Author's Note: Hi again! I'm so happy you're back. Prepare yourself for a little angst, a little fluff and a lot of chaos when Lili enters the chat. I hope this chapter makes you feel all the feels!

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Hak avoided the princess at breakfast, refusing to meet her eyes even when he could feel her staring. She was too easy to read, and he wasn't ready to see what expression might be written on her face.

I'm a damn fool. The words repeated over and over in his mind. No matter what he did, he couldn't seem to escape them.

He went hunting with Mundok, Tae-u and Hyeong-dae, but their happy chatter somehow grated on him. Mundok kept shooting him knowing looks, grinning lecherously and making lewd jokes that went over the boys' heads.

So he left to help in the kitchens instead, although he spent more time eating the food than preparing it. Everyone was so happy to have him around, peppering him with questions about his adventures and battles. But he couldn't enjoy it, because every time he deflected the topic off himself, they started gossiping about the princess instead.

The city of Fuuga was on fire with love for their lost princess, the one literally everyone knew they'd protected all those months ago. And he thought he'd been so subtle. No one could quit talking about how wonderful she was, how sweet and helpful, and how intriguing her dragon warriors were. None of that bothered him really, since it was all true. He knew how amazing the princess was all too well.

But inevitably the topic always, always turned to her engagement. To King Suwon. How lovely. How romantic. How fitting.

He couldn't argue. What could he say? No, she's in love with me. Would anyone believe him? Growing up, even Hak had always thought she'd marry Suwon. She'd hoped for it for years. That dream was shattered now, true. But how could he have ever thought he'd compare?

I'm a damn fool.

It was a relief when he finally found the dragons, holed up in their room and hiding for a few hours of peace before dinner. They deserved it — they'd been getting even more attention than the princess. He shut himself in and took a heavy seat in the middle of them all, waving off Gija's tea even as he accepted the cup of soju Jaeha passed him.

"Hak. You seem troubled, friend." Jaeha's teasing voice held a surprising note of actual concern.

Hak snorted, staring deep into his cup. "I'm fine now. It's just my nosy family. They're exhausting."

He could feel the weight of all their eyes on him from around the table, though he tried to ignore it. Even Ao hopped off Sinha's shoulder to come and investigate him. The squirrel held up an acorn for Hak to take, a surprisingly sad look on her sweet little face.

I look that pathetic, huh, Ao? Hak sighed, accepting the acorn and patting her on the head.

"Nosy, hm?" Jaeha poked him. "How so?"

"Zeno knows!" The yellow dragon grinned. "The Elder wants the Fellow to make things official and marry his Lady!"

Hak nearly fell over in surprise. "How could you possibly know that?" Hak stared at Zeno. So much for taking a break from all that. "Were you eavesdropping?"

"Just a hunch. The Elder was yelling about weddings and babies this morning." He shrugged, grin stretching wider. "Now Zeno knows for sure."

"Oh?" Jaeha's eyebrows shot up. "No wonder you seemed so flustered today. That's a great idea," he added, turning to Hak. His eyes were far too knowing. "Are you going to?"

"Well I think he should." Gija took a sip of his tea, as if they were merely discussing the weather. "It would be the proper thing to do, after all."

Hak rolled his eyes. "You would care about propriety, White Snake."

"Yes, in fact." Gija shrugged, unruffled. "If you don't get married, I'll be forced to become your chaperone. The way you've been looking at her these days is wholly inappropriate."

"I agree." Jaeha winked at Hak. "Your lustful gaze has intensified lately, ever since your miraculous return. Did something happen between you two—?"

"Our chaperone?" Hak whined, cutting Jaeha off with a glare. "Are you kidding me? You guys never leave us alone as it is."

Gija raised a brow. "Did you not just 'go hunting' with her two nights ago?"

"We were actually hunting." Hak scoffed. "She bagged a bear."

"Oh?" Gija smirked. "I think you're the bear she bagged."

Jaeha laughed. "You're taking this awfully well, Gija. Shouldn't you be crying at the thought of dear Yona's wedding?"

"I can't deny it stings," he sighed, "but I've prepared myself for the inevitable. Besides, I've got you, haven't I?"

"Is that any consolation?" Jaeha raised an eyebrow, considering him.

The faintest of blushes crept across Gija's cheeks, as if he hadn't quite meant to say that.

Hak could only shake his head. The two of them were the insufferable ones lately, not him.

"I'm just saying it's our duty as dragons to protect the princess." Gija was careful not to meet Jaeha's eyes, but he did shoot Hak another pointed glance. "Even if that means protecting her virtue."

"Protecting the princess is my duty too, alright?" Hak grumbled, refilling his cup. "Don't worry about her virtue."

"We wouldn't have to, if you married her," Gija sang, smirking at him.

"It's just a title," Hak insisted. "It wouldn't really change anything."

"Oho, really?" Jaeha chuckled. "But you'd get to lay beside beautiful Yona every night."

Hak refused to rise to the bait. "I've slept beside her plenty of times."

"Not like man and wife." Jaeha's eyes took on a devilish glint. "Do you know what to do with a woman in the bedroom, Hak?"

Hak shoved Jaeha's shoulder, ignoring the blush creeping up his neck. "Cut it out, Droopy Eyes. You'll scar poor Sinha."

Jaeha hummed, still grinning at him. "I'll explain love-making to you, if you need. Your innocence is nothing to be ashamed of."

The thought of death was preferable. "There's no need, seriously."

Gija turned on him, his eyes suddenly sharp.

"You haven't. With her highness. Right, Hak?" His tone was laced with suspicion. He looked Hak up and down. Then he gasped. "You scoundrel! I knew we shouldn't have left you two alone together. You really are a bear!"

Hak's face was on fire now. "Stop, both of you. Of course not! And you're terrifying Sinha."

"I'm fine." Sinha murmured, too quiet for the others to hear.

"I'm sure our pure, sweet Hak has never dared to even imagine such a thing." Jaeha smirked. "Even in his wildest fantasies, he denies himself."

Hak twitched. Unbidden, the image of the princess pinned beneath him sprang to mind. The memory of their reunion after the flood would be etched behind his eyes forever, for better or worse.

"You are imagining it right now, aren't you?" Gija cried. "Stop it!"

Hak glowered. "You're the one who needs to stop imagining it!"

"Before Gija loses his mind in the gutter, let's consider there are other, practical benefits to a marriage," Jaeha mused. "It would help Yona politically."

"What are you even — actually, no. I don't care about politics." Hak downed his drink in one go. While he was glad to get off the subject of the princess's virtue, this was getting ridiculous.

"I'm just saying." Jaeha swirled his cup thoughtfully. "As long as dear Yona is unwed, there's a chance King Suwon could pressure her into a political marriage. We came too close for comfort at the palace, and people still think they're engaged."

Hak ground his teeth. He didn't need the reminder. "The king had his chance to marry the princess. Instead he tried to kill her, remember?"

"I'm aware." Jaeha's normally cheerful face darkened. "But now the people love her. Look how they've treated her since we came to the Wind Tribe, and how they behaved at the Fire Tribe. They'd die for her, and that's dangerous. Whatever the king and his ratty advisor said, they'll take that power if they can."

"Not to mention, they'd want to stop the Lady from gaining even more power," Zeno chimed in.

They all paused, watching the yellow dragon in thought.

"What do you mean, Zeno?" Gija wondered.

"Think. If the Lady marries our Fellow, many people will be happy. Many more than us dragons." His expression took on a rare serious tone. "Our Fellow has a reputation. He's earned the respect of Fire Tribe soldiers, Earth Tribe soldiers, and Sky Tribe soldiers now too. The Wind Tribe already defied the king once for him." He tilted his head. "If he stands by our Lady, some people will want him to be king. They'll want her to be queen even more."

"Zeno's right," Gija mused. "Married to you, her highness is even more of a threat to the crown. The people love you almost as much as her."

"Is that a compliment, White Snake?"

"Never. Just an observation."

"Aw, long live King Hak!" Jaeha grinned. "Don't worry and don't let it stop you," he added, knowingly. "Even if you become a fat, lazy king, we'll protect you."

"Me, king?" Hak frowned. Mundok had implied the same, but the idea was even more outrageous coming from them. "That's not going to happen."

Zeno shrugged, his demeanor brightening again. "That ratty advisor still wants the Dark Dragon and the Happy Hungry Bunch for himself, either way! No denying that."

Keishuk had even offered him a promotion, after all. Hak sighed. Suwon had his chance to have me, too.

"Even if Suwon keeps his promises, there are plenty of other noblemen and warlords who would try the same thing." Jaeha clapped Hak on the shoulder. "You should act now before someone else can steal her away."

"I'd like to see them try." Hak scoffed, but he knew the green dragon wasn't wrong. Mundok had said much the same thing, and that bastard Kuelbo had already tried.

The thing was, being married wouldn't have saved her then. Kuelbo had put the princess in shackles and forced her to sleep in his bed. She didn't need a marriage to protect her — she'd gotten out of that herself. She barely needed Hak or his glaive to protect her, these days. She was getting pretty capable of doing it on her own, though that thought didn't comfort him either.

"Hak would never marry Yona for politics or – or virtue." Sinha's quiet voice cut into his thoughts, surprising them all. He blinked, seeming a little surprised himself. "But Hak. You should marry Yona." His yellow eyes were round and earnest when they met Hak's.

"Why do you think so, Sinha?" Hak kept his own voice hushed to match. He never took for granted the trust the blue dragon put in all of them, or the importance of his rare words.

"Because it would make Yona happy." Sinha's mouth curved up into a ghost of a smile. "And it would make you happy."

"Here, here!" Zeno cheered. He threw an arm around Hak's shoulders. "Get married! Zeno will officiate. I was a priest, remember? We'll make your love official."

"Oh, we're sorry Sinha!" Jaeha wrapped him into a one-sided hug. "We were only teasing Hak. Yes, they love each other. That's why they should be married."

"Yes Sinha, you're right. We want Yona and Hak to be happy, of course!" Gija hugged him from the other side, his words emphatic. "We'll get them married and they'll be together forever. Don't you worry."

Hak stared around at their smiling faces and laughter, his stomach twisting in knots. "Well," he sighed. "I'm not so sure her highness likes the idea."

They all stopped short, blinking at him.

"Did you ask her?" Jaeha asked, breaking the silence.

"I asked her what she thought of it, as a possibility." Hak frowned. "Just, one day. Not anytime soon or anything."

Gija pursed his lips. "And what did she say?"

"She seemed…surprised." Hak let his shoulders sag, deflated. "I shouldn't have even asked. I wouldn't have," he added. "But."

"But what?" Jaeha prodded, gently.

Hak stared at his hands. "Mundok told me that, before he died, King Il hoped to…" He swallowed. He couldn't even form the thought. "He said that King Il hoped I would… He hoped the princess and I would…"

"King Il wanted you to marry Princess Yona?" Jaeha finished for him.

Hak nodded, his tongue too large in his mouth. "That's why he made me her bodyguard."

Gija gasped. "You have her father's blessing from the great beyond!" He jumped to his feet, clenching his dragon fist in resolve. "How dare you wait another moment! We'll start the preparations today."

"Sit down, White Snake." Hak grabbed the other man's jacket, forcing him back to his seat. "It doesn't matter what I think. It's what her highness wants. And I don't think she's ready for that."

"What did she actually say, Hak?" Jaeha eyed him, knowingly. "Tell us slowly."

"Not much," Hak admitted. "You all came and interrupted us. She said we'd talk later."

"Perhaps she was overwhelmed," Jaeha suggested. "Yona lovesyou. You should talk again when you can. And explain how you feel."

Hak rubbed a hand over his face, frustrated. "She knows how I feel."

Jaeha raised a brow. "Somehow I doubt that."

"Stop pouting, and listen to your big brothers," Gija agreed.

"Speaking of brothers."

They all turned to the door, surprised to see Tae-u and Hyeong-dae hovering.

Hak frowned. "How long have you two been listening?"

"We just got here." Tae-u crossed his arms. "Why, what're you talking about?"

"The Fellow and the La — mmph," Zeno started, before Hak covered his mouth with a hand.

"Nothing." Hak kept his voice carefully light. "What do you want?"

Tae-u eyed them, interest piqued. But then he shrugged. "You promised Tae-yeon you'd take a bath with him, remember? Come on, we're going now before dinner."

"Sounds good." Hak stood, grateful for any excuse to escape his prying big brothers. He knew they cared for him, but the meddling was worse than Mundok's.

Still, when he turned to wave goodbye to them, he couldn't help but smile, just a little. They were his family, after all. He'd get them back for this and better.

"We'll revisit this conversation later, Hak!" Gija shouted as he left the room.

"Oh I know, don't worry." He sighed, but a weight on his chest had lifted, at least a little. It wasn't so bad to have someone look out for him, was it?

Yona spent the day in a haze. She could feel herself bumbling around from chore to chore, bumping into people, redoing work that had already been done. She knew she was inconveniencing everyone, but she simply couldn't snap herself out of it. Not with Hak's voice still echoing in her ears.

What would you think about the idea of marrying me?

His eyes were so serious when he asked her, like twin promises ringed with blue. He was normally so quiet and guarded about his feelings for her, she couldn't help that he'd taken her by surprise.

Now he wouldn't even look her in the eye. She just wanted to smile at him at breakfast, to pass him a piece of fruit and make it all okay again like when they were kids.

Someday, I mean. Whenever you're ready, I thought maybe…

Hak had been so sincere, and she'd accused him of joking. Yona cringed at the thought. In her defense, he had joked about marriage plenty of times. About how un-marry-able she was, usually. And for someone who could barely manage to tell her he missed her after all their weeks apart, to come at her with that…

She took a deep breath. Well, she was no better, was she? Look how she'd mishandled the whole thing.

Hak. I wish you could just know how I feel.

But if he could, he wouldn't have even had to ask. He probably would've been overwhelmed by how much she always wanted to be near him.

"Excuse me." A woman's kind voice came from behind her. "I'm sorry, but that banner you're hanging needs to be quite a bit higher."

Yona jumped off her footstool, looking glumly up at her work. There was no way she could reach where it clearly belonged, now that the woman had pointed it out.

"I'm too short. Someone will have to re-do it, I'm sorry." She bowed to the woman in apology.

"Oh, Princess Yona!" The woman rushed to bow back. "Allow me to apologize. I didn't realize it was you." She was an older woman, round in the middle and seemed friendly. Everyone in the Wind Tribe was so very friendly and kind to her.

"No need!" Yona smiled, waving her off. "Please. Is there something else I could help with?"

"No, no," the woman insisted. Her eyes crinkled when she smiled. "There's not much left to do. You should rest before dinner."

"If you're sure." Yona could think of at least three other chores she could help with, but would she really be helping anyway?

The woman leaned in then, grinning conspiratorially. "By the way, congratulations on your engagement." She winked, her cheeks dimpling with happiness.

"Oh?" Yona blushed, her thoughts racing back to Hak and his questions. But how could anyone know about that yet?

"You must be so excited to marry King Suwon," the woman continued, oblivious to the way Yona's heart dropped. "He's already done so much for this country."

"Oh." Yona's voice turned dark. "No. No, no, no." She shook her head, taking a step back. "I am not engaged to Suwon."

The woman blinked, her face falling. "I'm sorry, your highness," she said, her voice hushed. "I didn't mean to offend."

Yona schooled her expression, trying to remember that this woman wasn't to blame for Keishuk's schemes. "Tell anyone who mentions it that it's just a rumor," she said, as evenly as she could muster. "You heard it from my own mouth. And please don't spread it."

"Of course." The woman bowed as she backed away. "Apologies again, your highness."

A small hand grabbed hers, then, and Yona turned to find Lili standing beside her.

"Yona, what's wrong?" Lili's face was drawn, her eyes concerned. "You knew about that rumor. It didn't bother you before."

Yona sighed, already regretting how she'd snapped at that sweet woman. "Well, it bothers me now," she said. "I don't want anyone thinking that anymore."

Lili squeezed her hand. "What's changed?"

Yona took a deep breath. As her best friend, Lili deserved the truth. "Today Hak asked me what I thought about getting married to him," she explained. "And I hate anyone thinking there's someone else I love."

Lili gasped. "Hak asked you to marry him?" Her eyes widened as a smile bloomed across her face. "Yona, that's wonderful! Right?" She paused, as Yona frowned. "Isn't it?"

"I'm not sure if he was really asking?" Yona bit her lip. If he'd really meant to ask, then she'd messed up even worse than she thought. "He wondered what I thought about the idea."

"And well?" Lili pressed. "Were you excited?"

"I felt relieved," Yona admitted. She sat down on her footstool, placing her chin in her hands. "When he said he wanted to talk, I thought maybe he'd decided to stay in the Wind Tribe." She huffed out a breath. After how she'd reacted, maybe now he really would. "Even though he's told me he'll stay with me," a hundred times, she reminded herself, "I always try to remember it's his choice. I guess part of me still thinks he might change his mind."

"Yona, I don't think you understand." Lili crouched beside her. She peeled Yona's hands off her face, taking them in hers. "If Hak wants to marry you, that's it. He will never change his mind. It's like the ultimate promise he'll never leave you."

Yona swallowed back a lump of hope caught in her throat. Whatever Hak said, it was hard to believe he could really mean that. Did he really want that? With her?

"Well I didn't know that when he sat me down, looking that serious! He almost gave me a heart attack." She kept her eyes glued to the ground. "Besides, I'm still not sure he was asking. It's like he just wanted to know what I thought."

"Honestly." Lili patted her hand, shaking her head in exasperation. "He wouldn't bring it up if he didn't want it! What did you say to him, anyway?" She added. "He's seemed weird all day."

"I know. He's avoiding me." Yona's stomach twisted at the thought. "I didn't say anything. We had to come to breakfast before we could finish talking."

Lili clapped her hands to her mouth, her face turning red. "I interrupted that?"

"It's okay!" Yona laughed at the appalled look on her face, and some of the tension released from her shoulders. "I don't know what I would've said, I was so surprised. But I know he's hurt." Her stomach gave another twist. "I need to apologize."

"Don't apologize like you're rejecting him!" Lili looked even more appalled. "Unless…" She furrowed her brow. "Are you going to say no?"

"No!" Yona burst. She felt her cheeks burning all the way to her ears, and lowered her voice. "I would say yes." She dropped Lili's eyes, playing with her hands. "I mean, I think I would. If he asked me for real."

"You're impossible." Lili pouted. "Do you want to marry him or not?"

Despite what Hak had said, Yona still hadn't allowed herself to really consider it. Every time she tried, her mind conjured up all the hundred reasons he must not have meant it at all.

"It's overwhelming," she admitted. "I mean, what if he thinks it's just his duty because we —"

She cut off, remembering all too vividly that night in the supply shed, after she'd almost lost him in the flood. She'd never forget his dark, hungry eyes, or the way he'd pinned her beneath him, his body pressed against hers. She'd brushed it off at the time, but her thoughts had returned to those memories more and more lately.

It bothered her that she couldn't stop thinking about it. How if, it had been a little brighter, a little more comfortable, a lot less cold and wet…if things hadn't escalated quite so fast…maybe she wouldn't have told him to stop. How maybe she wanted him to try it again.

"You what?" Lili asked, peering at her with suspicious eyes.

If anyone had caught them, they'd have been married on the spot.

"Never mind," Yona blushed, pushing those thoughts firmly aside. "Am I really ready to be a wife?" She asked instead. "Hak's wife? After all, I can't cook or clean. I'm not even a good dancer."

"You are a great dancer, Yona. Don't be ridiculous," Lili laughed. "And Hak doesn't care about any of that! It's not like you're settling down to live on a farm. You're a princess, he knows what he's getting into."

"Maybe, but…" Yona swallowed. She had to say this, to Lili at least. "I don't even know what happens in a marriage bed." Her cheeks burned. "What if I can't be the kind of wife he wants?" She already knew Hak didn't think of her as sexy. He'd said that plenty of times.

"Oh my goodness, you don't have to worry about that." Lili took Yona's hand again, squeezing it tight. "Hak adores you. I'm sure you're already everything he wants. Especially if he's ready to marry you."

"I hope so," Yona said, doubtful. "I just don't think I even know what I'd be getting into."

"Hmm." Lili puffed out her cheeks. "I don't know anything about what happens in a marriage bed, either, if that's what worries you," she admitted. "But I know who we can ask."

Yona had to hand it to Lili. Once she decided on something, she made it happen — and fast.

"Ayura. Tetra," she called, slamming open the door to her bedroom. "Tell us what happens in the marriage bed."

Ayura sat up from her own bed, dropping a book to the side. "Excuse me?"

"We need your help." Lili ignored their surprised faces. She stomped a foot, doubling down. "This is important!"

"You're acting childish," Ayura huffed, snatching her book back up. "You don't need to know about that."

"But —"

"Oh sure, I can tell you." Tetra smiled at them, totally unconcerned. "Come in and sit down."

"Tetra!" Ayura gaped.

"What?" Tetra shrugged. "They don't have mothers to ask. Would you rather they went to Jaeha?"

Lili brightened. "Good idea. Yona, let's go ask Jaeha."

Ayura sprang up and skidded around them, blocking the door with a scowl. "Do not ask Jaeha."

"Then tell us!" Lili crossed her arms, matching Ayura's scowl.

Tetra put a finger to her lips, thoughtful. "Hmm, let's see. How do I say this."

Ayura groaned, leaning back on the door to block it. "Make sure the door is shut first at least!"

"It's fine, Ayura. It's perfectly natural," she waved her off, unbothered. She waited until Yona and Lili were seated beside her on the floor cushions, then chose her words carefully. "Let me ask this," she said. "Do you know about men?"

"What about men?" Lili wondered.

"About…" Tetra hesitated. "What they have in their trousers?"

Yona swallowed, exchanging a glance with Lili. They both shook their heads, silent.

Tetra took a deep breath. "You see, men have hidden…"

"Daggers," Ayura cut in. She stood beside Tetra, flipping her own dagger in the air. "They have hidden daggers in their trousers."

"Daggers?" Yona recoiled. That didn't seem right.

"I suppose you could call them that." Tetra frowned, shooting a glance at Ayura. "Um, well, when a man loves a woman…" She paused, considering. "Well, it's not always a man and a woman, and love's not always involved, is it? Plus, you don't really have to be married, either."

Lili frowned. "You don't?"

"Don't tell them that!" Ayura slapped her hands over Lili's ears, but she waved them off.

Tetra shrugged. "I don't see the harm."

"Lady Lili will get ideas!" Ayura huffed. "And her father will kill us when she acts on them."

"He hasn't yet!" Tetra smiled, then hummed. "This is harder than I thought." She cleared her throat, settling herself. "In the case of the marriage bed. When a man loves his wife, he becomes…impassioned." She nodded, seeming satisfied. More confident, she barreled on. "And then that passion grows and grows, until he can't contain it anymore."

"Oh just come here." Ayura huffed, exasperated. "This will take all night. I'll whisper it in your ears."

Yona and Lili leaned in close, their eyes widening at Ayura's words.

"He plunges his dagger between her legs and into her womb, then spills his seed inside her."

Lili yelped. "He does what, where?" She leaned in to whisper in Yona's ear. "Yona, you can't get married!"

Yona blinked, her heart dropping to her stomach. "Hak would never," she whispered back.

In a flash Yona was back in that shed, Hak's hungry eyes seeping into her through the darkness. His body had felt so warm against hers, his touches tender, his kisses all consuming. There was no way he'd been about to attackher. Well, not like that.

"What are you two gossiping about?" Ayura narrowed her eyes, watching them.

"Nothing!" Yona put some distance between her and Lili, trying to act innocent when she felt anything but.

"Isn't it sharp though?" Lili's voice was barely a squeak. "It must hurt so much. How do women survive?"

"Some women don't." Ayura nodded, her tone serious. "Yes, they're quite dangerous."

"Ayura, you'll petrify them." Tetra laughed. She gave Ayura a chiding look, then patted Lili's hand. "She's exaggerating. Men don't have actual daggers in their trousers."

"It's a euphemism," Ayura admitted. "You should think of them that way, though. And avoid them at all costs. That's what my mother always said," she added. "Childbirth can kill a woman, there's no denying it. And even if you live, then you have a child."

"That's how babies are born?" Yona frowned. "When women are stabbed by their husbands?"

"No, no," Tetra laughed again, waving her hands between them. "It's not like that, and it shouldn't hurt, either." She tilted her head, considering. "Maybe a little, at first. But truly, it should feel nice. If it doesn't, you just have to tell him to be gentle with you."

Ayura gasped. "Stop. Giving. Them. Ideas!"

"They have every right to tell a man how to treat them in the bedroom."

"They don't need to worry about it!"

"But I am worried," Lili insisted. "If it's as big as a dagger, how could it not hurt?"

"It's more like…a finger." Tetra brightened, pleased with this description. "Like a big finger that hangs from a man's waist."

Ayura rolled her eyes. "Some of them aren't much bigger than a finger. But some of them are the size of your forearm. It varies."

Yona shrank back, her voice going small. "My arm?"

Tetra's chuckle was more sheepish than amused. "And how would you know, Ayura?"

"I grew up with eight brothers. Eight." Ayura groaned. "Trust me, I've seen plenty of daggers."

"It's hard to explain without seeing a naked man for yourself," Teta admitted. "But please don't worry. It's really not like Ayura is making it out to be. It can be beautiful and wonderful and — "

"That's a great idea." Lili stood. "We should see a naked man for ourselves."

"What?" Tetra and Ayura both stopped short, staring at her.

"This was way less help than I thought." She grabbed Yona's wrist, lifting her to her feet. "Let's go see for ourselves."

Tetra smiled, though it looked more like a grimace. "How do you propose to do that, Lady Lili?"

"There's a fence between the men's and women's outdoor baths. I noticed a small hole earlier." Lili shrugged. "We'll just take a peek."

Yona bit her lip. "That doesn't sound right…"

"It's just educational, we're not perverts." Lili reassured her, tugging at her hand. "Besides, we have to know if men are as terrifying as Ayura made them sound."

"See what you've done?" Tetra sighed. "Once Lady Lili decides on something, there's no stopping her."

"It's better if they're terrified!" Ayura argued. "Then they won't get into trouble."

Tetra rolled her eyes. "I would call this trouble…"

"A baby is trouble." Ayura huffed. "This is a normal evening with Lady Lili."

"You aren't helping. Let's go, Yona!" Lili dragged Yona past Ayura and out into the hall, her steps determined.

"Maybe we should have let them ask Jaeha," Tetra whispered, as they followed close behind.

"Ack!" Ayura clicked her tongue. "He'd have demonstrated visually."

"At least he'd have been a willing participant."

"Even worse!" Ayura cried.

"I am curious how he would have described it."

"Stop even suggesting it!"