Her parents swiftly departed, leaving me with Evie in the library. Her eyes fumed and her fists curled as she looked at me.

"Get the hell out of my house, your Highness." I'm sure she emphasised the hell, I know she used my title against me.

"What did I do?" I spluttered, confused. I cleared the distance between us, wanting to reach up and touch her golden arms, to check she was real, living and breathing.

Before I could realise it, my own sword was pressed against my neck, the little girl was stood behind me, one hand on the hilt of the Schiavona, one on my forehead, tilting it back.

"You killed my brother." She hissed into my ear. "I'll fucking kill you."

So that's what it was; the uniform black wardrobe, the quiet in the house - they'd received Nicholas's certificate.

There was a blade at my neck, I ought to focus on that.

"I didn't kill him, Evie." I whispered quietly.

There was a sniffle behind me - she was crying. "It was your plan." She lowered the sword from my neck and I hesitatantly turned to face her. My heart broke when I saw the grief on her face. When I tried to take a step towards her, the sword was suddenly forced against my chest. "You lied to me. You didn't tell me he was dead."

I shook my head, partly to tell her she was wrong, but mostly I just needed to tell myself that I was in the right.

But I wasn't was I?

I'd found out that Nicholas was dead, I'd kept it secret. She'd asked me for news of him, I'd held my tongue.

"Shit I'm sorry." I breathed, shaking my head. My sword clattered to the floor, the hands which had held it rose up to hide Evie's face. She was about to fall; she needed me.

I rushed over to her and pulled her small frame into my arms. She did fall and I fell with her. We sank onto the wooden floor, she was sobbing against my shoulder.

"I-" She caught her breath over my shoulder, I kept the back of her head in the palm of my hand. "I don't know how to live without him, Ganechka. He - Nick was the one who got me through the season, he was the one who made me who I am, he looked after me my whole life. I don't... I don't know how to do it without him." Her words broke my heart and I held her tighter. "How do I do it?"

Gently, I sat her back only far enough to face me. "I don't know." I admitted. "I have no idea. But..." The words tasted horrible on my tongue. "My father died yesterday. I don't really know how to handle that either." I kissed the tip of her nose.

Evie sniffed gently. "Maybe we can learn to live without them together?" She spoke in a whisper, one of her fingers lightly tracing one side of my face. "We'll heal, together." She nodded, still speaking in a whisper even though the room was empty. "Then when I'm alright," She whispered still, her forehead against mine, then suddenly my cheek stung as it recovered from her slap, "then you'll fucking pay for lying to me."

I laughed under my breath, savouring every aspect of her face against mine. "Then I'll pay tenfold, and I'll dedicate my life to making it up to you. Your brother was a great man."

She shushed me gently, leaning forwards so her head sat in the dip of my shoulder. "Sh." She repeated. "Don't talk about Nick as though you knew him. You didn't. Just hold me."

I nodded. I knew I was indebted to her, but I also knew that I needed to grieve father, and the only thing to ground me whilst doing so was her body. She cried gently, so did I.

"Evangeline, your Highness." A clipped, unimpressed voice rang from the doorway and I jumped back in surprise, so did Evie. We both turned to face the butler. "I came to inquire if his Highness would be changing out of his travelling clothes for luncheon."

Evie stood up awkwardly. "You don't have to be formal with Ganechka, Locky. He's fine with it."

I nodded, standing up and brushing my sweat laden trousers down. The butler looked at me with a cold malice which Evie didn't seem to notice. "My apologies." I spoke in a cracked voice, feeling stupid for not having brought spare clothes with me. "I completely forgot to bring more clothes with me. I'll just stay in these."

Evie cackled, masking well the grief she had just been showing. "No I don't want to eat with you when you look all horrible and sweaty like that. Locky darling could you ask Papa if he'd let out some of his old clothes?" The butler showed a small bow, more to me than her, then left. Evie turned back to me, casually brushing tears out of her eyes. "Papa never lets go of clothes. He's so determined to keep the days of his youth, but he's so far exceeded them. What do you think of Papa?" She picked a hair off of my jacket and I couldn't help but frown, confused a little by how quickly her character changed.

"He - he seems..." I began, trying to actually assess him. "He seems just sad to be honest. I haven't actually spoken to him yet."

Eve smiled sadly. "He's taking it even harder than me we think. Nick was his heir. He's so incredible though, you'll love him eventually. Maybe entertaining might cheer them up."

Nodding absentmindedly, I took a step back closer to her and took her hands. "I am so sorry though." I murmured. "And I'm here for you, whatever you need." I found myself a little choked up with unwanted emotion, tears were beginning to form themselves in my eyes.

She nodded, her hand again finding the outline of my face and tracing it. "I'm pissed off at you, Ganechka, but I'm happy you're here." Evie seemed to notice that I was crying, she brushed my tears from my face. "And you can stay here you know, take as long as you need to heal. Although..." She chuckled, taking a look at my clothes, "If I let you stay here then you're going to send home for your clothes. Also, you're going to properly teach me how to fight, with a sword. That's my deal."

I nodded quickly, laughing at her earnest expression. "I'll send home for clothes this very afternoon. Do you want anything from the palace, my lady?"

Evie laughed and snorted, causing herself to laugh more, and me with her. "All the cheese. All of it. I'm serious - else I won't let you stay." She giggled. Then her face hardened. "Wait don't they need you at the palace? If your father is dead, don't you need to prepare for your coronation?"

Here comes another lie, Evie, I hope you can forgive me.

"No no, Farall, one of my advisers, he's running the show in my absence, I just had to come and see you."

Evie smiled and kissed me. "You darling boy."