However, even with the storm cloud of negative emotions swept away, he was still at a loss without his Princess. It was hard to sleep when he just wanted to be near her again. He heard the shy knock on the door. It made him think of the nights when his Princess would come to see him late at night when he was on break from patrol. It was always so, so hard to turn her away, he knew he should. They were alone with the lights low, while she was in a nightgown, it would drive him absolutely mad every time she came by, but he needed to see her at least. He knew who was knocking on the door in this house. He opened it to his Baby Sister. She smiled up at him sheepishly.

“I um…I can’t sleep,” she said. He grinned.

“Come in,” he said. She giggled and ran into his room. She climbed in his bed and found her place. When she was a toddler, she always slept on his left side and that hadn’t changed. Even though now there was enough room in the bed for her not to be on top of him any more, she still chose the left side. He settled beneath the covers.

“I had a feeling you were empathic. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he asked.

She rested her head on his shoulder. “I wanted to surprise you. I wish I could have done so in a different way. I’ve always been able to read you pretty well.”

He chuckled. “Oh no…”

“Yeah, so I knew that you were in love with the Princess pretty quickly. Maybe even the day you came home a squire.”

He flushed red. “I see…”

“Well, she loves you too, doesn’t she?”

“I-I can’t speak for her…”

“It’s just you and me. I won’t tell anyone. I know I’m right and I haven’t said a word. I want things to work out for you two.”

He sighed. “We are in love. We have to be very careful and take things slow,” he said.

“I’m glad you found someone so wonderful. She’s amazing. I’m just curious about something…if I’m right don’t say anything. The day you saved her…you were hurt very badly, weren’t you? I sensed her healing mana all over you. I know I was very small, but I know what I sensed, I’m surprised no one else did.”

This was dangerous. He said nothing.

“Okay. I won’t ask any more. I think I know what happened. I know you two will tell us when the time is right.”

She hugged him. “You miss her so much, I know and I’m sorry. I’m not her.”

He smoothed her hair. “If you can read my emotions, then you know that doesn’t matter to me.”

He could feel her grin. “I know. I’m always your Best Baby. At least until you and the Princess have a child.”

He groaned and covered his face. “I can’t.”

“So we know she’ll have green eyes…”

“Why is our baby a ‘she?’”

“I decided she is. She’ll have green eyes, but will she have black hair? It’s a very strong trait apparently. Mom’s black trumped dad’s brown every time.”

“Maybe it will be dark green,” he said.

“You’re giving in! She’d be so sweet! I wonder if she’ll have wavy hair like the Princess? Can you imagine the King as a grandfather? He’d be so happy!”

“I don’t think he’s happy with me right now…”

“I don’t know, I haven’t been around him to read him, but I’m sure he’ll come around. I’m sure he’d melt if he had a granddaughter.”

“We are getting way ahead of ourselves,” he said.

“We’re just imagining…I’d like to be an aunt some day. The other boys are taking their time.”

“I’m not even married yet!”

She yawned and rested her head on his chest.

“I can’t see the Princess with anyone else. You’ll be a great king. Everyone will love you.”

She was drifting off to sleep. He found he wasn’t far off. Maybe it was because he finally was allowing his mana to resonate with her and their other sister (and shockingly, his brother too, did no one know he also had some mana?). Maybe it was a latent childhood memory of her sleeping on his chest when she was a baby. He finally dreamt for the first time since he left the palace. He was in a hammock in his mother’s garden, with a small baby with dark green hair sleeping on his chest.

He was excited to return to the palace. Not only did he bring his parents, but he was going to see her, his beloved, his oasis in chaos. It was nice to be reminded that he was still loved and valued by his family and they definitely provided some relief to him, but his dear, sweet Princess offered him something else that he couldn’t put into words.

He had to be patient. He wanted his parents to settle in their accommodations first. He decided to stay with them outside of the castle until the ball began. He wanted to request an audience with the Princess beforehand so she could see his parents. Granted, she’d already met them, but it had been a while. It was certainly before they had admitted their feelings for one another. Their meeting now would have a different air, even if his parents didn’t know it just yet.

Coming back to the palace was a different sort of hero’s welcome. These were people who he’d worked alongside, whose knowledge of his efforts and deeds were not theoretical. Somehow they were more grounded than back home. There was admiration, but also a casualty and distance to it that was slightly comforting. He was not idolized but he was appreciated. He was at ease here for that reason alone, but even more so now that he sensed his Princess’s mana in every corner of the palace. How had he not noticed this before? Any plant that responded to her took in a bit of her mana, and it was everywhere. Every person she healed would have traces of her mana for a few weeks (she never made it obvious but she would heal people). Evidence of her love and care for everyone was laced into this place and he wanted to take it in for a moment.

The Knight knew where she was, she was in her garden. He sensed others there which was unusual, but he wanted to see her anyway. He entered the garden and saw some construction going on. He locked on to her, it was like there was a tether that led him to her. He found her quickly, but the sight that greeted him made him freeze. She was with another man, tall, muscular, arguably handsome, his bare abs showing. They were in close proximity, pouring over blueprints. They were clearly working, there was nothing to it, he sensed nothing other than camaraderie between them, but the sight of her so close with someone else, that she could forget him while he thought he was dying without her, hurt him so much.

The Princess turned to him. His dark mood lifted. The light and love that ignited the moment they met eyes soothed him. She completely forgot the other man and ran to him, unabashedly jumping into his arms. He held her close and swayed a little just savoring the moments before he had to let her go. She held his face.

“It’s only been a few weeks, but you’ve changed!” she said.

“You think?” he said. He couldn’t stop smiling.

“We need to talk, let’s take lunch in my wing,” she said. She turned to the other man. “We’ll wrap this up tomorrow. Your plans are fine, we’ll make any adjustments later!”

“You got it, Princess!” he said.  The Knight couldn’t touch her or hold her hand right then. The hug was telling enough of how close they were. However, he still glanced over his shoulder and glared at the other man. He in turn lowered his sunglasses and winked. The Knight felt his temper skyrocket.

“Why are you walking so slow? I’ll tell you all about what’s going on in my garden when we sit down,” she said. He smiled at her and followed. Everything about her was soothing, the anxiety she felt seemed to be gone. Maybe she wasn’t upset with him and would let him come home to her. They were served lunch and once they were alone, he could feel her worry again. It was a lot less distressing to him.

“How was your trip home?” she asked.

“It was good,” he said.

Her expression darkened. “No it wasn’t. Something happened.”

He knew her empathic powers were extremely limited, so she wasn’t reading him the way he could read her. However, it was a little unnerving to be called out like this.

“Ah…you’re right. It was mostly fine, but I passed out,” he said.

“It was more than that, just a moment.”

She came over and held his cheek. She was reading his mana, she’d done this a few times before. He leaned into her hand and closed his eyes. It felt so wonderfully warm and tingly.

“Acute empathy…I was afraid of this, but I didn’t think you’d succumb so soon,” she said. “I put you under a lot of stress didn’t I?” she asked.

“No, no!”

Her eyes were already filling with tears. “I did. I’m so sorry. I knew you were getting a little stronger lately, your mana is just now hovering around a low level mage. I thought we had some time.”

“My sister said I had a high level mage keeping me from suffering,” he said.

“Yes, I was helping you, while my Aunt and I were trying to assess just how much more mana you have and how much training you need,” she said. “You use your mana to keep me calm, so I just returned the favor. Usually being close is enough, but it’s strongest when there’s more contact. I thought I’d given you enough to last for a few weeks.”

“I think I would have been okay, but I was really stressed while I was there,” he said.

“I’m so sorry I failed you…”

He jumped up and knelt before her. “No, you did not fail me! Neither of us knew this would happen. I’m okay!”

He wiped away her tears.

“You shouldn’t be comforting me right now. I’m trying to apologize to you,” she said.

“You act like I could ever sit still while you’re feeling emotional,” he said.

“Let me make it up to you. Physical contact is the best way to give mana to dull the effects of acute empathy. And this way is my favorite.”

She brushed her lips against his that made him freeze, he hadn’t realized he’d been so starved for kisses. She then pressed her lips against his without hesitation. She may have enjoyed soft kisses, he liked firm, hungry kisses, and the idea that she might have missed him as much as he missed her made her kiss even sweeter. He hugged her waist, he was getting dizzy and he needed to be grounded. He wasn’t sure what was the bigger rush, his own feelings, her feelings or the mana that surged between them. He kept his gaze on her as she pulled away, lost in the dreamy sheen in her eyes.

“Do you feel better?” she asked softly.

“So much better,” he said. He hugged her and rested his head on her shoulder. “So, so much better. I missed you so much. Can’t I come back to work after the ball?”

She hugged him and ran her hands along his back. She kissed the top of his head and was quiet for a while.

“No,” she said. “You need to rest more and stay away from me for a little bit. You should have enough mana to suppress any bad reactions.”

He groaned. This was too much.

“What did I do? Why are you mad at me?” he asked.

“I’m not mad. I promise I’ll tell you why I sent you away. I just need to settle something first.”

He looked up at her pleadingly. She smirked and gently touched his lips with her index finger.

“I’m not going to change my mind,” she said. “Now you need something to eat. Tell me how the rest of your trip went!”

He got up and kissed her cheek before he sat in his chair again. He was not happy about this, but he would respect her wishes.

“Everyone’s fine. My parents are here,” he said.

She dropped her utensils. “What! I must see them! Today! No, no…tomorrow! Can I see them tomorrow?”

He laughed and kissed her hand.

“I’ll ask them if they’re willing to come tomorrow,” he said.

“If they can’t come tomorrow, they can come the next day! Any time, even if it’s five minutes before the ball, they can come see me!”

“They’re my gift to you,” he said. “I plan on bringing you a real gift after the rest of my leave.”

Her cheeks turned a little pink. “You returning to me is my gift.”

Only she could make him blush this much.

“I’m just so glad to see you. You have no idea how much you mean to me,” he said.

“I think I–”

“No. I’m certain you underestimate how much I love you and how much you’ve given to me.”

Lunch thankfully was much lighter after the slightly intense reunion. The Knight just felt so much more at ease seeing her and he hoped his parents could develop a good relationship with her organically. His parents had no idea that he was introducing her as their future daughter in law this time around. He could be patient until he could say so clearly. For now their unofficial meeting would have to do.