Jane and Gunther instantly jumped apart from each other when they heard the knock at the door. Jane felt her face was flush with embarrassment. She raked her hands through her hair, worried that it may be disheveled. Gunther looked equally frazzled before quickly making a dash to hide in her stairwell that led to the roof. Another knock was gently sounded on the door. "C-coming!" Jane called, taking one more moment to fix her hair before opening the door. There in the darkening night stood Jester with a soup bowl in hand. He seemed startled and Jane cringed as she realized how violently she had threw open the door in her haste. Jester recovered quickly and cleared his throat, "Jane! Sorry to bother you. I noticed you didn't join us for supper and Pepper sent me with these leftovers." His voice was chipper but his body was fidgety. Jane could probably say the same thing about herself, "Oh, thank you Jester. Um, yes, I was tired and wanted to get to bed early." As the bowl was passed to her hands, Jester's confused face became more illuminated by the fire from her room, "Now, I know more than anyone how important beauty sleep is, but you nearly slept the day away today." It sounded like he was leading toward a joke but the punchline never came. Instead, Jane realized she was expected to respond, "Right! Yes! That's because I stayed up so late last night... studying!" Her voice was an octave too high and far to chipper but she couldn't seem to remain casual when she lied. Jester had been friends with her for too long and knew the signs, "are you alright, Jane? Pepper mentioned something about you looking for Gunther. Did something happen?" Jane's heart skipped a beat as she racked her brain for what to say, "Oh, right, yes, I found Gunther and all is well." She felt like she should say more but struggled to find the words. Jester studied her face and she did her best to keep her face neutral. Suddenly, Jester's face became one of shock, "Jane, your neck! I know black and blue is in style now, but, um..." he trailed off, seeming unable to finish his sentence. Jane's free hand instinctively shot up to hide the area Gunther had previously been sucking on. Her mind raced and her heart pounded. She didn't know exactly what Jester was referring to or what it looked like, but she knew it had something to do with Gunther's kisses. Jane's embarrassment grew as she struggled with the moral dilemma of whether or not to tell Jester about the engagement right there and then. She knew it would crush him. Jester was deeply in love with her and did not think highly of Gunther's character. Not only that, but despite knowing Jester would most likely take the secret to his grave, the shame of hiding a man in her room when unwed crept at the edges of her mind. "I was hit in the neck during practice today!" She blurted. "Oh," Jester seemed unconvinced but didn't press further. After an awkward silence, Jester sighed, "well, if you are sure you are alright, then goodnight Jane. Please, let me know if you need anything," he spoke softly, as if fearing being heard. Jane felt her heart tighten and her grip on the bowl did the same, "I will, Jester. Thank you... for everything." He smiled at this statement and lingered a few seconds more before retreating down the steps and into the night. She wanted so badly to run after him and give him a hug, but she knew she had to tend to her "guest."

Jane let out a long sigh as she slowly closed her bedroom door. "Still sweet on clown boy are we?" Gunther taunted her as he reappeared from the stairwell. Jane huffed and placed the cold bowl of soup on her bedside table, "It's not like that! I just don't want him getting hurt." Gunther poked her teasingly as he continued his taunts, "no, you just like the attention he gives you." Jane's previous lust for the annoying man already felt like a distant memory. "That is not funny, Gunther. Jester is a good friend and has always been there for me!" Gunther straightened himself and took on a more serious tone, "well, not for much longer." "What is that supposed to mean?" Jane was genuinely unsure if his statement was some kind of threat. Gunther rolled his eyes, "do not worry, I will not do anything to your precious Jester. I won't have to. The second he figures out that you're off the market, he'll stop talking to you." Jane was stunned into silence but only for a second, "what? How could you say that? Are you implying Jester only cares for me because he wants to be intimate with me?" Gunther had a smug look on his face and shrugged nonchalantly, "you said it, so I don't have to." Jane growled, "one could say the same thing about you, Gunther Breech." He shrugged again, "I guess we'll never know, now will we?" Jane wasn't sure why he was acting this way all of a sudden. He had just professed his love and then showered her with kisses not even ten minutes ago. Now he was back to acting like an ass hole who didn't care about her feelings. Jane decided if he was going to be difficult, so would she, "well, what I would like to know is why your father gave you that black eye." Gunther seemed taken aback by the change in subject, "who said it was my father?" Jane mocked his tone from before, "it was heavily implied." She shouldered past him, making a point to bump into him, and walked over to her chest of clothing at the foot of her bed. She pulled out her nightgown and begun gathering her other items to prepare for bed. Gunther watched her with his steel gaze, "he decided he was more upset about me snitching to your father after he had a few drinks. Happy?" His tone dripped venom but Jane rolled her eyes at his empty threats, "stairwell." "Huh?" "Get back in the stairwell. Despite how 'charming' you are, I will not undress in front of you," she didn't keep the sarcasm from her voice. Nevertheless, she enjoyed the blush that spread over his features. Although she could tell he was still upset and wanted to argue, he decided against it and did as she requested. Gunther wouldn't let a good thing rest, though, and he continued to speak even out of sight. "I am serious about that clown of yours." Despite being distracted removing her garments, she still noted the edge in his voice. "Care to explain?" Jane's patience was wearing thin. "It's not like he is a godly saint, Jane. The way that sorry excuse of a man pesters me about you is insufferable!" Jane threw her nightgown over her head and stormed over to the stairwell to face him, "how dare you speak so ill of my friends! I would much rather you sleep here on the floor than in the barn, but I am beginning to second guess myself." Gunther took far longer to respond then he usually did. She blushed realizing her nightgown wrapped her body loosely in a thin material and may be considered provocative. His eyes scanned her features up and down as he continued to struggle with a response. Jane wanted to slap him for those wandering gray eyes but his wounded face kept her emotions grounded. Instead, she marched away from him and back over to her trunk and pulled out a thick duvet and quilt. Gunther had followed her into the room and opened his mouth to speak before Jane interrupted him by shoving the blankets into his arms, "You can sleep here on the floor in front of the fire but this conversation is over!" Gunther threw the bundle down, "Jane, ugh, fine! I will not talk about that lovestruck fool." Jane's anger was hitting a boiling point, "You act like you are better than he and yet I know you are only agreeing with me in hopes of getting me out of this nightgown!" "Absolutely not! Do you honestly think I want to sleep with you right now?" His words stung but Jane wasn't sure why. "I can't believe you! I can't believe myself!" she paced the room, "thinking even for a second that we should marry!" Gunther groaned before yelling, "we should marry-!" "Why?!" Jane interrupted him and rounded back to shove her face in his, "give me one good reason I shouldn't go straight to the king and demand this contract be broken!" Gunther's face broke in a twisted smirk, as if he'd been expecting this question, "because I'll let you remain a knight, and whether you like it or not, your parents will have you wed. Either to me, or someone far less caring about your 'hobby." That was the final straw for Jane. She screamed as she shoved him with all her might which caused him to fall onto the bed. She raised her arms to strike him but he didn't fight back as she expected. Instead he cowered under her and shielded his face.

The fire left her almost immediately as she realized what she was doing. She slowly lowered her fists and did her best to steady her breathing. Gunther slowly lowered his arms as well but remained guarded. His hands trembled but he stared at her coldly, his eyes a dark, piercing, steel. They shared a brief staring contest, which Jane lost as she closed her eyes to sigh. She moved to sit on the bed next to him and he scooted farther away to create distance. They both sat there in silence for what felt like forever. Neither looking at each other or speaking. During this time, Gunther relaxed his arms as he sensed the danger was past. Jane felt tears prick her eyes but she was unsure why she wanted to cry. Maybe it was all the intense emotions? Was it anger or sadness? Was she angry at herself? Was she sad for him? Or the other way around? She didn't know anymore. Unable to bear the silence anymore, she took a shaky breath and spoke, "I'm sorry." It was short and simple but it was all she could muster. Unfortunately, Gunther did not respond. Which made Jane feel all the more horrible. Finally, she turned to look at him and she was met again with his bruised eye. The sight reminded her of why there were there together in the first place. "If we marry, will your father not hit you?" her question surprised him but it at least got him to look at her. It didn't last long, though, as he quickly averted his eyes once again. He fidgeted with his finger nails as he struggled to find the words. Jane remained quiet as she allowed him to collect his thoughts. When he did speak, his voice sounded strained, "it is part of the contract for I to become more independent before the wedding. Father wasn't thrilled by the idea but knew it was necessary. I... liked the idea of getting away from him." Jane buried her head in her hands. She had been so selfish. She knew Gunther had a lot to gain from marrying her, but the situation was more dire than she had anticipated. Gunther would disappear for days on end sometimes. She knew his father was always behind it to some extent, but she always assumed it was work related. Her heart sank realizing Gunther's absence may have been to hide wounds as well. Magnus was a cruel man. She knew this, Sir Theodor knew this, she felt like even the King knew this. Yet they had all willfully ignored it. It was too personal of a matter for anyone to involve themselves with. Well, now she was involved, and she knew it was now partially her responsibility to make the right decsion. Even if she didn't want to. With a final sigh, she unburied her hands, "I get to remain a knight?" Gunther let out a half-hearted chuckle, "I would miss our sparring sessions." Jane smiled upon hearing his mood lighten. She straightened, "then it's settled. You will gain the King's favor and grow independent from your father. And I will finish my knights training and..." she gulped. He turned to face her, "and...?" She took a deep breath and met his gaze, "I have no desire for children, Gunther." He slowly nodded as he mulled over her words. Her mother would faint if she found out she was trying to deny a man an heir. Jane wasn't even sure what she would do if Gunther didn't agree to the compromise. Eventually, Gunther hung his head and outstretched his hand, "if those are your terms..." He didn't finish his sentence but Jane knew he was accepting. She shook his hand as a gesture to seal the deal.