Theo waited for lunch to be served, his posture the epitome of casual as he leaned back to regard Lord Lasker. He'd requested the lord's presence the moment he'd woken. They had much to discuss, but one thing in particular.

They filled their plates with roasted grazer and gravy, healthy portions of rice and vegetables. His stomach grumbled eagerly; he'd missed breakfast. Lord Lasker lifted a bite to his mouth when Theo said, "You failed to mention you have a daughter, my lord."

Lord Lasker froze, mid-bite. Then he quickly swallowed and said, "A...a daughter?"

"Yes. And a wife."

The lord's expression darkened. "My wife is dead," he hissed.

Theo hesitated. "I am sorry to hear that. And your daughter? Is she also...dead?" Lord Lasker opened and closed his mouth several times. "Do not lie, my lord. I am a drengr, we can detect lies." That wasn't true, but how would he know?

Lord Lasker reached for his goblet, taking a deep drink, then thunking it down harder than necessary. "My daughter...she is...she is unwell, Your Highness. I did not wish to mention her to you because she is not in a fit state to...to be taking visitors. She keeps to her room."

"Unwell, you say? That is unfortunate. What is it that ails her?"

"An...an ague. The healers cannot quite...cannot quite determine its cause."

"I am sorry to hear that. Nevertheless, you will arrange for our introduction. I would like to meet her."

"But, Your Highness. She could be contagious. I...I would never forgive myself if she made you ill, if her condition...spread."

Oh, he was really trying, wasn't he?

"Has it?"

"Why...why yes. Several of the servants succumbed. Died, even."

"They died?!" He feigned mock surprise.

"Indeed. Most devastating. I am afraid it would simply not do, for you to meet her."

"I will take it as a grave assault, if I do not meet her. I am happy to visit her at bedside, so she need not be overtaxed in her state."

Lord Lasker liked this even less, but he couldn't exactly say otherwise, or risk his charade. Assuming it was one, because he was laying it on thick. He simply didn't want the prince meeting her, probably worried about her virtue, and all that.

"Besides," he found himself saying, "I am a drengr. Her sickness, no matter the ailment, will not pass to me. You need not worry of killing me, my lord."

Given the look on Lord Lasker's face, he very much wanted to. "Right. Of course. Most fortunate."

"Good. You will make arrangements for us to meet this afternoon. As for the other matter I'd like to discuss..."

He inquired into the prisoners they'd captured. Lord Lasker had plans to question them today, in hopes of finding Lady Mask's identity. He'd used this method before, without success, but he was overly pleased that the prince had captured someone who looked much higher up in the regime. Edric was Lady Mask's second in command. A small victory, it seemed.

He wasn't confident in Lord Lasker's ability to get these men taking, but he'd give the man a chance. If nothing came of it, he'd pay Edric a visit himself. Perhaps the rebellion's second would be more forthcoming with a prince.

He needed to know Lady Mask's identity. The need was beginning to feel like an itch, burrowing beneath his skin. Something he wanted to claw out.

The remainder of their midday meal together was tense, but he was used to that. He left Lord Lasker, feigning a busy schedule, reminding him that he awaited the invitation to visit the lord's daughter. "If I don't receive word this afternoon, then I'll go find her myself," he warned.

Lord Lasker only sputtered and affirmed that it would be done.

He took a walk along the battlements of the castle to clear his head. An hour later, a messenger found him. The young boy was out of breath, cheeks flushed. "My lord—Your Highness, Prince Theodred," the boy stammered. "You...I mean, Lord Lasker has called for you, to meet his daughter, my prince."

Theodred chuckled. "Calm down, lad. Understood. Are you to show me the way, then?"

The lad's eyes were big and round, and he nodded, but then kept nodding, like he didn't realize he was still doing it. Theo dropped his hand to the lad's head and ruffled his hair.

He hadn't seen any of his four companions today, since they'd all slept in. But he'd been in communication with them. They'd gone to check on the prisoners, reporting that the dungeons were a sorry state. After that, Amil and Fallon had gone to walk the city, one of their favorite ways of hearing gossip and gathering intel, while Idris and Xander had taken off to the playhouse. There was a showing of a local northern play happening. They'd invited him, but with the prospect of meeting the mysterious Lord Lasker's daughter, he'd made an excuse to stay in the keep today.

For some reason, he wasn't eager to tell any of them about the arranged meeting. Perhaps it was simply that this felt like his own mystery to solve. Or, he just wanted some time to do something on his own.

"Lead the way," he told the lad. The boy raced off, and he adjusted his stride to keep pace. They descended the battlements, passing guards who bowed low in greeting. He showed no surprise when he was taken to the back wing of the third floor. The sleeping chamber suite door was open now.

The messenger lad bid him farewell then raced off. He stepped through to find the familiar room he'd seen before dawn. In broad daylight, it didn't look much different, but it had been significantly tidied.

Lord Lasker sat in a chair by his daughter's bed, his jaw clenched. The bed curtains had been pulled back. Two lady's maids stood off to the side, the picture of demure attentiveness. A grizzled, old guard stood near the fireplace, his body rigid at attention.

Theo's eyes zeroed in on the woman in the bed, sticking to her face, darting over her features. She looked just like she had in the painting, but there were dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't been sleeping right. Her skin even looked a little pale.

A tug of misgiving pulled at his chest. Perhaps the lord hadn't been lying. Perhaps she was unwell. But...the lord had money aplenty. He could call for a healer, except even he knew that some ailments couldn't be cured with magic, those that were persistent, and rotted the body from the inside out.

Some believed ailments like that were akin to dark magic and curses.

"Your Highness," Lord Lasker said, dropping his daughter's hand. "I would like you to meet my daughter, Sophie Lasker." The lord stepped away, indicating that the prince ought to take the chair he'd vacated.

Sophie's face lit up, as if meeting him was the most joyous thing she'd done in ages. "Your Highness," she breathed, her voice soft, feminine. "I am most honored by your visit. I apologize that I must meet you in..." She trailed off, placing a handkerchief over her mouth to cough. He listened to the sound of it. It was a dry cough, so...nothing ailing her lungs, at least. "To meet you in such a state."

"It is quite all right, Miss Lasker, I assure you." He was starting to feel like a selfish fool. "Your father tells me that you are unwell. I am sorry to hear that. Has no healer been able to see to your needs."

"She has seen more than ten healers, Your Highness," Lord Lasker answered, his patience obviously thin. "Yet, she still complains of the headaches."

"Of course. That is most unfortunate," he mused.

"I believe this is my lot in life," Sophie mused. "I am simply too unwell to live a normal life, like most women my age. I must remain closed away. But..." Her face brightened. "My father has my brothers, and they please him so, do they not, Papa?" She beamed up at her father. "And, I am not entirely without happiness. I am betrothed, after all. To be married."

Except, he didn't hear all that much happiness in her voice as she said this last part.

"Betrothed?" He lifted his eyebrows.

"Indeed," her father replied, cutting in. "To Hawthorn Vantis—a merchant who has long been friends with our family. We postponed the wedding when her headaches arrived, but we've decided that it makes no difference where her sickbed lies. The wedding will take place in two months."

Theo studied her face as her father spoke, noticing the small bit of helplessness that passed over her features, there and gone. She was rather beautiful, despite the obvious signs of lack of sleep. Lord Lasker's words didn't surprise him in the slightest. Most lords were eager to marry off their daughters with the intention of gaining something in return, more land, more money, more power...

"Lord Lasker, do you mind if I speak with your daughter alone."

"Not going to happen," a gravely voice growled. "She is betrothed and it would be most inappropriate, even if you are the prince."

He glanced over to the man lurking by the fireplace. "And you are?"

"Her guard."

"Simmer down, Gundry," Lord Lasker tsked before turning to the prince. "The old curmudgeon is rather fond of his young charge."

Gundry scoffed. "Been watching over her since she was five. What do you expect?"

"Don't mind Gundry, Your Highness," Sophie's soft voice broke up the tension. "His bark is louder than his bite." She shared a soft smile with the prince.

He found himself melting a little. She was rather...endearing. He suddenly hated very much the idea that she was stuck in this bed. Hated it enough to say, "I know that you are unwell, but surely some fresh air would do you good? Since they insist on a chaperone, what if I lead you out of doors on a walk. Are you well enough for that?"

A flash of indecision raced over her features. It happened so quickly, that he almost missed it. A frown pulled at his brows.

"I...I..."

"I think he is right," Lord Lasker surprised them all by saying. Theo studied the lord's face and found only frowning concern there, directed towards his daughter. So...perhaps this wasn't a ruse after all. She really was unwell. And he felt an even deeper burning desire to see her happy, and smiling, if that was the case.

"Very well, if my father feels it would be all right," Sophie admitted, deferring to her father's authority. He found himself fascinated. This girl wasn't anything like the stubborn, argumentative Lady Mask he'd dealt with the night before. She was demure and agreeable, even a little hesitant.

And he'd been wrong.

Theo had thought perhaps Lord Lasker was hiding her from him purely because of his scandalous reputation. But the lord really did care for his daughter, deeply. He could tell by the way he gazed upon her with a worried expression; it went beyond acting.

"If you will wait in the hall, I'll have my lady's maids ready me for our walk."

Theo nodded, the strode from the room, Lord Lasker and Gundry on his heels. When the door closed, he found himself turning to Lord Lasker. "How long has she had this illness?" he found himself asking.

Lord Lasker eyed him for several moments, then sighed. "The headaches began about three years ago, just before she came of age. I admit, I believed she was using them as...as a ruse, because she was about to marry Hawthorne. But marriage is a normal path in life and no ruse goes on for this long. You saw her. You saw how she looks."

He felt immediately defensive. "I thought she looked nothing short of beautiful, my lord—no, don't worry, I will not steal her virtue," he added, huffing. "Though I believed you were hiding her for that very reason. I have no intention of dishonoring her in any way, especially with her upcoming nuptials. But...I should like to have her friendship whilst I am here. If that is all right with you?"

He wasn't sure why he was asking such a thing. He'd never, in all his years, had a female friend. Couldn't have, even if he'd wanted to.

Lord Lasker's mouth opened and closed several times. He seemed to think of the honor it might bring, and the possibility that his daughter might also feel honored by the offer. So at last, he nodded. "Chaperoned visits only," he said.

"Of course. Her guard won't mind, will you Gundry?"

Gundry's face only hardened, but he didn't speak against the idea. Something of a thrill shot through his chest, and he couldn't say why, couldn't explain it. So instead, he prepared himself and when Miss Lasker exited her room, lady's maids in tow, he simply extended his arm, and led her out for a walk.⭐🌟 DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!🌟⭐