"Humbert my friend, that was just shameful," Toto said, shaking his black-feathered head in the darkness.

"I was the perfect gentleman to the princess at all times," the ginger gentleman insisted quietly.

"Exactly," said Muta. "She obviously wanted to know you better, and you kept all the walls of etiquette up between you."

"She deserves a man who can walk with her in the light. I can't do that," Baron insisted gently.

Neither of his friends could find an argument for that. At least, not yet. They all dropped the subject.

When Haru returned to the palace, still on her horse amazingly enough, her older brother, Machida, the crown prince, was discussing something with the head groomsman. Both men smiled when they saw her.

"Did you enjoy your ride, sister dear?" Machida asked, offering a hand to help her down from the horse.

"Very much."

Machida stopped and double-checked, peering intently into his little sister's face. His gaze had been boring into her for almost a minute when he suddenly stepped back, a surprised but delighted smile on his face.

"You must have found someone you could talk to. You usually only get that look in your eye when you've been knee deep in books at the monastery, having meaningful conversations with the monks. Don't tell me you went to the monastery."

Haru laughed. "No brother, I didn't. I got lost, had my horse nearly stolen, was rescued, and had tea with the man who saved me. He's absolutely fascinating."

"Ah, tea with a fascinating man who saved you," Machida said, putting on his 'wise' voice. For a while the royal siblings walked in silence, until the prince spoke again. "Smitten?" he asked, casually.

Haru gawked in indignation before throwing a punch at her brother's shoulder.

He just laughed and ran.

She laughed and chased him.

"Baron von Gikkingken?" asked Queen Naoko later that evening as the royal family had their supper together in their private dining chamber. "I confess to having never heard of him before dear."

"His land is that just a short ride behind the palace though," Haru said, perplexed. Yes, she had been told that he hardly ever ventured forth from the estate… but to live so near the palace and not be known?

"That land belongs to the Lord de Tourney," the red-haired monarch said, herself now wearing a confused expression. "He used to be a baron, but he had risen in prestige at court."

Haru nodded.

"I got the impression that the land belonged to his mother, then to the Lord de Tourney after their marriage and her death," Haru explained. Was there really nothing known about him?

The next day, the queen made subtle enquiries while her daughter was once more out riding. It was innocently intended, but a mother really ought to trust better her instincts regarding men who seem somehow off.

"My step-son, highness?" Lord de Tourney asked, falsely pleasant. Within, a rage was boiling against the princess for giving Baron any contact with the outside world and even more against Baron himself for encouraging it. The boy should know better by now.

The queen nodded, indicating that she was indeed asking after the son that the lord had never once brought before the court.

"I have him conduct business on the estate for me, as I am so busy with my other lands. I have the future of my own two boys to consider as well as that of my stepson after all. Young Humbert is merely the son of my second wife, a woman who rose in the world through being shrewd."

The conversation continued with many pleasantries and the changing of the subject.

With a leer, Lord de Tourney sent his sons to their stepmother's estate. Dear Baron was due a lesson in discipline. He should really know better than to entertain anybody when there was work to be done.