat; her face suddenly became somber and serious. Her eyebrows furrowed and the playfulness she once held in her scrunched nose and smiling lips disappeared. “Someone came in the other day that claimed they knew you, and I wasn’t going to say anything, but you suddenly arrived here tonight. I am not sure if you know them, but I think they were elven. They had purple eyes, which I found rather odd, and had a masquerade mask that, again, only revealed their eyes.”

“Wait,” Evangeline said quietly, her heart suddenly pounding. Her mind flashed back to the night of the ball when she found herself being watched from the second floor. It was a man with those startling purple eyes. At first she thought it was just an odd coincidence, but was there finally a connection? Did she even want there to be a connection? “Oh gods, I think I remember them. What did they say?” 

“It was kind of weird,” Leona admitted, scratching her head slightly. “He said that you should go back to Fantasia’s place because there would be more information there. I honestly don’t know, if I am completely honest, it was at dead hour, so he didn’t want to be seen, perhaps. I honestly wouldn’t be concerned with it. Well, I would, because it is creepy as hell, but I doubt he is anyone important. I hope not anyway,” Leona whispered the last part under her breath, probably hoping that Evangeline wouldn’t hear her, but with Evangeline’s enhance hearing, she was able to catch the last, little statement. 

“Thank you, Leona. I appreciate it; I appreciate everything, actually.” The grim expression on 

Evangeline’s face slowly disappeared as the dimples on her cheeks started to reappear with a smile accompanying it. “You do know my name is Evangeline, right?”

“I do,” Leona chuckled, getting back on her feet and walking over to Evangeline once again. Her steps slowed down as they two got closer, only inches away. Evangeline was significantly taller, but she bent down slightly as Leona rose on her tippy-toes, and the two’s lips touched again, embracing in another kiss. This one was more passionate than the other, but it was tame. It wasn’t anything overreaching, nothing vigorous, but it was passionate and sincere. 

When the two released from their kiss, both of them wore a grin. Evangeline set out to head back into the main part of the tavern, but she felt a hand grasp hers before she had a chance to open the door. 

“Knight, you got some black lipstick on your lips. Best get that off before others assume,” Leona was half joking and half serious with the statement. It’s true, if people knew that the two kissed, then eyes would start watching and ears would start listening. Evangeline became slightly panicked when she noticed she had nothing to wipe the lipstick off of. Would it be her tunic? That would leave a stain and questions would arrive, surely. 

It seemed Leona took note of the issue, and she got a handkerchief out of her front pocket and gave it to Evangeline, “here, keep it.”

Leona stretched upwards slightly and cracked her arms and legs, attempting to get the wrinkles out of her light blue dress and the apron that she wore over it. Leona then proceed to open the door back to the tavern, but before she left she turned around and winked, “by the way, I prefer the name, knight instead.”