Baron found new clothes laid out on his bed that suited the palace more but not his taste. He longed for his light gray suit with the red vest, blue bowtie, and matching top hat; he'd worn a long-sleeved shirt and tunic since he'd joined the military.

Along with his new outfit, a large metal basin in a small extension off his bedroom was filled with steaming water and frothy pink bubbles and a shaving kit laid out on a counter before a mirror. It was as if they had known he'd been stuck in the wilderness for days, and he couldn't get undressed and into the hot bathwater fast enough.

The soak did wonders for his body, which he hadn't realized was sore until he was lying still, the pain in his leg started up again by Machida's sharp jab to his wound even beginning to ebb away. He could fall asleep in this tub though he resisted the urge—he had a nice feather bed he could do that in instead.

Halfway through his soak, he was startled to hear a tapping on the window in his room. Wrapping a towel around his lower half, he stepped out of the basin and strode across the room to the window, where he spied Evangeline's unconventional pet bird pecking at the pane.

"All right, all right, I'm coming" he muttered, flipping the latch to throw open the window and invite the bird inside. Toto circled the room twice before landing on one of the bedposts, ducking his head to straighten out a few disheveled feathers.

Satisfied, he tromped back behind the changing screen and unwound the towel so he could sink back into the water—he was going to take advantage of this opportunity—sighing in pleasure.

"I know it's bad to take advantage of someone," he said, stating his thoughts aloud, "but I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner."

"Probably because you're too honest for your own good."

Baron, who had sunk into the bubbles up to his neck, promptly jerked up and glanced around. "Who said that?"

"I did." Toto fluttered over to perch on top of the changing screen.

"Who?"

"Me. I did." The crow's beak moved. The crow's beak moved!

Baron cried out and jumped several inches, sloshing water over the sides of the basin and landing hard on the metal bottom. "Y-y-you just t-t-talked," he stammered out.

Toto nodded. "I did. You sure are jumpy," he added as Baron jumped again, sending more water onto the wood floor.

Baron squeezed his eyes shut and pinched his arm, hoping this was just some twisted dream. When he opened his eyes, however, the crow was still there, and it spoke again:

"You're taking this pretty well for someone who met his first witch this afternoon."

"I-I've heard of talking animals," he explained. "I've just never been the one talking back."

Toto shrugged. "Well, I can tell you that you're not going crazy. Miss Evangeline informed you that I have, and I quote, 'a few tricks beneath my wing.' "

"I take it talking is one of them?"

"Precisely."

Baron dunked his head beneath the suds. When he came back up, he stared at the crow again. "Do you speak to everyone?" he asked, wiping the water trickling down his head out of his eyes.

"On the contrary, this is a rare thing. Evangeline is special, and she heard me when I cried out for help all those years ago. And don't get your hopes up, because the only reason you can hear me is because Evangeline let you."

He nodded slowly in understanding. "And are you the only animal I can hear?"

Toto reached up with one wing to rub his head thoughtfully—did I just think that crow was being thoughtful? "I'm not sure. I've been with Evangeline for a hundred and twenty years and even I don't know the limits of her magic. She's a sly one, so I wouldn't be surprised if you could."

"So I shouldn't be worried for my sanity?"

"Not because you're hearing animals."

"Well, that's good to know for future reference. Uh, do you mind?" He gestured at the towel hanging beside him.

"Not at all." Toto moved back to the bedpost so Baron could step out of the tub and dry off in privacy. He then slipped into the clean trousers he'd been left—waiting to pull the shirt and tunic on after he'd shaved—and proceeded to remove the scratchy stubble beginning to grow on his chin.

"Why can Evangeline hear you?" he asked, splashing away the foam on his face. He was starting to look more like himself every minute. "Why can't everyone?"

"I told you," the crow said, "Evangeline is special. I don't know what it is about her exactly, but there's something that separates her from the rest of the human race that allows her to overcome the language barrier. It's probably related to her ability to learn magic."

"Are there more people out there who can speak to animals?" Running a comb through his hair, he tried slicking it back but decided he liked it falling forward better—the only trait he wanted to share with Machida was his gender.

"Most likely, though they are few and far between, but there is a rumor that one of the Athian princesses can converse with us."

Baron spun around to stare at Toto. "Really?"

"Mm-hmm," the crow said, shifting his feet on the rounded bedpost, "but I still haven't discovered which one it is yet. It's not a talent you share with others."

"That's justifiable." Satisfied with his appearance, he strolled over and flopped onto the inviting bed. "Toto?" he mumbled, burying his face in a cloud-soft pillow.

"Yes Baron?"

"Wake me when it's time for dinner, will you?"

"Of course." But Baron was already falling asleep.

=^^=)

Baron awoke several hours later, well rested for the first time in days, when he felt something gently tugging on his hair. He blinked blearily and almost went into cardiac arrest when he saw it was Toto, murmuring at him that it was time for dinner even as a loud knock sounded on the door. A stiff wing to his mouth silenced the scream about to erupt and once he'd calmed down, Toto removed his wing and hopped to the end of the bed.

"Don't worry about it," he said, tucking his legs beneath his body and settling down. "It happens to everyone at least once."

Baron nodded, though he still felt guilty. "I'll bring you something from the table," he said softly, stroking the bird several times before stretching and stumbling over to the mirror. Righting his clothes, fixing his hair, and wiping the drool leaking out the side of his mouth, he went to answer the door, cautioning Toto over his shoulder not to be seen; he didn't know the policy the castle had on allowing live fowl in that wasn't to be butchered and served as an entrée.

Taking a deep breath before throwing open the door, he greeted a young maid who, blushing scarlet, informed him it was time to sup. He closed the door and let her lead him through the hallways and down the stairs until he was shown into a room that rivaled the main hall in beauty and extravagance.

There were more marble columns of course, rich tapestries that depicted spectacular scenes draped on the white walls facing large windows that revealed a marvelous view of the royal city at sunset. The sinking sun bathed the houses, the shops, and even the citizens in gold. The table, varnished a deep mahogany, was so long more than the standard four legs were required to hold it up. The number of chairs along its length was mind-boggling, but Baron had no doubt that it could seat at least seventy-five people. An enormous clock hung on the wall, displaying the time in Roman numerals. According to it now, it was a little after seven o'clock.

The clock was hung over the head of the table, where the emperor was seated now. To his right was Prince Machida, two empty chairs to his left. However, the left side was not completely empty as three seats were taken up in a row, each occupant possessing a different color of hair.

When Baron entered in his finer, cleaner clothes and limping slightly with his cane, all eyes turned to him. Prince Machida, whose face seemed to be stuck in a perpetual snarl, made no move to acknowledge him, but the emperor waved his arm, which he soon discovered was a signal to assist him to the table. An older woman with silver hair scurried over and offered him her arm and though he was embarrassed, he graciously accepted her help and was escorted to the seat on the left of the monarch.

"Good to see you," Ryoko said amicably, and Baron bowed his head respectfully.

"I'm honored to sit at your table, Your Majesty," he said politely.

"I'd like to introduce you to my daughters," he continued, raising his hand to gesture at the three people on the left. "Girls, this is the Baron Humbert von Gikkingen." Three stunningly beautiful young women rose and peered around each other to get a better look at him. "Louise-chan is the furthest away, and is also my eldest," a flaxen-haired beauty batted her eyelashes, "Yuki-chan is my second daughter," a woman with white-blonde curls smiled sweetly, "and Hiromi-chan and Harumi-chan are twins." The last girl, this one possessing tawny hair and appearing several years younger than her two sisters, wiggled her fingers.

The emperor's tone changed slightly. "Please excuse Harumi-chan's tardiness, Baron-san," he said, frowning. "She has a penchant for being late."

"Sorry, sorry, I'm sorry!" All eyes revolved to the doors again to see a fourth young woman with dark hair like the emperor and dressed in violet scramble to the table. She quickly bowed her head and mumbled a thousand apologies to the emperor, and when she lifted her head Baron's breath hitched in his throat.

The girl who had dragged him into a corner and covered his mouth with her dainty hand now slid into the seat beside him.

"This is my youngest daughter," the emperor said, pointing at the dark-haired maiden beside him, "Harumi-chan. But she goes by Haru."

"N-nice to meet you," he stammered slightly, still reeling from the shock.

Oh dear, the things we did in that corner, he thought, inwardly panicking. How did I not realize she was a princess? How on earth could I do such things with a princess?

Princess Haru, for her part, did not reveal that they had already met. She smiled and nodded politely at him before facing forward.

The dinner was somewhat awkward, as it was clear by the princesses' behavior that they did not like the crown prince of Bodair any more than he did. The emperor, sociable man that he was, encouraged conversation by asking Baron about Sunder.

"It's a beautiful place," Baron replied, taking a sip of the wine in his goblet. "Most of the land is countryside, with rolling grasslands and meadows and crisscrossed with rivers, and it really is quite exquisite."

"Is that where you're from?" Princess Louise inquired dreamily, leaning her head in her hand. "Sunder?"

"Indeed."

"I love your accent. Sunderese accents are heavenly."

"Um… thank you?"

Nothing, however, could stop Machida from bragging about himself and all the 'heroic' deeds he had performed during the Bodarian-Sunderese War.

"Didn't Bodair lose the war, Machida-san?" All eyes flicked to the fourth, youngest, and said to be the plainest, daughter as she dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. She lifted her chocolate eyes to gaze steadily across the table at the crown prince, whose fork had clattered to the floor. "Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong."

Machida spluttered to come up with an answer while her three sisters snickered behind their hands. A small smile slid onto Baron's lips as he gazed at her serious profile, and the emperor couldn't decide what reaction to use.

"S-s-s-say something!" Machida finally snapped at Ryoko, pointing at the dark-haired princess.

"H-Harumi-chan! You're excused!"

"As you wish Father." Princess Haru dipped her head, rose from the table, and calmly left the room, the doors already open for her departure.

Suddenly Baron wasn't hungry, and he asked if he could be excused as well. The emperor, probably assuming his daughter's remarks had made him uncomfortable, acquiesced, and Baron dropped his napkin on the table, bowed before them, and quickly left the dining hall.

Once in the main hall, he looked around and caught a flash of purple turning a corner up ahead. "Princess Haru?" he called, striding as fast as his bad leg would allow. The purple reappeared as the princess stopped and looked back.

"Yes?" she asked when he'd caught up. "Can I help you?"

He grinned. "I came to see if I could escort you to your room."

"That would be lovely, thank you."

"And also that I admire how you stood up to Crown Prince Machida like that."

The princess shuddered. "Ugh, I hate that guy. He thinks I'm hopelessly in love with him or something and has vowed to marry me." She sighed. "I'm glad Father dismissed me. I was about ready to dismiss myself."

Baron chuckled. "He is a jerk, I will give you that."

Her fair cheeks reddened. "I'm sorry about earlier," she murmured. "I didn't know… I mean I did know, but…"

"No, I understand. But still," he glanced down at her and his smile broadened, "telling Prince Machida off was most admirable. And I do admire a girl who speaks from the heart."

"What I said was nothing new or anything he shouldn't have already known and if he's going to make up stuff in front of something who's clearly Sunderese, then he deserves to be told off."

"Well, I admire your spirit, and I thank you for defending my country."

They stopped in front of the large door with the engraved flowers and birds. "Thanks for escorting me back to my room," she said, shyly tucking her hair behind her ear as she attempted a curtsy.

He swept out his arm dramatically and bowed till his chest was parallel with the floor, then he reached out and lifted her fingers from her side. Bringing them to his mouth, he gently brushed his lips against her knuckles as he said, grinning, "Anything for you, princess."

Straightening, he held her hand in his longer than necessary until she finally took her fingers back. "Well, I-I should probably go to my room," she whispered.

He nodded. "Probably."

"Um, good night."

"Good night princess."

Princess Haru finally shut the door after she spent a couple minutes lingering in the doorway, just gazing at him. He didn't mind.

=^^=) - cat.

A/N: I tried to use Japanese suffixes, though I'm not sure if I used them correctly. And need I mention shirtless (and naked) human Baron? Gorgeous...