When Henrietta and Keith returned home, there was a new energy to their courtship and a comfort in their conversation that wasn't there before. Not that he wanted to be sitting in the dungeon talking to a fluffy beastman about that.

"After hearing from both of you this morning," Rufus tapped his notepad with a claw. "I have to say I'm impressed."

"What?" Keith sat awkwardly on the daybed, not utilizing its comforting recline because… well, because he didn't want to.

Of course the first thing Henrietta did was tell Rufus that Keith needed a session. As far as punishments went for nearly getting unalived by his own careless attitude, it was a bit much.

He didn't think it was that bad.

"Henrietta snapped at you, lied to you, almost killed you… and yet you're concerned for her?" Rufus flipped through his notes.

Keith didn't tell him about the kiss, and since Rufus didn't bring it up, Keith was going to assume Henrietta hadn't either. He couldn't stop thinking about her soft brown eyes, lips–

"And you still want to pursue her?"

"People get upset when they're afraid, Rufus." Keith countered, dragging his mind back to the present. "According to Green, there is a difference between lashing out in fear and lashing out in anger."

Rufus said, "Yet they still result in the same outcome. I am impressed because most people don't read all the books I give them - and then check out more from the castle library. Scholar Violet told me you've read everything by Mola Green? They are overdue by the way. How did you find her book on the childhood origin of self?"

"We aren't talking about me. We are talking about why I'm not upset about Henrietta lying to me about being fine in the dungeon - which is where you are wrong because I was upset. Very upset." Keith pushed up his glasses and crossed his arms. She'd had him so desperate to save her that he'd pushed himself to the limit and almost reaped the consequences. They weren't even engaged yet! He needed to slow things down. "Which is why we confronted each other about things and talked it out. Like reasonable adults."

"You certainly are reasonable, I suppose." Rufus teased. "Also, I'm happy you're not dead. Void Damage? Really?"

"Really really." Keith sighed. His arm was barely feeling better even after taking a high grade potion last night.

"How will you counter it if she betrays you?"

Keith took longer than usual to respond, the thought of Henrietta turning on him more unbearable than he wanted to admit.

Rufus changed tactics. "Or if she goes catatonic again?"

"If she gets locked up in a dark space I'm going to find the culprit and rip out their still beating heart, after getting her out. If she doesn't kill me. Bringing us back to the point. I will have to find spells from other Enchanters. Maybe ask Violet to reach out to Wizard Lorthar from Hemlock Hill? Or the Witch of Winter's End? Oh, and Slake Drakeford, Adventurer Extraordinaire. He might have something in his collection of loot I could purchase…"

"Don't tell me, tell Scholar Violet. Just do something or I'm going to continue nagging you until it's done." Rufus put his notepad aside, taking off his reading glasses and putting them on top. He stretched and said, "Let's go get lunch."

Keith eyed the beastman warily, "but we just started, and we haven't talked about my issues yet."

"Keith, I've known you since you were five." Rufus chuckled. "I know what your issues are. You know what your issues are."

He waved at Keith, sitting there in a defensive position on the edge of the daybed. "Are you ready to talk about them today? How about you get over them right now and go beg your princess to marry you because you lo–"

"Don't say it." Keith interjected. "Not yet… I need more time."

"I think you're ready." Rufus chuckled. "But why waste my time when you refuse to accept it? You've already promised to work on things with her. You have a plan: Take better care of yourself and stop running away from relationships."

"When have I ever run from a relationship?" Keith protested.

The reply dripped with sarcasm. "Ah, yes. You'd have to actually allow one for you to run from it. My bad."

"I put up with you don't I?" Keith griped.

"As you said, you are a reasonable adult." Rufus opened the door to his dungeon office and waved out the king of the Dark Enchanted Forest. "You know when you're doing things that are dangerous. You just don't care. Start caring. If you don't, you'll hurt the people who do care."

Keith left Rufus to his own devices after lunch, when his demon general proposed going for a refreshing swim in the moat. Rufus liked to chase sticks and wrestle monsters as a nice afternoon exercise and was insane. Henrietta was taking some time to herself. Julia and Chloe were lost in each other's company, and he wasn't sure if they even knew he was back yet. So, the Dark Lord grabbed a few cream puffs, a wonderful addition to his menu by the princess, and sought out a quiet space to think.

After everything that had happened yesterday, Keith couldn't get the image of Henrietta out of his head; from her smiling up at him in that garden, to her behavior in the dungeon, to just… Ria.

And when he thought of their difficulties in the dungeon, that actually made him like her more.

The fact that she knew his less-than-ideal traits and yet still wanted to continue the courtship was reassuring. Being the King of a magical realm meant he was under a lot of pressure. He'd had his fair share of marriage offers from many prospective partners around the continent. Few had piqued his interest. Their letters went from boring dowry lists to long pages full of dreams to conquer said continent. Was it too much to imagine that he wanted more than world domination? It was already impressive to him that he could sustain a single country's mixed populace without civil war - and that by sheer will of paperwork and oppressive strength.

Not his actual Strength of course, just his Level was security enough.

Henrietta enjoyed his company and her struggles were something he wanted to support her through. Everyone got angry. Everyone lashed out in their own way. Aside from Void Damage utterly murdering his ass in a moment of anger, he knew that they both liked to talk things out so that shouldn't be a routine occurrence.

As for the other stuff… Well, he'd just have to let go and let Henrietta in. Maybe.

He finished his cream puff and headed for the library. He had some books to return.