Yuki breathed a sigh of relief when, showing the lady into the tearoom, there was only one candle lit and that near the empty guest chair.
As for the princess, she was surprised that it was so dark that she could really only see the table and one chair. When her eyes had adjusted though, she was able to make out the vague shape of another chair with an occupant.
"Please, forgive the darkness, but you would rather not see my face," said the shadow-shrouded figure.
Haru was sure now that the one entertaining her to tea and cake by the light of one candle was the same one who had saved her earlier.
"Is that why you disappeared so quickly after saving me sir?" she asked, as politely as she could.
A light chuckle from the darkness, and she could barely help but smile in response as she accepted the seat Yuki was gesturing for her to take.
"Indeed," he said. "But I am curious, to what do I owe the pleasure of receiving Princess Haru into my late mother's home?"
Haru covered her gasp with a hand, brown eyes wide in the candlelight.
"You mustn't be surprised, highness," the stranger, her host, said, still chuckling. "We common folk all love you dearly, though I am immensely surprised to find you trying to be someone poorer than yourself."
Haru watched avidly as gloved hands poured tea and cut cake.
"I've been told that I have to get married," Haru said, surprising herself. It should not be so easy to talk to someone who she could barely see.
"You don't fancy the man?" he asked.
Haru shook her head. "It's not even that. I have a month to choose the man for myself, to be announced at a ball."
"Ah, so that is what all the commotion is at the palace," he said, taking a cup for himself and leaning back into darkness so that Haru couldn't even see his silhouette any more.
"Yes," she sighed, taking a cup for herself. "It can be anybody at all. I could pick your stable boy and as long as mother is certain that he'll treat me well, it would be fine with her. I just have to be married."
"Sounds like quite the task, oh, careful," he cautioned, as she raised the cup to her lips. "It's my own blend, a bit different every time, so I can't guarantee the taste. It's also quite hot, and I wouldn't like you to burn yourself."
"Thank you for your concern, uh, I'm sorry, we weren't introduced."
"My name is Humbert von Gikkingken, since my step-father has risen in the world, he and my step-brothers rather mockingly gave me their old title, so I suppose I'm Baron Humbert von Gikkingken now."
"May I simply call you Baron?" Haru enquired.
"If it would please you to do so, highness."
