Head pounding, I squinted in the brightness of the Black Order's office. I tried to focus on what I was doing, but it wasn't good. I had seen the paper this morning and knew I would get in trouble, even if it weren't my fault.

I flinched every time the door opened, expecting Knight-Captain Westgard to enter and stride up to my desk. Aside from being physically intimidating, that man was also always frowning. Generally displeased with how weak everyone around him was, he was exceptionally displeased when protocol wasn't followed. Sir Mortuary's report getting leaked to the press hours after Aunt Karen and her husband were arrested for treason was not protocol.

Having been in the house where the report was originally delivered, I could be suspected of having leaked it. After all, surely Duke Lyon wouldn't have. That was just silly.

Taking a sip of my water, I set my pen down and cradled my aching head in both hands. Would Sir Westgard listen? Or would I just get punished anyway for not keeping a hold on my household staff?

Voices in the hall interrupted my thoughts just before the door opened.

Westgard entered, followed by the infamous silver-haired mage and the platinum-blond second prince. 

"This report is absolutely savage. Whatever did the Marquess do to Sir Mortuary?" Cecil Lambs was saying as they entered, reading the papers he held while he walked.

"What do you mean?" Prince Daniel asked.

"It reads like there's a personal vendetta," Cecil said as he followed Westgard to his desk. Turning, he hopped up to sit on the desk, tossing the braid of his hair back behind his shoulder.

"Get off my desk," Westgard said.

Cecil turned and grinned at him. "I thought you-" he was interrupted before he could finish by Westgard shoving him off the desk. "Wow. Are you still in a bad mood? It's been five years."

The captain gave Cecil a cold look.

Prince Daniel folded his arms and shook his head. "Maybe if you apologized." He plucked the papers from Cecil's hands to look at them himself.

"I don't think I did anything wrong," Cecil objected.

"Then I have nothing to say to you," Westgard said, getting some papers to start working.

Cecil sighed and looked at Daniel. The prince didn't relent either, and Cecil turned back to Westgard. "I'm sorry," he said, "But I vow, upon my mana, that I never slept with Holly. I did not visit her after getting sent to the front lines." He placed his hand on his heart. "The whole thing was a surprise when I got back."

Westgard sat up and stared at him coldly.

I kept my head down, watching between my fingers. The three of them together was... quite a sight. I'd heard bits of rumors here and there that Cecil and Daniel were lovers. Nothing had ever been confirmed, as far as I could find. However, I couldn't imagine anyone not wanting to bed Cecil now that I saw him up close. I felt my face heat up as Cecil flicked his robe back, putting his hands on his trim hips.

Prince Daniel was also a very confusing person for me. The young prince was muscular but not overly so. Dashingly handsome, he smiled easily, and his lake-blue eyes were something I felt like I wanted to get a closer look at. Unfortunately, my scrutiny had not gone undetected.

Turning, Daniel smiled at me. "Sir Lyon," he said cheerily.

Mentally cursing, I dropped my hands and stood to salute, as I should've done when the prince and my superior officer walked in.

Cecil also turned to look, his lips curving into a smile, his dark green eyes flicking over me in a way that lit a fire in my stomach.

"Were you aware of that report Sir Mortuary created?" Daniel asked.

"I knew he was investigating what happened to my sister," I said.

All three men gave me identical, curious looks.

"That's interesting," Cecil said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Because that report had nothing to do with... what was your sister's name?"

"Felicity," I supplied.

"Three lines," Westgard rumbled. "I'd say Sir Mortuary is terrible at his job, but he is clearly not. He made no effort to find your sister and focused on the Flowers' wrongdoings."

Cecil snapped. "See? That just screams vendetta." His hand returned to his chin, then covered his mouth as his eyes widened. "Oh, do you suppose Sir Mortuary might..." He looked at Daniel.

Daniel flicked his gaze at Cecil. "Might what?"

"I noticed that Sir Mortuary's handwriting is rather cute."

"I saw nothing of the sort," Westgard said, frowning more than usual.

"Trust me! I've seen a very wide sample of handwriting, and Sir Mortuary's is quite cute."

The three men turned back toward me.

I had no idea what they were discussing, so I stood there, staring back at them.

Cecil hmmed. "Well... I guess if Sir Mortuary were your sister, you'd recognize her, right?"

"Duke Lyon wouldn't ask his own daughter to find herself," Daniel said. "That's just absurd. So there has to be another answer that we're missing."

"Sir Mortuary suggested that she's dead," I said, lowering my gaze, wondering why I was still standing or why I'd even spoken up. "Though Mortuary seemed rather angry when he left the house last night."

"You saw him?"

"In passing. I was on my way back," I said. "He scowled at me, same as usual."

Daniel laughed. "Ah, Mortuary's classic 'go die in a fire' look. What did you do to him to deserve it?"

"I don't know." I shrugged. "I guess Father talked about me to him? He must not approve of debauchery."

"Pff-" Daniel rolled his eyes. "He's never condemned any of the men for enjoying themselves. It couldn't be that."

Cecil turned to Daniel with a wicked smirk. "Speaking of 'what did you do to him,' Daniel, want to tell Rick why your nose is like that?"

Biting his lips together, Daniel looked at anything other than Cecil and Westgard.

"Mortuary broke your nose?" Westgard pieced together in shock. His nails scratched his desk as he pulled his fingers into fists. "Your Luck must have let it happen because it would lead to something better later."

"No... He... he stubborned his way through my Luck and smashed my face into a wall," Daniel admitted, hanging his head. "I pissed him off... I think my Luck pissed him off more. If he could've just been done with it in one hit, I'd probably have gotten away with a bruise or some blood loss." Daniel reflexively rubbed his nose. "He broke my nose and cheekbone and gave me a concussion. Luck could only save my teeth."

Westgard sputtered, then threw back his head, laughing. That the man knew how to laugh was a shock. However, it was unwelcome. My head was pounding now. He laughed himself to tears, hands on his belly, leaning back in his chair.

Daniel scowled. "Why is this so funny?"

"Because," Cecil said, chuckling. "You met your match."

Cheeks turning pink, Daniel shook his head, biting his lip.

Cecil turned to Daniel. "Now the war's over, you should at least try to see if Mortuary is into men." Cecil flicked his gaze back over his shoulder at me, looking me over again. He said something quietly to Daniel and left him to come to my desk. Perching on the edge of it, he leaned over with a smile. "Think you're free tonight?" he asked.

"Free?" I asked in confusion.

"For a date. I'd seen you around town a few times before I left. So sorry I didn't get the chance to say hello, but I've got plenty of time for it now."

"D-date?" I stepped back, running into my chair and scraping it across the floor. "I-I only date women," I hurried to say.

Westgard breathed a sigh, finding his composure. "Leave him be, Cecil. He doesn't know what he likes."

"But I could show him..." Cecil pouted at Westgard.

"Let it go," Westgard said.

I flushed, biting my lower lip as Cecil slid off my desk. I remembered the multiple times Sir Westgard had suggested I talk to some knight or other. Sure, those men were exciting to look at, but I had no idea what I would talk to them about. We were all knights, but that didn't mean anything. I was a phony. My sword skills were laughable compared to the other knights in the Black Guard. That was why I had been put exclusively on desk duty. It was a demotion, and no one wanted to do it, but I felt I was kind of good at it, so when the others dumped their work on me, I accepted it. They were good at swords. I was good with pens.

That didn't mean Westgard let me off the hook with morning training. It meant that Westgard was harder on me than everyone else. I hated it.

And honestly! What did that mean? He doesn't know what he likes. I silently fumed.

"Lyon," Westgard said, "Do you know who leaked the contents of that report to the newspapers?"

"No, Sir. I came in last night. Father interrogated me on the significance and questions Sir Mortuary didn't answer, then I went to bed."

Cecil nodded a little, pacing the open space in front of Westgard's desk. "Still sounds fishy to me. Mortuary wasn't ever sloppy with his work. He didn't answer the question on purpose. I want to meet him. How did I go five years in that hell and never manage to meet Sir Mortuary?"

"You were too busy with me," Daniel pointed out.

Grinning, Cecil went to stand in front of Daniel. Cecil was an inch shorter. "And a fine distraction you were," he purred. "Getting you to myself that whole time was almost worth sleeping in the mud."

Westgard was shaking his head. "Get out of my office if you're just going to flirt with each other. We have actual work to do."

"Or," Cecil said, "You could take a break and come join us."

"The day just started," Westgard said flatly.

"Ah. I suppose it can't be helped then," Cecil lifted his hands in a shrug as he walked away. His steps were graceful, and I couldn't help but watch in fascination. The mage caught me at it, though, and winked as he pointed. "And if you ever change your mind, let me know."

Daniel sighed and moved finally, pushing Cecil from the room by his shoulders.

The door shut, and I felt my face burning.

Westgard sighed as well. "Sit down, Lyon. You can take Cecil up on his offer if you choose to."

I sank down. "I like women, Sir."

"Uhm-hmm." Westgard's acknowledgment was not in the tone of someone who believed what he'd been told.