Keith’s POV

When Henrietta came back the next morning, she did not visit Keith.

In actual fact, he wouldn't have seen her normally because it was technically her day off… but even so, she had been joining him for lunch on her days off recently.

When he hadn't seen hide nor hair of her by late afternoon, he awkwardly enquired from Winrith.

Now Keith was standing outside the Nightshade Rooms and trying to get up the nerve to knock.

After what was definitely not thirty minutes, he gave up. He could just talk to her tomorrow. He was turning to leave when Ria opened the door and poked her head out. "Hello Keith…"

"Ah, hello Henrietta."

Keith realized he hadn't bothered to hide his presence in front of a Level 60 Sword Master. Her perception alone would have picked up someone standing outside her door this entire time.

"Do you want to come in?"

"Well, yes." He hesitated, "Would you like to talk here or go for a walk?"

Ria stepped back and motioned to come in. He noticed her ears were a little red but otherwise she seemed calm.

Keith had never been in his mother's rooms. He knew they were there but never really had a reason to go inside. He’d never met Queen Veera, and Feliwyn was his mother in everything but blood and title.

Ria led him to the parlour and he made note of the interesting title of the book sitting on the parlor table. He waved at it. "Out of This World?"

The princess smiled at the book. "It has every new recipe that's become popular in the last three years, and some that I've never heard of! The Eclairs I made for tea last time were from this book."

The two sat down across from each other. "Was it from Feliwyn's book hoard?" Keith asked.

Honestly, that dragon loved the weirdest things. She kept three separate treasure piles: precious shiny things, from pebbles to gold - Enchanted or otherwise useful tools, like swords and spatulas - and a book room full of romance novels and recipes. Oh, and a castle full of unique personalities.

"No, actually I got it in the mail."

"You did, from whom?" He didn't remember screening a recipe book, so this must have been when she’d first arrived.

"I don't know." Henrietta shrugged. "I haven't been able to confirm, but… well it's silly."

"Go on?"

"I think it might be from Madame Potts."

Keith started. "Why do you think that?"

"Well, Brownie sent me a letter at the same time." Henrietta shrugged, "It's silly I know… but who else could have known that I liked to bake? The postage is international."

"I see." Keith wasn't usually interested in recipe books, but this was a perfect opening for what he was actually here to talk about. "Speaking of Madame Potts, did you hear her Casting while you were away yesterday?"

"Sadly no." Henrietta shook her head. "I was fighting the Naga Warriors when it happened."

"Did you know you were in it again?" Keith tried to keep his tone neutral while he handed over the report.

Ria took it and read it over and Keith tried not to stare at her. She was adorable as usual, with her poofy brown hair pulled back by some type of headband. No loose bangs today. She wore a silk green vest over a lace-embroidered tunic with half sleeves. Her pants were a matching green to the vest, and she had on light peach coloured slippers.

"Does this mean that someone is going to get poisoned at Grand Duchess Calisto's Ball? Because that's what it sounds like." Ria passed back the note.

"That's how I read it too. Would you consider bringing some antidotes with you when we attend?" Keith brought out a few of his higher level antidotes. They shined a vibrant red and they were so potent they actually glowed in the dark.

Ria looked at the potions. She looked around the room. Then she looked at Keith.

He didn't know why, but he had a feeling about what was coming. "Ria, I–"

"Dark Magician Keith."

Oh no, that wasn't good.

"Do you know what everyone is talking about in your Kingdom?" She frowned at him and his entire person began panicking.

"I can explain!"

"I think you should." Henrietta nodded sagely. "I was worried that you didn't know."

"What?" Keith honestly thought she was talking about what Rufus had mentioned earlier - the fact that he’d let her stay in the Nightshade Rooms. "What don't I know?"

"Everyone is talking about how I defeated you in our duel!"

"But we never fought."

"That's not the point!" Henrietta sighed. "At first everyone thought you won because I went to the dungeon, but now I'm still here and…" Henrietta paused, then said quietly, her ears growing crimson, "they thought that I won and asked for the position of Queen as a reward."

"I… I can see why they might think that." Keith pushed up his glasses. "It doesn't help that I've given you Mother's rooms."

"Why did you –"

"Because you are a royal princess, and these are the only rooms that were up to standard. I couldn't very well give you Feliwyn's rooms! They're probably cursed." Keith shuffled a bit. "And then when you stayed I thought they just fit."

"..."

"..."

Both didn't know what to say. Keith finally took a deep breath and said, "Listen. Ria."

She waited.

"What if I told you… wait, this isn't the place to do this. This isn't how I thought–" He fumbled his words then took a deep breath. He just needed to follow his heart, and communicate, just like Rufus had said. "I want you to know that I'm… interested."

"Interested?"

"Yes." Keith waved awkwardly between the two of them. "In us. In you. Maybe with some time. Maybe it won't… I like you and I like that you are using these rooms and I like the idea of you being Queen of the Dark Enchanted Forest one day and I'm just interested."

With that he stopped putting his metaphorical foot in his mouth and put his face in his hands, not looking at her reaction. Worried about what he might see.

"That's good." Ria coughed. "Because I'm also interested."

"Wait, really?" Keith stood up. "Not just in walks around the garden, but maybe more?"

"I mean, I like walks around the garden." Ria said, "I'm just also interested in other things."

"Like what?"