Vercillia kisses her father's forehead. "Get some sleep father. Do not stress if you can help it."

He chuckles weakly. "I know, my daughter. I assure you things will be fine, as long as you remember everything I told you about your sisters. I am very worried about Lonica's jealous tendencies."

Vercillia forces a smile. "She has always been like that, Father."

The king takes his daughters delicate hands into his rough palms.

"You must protect her. She is going down a path that I fear will be harmful to all of you girls. Your mother's magic passed on along with her, and thus she could not protect your sister in time. Please, Vercillia. I am not asking you to put yourself in danger, but it may have to come to that eventually."

She stares at the floor and nods silently. Her father pats her hand one last time and lets go.

Vercillia bows to her father and quickly walks out of the room, signaling for the waiting maids to enter.

As the staff hurry to the king's aid once again, Vercillia shuts the door behind them quietly. She sighs to herself.

She turns the corner to a door that leads outside. An outside covered bridge with fantastic pillars on the edges leads to another section of the castle. She peers over the edge of the stone wall, gazing into the garden one story below.

The three of her sisters see her and wave, Calycina holding a red flower.

Vercillia leans on the wall and smiles at her family. She daydreams of her sisters and their futures. A few moments later, a hand on her shoulder startles her. She jumps.

Sovil immediately apologizes and bows his head. "I-I apologize Princess Vercillia! I didn't mean to startle you. I called your name several times when I saw you out here and you didn't respond so-"

She interrupts him by delicately raising a hand. "It's okay, really. I guess I was just not paying attention. I have been thinking about my father, so…" she trails as she looks back at her sisters, whom were talking and laughing.

Sovil follows her gaze, then looks back at her. "Miss Lonica startled me today…"

Vercillia suddenly whips her head around to stare at him. She steps towards him, her bright green eyes glinting in the light of a nearby torch. "What happened. How is she?" She appeared nervous.

Sovil takes a step back, he himself startled by the sudden change. "S-she said she thought she saw a bug in her bed. Ran in with my sword drawn, but I have been on edge from the recent events so I may have made it sound more serious than it actually was."

Vercillia stands straighter, glancing to the side. She then closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "I have been… very… VERY concerned about her… Father is afraid she is under the influence of something dark. Something Mother probably could have stopped." She stops.

Sovil waits for her to regain herself, knowing full well she can get worked up easily.

"Sovil."

He looks at her. "Yes, Ma'am?"

Vercillia stares him down, sadness in her eyes. "I need to ask something of you."

His expression turns to confusion. "Sure, I am here to serve your family after all."

She smiles faintly and shakes her head. " I… would like you to watch over Lonica. And not how you do your patrols. I mean, watch her much closer than normal. But if something happens… don't go to her, come to me or even my Father. He will know more of what to do than I would."

He rests his hands on his belt. "Of course, Ma'am, it's my job after all-"

Vercillia smirks. "I'm not the Lady yet, don't call me Ma'am. I keep telling you, call me by my name in private."

Sovil laughs softly, giving a short, mock salute. "Yes Ma'am. However, I still feel like your father will find out I'm not formal with you and he will get the wrong idea. Then I'll be sent to the dungeon."

Vercillia laughs. "Now, I don't think he'll go THAT far. He knows we have been great friends since childhood, he must have mercy on you. And if not, I'd have a chat with him."

They hear giggling from the garden and peer over the edge to see the girls looking up at them. Jasper's gaze shies away, but the other two continue to laugh.

Sovil's face turns red. "Well, I-I think I should go. I uh…I'm suppose to be at t-the front gate-... s-so… Goodbye! " He bows, backs up towards the door and turns, bumping into the door.

Vercillia giggles to herself as he makes a fool of himself, fumbling to open and go through the door. She smiles and looks back at her sisters.

"Hey witches, you scared him away."

"Well, we're not sorry, sister!" Sodalia yells.

Vercillia crosses the bridge to the other side and walks down a set of stairs. She steps out of a door in the garden and meets her sisters.

Calycina sits on a stone bench with Jasper as Sodalia runs up to the eldest excitedly. "Vercillia! Are you going to tell him how you feel?"

Vercillia recoils and she blushes with embarrassment. "What?! What do you mean?"

Calycina looks over. "Oh come on, don't think that we haven't noticed. You and the Guard Sovil."

Vercillia turns away to look at the blossoms of a rose bush. "There is nothing more than a friendship. We have been friends since childhood. Besides, Father would never let him near me if it was even like that."

Sodalia scoffs. "Right. Vercillia you're the oldest of all of us. I'm sure he would let you have whomever you please."

Vercillia turns to the fourth eldest. "Even if I had romantic feelings for my FRIEND, how would it even work? He would probably be ashamed to have a woman with higher status than himself. His family is not very wealthy, you know. I wouldn't want that for him."

Sodalia sighs. "Fine. I don't think he would, but I see how set you are." She smirks as she returns to their sisters on the bench. "I can't wait to see if it happens though."

"It won't happen, Sodalia!"

Sodalia laughs triumphantly. "Haha! Just you wait!"