"Ah, I see you've found a beloved or the beloved as it were". Lilia tipped his head to the side in curiosity. His eyes were round and bright, and his grin was sharp as he cooed down on his fellow fey. "Am I correct?"

Corwin continued to smile politely as if he was not mortified of the confrontation concerning his love life. His eyes were also shut as if in satiated bliss. Regardless of his expression, however, his pale skin could never hide a blush, no matter how light it was. He knows, Corwin thought ruefully, and wet his lips. "Possibly, sir, " he admitted. To lie to a fey was treacherous, but to lie to a fey knight of the fey queen's court was a death promise. Even when the liar was another fey, himself, there is no mercy for an enemy of the crown. To deny information to a superior was to disobey them, and to disobey them meant punishment. With that information in mind, it took little willpower to be an open book to Lilia.

Still, Corwin wished he had more time to think—to sort out his feelings instead of talking to his former general about how one human boy caused his heart to flutter like a feather. I don't even know what I feel! How can I tell someone else what I feel if I don't know it, yet!? Corwin clasped his hands together, and they were noticeably shaking. At Lilia's stare the hands held to each other in a firmer grip. I would have been snapped to attention if I was a soldier, again. "I have an," Corwin searched for the words, them swimming behind his eyelids like fish at the depths of the ocean, "odd feeling towards this boy." He pursed his lips in thought. "He's kind."

"How kind?"

"Very kind—too kind even." Corwin found his voice rise in panic, as if kindness were a mouse found by a musophobe. "I'm afraid he can be taken advantage of." The shaking of his hands started again as Corwin's mind became filled with the stories that his beloved told. Kalim didn't deserve all those attacks. His family may have done many ignorant things, he included, but he does not deserve to die for such ignorance. How could those people do such a thing to one so helpless? Corwin sucked in a breath to calm himself, and realized his clasped hands turned into fists at his side. With a heated face Corwin looked up at the fey who hovered over him. The amusement on Lilia's face had not changed, and it made Corwin swallow any pitiful whines he wanted to eject. Will Lilia continually try to break his demeanor?

He was too embarrassed to ask, and thankfully Lilia didn't tease him for such weakness. Not yet at least.

"I suspect you watch over him in that case. Does a viper not already guard his nest?"

Corwin watched entranced as Lilia absentmindedly twirled a pink strand of his own hair around his finger. Playing coy was one way to make a person's hair stand on end, and Corwin knew not only was the hairs on the back of his own neck raised, but that also his arms and legs held goosebumps. Lilia gave his strand of hair a sniff and dropped it to shake his head.

"I need more lemon; my hair doesn't smell as well anymore."

Corwin's smile tightened, frustrated by Lilia playing at disinterest when before he was enraptured by the conversation. He knew that Lilia hid much behind his merry demeanor, which included his tactical and intelligent nature. He cares, I know it, he thought. He will simply use it against me, later. Corwin waited a few moments before he replied: There's a lemon tree close by, sir. In the corridor leading to the courtyard. He added slyly, "A viper and an angelfish guard Kalim's nest, sir." His heart beat wickedly at such gallantry. He's in love, he realized, and he admitted it! If only I were this brave when Kalim was around!

"Ah, excellent." Lilia caused Corwin to stiffen as he patted and gripped the other on the shoulder.

It felt warm and heavy, as if Lilia was forcibly pushing Corwin to the ground. Yet, Corwin held firmly and nervously. Corwin was not sure what the other meant when he said "excellent", but he liked to believe the older fey was pleased to hear both his admittance of love and the location of a nearby scented plant. He was not bothered by the strength of the other fey, for fey do not bother being delicate with each other like they were with humans. It was exhausting to act restrained, and Corwin knew it.

"I sincerely hope you become his chivalrous knight, Corwin." The older fey let go of the other, and floated away, but not before Corwin heard him muttering to himself how his eyes must be deceiving him. Why has he never seen such a lemon tree around before?