The woman lightly patted her lap to clear any dust off her dress. Still, she kept a smile on her face even though she was struggling to stand. Her legs were trembling and she found covering her coughs. Casitas hurried to approach her and held onto her delicate wrists.

“You shouldn’t be out of bed,” he worried.

The woman scoffed and slowly pulled her arms away from him. “Don’t start doating me. I am not helpless.”

“I know that mother, but at least-”

“Just stop Casitas,” she asked politely. Carefully, she found her balance and walked away from her son. Still he followed alongside her, because her footsteps were so incredibly slow. “I just wanted to visit the garden.”

“I can get you an escort if you prefer me not being with you.”

She stopped. “You know that is not it. I don’t want you spending your free moments tending to your sick mother. You should be finding a suitor like your brother did.”

Casitas groaned loudly. “Mother-”

“I want more grandchildren!” she teased.

“I can see where Avan gets his attitude from,” he said. “You shouldn’t be thinking about my personal life.”

“What personal life? You have one?” she teased again. She smiled brightly at her son and wrapped her arm around his. “C’mon and take a walk with your mother.”

The two of them slowly wandered around the greenhouse, looking down at the blooming flowers and looking up at the snow hitting the glass. Faintly, Casitas could feel his mothers pulse wrapped around his arm, it was so slow and quiet. Meaning, she was still very sick. Her eyes were getting heavy with drowsiness and almost began yawning.

“Casitas” she hushed. “If you need help finding a suitor, who better than me? I can determine who is best for the Lord of this land.”

“I don’t need a suitor mother.”

“Have you already found one?” she asked. “Is it that lovely lady I saw you take up to the tower not too long ago?”

Casitas and his mother stopped. He annoyingly tilted his head over to his mother and she had an adorable smile and her eyes were even sparkling like a teenager.

“You know about Levi?” he grunted.

“Levi, that’s a pretty name,” she said. “And she is quite beautiful. You must like her for letting her stay here. Despite her being a Baellon. I can tell from the small glimpse I saw of her face, she is scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Scared of you silly,” said his mother. “Not in a way you will eat her; but more like she is scared to disappoint you. She must like you too. I would like to properly meet her.”

“No mother.”

“It would be nice to talk to another lady instead of the maids who always agree with me on everything. It is so annoying,” she pouted. That moment, she coughed terribly, sounded like she was croaking and hacking. Immediately she covered her mouth with a cloth and took a step away from her son. He saw his mother in pain and tried to reach out to help her but she took another step away. Once her breathing calmed down, she regained focus of herself and struggled to stand up properly once again.

“Mother,” said Casitas as he held out his hand. “Enough for today, let me take you to your room and have some food prepared for you.”

“I am tired of eating alone in my bedroom. I would love to have a proper meal with my family again,” she said as she took her son's hand.

“I will arrange it once Galen comes back from his quest,” he said.

“That is right. He is leaving soon. Such a shame, I wanted us to be together again. Maybe Galen will pick flowers for me for my room again. Or maybe Conall will read to me like before,” she smiled. Faintly, Casitas tried to smile back for his mothers sake but he just didn’t have the courage to do so. Instead, he turned his head away and carefully walked his mother out of the greenhouse.

Once back in the castle main halls, Casitas took his mother to her bedroom. It was one of the largest rooms in the castle, with a large bed with faded pink comforters, many fluffed pillows and a large clear crystal chandelier that lit up the entire room. There was also a small table with two cushioned seats facing one of the windows. Casitas carefully helped his mother to the table and poured her a small cup of tea. When serving it to her, she didn’t drink it.

“Casitas,” she said. “I would like to see Galen and the other knight depart for this task.”

“I will arrange it, mother,” said Casitas. He knew he couldn’t keep telling her no on everything and this is a small request that she would be able to handle.

“Thank you, but that means I will be eating alone tonight, doesn’t it?” she asked. “Probably little Conall is put to bed by now. Eating alone in this room, I cannot help that sometimes it feels like you want to keep me hidden.”

“Of course not, I would never-”

“I know, you are just concerned for my health; but I would like to be treated more equally. I did raise you and your brother while I was sick during those troubled times, remember? I did it alone and both of you are my pride and joy,” she smiled.

Casitas looked at his mother and again felt ashamed but knew she was just playing with his feelings to get what she wanted, because she’d done it before though it was usually just for extra some dessert.

“Can you wait here mother? I will return shortly,” said Casitas. He politely left the room and quietly shut the door. As soon as it was closed, his face changed to show complete irritation. He marched down the castle halls, anyone who passed by him could almost feel the angry presence he was letting out.

When reaching a door, he slammed his fist to knock repeatedly. The sound was booming and almost caused the door to lose its hinges. He heard a pair of feet rushing to open the door. The door opened and it was Levi in a simple nightgown, with her hair not tied down. Casitas noticed that only one of her eyes was exposed and it was a bleak brown color. The other was concealed with a crude eye patch.

“Lord Casitas!” she jumped and felt embarrassed that he was seeing her in this attire. “I am sorry I am not properly dressed, I was going to bed early and I-”

“What happened to your eye?” he asked coldly.

“Nothing!” she explained. “I just thought it would be better to conceal myself the best I could. Sadly, this is the best I could do.”

As curious as he was about this, he focused on the task at hand.

“You need to get dressed,” he ordered. “You haven’t had dinner, have you?”

“I did,” Levi answered. “You made the maids bring me food earlier than usual just so I could go to bed first, remember?”

“Well, I need you to eat dinner again,” he ordered. Levi noticed he looked a little more frustrated than usual.

“Okay then,” she said shyly. “I will go put something on.”

“Just come as you are now,” said Casitas. “It doesn’t matter what you wear.”

Levi looked even more confused. It didn’t make sense leaving just in her nightgown. Still, she had no reason to argue with him so she politely bowed and followed Casitas.

As the two walked, Levi noticed they were headed to an area of the castle she hadn't been to before. Sadly, she worried that he was going to put her in a jail cell but then didn’t understand why she was supposedly getting dinner as well. When Casitas opened the door, Levi saw a lovely woman sitting at a table on the other side of the room.

Casitas escorted Levi into the room to approach the woman. She turned to the two of them and her face lit up. Immediately she sprung out of her seat and hurried to Levi. She grabbed both of her hands and held them close to her chest.

“Oh my! You are so beautiful!” she cheered.

“Don’t push yourself!” Casitas worried.

“Oh hush now!” his mother smiled. “It is nice to properly meet you.”

Levi shrugged politely. “It is nice to meet you too. My name is Levi.”

“I know who you are sweetheart. You are causing quite a stir around these castle walls,” she blushed.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but who are you?”

“This is my mother, Lady Celeste,” Casitas said sternly.

Levi’s eyes almost popped out of her head. She stared intensely at the woman and figured she looked way too young to have children Casitas and Avans age. “How old are you!? You look my age!”

“Oh stop! You are making me blush!” she smiled. “But please call me Celeste. Are you my dinner date tonight?”

“I guess so,” Levi said. Celeste gazed at Levi once again and noticed her clothing.

“Why are you in your night attire? You didn’t have anything to wear?” she asked.

“Well, I-” Levi turned to Casitas and noticed him glaring at her. “I didn’t know what to wear.”

“Well, I have many dresses that should fit you properly. This is so fun having a beautiful girl to keep me company,” Celeste smiled. Then she noticed her son standing stoic between the two. “We don’t need anyone watching us Casitas. Also, it is rude to be in the presence of a woman changing. You may leave now.”

Casitas didn’t want to leave, but he saw how joyfully happy his mother was just being around Levi. Deep down, he wondered if Levi was doing any Baellon trickery but he couldn’t sense anything.

“Alright mother, I will return when night comes,” he said to her. Before leaving, he focused his attention on Levi and the tension between the two was unbearable.

He leaned over and whispered in her, “If you do anything to my mother-”

“I understand,” she interrupted. He gave one last life-threatening stare before leaving the room. 

As soon as the door closed, Levi exhaled loudly trying not to show herself shaking, but just then Lady Celeste held her wrists once again. She gave her another heartwarming smile.

“I am so happy to have dinner with you Lady Levi,” she said.