Chapter 578

Lucien walked with his hands behind his back, unsure of where exactly they were going, and unsure of what to say. He was not used to being short of words, or at a loss for how to fill the silence. Lucien had always been good at talking; it had been something he had seen as one of his strengths. He'd always known what to say and had even often had the opposite problem of not knowing when to stop talking. That was why he'd lost an eye after all. Now, though, he had no idea.

"So…" Vassa said, breaking the silence, "that meeting looked like it had gone well…"

"Well enough."

"What did you talk about?"

"This and that." Lucien flicked a glance her way. If she was meant to know the details, she would have been invited to the meeting.

"Hmm…" Vassa did not sound like that answer was going to satisfy her, and Lucien knew that it wouldn't. "Did Rhys mean what he said?" she asked, "Will the Trade Routes be extended to the Mortal Lands?"

"He meant it." Lucien replied, "But that will be a time yet. It has proven enough of a trial to get them up and running here, and that is with the cooperation of all the High Lords."

"Hmm." Vassa tilted her head, a small skip to her step as she tried to keep up with him. Lucien hadn't realised that he had been walking that quickly at all, and he slowed his step just a little. "This place really is quite impressive."

"Yes." He glanced at her again, "What was it that you wanted to see?"

"Everything." She smiled winningly at him, and Lucien resisted a sigh.

"I don't have endless time, Vassa." He said carefully, "I have responsibilities, and things I need to do."

"Yes, as the Heir you're important now." She said, "Should I be honoured that you spared even a few minutes for the mere mortal?" Vassa pouted, and Lucien had been about to respond when she suddenly huffed and shrugged her shoulders. The expression vanished in that instant and she replaced it with a smile. "Why don't you show me what you think I'll like?"

"Ah…" A little unnerved by her sudden shift in attitude, he thought for a moment and then nodded. "There's a nice garden a few hallways up."

"Lovely."

"If you really want to see some interesting sites, you should go back to the library I showed everyone when you all first arrived." Lucien definitely did not intend to be showing Vassa around the city on his own. She could go wandering of her own accord if she was that interested in the Day Court. Deliberately, he did not turn to see her reaction to his suggestion, but kept his pace steady as they headed up the hallway.

"Might do that." She muttered, and Lucien tried to predict if the garden they were approaching would be vacant of any other fae from the Court. It wasn't one that was typically frequented as it was not adjacent to any of the main arteries of the Palace, but it was nice enough nonetheless. He hoped it would satiate Vassa's need for him to show her something of the Court and he could relinquish any further responsibilities to be her tour guide.

"What's your favourite place in the Day Court?" her question made Lucien turn to look at her as he pushed open the doors to the garden.

"The library I showed everyone."

"Not the place you think is most impressive." Vassa rolled her eyes dramatically, "Your favourite. The place you would spend all your time in if you could."

"Oh." Lucien gestured at the garden around them. "This is the garden I was telling you about." Vassa glanced around them and looked back to him. "I suppose…" he mused, "The garden that Elain has created." He said, "Attached to our rooms."

"A private garden?" Vassa smiled, and Lucien nodded. "What's so special about it?"

Picturing the garden in his mind, Lucien tilted his head as he began down one of the paths. "She made it for us." He said, "For our family. It has a special selection of flowers that have importance to us."

"Is it pretty?"

"It is." He told her, "But it's more than that. It's the place Elain and I will spend our live together, raise our younglings. It represents who we are and who we will be."

"Sounds like something to see." Vassa said, keeping pace with Lucien. "Show it to me?"