Footsteps echoed down the empty castle halls as Lily followed her mother. The silence between them was agonizing, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to ask where they were going. She had simply told him to come with her, nothing more. Surely this isn’t about me going out? 

He hadn’t seen either of his parents when he left, nor when he returned. The idea that his mother chose to wait until now to say something made his stomach churn. It meant she had time to ruminate on it. Terrible sign.

He nearly ran into her when she stopped, doing his best to play it off. If she noticed, she didn’t show it. He took in his surroundings. His face paled once he realized where they were. The training hall. He swallowed roughly, “What did you want to talk to me about…?”

“I wouldn’t bring you here to talk Lilium,” Clover said coolly, confirming his fears. She gave him an unimpressed look. “You’ve been away for a while. I want to make sure your combat skills are still up to par.”

It’s only been a month. Lily held the retort. Now was not the time to argue. It never was. He straightened up, nodding.

She entered the large hall without another word. He followed.

This shouldn’t be too bad. I just need to focus. Easier said than done. He struggled to sleep after his meeting with Willis. Thoughts racing like prey desperate to live. Questioning every little decision he had made the past three days. Quite bothersome.

Clover strode to the other side of the room, stopping short of the bounds of the court. She summoned her staff in a single motion. He followed suit on his own side. His knuckles turned white around the dark wood.

“Are we running a specific drill for this?” he asked.

“No. Your goal is to simply stop me.”

The response caused his jaw to ache. Oh great. Drills often had straightforward, doable tasks. Compared to the impossible challenge of taking her down. He had only done so a handful of times now that he was older. 

He shifted position. He could play this game. He would win it too.

Then Clover was behind him. He swirled around, catching sight of the half moon markings on her face. He barely had the chance to move away. The energy she swiped at him nicked his sleeve, tearing through. 

He didn’t get the chance to breathe before she was on him again. A shield barely conjured before her next attack. He skidded across the floor as it rammed into it. Luckily he was able to stay on his feet. The shield dropped. 

Sizzling energy raced past his head as he sidestepped. The magic grazed his hair, drawing a growl from his throat. It was far too close. Concentrate. He couldn’t lose. He had to catch up.

Thankfully, Clover paused. Likely out of pity if nothing else. Her expression unreadable.

He readjusted his stance. This would be easier if I had time to prepare. Unfortunately not a mercy he was granted. He shook his head.

Lily shot his own magic, charging straight toward her as he did. She dodged it all easily. Protecting herself from the last ball before shifting her magic to a rope. 

Damnit. He dug his heels into the ground. Shifting swiftly to throw a slash of energy as he pulled back. He needed distance now.

Clover moved faster. She slipped past his attack and whipped the rope. It wrapped around his arm. Immediately pulled taut to stop him in his tracks. The pressure drew a hiss from his throat.

“Your movement is sloppy,” she pointed out. She yanked on the rope, dragging him closer. It was easy to see the disappointment on her face.

He planted his feet firm into the ground. Resisting the urge to snap back. If I fall I’m done for. They’ll have me pinned. She wasn’t pulling hard, but he kept his guard up. He needed out of this. How do I get her to let go- wait.

Lily grabbed the rope firm in both hands, tugging it back. Clover didn’t budge, but shifted her grip. Both hands on it now as well.

Good. He took a deep breath. Channeling his energy into electrical form. He shot it straight down the line. She dropped it before getting shocked, eyes wide. The first real reaction from her today.

Now. He charged again. Being met with a shield that he promptly broke through. His mother stumbled again, unsteady from the force. I just need to sweep her legs. Then I can-

Lily’s ears rang as hard wood promptly slammed into his nose. His staff clattered to the ground, hands going to his face. Motherfucker! It took all his will not to bark out the curse. Instead he just groaned, disoriented.

When he looked up through his hands, he was met with a ghostly stare from his mother. She somehow looked even paler than usual. “Why did you do that..?”

His question seemed to snap her out of her shock. “It was an accident. Are you alright?” she fretted, reaching a hand forward.

He leaned away. “It didn’t feel like an accident,” he mumbled. He felt wetness on his hand. Unsurprised when he pulled back to find blood. It wasn’t much, but it still ached. 

Clover frowned, pinning him with a scowl. “No need to give me an attitude,” she hissed. She tried to come closer again. “You caught me off guard.”

“I got it,” he huffed, veering away from her. He did his best to ignore the way her expression shifted further from concern to annoyance. Instead focusing on his injury. Warmth spread throughout his face as he called upon his magic, stopping the bleeding and taking the edge off the throbbing pain.

He snapped, calling his staff to him. He rolled his head. “I’m ready to continue.”

“Continue?” his mother blinked at him. She stored away her own staff. “We aren’t continuing, you’re hurt. You need to see one of the medics.” 

“I’m fine. It’s not like you broke my nose. Pretty sure I would be bleeding a lot more if you did,” he mumbled the last part. “I’m not going to yield the floor over this-”

“Lilium,” the Queen stepped forward, and for a brief moment, he thought of Willis. They’re around the same height, aren’t they? They both seemed to tower over him. Though unlike them, her yellow eyes seemed to pierce right through him. He couldn’t help but step back. “What has gotten into you?”

Other than the nasty headache you’ve given me? he bit back the comment. Pulling his gaze away to stare at the rough floor instead. “I’m tired.”

“Does that happen to do with wherever you were last night?”

Lily cringed. There it was. “I went for a walk,” he lied immediately. It came out smooth, technically true.

“That late? Alone?” Clover challenged.

“I needed space. I barely got a moment of peace on my kingdom tour.” No thanks to you. “I didn’t want to be bothered.”

“Then why not take Delphine with you? She would have made sure you were left alone.”

“Because I didn’t want to!” he snapped louder than intended. Wincing at the withering glare he caught in the corner of his eye. “Sorry. My head hurts.” It was a poor excuse. His head hung even lower. 

There was silence between them. He glanced up to see her expression soften. She sighed, “I’ll let it go because you’re clearly having a hard time, but you need to fix your attitude. Being an adult doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you please. You need to take care of yourself. Be careful, be alert.”

The reason why was left unsaid, yet it hung over the Prince. A guillotine waiting to drop.

“I know,” was all he answered.

Clover let out another breath, “Go clean yourself up.” It was an order. No room to argue. “Don’t go out until you're better. You need to be at your best.”

He watched her leave without another word. Not moving an inch until that door clicked shut. He wanted to fall over right there. Become one with the floor. Maybe then the tension would stop burning. 

Even after 20 years, he couldn’t read his mother in a way that mattered.

He straightened up, willing his staff away. Blood stained his other hand. It’s probably on my face too… ugh.

He summoned a tissue, doing his best to wipe off what he could. Thankfully none of it got on his clothes. Not that it matters much. I still need to change. The tear his mother made was minimal at least.

Next time I see Willis I should tell them I got hit in the face for them, he mused. They likely wouldn’t see the humor. Pain flared in the bridge of his nose, drawing a groan from him. He kicked the ground. I should go tend to this properly…

Lily sighed as he cleaned the last bit of blood from his face. Leaned over his desk to make sure he didn’t miss anything. Even with the healing spell a bruise formed.

No one had seen him on the way to his room, luckily. He had avoided odd looks or questions. They were the last thing he needed right now. I want to sleep. If only he could give himself permission to indulge in such things.

Instead he fixed up his clothes and hair. He needed to be presentable after that little scuffle. No time to sulk. Even if part of him wanted to.

Maybe I should talk to mom? The thought passed him briefly. Before making him cringe, face scrunched despite the pain. Definitely not. Her and mother are likely together. Do not need any more of her today. His mood was sour enough.

I suppose I could ask for Delphine’s company. Though he was sure she was sick of him at this point. They had been attached to the hip for his tour per his mother’s orders. He couldn’t breathe without her there to witness it. 

Still, he wasn’t exactly overflowing with options of who to speak to. He couldn’t trust the staff member he didn’t know well to keep their mouth shut. Especially the guards. I swear they spend half their time gossiping.

He shook his head. I need to stop wasting time. He strode out of the room to look for his target.

“So- I have to ask. What happened to your nose…?”

The question made Lily sigh. It was inevitable that Delphine was going to ask. It gave an excuse to discuss what was on his mind, at least.  

“My mother. She hit me with the end of her staff while we were sparring,” he explained, tone low. Though the garden was largely empty, he wasn’t keen on the idea of someone else hearing their conversation.

Delphine looked at him with wide eyes. “…on purpose or?”

“Accidentally. I guess.”

She clicked her tongue. Taking a moment to answer, “It doesn’t look accidental, if I can be honest.”

Lily laid back onto the grass, putting his arms over his eyes. “Definitely didn’t feel that way. I bled.”

He heard her wince, “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks,” he muttered. If only he heard that from his mother too. “I’ve been forbidden from going out until I heal.” Not that it will stop me.

That seemed to make Delphine perk up. She pivoted the conversation, “Speaking of going out, how did yesterday go?” She lowered her voice before she continued, “Did my advice work out?”

At that, Lily found himself smiling. Though he wasn’t quite sure why. “Yes, it went well. I learned a lot about them. We are going to meet again in a few days.”

“That’s great! I’m glad,” she paused. He sparred her a glance, her expression distant. After a moment she continued, “…To preface this I do not mean to speak ill of you-”

She looked to him, as if trying to gauge his reaction, “However, I do think this is a great chance to get better at talking to people. You don’t seem very- …experienced in that.” 

She tried very hard not to make that sound bad. Although a bit irritating to hear, it was technically true. It had been a struggle to speak with his subjects in a way that didn’t feel stilted. Casual conversation felt beyond him at times.

“You’re right,” he agreed. Mostly just to ease her worries of upsetting him. 

She sighed. “Well I hope it goes just as well.” She opened her mouth, as if to say more, but then closed it. He waited.

“Are these like- dates? I didn’t think to ask before.”

Lily shot up. “Wh- no!” Delphine flinched at his sudden rise in tone. He might have felt bad if he wasn’t busy being baffled. “Of course not. I would never go on a date with an Er-” he slapped hand to his mouth. 

I can’t believe I almost said that. That could have been it. If someone had heard it would not take long for his mother to find out. Surely Delphine wouldn’t tell her. Right? It was a critical question that he had taken far too long to consider.

Delphine watched him carefully. Clearly baffled herself. Though she seemed to be waiting for him to continue.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“If I was doing something ‘bad’ and you knew, would you tell my mother?”

She clicked her tongue. “Probably not. I wouldn’t have any reason to. It’s not my job to snitch on you.” A pause. “Unless you killed someone I guess.”

“What if she asked you about something? Would you tell her then?” he pressed.

“Are you asking me to lie to the Queen? I like my job, you know,” she said. A hint of concern in her tone.

“I’m asking if I can trust you.”

She frowned at him, crossing her arms. “Of course you can. I take this very seriously.”

But can I trust you not to ruin this for me? Clover would have his neck if she found out he was meeting Willis. She might lock him in his room forever. At least keep him in the castle. He didn’t want to imagine how loud and frantic she could get. He grasped the grass, doing his best not to tear it up.

“What is this about Lilium?” Delphine’s question snapped him out of his thoughts. He met her intense gaze, swallowing roughly.

“Don’t worry about it,” Lily said. He stood up, brushing off his clothes and hair. “I simply needed to get some things off my chest. You can return to your post.”

She almost looked like she wanted to argue. Instead, she stood as well, giving a small bow. “Of course, your majesty. Thank you.” It was an empty pleasantry. She left the garden without another word.

So much of Lily’s body ached. I really need to work on that.