Sometime over the night, Silas had been switched out with a maid. Takumi wasn't sure when; he had managed to fall asleep quickly despite the injury. The maid, Flora, had taken to tutting about the room and dusting.

"I do apologize," the thin woman repeated once again as she unclamped one of the heavy curtains Silas had left drawn, "My sister, Felicia, she was in charge of taking care of the room's on this side of the hall. She's dutiful, but not skilled. I will have to shake dust out of these myself."

"No, your fine. My current position is a much better one then before." Takumi reassured her from his place on the bed, biting into the warm bread another maid had brought up for him. Flora herself had eaten a slice before him, then allowed him to have the rest of the loaf. It had taken him a few minutes to realize that she had been testing it for poison. The thought left him unnerved, but the bread itself was hardy and filled him up.

Flora smiled at him apologetically. She in and of herself, was a mystery to Takumi. She was pretty for sure, but she carried herself much differently than other Nohrian woman. She was regal. Though he supposed being a head maid to royalty must often have them rubbing off on her. At least he assumed she was a head maid, as the brooch she wore looked much more expensive than the rest.

"Nonetheless," she started, folding the curtains carefully and placing them onto a cart, "I believe that clean linens is a good way to begin to brighten a dark mood."

She seemed to catch herself and her face flushed, "Not to say you are acting sour with me, it's just I find when Lady Corren is under the weather, a clean room brightens her a bit."

Takumi grimaced, "About her… do you have word on her condition?"

Flora paused her work momentarily. "Lady Corren is a stubborn girl, as you may well know. She is upset for many reasons, few of which are known to me. She is only allowing Jakob my sister and I into her quarters and refuses to speak to others who try to gain entrance."

"Truly?" Takumi felt his mouth go dry, and he doubted it was the bread.

"Yes, truly. Although Xander has been busy, and has no time to check on her. I doubt she would keep him out for long."

Takumi felt incredulous. "He hasn't been to check on her? Why on earth would he not be worried?"

"Xander has other things to worry about right now." The door to Takumi's quarters was harshly opened and both Flora and Takumi jumped. Flora had a dagger leveled in an instant at the man, but soon lowered it, bowing stiffly. "L-lord Leo! My apologies."

"At ease, Flora." The armoured man had strolled into the room, followed closely by a very...interestingly dressed dark mage. Takumi was almost more shocked by him than the royal, blinking owlishly as the man bumbled into the room. Somehow the mage was contrasting every surface in the room, no, in all of Nohr, with his suntanned skin and messy corn-yellow hair. And his corn-yellow outfit for that matter, if you could even call it that. The bright garment covered his legs in patterns of black diamonds, and covered his shoulders as well, but his stomach was left completely exposed, save a thin layer of back mesh that did very little to cover the much too toned muscles rippling as he moved. This man could not be a mage.

Takumi must have been pulling a face, as the prince cleared his throat, and covered the other covertly with his own cape.

"Prince Takumi, I assure you that all matters concerning my sister are being attended to. Prince Xander has had his hands full with reaching your brother, as it seems Hoshido is not being too friendly with our messengers."

Takumi noticed the emphasis put on those words. Prince Leo watched him closely for his response.

"I wasn't expecting them to be open. We've been betrayed under the guise of peace before, after all." Takumi couldn't help but mess with the prince a little, despite the obvious difference in physique at the moment.

"True, I suppose." The prince allowed the thinly veiled insult to roll over him, stalking around the room as he talked. The mage followed closely behind. "Of course, there's another issue."

"Which is?"

"Proof of life." Leo's eyes flashed at this. "The one man who has managed to make it through your doors without being skewered was permitted to speak to your oldest sister. Hinata, was it?" Leo's lip quirked up, almost unnoticeably.

"Hinoka." Takumi replied easily, ignoring the pang in his gut as the Prince played with him right back.

"I see. Well, she listened to what he had to say, but refused to believe you were spared. To her, you are dead, and Xander is merely toying with her. And that sentiment is most likely shared with the others in your country."

Takumi felt his shoulders deflate. His home...his people. They all thought he had been defeated or executed... the thought made him feel almost sick.

"And, I hate to inform you this, but-"

"Prince Leo, if I may…" Takumi looked up slightly as the other man spoke for the first time. His voice was young and slightly rough, but also warm, and Takumi couldn't help but think of Hinata. "I don't think Prince Takumi is in the proper mental state to-"

"Stand down, Odin." Leo shot back, coldly. The mage stiffened, falling back against the wall.

"Now, although some suggested we send physical evidence-" Leo pointed to Takumi's hair and the prince tensed, sweeping it (not so descreetly) it over his shoulders as the implication was made, "-I know that will not be required. If you are to write a letter to them in your own hand, I'm sure it will suffice. My retainer, Odin, has procured the parchment you will use. Odin?"

The man smiled brightly, and began rummaging through the bag at his hip, before pulling out a warmly colored roll of crisp paper and handing it to his liege. Odin looked pointedly relieved at this, though why, Takumi could not tell.

"Think carefully of what you will write, as I will not be sending my retainer out as your letter boy for a second time." Leo said, the ice in his voice very clearly showing that the statement was not negotiable.

"Leo! Don't be like that! Prince Takumi's been having a rough month!"

Everyone turned towards the door as Elise wondered in, pouting. "Besides! Odin likes going on adventures- Right Odin?"

Odin grinned and nodded his head before grinning sheepishly back down at his prince.

Leo looked unamused, sighing in exasperation before turning to the younger girl.

"There is more I need to discuss with the Prince, Elise, if your check up could just wait a few more minutes-"

"Nope! I need the room cleared- stat! And that's a doctor's order." Her voice had taken on a playful tone, and she wagged her finger up at the older man.

"Elise-"

"Nu-uh-uh! My patient, my rules! You're out!"

"Elise, must you- hey!"

Takumi watched on as Elise grabbed her brother by the shoulders and pushed him out the door. Odin followed, looking pointedly amused "That'll be all, nurse Leo! Bye now!"

"Elise, don't you dare-!"

Leo's next statement was cut off as the girl shut the door with a loud thump.

There was silence for a moment before a burst of laughter escaped Odin, muffled only by the thick layer of oak between them. A few nearly whining protests left the prince before the two of them walked somewhere else.

Elise was silent for a moment more before turning to Takumi with the biggest, sappiest grin he'd ever seen.

"Takumi, your awake!" she cheered, nearly sprinting besides him. "I'm so glad you're not still asleep, that would mean that I had something to worry about. Medically speaking, Hans roughed you up pretty bad."

"So I've heard." Takumi couldn't help but smile slightly at the girl. "Now, I;m gonna do a few tests and you gotta tell me what hurts and what doesn't, okay?" She said, moving onto the bed next to him.

"O-okay." Flora smiled to him almost playfully as she made her way from the room with the cart, and Elise's burly knight friend took Silas's chair near the door.

"Alright! If your really good, I'll give you a treat! I snuck into the kitchen today and had the head chef teach me how to make this weird pastry I found in a book! It has blueberry jelly in it!"

"That sounds good, Elise."

"I bet it does," She winked playfully at him. "So be good for me while I check to make sure you're okay!"

"Got it."