Pasithea and Somnus made their way to the garden, passing by many minor nobles who were trying their best to make new powerful connections in the new King’s reign to survive. Pasithea had her head slightly bowed, avoiding their eyes and keeping her gaze on the boots of her companion.

Once they entered the well-trimmed and well-lit area of the garden that has several decorative fountains, separated by various bushes of flowers and smaller water features, Somnus looked for the more out of the way pavilion that they could rest in, seeing that the nearby ones were already occupied by lovers or young noblemen with their group of friends.

He looked to his side and noticed how Pasithea wasn’t looking where she was going, and luckily the moment he had looked, he saw her trip over her own feet and managed to catch her.

She somehow doesn’t have the same confidence that Eury exudes as a Governess and a respected priest, yet this lady was chosen to be the next Hierophant?

Wouldn’t a confident princess like Nyna be a better successor since the Hierophant position is the second most influential next to the King?

He stared at her with bewilderment. “Are you…okay?”

Pasithea smiled at him, gently pushing him away to make some space between them. “Yes, I’m fine…”

Somnus frowned at her response and action before shrugging it off and continuing on looking for an available pavilion.

Sadly enough, he couldn’t find any and he looked back at his companion.

“Did the King say anything about forbidding me to walk around the castle?”

“The halls and each residence are heavily guarded. Even if you wander off somewhere, you’d be turned away the moment you step in a place where you shouldn’t be.”

Somnus stopped walking at that, crossing his arms and scanning the garden.

They don’t have anywhere semi-private enough as he had some questions for his lady companion he preferred not to be heard by gossip mongers.

“Well..do you have any suggestions where we could go and relax away from these prying eyes and curious ears?”

Pasithea blinked at him, taken aback by his question while a part of her brain went straight to think about that one garden hall  that has a nicer, clear view of the starry sky that reflects on the long shallow pools, with the tile flooring were designed into the shape of a heron spreading its wings when viewed from above, surrounding a simple and spacious pavilion that serves as its heart, artistically speaking.

The royal family and those who had lived in the castle had named it as Calandrello Hall, and was built under the orders of the second heron king who carried the same name and had deemed that Hall almost as sacred as the chapel within their walls.

"Well…there's one place that comes to mind. Only members of the Royal family could enter it." Pasithea told him, turning to a direction Somnus didn't expect. "We could stay there for a few hours. It seems like you have something to discuss with me."

Somnus only stared at her before setting off in a brisk walk to catch up to her.

"Only the royal family…? Can we even set foot there?" Somnus asked with a frown.

"Why wouldn't we be allowed?" Pasithea chuckled. "I am a cousin to the King and the next Hierophant."

×××

Somnus rested his hip on the handrail at one side of the pavilion, staring at Pasithea as if he's finally solved a puzzle, while the lady fidgeted awkwardly across from him.

"I'm sorry if I surprised you. I thought you knew, seeing that my Aunt was your caretaker and Governess…"

Somnus looked up at the stars, before returning his gaze to her.

"Forgive me if I'm being presumptuous." He started, his eyes meeting hers. "Did the King ask the two of you to accompany us because he wanted to test the waters and to learn which prince is more than willing to stay here?"

"Huh?"

"The King had put forth a marriage proposal aimed at me and my brother, but he didn't mention any names. Though I guess it stands to reason that he'd pick the ladies from the royal family close to our age…"

Pasithea blinked at him. "Ah, so this is what His Majesty meant when he told me to clear up his blunder."

Somnus raised an eyebrow at that response from her, making her chuckle.

"His Majesty came to me this morning, asking for my help to clear up some misunderstanding his words may have caused."

She smiled at him gently, a disarming kind of smile that Somnus would have fallen for if he wasn't so guarded in dealing with anyone from the royal family.

"His Majesty didn't mean to pressure you about the proposal. He said it's okay to reject the offer he made."

"Really?"

"Yes, Your Highness. His Majesty doesn't believe in political marriages, though he did admit to me that he’s fond of you two like his own siblings."

Somnus clasped his hands at that, rolling his thumbs over one another as he contemplated his next words.

"I've heard rumors about your engagement to the King."

"It is only that. A rumor. I wouldn't have agreed to come here with you in fear of sullying His Majesty's name." Pasithea assured him. "Were you worried for me?"

"Not really, no…"

Somnus gazed at her for a moment before letting a good-natured smile break his stoic expression. Straightening up, he walked over to her, stopping a few feet away and bowing politely, one hand outstretched towards her.

“Then, I’d like to ask a dance or two with you, my lady. It’s rude of me to keep talking with such distance from you, and make your lovely voice be strained by talking too loud.”

Pasithea raised an eyebrow at him, her wings rustling nervously. “It’s all right. I have to get used to talking that loud anyway and…there’s no music, so we don’t have to dance…”

Somnus kept the smile on his face, not withdrawing his hand or changing his pose. “We don’t have to hear the music to dance, my lady. The beat of our hearts would guide us.”

Pasithea’s face flushed pink at his words. “I see. It was you that they said to be the flirtatious prince. I didn’t believe them when I saw your demeanour…”

“I am indeed that prince. Besides, it would be best that we give those who are watching us from the shadows something to report to their superior.” He lowered his voice, loud enough for Pasithea to hear alone. “I am guessing that King Xanthus is weighing his options between two couples…”

Pasithea looked down at his hand, remembering her Aunt’s words about the Fifth Imperial Prince. Throwing out all the warnings she received about him, she took his hand and indulged him in a music-less waltz and decided to gamble her future on him.

It was not in her nature to trust blindly like this but somehow, deep in her heart and soul, she knew that Somnus would not turn a blind eye and play deaf to her plea.

“Thank you for noticing that I wanted to talk to you about a different matter.” She whispered to him. “I wanted to ask for your help—”

“My lady, you can pour your heart out to me later.” Somnus chuckled, moving his lips close to her ear. “We barely know one another after all. Why don’t you tell me about yourself first?”