The blue-haired faerie gapes, dropping to her knees in a low bow, still peering up at him in awe. "Y-you have...you have the same eyes as me", she says quietly, timidly.
Tarquin finally blinks, clearing his throat, as if overcoming a mental fog.
"M-my Lords", she murmurs, lowing her head finally.
"I do", Tarquin blurts out.
Tamlin looks between them confused for a moment before his eyes widen. "You may rise, Sprite. What is your name?"
"D-Dessie...uhh, Iridessia." She stands shakily and uses her water magic to wash away the dirt now on her legs.
Tarquin continues. "I mean...I do...have the same eyes as you."
Iridessia blushes a purplish color, due to her darker blood, as indicated by her naturally blue-tinged lips.
"My eye color is rare among my species. Most water sprites are hues of green or purple; even some pinks or silvers. Being blue-hued is rare...which is crazy considering that the color most equate to water as a life form is blue and-", she cuts herself off from rambling and clears her throat. "I-I'm just very blue", she stammers shyly.
Tarquin glances over himself in shades of blues and grays and silvers. "Blue is my favorite color", he states, a charming and handsome smile blooming on his face.
Tamlin raises an eyebrow and nudges Tarquin. "I have...something to attend to. I'll be back shortly."
"No mind, I can find my way up the road."
Tamlin nods curtly and winnows away.
"And...we also have the same magic, it appears."
"Oh..no no I-nothing at all as strong as yours, High Lord."
"Maybe not, but purposeful in its own right."
She nods and suppresses her urge to bow again. "I'm so sorry. For bumping you. I feel so foolish. I-I didn't mean-"
"Shh...don't fret. Plus, if you hadn't, I wouldn't have stopped, and I wouldn't have gotten to meet such a lovely female."
Iridessia peers up at him from below her long lashes, droplets of water still sticking to them. Her cheeks bloom pinkish-purple beneath her bronze skin. It's seemingly kissed by the sun itself, attracted to that aquamancy within her, a beacon to reflect from.
His lips are parted as he takes in her stunning beauty, those seemingly fragile wings sparkling bright and shimmering with all the colors in the rainbow, illuminating her.
She chews her lip softly and blinks. "It was an honor to meet you as well, High Lord."
"Tarquin", he murmurs before speaking up and suppressing a blush. "My name is Tarquin."
"I know. All the High Lords are illustrious." She giggles softly at his naivety and it's like the most beautiful tinkling of bells-the only music he craves from now on.
Without any warning, he can feel it within himself, that click. That small part of his soul snapping into place between them that expands all horizons and makes everything clear as day.
His eyes widen with realization and a wash of emotions come over him like the waves of a stormy sea. Joy, love, excitement...and then dread, thinking of his Court and his standing as a High Lord.
"Are you all right, High Lord?", she asks, looking concerned as her wings flitter quickly with anxiousness, lifting her off the ground to hover more level to his face.
Tarquin lifts his gaze to her twin blue eyes and chokes down the word. "Y-yes. I'm fine. I'm sorry...I-I should go."
"Wait", she blurts out, then blushes again. "Apologies, I mean no disrespect, High Lord."
"Tarquin. Please. Just...call me Tarquin."
"Tarquin."
His name falls from her lips, and he nearly goes to his own knees in front of her. "Iridessia", he murmurs. "I—It was a pleasure to meet you."
"You as well...Tarquin", she blushes, repeating his name. Her eyes never leave his, as if a glimmer of that new bond is felt on her side as well. "I hope we cross paths again one day."
Tarquin pushes all of his instincts down, a flush of pure sadness and desperation rushing through him like a tidal wave at the thought of not seeing her again for a long time.
"As do I. But fear not, our Courts are side by side. I may have to take up some more political roles in my alliance with Spring", he winks.
She grins prettily and nods. "It would be quite the sight to see the Spring and Summer High Lords working together in harmony. As water does with the earth."
"How are you and your family doing after the...destruction?"
"We are doing well. Most of it avoided us luckily. A little magic here and there and the water was pure again. It was rocky for a while when the High Lord was sick. The lands were sick, which means the water was too. We kept it as clean as possible, but most of us were resigned to our homes for a long time. Which was hard because water is in our very veins, we swim every day. We take care of the streams and ponds. It was so very difficult not to be able to swim for so long."
"I can imagine. I may not be a sprite, but I enjoy the seas, the lakes, and the fountains in my Court. Not having clean water around would be a travesty, I would feel disconnected."
"Exactly", she says softly, smiling. "We are proud that the High Lord has healed himself. That we are all flourishing again. Everyone is so very excited about the festival tomorrow."
"Ah yes, the reopening festival. Isn't Nynsar the next morning as well?"
"Oh yes. The High Lord has a ball tomorrow night into the early hours as the garden sprites and flora fairies finish seeding the fields with their magic so they can join us. They will pass out the last flower clippings to one and all who attend", she grins happily. "Oh, how I've missed parties, balls, Fire Night, and even Calanmai", she giggles.
Tarquin can't help the twinge of jealousy over her mentioning Calanmai; The Great Rite. Who has she been with? He'll kill them if anyone tries to touch her this year.
"Yes. It must be nice to be able to celebrate again, I know the Summer Court is thrilled to be able to function at full capacity again. At least, I am trying my best to be as good of a High Lord as my cousin Nostrus was. I never expected to be the High Lord so...it's a lot of learning and responsibility. And a lot of magic", he smiles softly.
"Is it hard to control?"
"No...well...it's heavier if that makes sense."
She nods and lowers herself to the ground again. Heads of pink, green, and purple peek out from behind the trees and he glances behind her.
"I better let you go. Your…friends seem to be worried."
"Oh they're just nosy and shy", she giggles. "Have a lovely day High Lord."
"Tarquin", he chuckles.
"Tarquin. Right", she grins.
"See you..."
"See you", she smiles, flying back over to her friends in the river.
He watches after her for a few minutes and then sighs, heading back to the village center where he is to meet Tamlin.
.
.
.
Lucien crinkles his nose at the lingering scent of seafood in his nose and they reach the last leg of their efforts to feed the mortal villages. Many of them had cast them away from their homes, but many had been grateful, too hungry to let their eyes linger for too long at his scar. At least it distracted them from the glamors, however.
"How are you holding up?", he asks Briar.
Despite the weariness in her eyes, she is grinning from ear to ear, noting the near-empty pallets they now carry. "I'm great. I'm glad we could help, it means a lot to me. I think it would mean a lot to the Archeron sisters too...well, I hope it would."
"I think so", he affirms, his mind wandering to the first time he saw Feyre, shaking his head.
"Did you know that I went to school with Elain?"
His eyebrows shoot up. "What? Neither of you told me that before."
"Well, I was more of a wallflower back then. Elain was more popular, as you can imagine. We were classmates but...she had friends. I didn't really, I was very shy."
Lucien chuckles a bit. "Now it seems you've reversed personalities."
"I think much of it has to do with things we've been through. How we were raised. My mother was a very strong-willed woman. She raised me on her own...long story. But she helped me become more confident as I got older. I miss her so much. I always wonder what she would have thought of me now...I can't imagine. She was never as anti-faerie as everyone else. She was not someone who would judge based on the opinions of others or just because she was told to. She had to experience things or people for herself before she would place judgment. So I carried that sentiment with me through my own life."
"That's admirable."
"I agree", Cresseida smiles, still looking around curiously. "I feel so sheltered...never knowing what these lands looked like. What you all go through and suffer. I'm sorry", she says softly.
"Thanks, Cress. That means a lot to me."
"I understand now...more than I had. Why these people are so afraid—how vulnerable and how fragile they are."
Briar nods slowly and silently. "Yes...many sicknesses", she whispers. "It almost feels unfair for me to be a faerie now. Not as susceptible, stronger, faster, powerful. I didn't get to choose, and the way it happened will always haunt me. But in the end...I survived. And I'm a better version of myself now. Most times", she blushes, glancing at Lucien, remembering her nightmare the previous night. "I just need to learn now. Everything there is to learn. How to control these powers inside of me. How the Courts are run. Where the best places for food, learning, and training are. The different types of faeries. I feel like...I still don't belong to Prythian. But I certainly don't belong here anymore either. I guess I feel like an outlier still—always evolving but never really settling."
Lucien swallows the lump in his throat, the same sentiments resounding within himself. Jurian nudges her as he flanks her right side.
"You're a good kid, Briar. You have the mindset and the will to become whatever you choose to be. Look what we are doing right now. You're risking a lot handing out food to these people whom, most, if they knew what you truly were now, could have attacked you or shunned you. But you did it because you've seen firsthand the dire straits they're in. If it were not for you, I don't think this rowdy band of us would have ever been doing this. Especially not together."
"I don't like that humans and faeries are so at odds. I was reading in Tamlin's library the other day. And there was a time a long, long, time ago that we all coexisted in harmony. We were allies and friends. Some were like family. I don't know why it can't be that way again. Hybern was the problem and he's dead. I-I wish it could go back to being that way, and I don't know how it came about that humans began to teach their children to fear the Fae. I do know that there are some monstrous breeds of faerie that have no conscience and are purely predatory hunters. Much worse than the average threat, but still, there are monsters in every land. It could be likened to a lion or a wolf to a mortal."
Jurian blows out a sigh and Lucien smirks.
"Oh gods, I know that sigh. You unlocked his ol' battle story, Briar."
"Oh, fuck off", Jurian scoffs, his brown eyes crinkling in amusement.
She giggles softly and shrugs. "I like being informed, it's okay."
"I know the story but only by word of mouth. I'd love to hear it straight from the source. The legendary mortal General Jurian, fighting alongside us, never faltering", Cresseida grins, sending Jurian a half-teasing smirk.
His eyes seem stormier than they were moments ago, but he nods, his face going serious and solemn. "It's not a very happy story."
Lucien squeezes his shoulder lightly. "No, it isn't. But you are here, now. You made it, Jurian."
He nods silently, his eyes still a bit glazed as if remembering.
"I'd like to hear all about it, if you want to tell it. If it causes you distress, you don't have to though."
Jurian chuckles lightly. "Just a little, but I've told it enough times to be okay with it. It happened, it's the truth, and I lived it. It's the past now."
Jurian begins his story as the group falls silent, listening intently, aside from Lucien who has heard it at least thrice now.
.
.
.
Tamlin chuckles softly and ruffles the hair of a small child that had clung to his leg. Visiting the villages had always been a toss-up of whether his people would hate him or love him. It seems that he has done enough to redeem himself in most of their eyes, and he cannot wait for his entire Court to be bustling again when the rest return from Summer tomorrow during the festival.
Tarquin turns up a smirk at his fellow High Lord, seeming to come back into himself the last half-year.
"What?"
"Nothing. You just seem...happy."
Tamlin takes a deep breath as they continue their walk. "I'm...I don't really know what I am. I'm managing I think. There is still a lot of work to be done and another war looming so, we can't get too comfortable. Gods only knows what those queens have in store. Especially when working with Koschei."
"You are an eternal pessimist, aren't you?"
"No. I am a realist. These are things that will happen sooner or later, and everyone needs to be ready. Happiness will not truly come to visit until every threat against the seven Courts is eradicated."
"I think that anyone can find smaller joys even through the worst of times. We have to believe that or else, what is the purpose of any of it?"
"Exactly", Tamlin grumbles.
"You have your mate now. You just need to realize...what went wrong before and y'know...make adjustments."
Tamlin grunts and runs a hand through his shoulder-length blonde hair. "I'm better off alone, I think I have proven that. Who the hell would ever be able to handle me? Handle this? All these powers I possess, how the beast turns me, twists me. No...she should not be susceptible to that."
"Mates are supposed to be equals. I think she would be able to handle you, Tamlin."
Tamlin scoffs. "Tell that to my mother about my father. He—she didn't deserve to be shackled to someone so utterly horrifying. Mate bonds don't mean shit. They are a life sentence that attaches someone to you that may or may not even be a good match, nor deserve to be with someone of this much power. You have seen what these powers do to us in war. How volatile and how destructive, and how monstrous we become. I've seen you drown men on dry land. The difference is that everyone else can keep it to war. They can control it. My beast is a part of me all the time, every day, and I can do nothing to get rid of it. Not a thing. So...nobody deserves to be like how my mother was with my father by being with me."
"You may have made mistakes Tamlin, but I have heard many a tale about your father and you don't even come close to scratching the surface of being similar to him. Only in looks and power. Not in cruelty. Not in savagery. Not in hatred and torturous methods."
"Others would disagree."
"They wouldn't. Fuck, I don't even think Rhysand would go that far."
Tamlin sets his jaw and looks around, then scoffs. "You have no idea how far Rhysand would go to keep me docile and weakened."
"I don't pretend to know the depth of your sordid history. But I do know that if we are to have a harmonious continent, we all will need to work with one another from time to time. You and Rhysand have to outer Courts. They are pertinent to our safety. You will need to speak sometimes. Feyre would most likely be there too. And there has to be some solution where you could all talk politics without trying to rip one another's throats out."
"Ahh Tarquin, how young and hopeful you are. I envy you."
Tarquin shrugs. "That may be, but I am not naïve just because I am young."
"Maybe not, but you did forgive them for stealing from you. All I'm saying is that they are daemati. There is no doubt she was in your mind, and I'd bet you didn't even notice. These are the things you need to train for. These are the things you need to know and feel the signs of. Rhysand would do anything he wants to get anything he wants. Feyre does whatever he wants. You need to be careful of them. I don't say that just because I hate Rhys. I'm saying it because I know Rhys. And I know Feyre. Look what she did to my Court because she was upset at me. That was a reaction Rhysand would have had, and did have when choosing to work for Amarantha for his people only. They are now one and the same in my eyes. They care about no one aside from themselves and their Court, which is why when the Night Court is included in "the seven", or their Court is at the forefront of an attack, things seem to be more urgent to them. Haven't you noticed? You can be polite, you can be politically allied. But never turn your back or open your mind to them. You will find a dagger in your spine or a tendril overcoming your brain."
Tarquin swallows and nods slowly. "I had wondered why I found her so attractive immediately. I usually prefer getting to know someone before feeling that way. But...it makes sense now. She is attractive just...usually not my type", he says sheepishly.
Tamlin flicks his gaze to Tarquin and rolls his eyes.
"Practice solidifying those shields in your mind. Make them stronger, don't slack off on them because you think someone is trustworthy. Most friends will quickly turn to foe if given a better opportunity. I've seen it and lived it too many times to put stock in almost anyone. You always have to stay vigilant. I learned my lesson, finally."
"I will practice my shields. I hope I can be as good a High Lord as my cousin", he sighs. "He always knew what to do, how to act, how to be with people."
Tamlin scoffs. "I barely know those things and I've been around a lot longer than you have. You'll get there. You're doing well already."
"Thank you."
"You are welcome."
.
.
.
Jurian, Lucien, and Cresseida gasp softly as Briar finishes her own story about her friend Lilly and Lilly's son that is here in the mortal realm. She turns to Jurian, her eyes pleading.
"She made me promise back in Hybern that if by some miracle I survived and she didn't that I would make sure Caedin is safe. I haven't been back here since being turned. He would be like...almost four now. I worry about him. He's half-fae. I need your help to find him."
He sighs and bites his lip, seeming to think. "Most likely he is in the orphanage. I wouldn't know what he looks like though."
"He'd be blonde. Uhm...last I remembered he had very green eyes like whoever his father was. It was the most faerie thing about him. Lilly was worried that they would be hard to conceal. Do you think his ears would be pointed?"
"My ex...Miryam was a half-fae too, as I told you. She didn't have pointed ears. But I suppose if their fae half was more prominent, he could. I've seen halfs that look human and halfs that look fae so...you're right. We should make sure he is safe."
"Well, now that we have run out of food to give...maybe we could take a trip there?" She glances back at Lucien and Cresseida. "You two can go back, I don't want to waste your time. I'll be okay with Jurian."
"No. I promised Tamlin that I would be here with you. I can't", Lucien replies. "He'd slice me into ribbons."
Cresseida shrugs. "I'm down to see some cute kiddos."
Briar takes a deep breath and nods. "Do you think they will let me take him back?"
"What?", Lucien splutters.
"Caedin. My non-blood nephew. He is my responsibility. I promised Lilly. I-I keep to my promises. He doesn't have any other family; Lilly did not want her parents involved because they...well, they have the fae like most of the mortals here. They wouldn't accept him."
"Bring him back? To Spring? Right now?"
"I know that I sorta...threw this at you, and I know I didn't tell Tamlin. But I believe that we can find him a good home in Prythian. In the Spring Court where his father was from. And I would visit him often. Make sure he knew about his mom."
"And if he looks mortal now?"
"Then...maybe Miryam and Drakon could find him a home in Cretea. You just told me that they have lots of half-fae thriving there. I would still visit as often as possible and he would not have to grow up hating faeries like they would teach him here. Lilly would not want him to hate half of himself, nor the father he came from. She adored that male with her entire heart. She loved him."
Lucien pinches the bridge of his nose but peers at her. "Alright well let's first see if we can locate him, and then assess what we think is best. We can go from there, okay?"
Briar nods and rushes ahead, knowing the familiar path towards the village square, where the orphanage is. Jurian tosses a look to Lucien and he shakes his head. Cresseida crosses her arms. "You males are impossible. Can't you see that she is doing a good thing for a lonely child? One she loves and cares deeply for? This is not about you or about the inconvenience of housing a child for a short time. This is about making sure that baby is safe and will grow up the right way. I should think that both of you would want that seeing how divided this world still is." She huffs and glares at them, strolling up beside Briar and linking arms with her.
"She's right", Jurian admits.
"Yes. But Cauldron boil me...can you imagine Tamlin's reaction if she comes back with a child."
At that, Jurian barks out a laugh and Lucien scoffs, joining in after a moment.
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.
.
"Briar!", an old woman's voice rings out through the small lobby of the orphanage.
Briar cringes slightly, hoping that her mentor had not still worked there from when she had been studying to be a social worker.
"Mrs. Johnson", she greets with a smile, praying Tamlin's glamor is good enough to fool her.
"Oh, we have so missed you around here the last few years. Where have you been?"
"Oh I uhh...I moved to the continent. Bigger and better opportunities and such, you know?", she says casually, smiling awkwardly. "I am sorry that I left without any notice. It was quite a last minute. I had always wished I said my goodbyes."
"It's alright, darling girl. What's important is that you came back for a visit. Are these your friends?", she asks, motioning to Lucien, Cresseida, and Jurian standing by the door.
"Yes, they are. They're here for moral support. I have a very important question for you. My very best friend Lilly Watkins. She gave her son up when she was in dire straits and had planned to come back for him when she was on her feet again. She was...she was very ill and alone, aside for me. And you know that I had my mother to take care of too, so it was a very hard time all around."
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart."
Briar nods and swallows thickly. "Yes, well...Lilly uhh...she didn't make it either. But I had made her a promise that I would come back for her son, and raise him myself if that happened, since his father had also died of the same sickness", she lies.
"Oh, gods", she gasps, tearing up.
"Yeah...so, now you know why I'm back. I am ready and willing to care for her son. His name is Caedin uhh...Floryn, I think it was."
Lucien's hearing has been picking up the conversation and his eyes widen, his jaw going slack. Cresseida looks at him and nudges him. "Lucien? What's wrong?"
He tears up a bit and swallows back his emotion. "Cauldron boil and fry me", he mutters. "That half- human child is Andras's. Little Andras. He...he loved a mortal girl. A human girl. And—how did I not know? How could we have not seen, not realized—"
Cresseida's eyes soften. "The young one. That solved the curse by allowing Feyre to slaughter him", she whispers.
Jurian dips his head and rubs his face. "Dear gods, that's vile."
Lucien nods weakly, blinking back his tears. "He has a son", whispers. "He has a legacy..."
"Wasn't he very young?", Jurian asks curiously. "Not that youngins can't produce children of their own, as we very well know."
Lucien blows out a sigh, "He would have been nineteen at the time. But then again, Feyre was twenty-one when she had Nyx. So...it's just...I should have known. He was my responsibility."
"Don't be ridiculous, Lucien. You may have been like a brother to him, but he was in charge of himself. Especially after coming of age. You and Tamlin and..." Cresseida trails off trying to think of his other friend's name.
"Bryn? Yes, I know, we watched out for him. But we should have noticed something."
"He didn't want you to. Did you ever think that maybe there was just one thing that he wanted to have for himself? One thing he wanted to covet separate from those he called family? Believe me, I know what that's like when I have family surrounding everything I do in Adriata. It can be draining and exhausting trying to be the perfect princess all the time. You know that personally", he says softly, blushing.
"I'm sure Andras felt pressure to be perfect because you all felt responsible for him. If he loved a mortal woman...I can see why he would want to protect that secret of his, however dangerous it may have been. He still put his people and his family and...all of us, over his chosen mate. And that says everything. He must have been so mature to have to make a decision like that. Because if I were him, I don't know that I wouldn't have just run off with my beloved to safety and left the tragedy behind. It sounds awful but love is a strong pull. It was the reason for the curse to begin with. It started with that bitch losing Clythia...and then her obsession with Tamlin which the sick freak thought was love because she wasn't capable of it."
Lucien wipes the rogue tear from his tanned face. "He knew saving us would also save these lands, and therefore, his lover too. He made the hardest decision of his life. He laid himself bare and gave it up for everyone he loved. I hope his son knows that one day."
"He will", Jurian replies. "Because you and Tamlin will be there to tell him about his father. And Briar will be there to tell him about his mother."
"Yes", he says quietly.
Briar watches as the woman thumbs through those all-too-familiar file cabinets, and she can hardly believe it's only been a handful of years since she was working here. It seems like an entire lifetime ago.
"Ah, yes. Here he is. Caedin Floryn-Watkins. He's three and a half", she smiles. "He is just the most adorable little thing. He's on floor two. Since he has no next of kin, I have the authority to ask if you wanted to sign a legal document to become his guardian. But of course, it's up to you."
"I will, but I need to see him first. Make sure he is comfortable with me."
"Darling, the kids always adored you when you were here. I have no doubt he will take to you like a moth to a flame as well."
Briar looks over to her friends and Lucien nods in acknowledgment as she leaves the room.
She nods and wrings her hands. "He used to call me BiBi. He was so tiny then, nearly one year. I mean, I know he is still tiny now. But...yeah."
Mrs. Johnson grins as they climb the stairs then stops at a room a few doors down the hall. "He should be in this playroom right now with some other kids and a social worker or two. I'll let you have some time and I'll come back in ten minutes. Okay?"
Briar nods. "Thank you."
"Of course."
She enters the room timidly, beholding about a dozen children. Her gaze almost immediately catches on a full head of blonde curls. Her eyes water and she tries to hold back her tears as her heart lurches. That's him. Her best friend's baby boy; the boy she loves like a nephew.
Making her way over, she sits cross-legged next to him. He looks up at her and grins cutely, pearly little white baby teeth showing.
"Hi, sweetie. I'm Briar."
Something seems to click in his little mind because he crawls into her lap and cuddles her. She looks up at the ceiling to keep her tears from falling and hugs him close. "Ohh, you're a good hugger, Caedin."
"BiBi", he giggles, clinging to her.
Briar can't help the sob that escapes her as she wraps her arms around the small boy, cradling him to her chest as he lays his head on her shoulder. "Yeah buddy, it's me. It's BiBi. I love you", she chokes out.
"Wuv oo", he replies cutely, turning in her arms to grab two blocks from the floor.
"Boo. Geen."
"Blue and green, yes. You're so smart", she grins, stroking her fingers through his hair. Her eyes land on his ear, slightly pointed at the ends; not fully faerie, but not fully human either.
She plays with him for a little bit, and when Mrs. Johnson peeks back in she smiles and scoops him up, walking back down to the lobby with him.
Lucien's eyes widen and he shakes his head as Briar hands a now-sleepy Caedin to him, refusing at first. She rolls her eyes and places him on Lucien's shoulder.
"Just for a moment. Gosh, you're not going to break him."
"I-I don't...I'm not..."
"Oh, please. I assume you will have one of your own with Elain one day. Consider this five minutes of practice", she snorts, returning to the desk to fill out all of the legalities.
Lucien freezes as the child dozes on him. Jurian suppresses a laugh and Cresseida coos softly at him, stroking his fluffy curls. "He's so precious. And she's right you know. You will be a good dad one day Lucien. At the very least...you know how not to be one."
He swallows hard, trying to not think about Beron and his own childhood with his awful brothers, Eris the only one willing to stand up for him. "Yes. That I know", he murmurs, slowly cradling the boy to him.
Jurian grins. "Seeing Tamlin's face is going to be gold. I cannot miss this."
Lucien bares his teeth at him and Jurian smirks smugly. Cresseida rolls her eyes. "Will you two stand down? I'm sure Briar will calm him. Plus, if this child really is the son of Andras...his reaction may not be brash, but dare I say emotional?"
"That's what we have to worry about. Tamlin hates feeling vulnerable, especially in front of everyone. He might turn in on himself again with guilt and that cannot happen. Not now. Not with the festival tomorrow", Lucien sighs, speaking quietly.
"I'm sure it will be fine", she replies. "How terrible can his reaction truly be? He won't be angry, so that's always a good thing."
Lucien shakes his head. "Not always. But...he will be shocked, for sure."