I'm so late! I feel awful. This will make up for it, I promise!

"Ouch!" Lucy glared. "Edmund, I'm wearing slippers!" she smacked him on the chest.

"Sorry!" Edmund winced, his face red. "I-I-"

"Stop thinking," admonished Liana from where she sat next to Susan on the sofa in Peter's solar. "Edmund, you're too uptight, again. Try to enjoy yourself. And be nice, Lucy. He doesn't spend his free time dancing with the fauns like you."

"Maybe he should," said Lucy, huffing in annoyance. "You said he wasn't bad!"

"He's not. He didn't step on my feet at all last night. Stop making him nervous."

Lucy rolled her eyes, but put her hand back on her brother's shoulder. Seeing his expression, Susan interjected. "Let me try now," she offered. "It's probably because you're shorter than Liana, Lu, and Edmund is only used to her. I'm her height, maybe he'll improve."

"He'll be fine," said Liana absently, returning to her book. Lucy gratefully sat down next to Liana and rested her head on her shoulder, sighing dramatically. Liana smiled as she turned a page. "Tired?"

"Exhausted," sighed Lucy. "This ball is driving me insane. I wish I didn't have to go!"

Liana laughed as she handed Lucy her book. "Hold my page," she said. Lucy obliged and Liana quickly made her hair into her customary bun, pulling all her loose strands out of her eyes. She took her book back from Lucy. "I loved dancing at balls when I was your age."

"Really?" Lucy sat up, turning to face her. "Did you attend a great many parties in Archenland?"

"Not many. I was young when my father died and I didn't go to any after that, but while he was alive I'm sure I attended a great many more than other girls my age."

"Did you enjoy them?"

Liana shrugged as she put away her book. "Mostly, I suppose. I haven't been to one in years, I don't even know if they happen in the same way anymore."

"Would you like to come tomorrow night?" asked Lucy suddenly.

Liana shook her head immediately. "Oh no, that's far too grand."

"But would you like to?" persisted Lucy.

"I would not. I have nothing to wear and nothing to do."

"Oh, you can borrow one of Susan's dresses and we can all get ready together! It would be such fun," Lucy's eyes glimmered dreamily as she imagined, not getting ready together, but Liana dancing with her brother and finally admitting her feelings for him.

However, Liana didn't seem interested. "That is very kind, but I will be in the Houses. I usually have the night shift these days," before Lucy could argue, Liana jerked her head towards Edmund and Susan, who were still dancing but were now deep in conversation. Their voices were too low to carry across the room. "I wonder why your brother looks so upset."

"Probably because Susan is telling him that Lady Ivanna is going to be at the ball," Lucy rolled her eyes.

Liana grimaced. "That woman is despicable."

Lucy laughed. "Why?"

"I don't appreciate women who undo my hard work," huffed Liana. "Thanks to her, I had to sew up your brother more times than I wanted to, and more times than necessary."

Lucy giggled. "Are you sure that's the hard work you're referring to?"

Liana rolled her eyes. "Don't be coy, Lucy. I have no ulterior motives."

The young queen laughed delightedly. "I'm just teasing," she patted Liana's hand. "But she's absolutely awful, isn't she? Only Susan tolerates her. Edmund just runs in the opposite direction, and she's terrified of Peter ever since what happened to Edmund."

"She should be terrified of me," grumbled Liana.

"You should come tomorrow and see if she is," winked Lucy.

Liana ignored her. "Where is the High King?"

"He went on an overnight hunting trip with a few of the nobles from Calormen," Lucy shrugged. "Susan was reluctant to let him go, mostly because Prince Rabadash frightens her, but Peter convinced her in the end. Still, you know how violent they are."

Liana nodded. "I heard Lias went with them. He'll be able to fix any damage if, Aslan forbid, anything were to happen."

Lucy shivered. "I hope not. Susan would kill him before anything else could."

Liana smiled and stood up. "They'll all be fine. I think it's time for my shift now. Would you like to come?" As if on cue, Lucy yawned. Liana giggled. "Never mind. You can make up for it next week. Good night."

Lucy waved and Liana made her way towards the door. Halfway there, Susan recalled her.

"Are you working tonight?"

"Of course," Liana smiled. "I'm sure King Edmund can manage without any help now, Susan, you can let him go."

Susan let go of her brother's sleeve, which she had been holding rather tightly. Edmund's face was impassive. Liana shrugged it off and turned to leave again, but once more she was stopped.

"Are you going far?" Edmund's voice was measured. Liana hadn't heard the stiff, formal tone in a long time; it caught her off guard.

She managed to answer coherently. "Oh, well, no, just to the Houses."

"I'll walk with you," without waiting for her consent, he took her arm and almost pulled her out of the room. Liana turned back and saw Susan's frightened expression before the door closed and she was forced to jog to keep up with Edmund.

"You're going the wrong way," she said finally when they were out of the palace. "The Houses are towards the south."

"I'm aware," his tone was crisp.

"Where are we going?"

He didn't answer. Liana frowned and tugged at his arm, forcing him to stop. He kept his eyes fixed onto a point above her right shoulder. Liana tapped her foot impatiently against the ground, waiting for him to look at her. He didn't.

"Edmund?" he didn't respond. Liana hesitated for a second before resting her palm against his cheek, forcing his eyes to meet hers. They were dark and unreadable. "Did something happen?"

"Why would you say that?" his tone was dark, but otherwise flat.

Liana frowned. "You're acting odd. Tell me what's wrong."

His lips twitched into a smile, but Liana didn't smile back. His expression was bitter. "Why don't you tell me first?"

"What do you mean?"

Edmund raised a hand and gently brushed a single finger against her temple. Liana winced. She had pulled her hair back earlier in the evening, and the bruise was clearly visible. Of course he had seen it.

"Who did that to you?" his voice was quiet. Liana dropped her hand from his face, only to have his fingers clasp around it, as if to stop her from running away. He raised an eyebrow at her expression. "You look terrified."

Liana avoided his eyes. "I'm not scared of you."

"I should hope not. But you didn't answer my question. Who gave you that mark?"

Liana's first instinct was to lie. "I fell down at home last week. I hit my head against the table."

"Funny. Susan said you tripped from the stairs yesterday."

She shut her eyes. "Let it go, Edmund. I'm fine."

"How long have you been hiding this from me?"

"I wasn't hiding anything from you, I just-"

He cut her off abruptly. "Don't lie to me, Liana, I know Rinas did this to you."

Liana bit her lip, repressing a sigh. "You don't understand."

"Help me to understand."

"I can't. You'll kill him."

His expression changed. His hand, instead of grasping hers roughly, now gently intertwined with hers, linking their fingers together. "Not if you don't want me to."

Liana gaped at him for a second before tugging her hand out of his and crossing her arms over her chest. "I want you to tell me why you're doing this."

"Doing what?" his eyes clouded with confusion. Liana ignored the slight element of hurt she saw, no doubt related to the sudden empty feeling in her hand.

She looked away. "I don't know why you're so concerned about me, Edmund. I can look after myself."

"I know you can. I just wish you'd let me help you," he sounded frustrated. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. Liana resisted the urge to step back; she didn't want him to think she was frightened of him. "I keep offering you friendship, Liana, and you keep pushing me away. I'm not one of your suitors; I'm not trying to buy you with comforts. I care about you. You just don't let me show it."

Liana's heart softened. She couldn't be angry at him or his mixed signals; he was obviously worried and upset. Sighing, she rested her hand against his chest. "I don't need help," she told him. "If I did, I'd ask."

Edmund stared at her, his eyes still dark. His hand found hers again, and Liana didn't stop him. She tilted her head up and gave him a small smile. He returned it, but suddenly his face was closer than she was used to. She knew she should stop him when his arm encircled her waist, but a voice in the back of her head told her that once wouldn't hurt; besides, she honestly didn't care. She was tired and he was angry; tonight, they could forget that there was no way their lives could intersect more than this. So she closed her eyes and leaned her face against his hand when it touched her temple again. His warm breath brushed against her cheek for a second, and then his lips found hers.

Liana would be lying if she said she had never kissed a man before that night; she had. She had been a frivolous teenage girl in Archenland, with a decent fortune and a pretty face, and she had taken advantage of it. Stolen kisses and false promises had excited her, but they were nothing compared to what she felt now. Edmund hadn't said a word, but his embrace was so comforting, so protective, that she felt her knees go weak. Her hands stayed against his chest, and through his shirt she could feel his heart race; she was sure hers wasn't much better. There was something oddly perfect in the way he kissed her, as if she was a fragile being that would shatter if he rushed through it. Despite the tenderness, her blood was rushing through her veins and her hands were shaking; she had never felt more alive.

She didn't want it to end, but it did. He pulled back, his lips just slightly brushing hers. He was breathing heavily. Liana gave her mind a few seconds to clear and finally opened her eyes. Edmund was smiling crookedly at her.

"I'd apologize, but we both know it'd be a lie," he rested his forehead against hers. "I knew you'd give in to my charm."

Liana's lips twitched, even as her cheeks reddened. "I thought it wasn't flirting until you kissed me and walked away?"

Edmund chuckled. "I don't think I can walk away from you anymore."

Her heart fluttered. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Liana."

"Edmund-"

"We don't have to talk about it tonight, if you don't want to," he removed his hand from her face and instead entwined their fingers together once again. "I didn't realize how badly I wanted to kiss you until just now."

Liana bit her lip to avoid smiling. Her gaze turned to the floor. Edmund gently coaxed her face up with their linked hands, forcing her to look into his eyes. She felt herself blush again. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?" he grinned. "Like you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen?"

She rolled her eyes. "Charming, Edmund. How many other women have you said that to?"

"Just one," he shrugged. Liana raised an eyebrow. Edmund winked. "Of course, it helps my case that she's in my arms right now and I'm about to kiss her again."

She laughed at that. "We're in the middle of the courtyard, Edmund."

"I don't care," as if to prove his point, he gave her a chaste kiss.

Liana shook her head smilingly and pressed her finger against his lips. "You need to stop, and I need to go. I have to work."

"That is a bad idea."

"Why?"

"Because I know you, Liana," Edmund easily captured both her hands in one of his own. His other arm remained around her waist. "If I let you go now, you'll overthink this whole situation to such an extent that I won't see you for weeks."

Liana pursed her lips. "If I agree to see you again tomorrow, will you let me go?"

Edmund pretended to consider. The twinkle in his eyes gave it away and Liana huffed. He grinned and kissed her cheek. "Tomorrow," he made it sound like a promise.

Liana smiled and tugged her hands out of his, turning to walk away. She stopped halfway and turned to look back at him, over her shoulder. "I'll be helping Susan decorate the hall tomorrow after breakfast. Try to behave yourself in front of her."

Edmund grinned devilishly. "I make no promises."

"I mean it, Edmund," Liana rolled her eyes as she folded her arms across her chest. "You'll get me into trouble."

"I would never," he closed the distance between them easily and raised a hand, caressing her cheek. "Do you want me to walk you to the Houses?"

Liana rolled her eyes and caught his hand, slipping her fingers into the spaces between his own. "Somehow, I doubt we'd make it there before sunrise."

Edmund laughed and squeezed her hand as they began to walk. "Before sunrise, I promise."

Liana shook her head, but she couldn't keep the smile off her face. "If you insist."

"I do," he suddenly stopped and grasped her chin, tilting her head up for another kiss. "I do insist."