Watching Lalianus interact with a parrot was incredible. Torryn tried so hard not to laugh at how endearing them mimicking each other's motions was, but it was difficult.

Torryn covered his mouth as Lalianus' once again humanoid head moved left and right, and the parrot followed, making a noise that Torryn couldn't identify.

The animal was so vibrant, with a long, drooping tail, red and gold feathers, as longer feathers on the top of her head that kept going up and down.

Whenever the bird did this, Lalianus twitched his ears, as if trying to make a similar motion.

"How long have you had a parrot?" Torryn asked his brother.

His brother. Torryn still couldn't believe his brother was willing to give him a chance. He'd dreamt and hoped, but he had definitely not expected it to happen so quickly. It certainly wouldn't have without Lalianus.

Torryn would grateful to him until the day that he died. He could not mess this up again.

"I've had her for two years. A diplomat from the Karmar empire brought her as a gift. Nothing much came of those negotiations, but I got to keep her," Venneth explained, smiling at the bird. "Her name is Rina."

Torryn blinked, raising an eyebrow. "Like our—"

"Grandmother, yes," Venneth confirmed. "You'll find she has much the same stern spark. Do not poke her head feathers."

Lalianus turned around at that moment. "Why not?"

Venneth chuckled. "Er. She may try to pinch you with her beak, divine."

Lalianus made a cooing noise, his tail making an excited-looking jerk. "Well, that could be affectionate, though. My siblings and I bite each other playfully all the time."

Venneth chuckled again, this time a bit warily. "Do try to refrain, your divinity. Rina does have a sort of love bite, and this is not it."

Lalianus pouted. "Where may I pet her if not her head?"

"Her belly, if she allows. Move slowly. If she does not like it, she will move away. Possibly squawk at you."

Lalianus nodded, turning back to where the bird was perched to do as he was told. Venneth leaned close to Torryn to whisper.

"We need to protect Lalianus at all costs. He is far too innocent to be in this world without protection."

Torryn nodded readily. Nothing bad could happen to Lalianus, never again. The bandits had been bad enough.

As if the heavens themselves wanted to make Torryn look like a fool, just then Lalianus cried out, jumping away from the now screeching bird.

Rina flew off her perch to land on Venneth's shoulder, all fluffed up and agitated. Torryn rushed to Lalianus, seeing that he was holding his finger, pouting.

"I poked her head feathers. I couldn't resist."

Torryn hugged the star, feeling the need to protect him even from the consequences of his own actions. "I would have tried as well. The forbidden is enticing."

Lalianus nuzzled him, already smiling again. "It is. Very interesting. Why?"

Torryn shrugged, rubbing one of Lalianus' ears. "Good question. I suppose humans are naturally curious and do not like being told no. And it seems stars share that."

Lalianus giggled, bowing his head toward Rina. "Apologies, fellow bird."

Venneth shot a confused look Torryn's way, but Torryn just shook his head and waved his hand in a leave it be way. He'd explain that later.

As if able to understand Lalianus, Rina let her feathers settle down a bit, making a little caw and calming down.

"Do you walk around with Rina on your shoulder?" Torryn asked his brother, who laughed.

"Yes, actually. Who am I to argue when she decides she wants to be carried?" he joked. "I like to just walk and talk to her. It helps to get my thought out of my head."

Lalianus stared at Venneth with wide, sympathetic eyes. "Do other humans not listen to you?"

Venneth chuckled. "Of course they do. They have to—I am the king. But sometimes, talking with humans isn't useful. Sometimes things are complicated, and solutions aren't ideal or good, and all you want is to get these thoughts and feelings out there. And humans have this knack to always form opinions."

Lalianus nodded slowly while Torryn grimaced, feeling so bad for his brother. Clearly, he didn't have any proper support here. He'd failed as an older brother so much, but Torryn swore he'd try to help Venneth as much as he was able.

"I think I understand," Lalianus said. "Well, if you ever need an ear for your troubles, I promise not to form any opinions."

Torryn hugged Lalianus, trying not to laugh because that was such an adorable reaction. He just didn't want Lalianus to think he was making fun of him.

"Thank you, divine." Venneth snorted a little bit even as he nodded at the star gratefully. "It is all right. But I appreciate the offer."

Lalianus nuzzled Torryn, then escaped his hug so he could gingerly try to pet Rina again. The bird narrowed her eyes, fluffing up a bit again, but she didn't react when Lalianus started stroking her belly feathers, closing her eyes after a moment, looking content.

"Peace," said Lalianus, nodding firmly as he ceased the petting. "Good. Now, I should go help humans. I've been getting distracted."

Venneth smiled and hummed, but he then frowned. "I should send a couple of guards with you."

Torryn immediately winced, assuming Venneth was rightfully implying he didn't trust him alone with protecting Lalianus. But then Lalianus voiced that exact thought.

"Torry can protect me."

Torryn's heart fluttered at being called Torry.

"I do not doubt that," Venneth said, sounding amused. "He is clearly committed to protecting you. However, until our people believe that he no longer means harm, they will be unlikely to accept him."

Torryn rubbed the back of his neck, grimacing. Stars, the guilt was unbearable. He deserved it all of course, but that didn't make it easier to bear.

Lalianus huffed. "Well, everyone does seem to keep finding issues with him. I keep having to tell people off."

Venneth nodded. "Exactly my point. So you shall get two of my guards for company. They will handle it."

Lalianus put his arms and wings around Torryn, nuzzling his cheek. "Good. Let's go!"

Venneth held up his hand. "Just a moment, divine. I have had something made for you, if you'd allow. Garments worthy of your stature."

Lalianus looked down at himself, frowning. "But these are Torryn's clothes. They smell like him."

Torryn flushed hard. Lalianus truly did not filter any of his thoughts. Venneth raised an eyebrow at Torryn, who swallowed. He wouldn't even know how to explain that.

"Er, w-well, you are free to keep the tunic and trousers, Lalianus," Torryn said, clearing his throat. "But maybe, for official matters, it might be good to look more the part that the people expect."

Lalianus stared at him for a moment, as if trying to puzzle out what this means. "Why?"

Torryn fumbled a bit, and so Venneth decided to explain. "People ask questions when things do not fit their expectations. And I do not want you to be badgered by questions, divine. Besides, the more regal you look, the less people will focus on Torryn."

Lalianus hummed. "All right. If it will stop people bullying Torry. And I am curious what other clothes are like, I suppose."

Venneth nodded, going to the door to call for a servant. Soon, a woman appeared, her arms full of what looked like a pile of dark blue silk. It shimmered in the light, making the fabric look like the evening, star-speckled sky.

"Apologies if it does not fit entirely exactly. I ordered it made as soon as you arrived, but did not want to bother you by taking your measurements," Venneth explain.

Torry was certain that by did not want to bother you Venneth meant that he felt awkward using measuring tape on a star.

"We will make adjustments if needed. But I did make certain that your wings and tail would be accounted for," Venneth explained as the servant offered the clothing to Lalianus with her head bowed.

Lalianus looked at the garments with wide, fascinated eyes, no doubt liking how shiny the silk was.

"It looks pretty," he said, taking it and pulling it up, so that the fabric was fully extended.

Torryn expected half of it to fall, having assumed it would be two pieces, but it turned out to be robes with a high collar instead, with symbol of a star on the front, made of sew-in pieces of silver.

The robes did not have proper sleeves, but instead wispy, light-blue, see-through fabric hung in somewhat of a spiral, to wrap around the arms.

Torryn wondered how the wings and tail issue had been dealt with, but he could already imagine how beautiful Lalianus would look in this, how divine.

"Feel free to try it on now. I will give you privacy," Venneth said, smiling. He gestured to the servant, who then pulled a small, flat box from beneath her arm. Torryn hadn't even noticed that. "And this is for after you are dressed." Venneth put the box on a dresser, then sighed. "Now I have a meeting with the court to deal with." Rina squawked in displeasure. "Yes, my thoughts exactly. Excuse me."

Of all the things Torryn missed and regretted about losing his old life, dealing with the court was not one of them.

Venneth, Rina, and the servant walked out then, leaving Torryn and Lalianus alone.

Lalianus was already undressing, making Torryn freeze and then blush hard, looking everywhere else.

"It looks very pretty," Lalianus said, and Torryn tried very hard to pretend he was not flustered to be next to a naked star. "Indeed it does. It shines, much like you yourself."

Torryn waited for Lalianus to put the robes on, but soon it became apparent he was not managing.

"Do you, uh, need help?" Torryn asked awkwardly.

Lalianus made a sad little noise of confirmation. Torryn finally looked at him, seeing Lalianus' arms tangled up in the fabric. His chest was still exposed because as it turned out, the robes were open in front, with some clasps to hold them together on the sides.

Torryn helped Lalianus get in the sleeves properly, then helped him get his wings through the large hole in the back, the bottom of it going low enough to also let Lalianus' tail through.

Torryn blushed at how much skin the robes were showing. The front left Lalianus' sides partially exposed too, little fabric under the clasps themselves, which Torryn was realizing only now as he helped the star put everything into place.

Torryn fixed up Lalianus' collar, marveling at the silver filigree decorating its edge, going up to the star's lower ears. There was a similar band of decorative silver going over Lalianus' shoulders, and around his wrists.

Torryn took a step back, utterly struck by how beautiful Lalianus looked. If he were human, he'd look royal. But Lalianus was much more than that.

He only realized he was staring when Lalianus tugged on the fabric wrapped around his arm, tilting his head. "It feels so much lighter than your clothes."

Torryn stopped gaping, nodding instead. "I imagine it is. You won't be cold, will you?"

Lalianus tilted his head even more. "I don't know what cold is."

"Then the answer is likely no." Torryn grinned at Lalianus. "You look incredible."

Lalianus beamed right back. "Thank you! I do not really understand clothing. But I am glad you think so."

The star wandered over to the dresser with the box, picking it up. "I wonder what this is."

Torryn hummed, walking over. He was curious too. He blinked when Lalianus pulled it lid off, exposing a set of delicate, silver chains, with a small star attached, a blue gemstone in its center.

"Shiny."

Torryn nodded, picking it up carefully with both hands. It took him a second to realize that the jewelry in his hands was not a necklace. It couldn't be. There were bigger rings along the chains, and the shape didn't make sense as a necklace.

That was when Torryn realized. "Oh. This is for your antlers, I think."

Lalianus gasped in delight. "Oh, do humans decorate themselves with shiny metals like this?"

"Indeed they do." Torryn chuckled. "We enjoy shiny metals."

"Put it on me," Lalianus told him, lowering his head a bit to make it easier for Torry to reach his antlers.

Torryn started to put each ring on each tip, decorating Lalianus' antlers, first the left, then the right. As he finished, the star hanging from the chains settled on Lalianus' forehead, bringing out his eyes even more than usual.

Torryn was so in awe of the star's beauty. He couldn't help himself from cradling Lalianus' cheek in his palm, marveling at the feeling of soft skin paired with small, smooth scales.

But then he remembered himself and pulled his hand away, his face burning. He was overstepping.

Torryn coughed into his hand. "Erm. Okay. Now we can venture into the city."

Lalianus pouted briefly but then he nodded, touching his cheek where Torryn's hand had just been. Had he liked it?

"Okay. Yes. I am ready to help."