"Why didn't I think of this before? I'm a moron."

Elin spied on Walter while he leaned on the railing and flipped through the scanned characteristics of Prince Wilhelm and Nix. The more he compared the notes, the more agitated he grew. Finally, Watler flicked his hand and dismissed the spell altogether. He drooped his head.

She noticed the tension in his body shift when Walter heard her flat heel boots. Sneaking closer would be detrimental to his mood, so she announced her presence by letting her heels click.

He didn't raise his head. "Hey, sorry about bailing on you."

"It is not I to whom you should apologize," she said.

"Yeah, I should say something to Wilhelm and Nix."

"The prime minister, as well. She has expectations of you that you failed to meet."

The side of her hip gently nudged the side of his. After defeating the Duke of the Rotting Garden, and the loss of the Scales of Love and Lust, Walter often comforted her this way. It felt appropriate she return the favor. When he sighed and lifted his head, she felt better that he felt better, and she turned to the view he looked over.

Elin sentimentally longed for the curse. Not because it encouraged her to enjoy her impulses, a good enough excuse at the time, and not because she wanted to control Walter. It provided a window into his secret thoughts. While he always considered himself pathetic compared to others, his intelligence isolated him, including her, and she practiced difficult patience until he explained himself.

After he obtained magic and authority, the distance increased. Part of her regretted saddling him with land management. Part of her felt proud that he grew in strength.

"Tell me what you're thinking, beloved."

"The two trolley problem. Well, in Eovamund, you'd call it the two carriage problem, I guess."

She held her breath for the giggle to pass. Walter, predictably, made a comedic statement. He was fine, and when she could sound serious, she said, "A philosophical problem?"

"Yeah. Imagine an out-of-control carriage. It's about to run over five people, and you have the power to make it change direction. But, if you do, it'll run over a single person. What do you do?"

"I would change its direction. It is one's duty to act towards the greater good."

"Yeah, that's what most people say," Walter nodded, "Most, however, avoid the situation altogether. Even though changing the carriage's direction saved lives, everyone realizes, fundamentally, they caused a death, and the blame others for acting, too. Take Prime Minister Asibridel's situation, for instance: it's pretty clear she's trying to minimize suffering, but has to cause some. She's singled out."

"You are not talking about her."

"No I'm not. This is why I have a noninterference policy. I can't be sure of the unintended consquences, and it's reasonable to assume a way of doing things exists for a good reason. But here, I look around, and I doubt that."

"What are you planning to do?"

Walter glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, "If we weren't bound by the scales, would you still fall in love with me?"

Elin's stomach knotted. The answer was no. This was a conversation that seemed to hover, ever since Sister Lora accused Elin of taking advantage of Walter. On the surface, there was nothing Walter could show her she would find interesting. Mage's University inflamed her dislike, as a rule, because of their opposition to the Union of Temples, so a mage would never be her first pick. He lacked physical strength and courage and would never be a warrior.

Even she admitted his looks didn't qualify above average. The last part suited her fine since she enjoyed those kinds of pamphlet stories, mismatched lovers and the 'Queen Margaret's Adventures,' but that did not qualify as an answer. It was a girlish past time, something privately read in the bedroom, at best.

"Does that matter?" she asked. "We are together now. I'll admit, when we first met, I was forced to be with you. If I could have left, then I would have returned to the Necropolis to continue my fight. By the same token, you were forced to be with me, as well, were you not? You certainly found me attractive, considering how excited you were to finally give in, the first time we did that."

Walter's ears reddened. "Look, we should talk about that. What I did--"

"If you wish to discuss it, then I will do as you bidst. I enjoyed the act, and I have no regrets. In fact, we should reenact it from time to time."

"Elin--"

"You think Prime Minister Asibridel attractive, do you not? Do you enjoy lustful thoughts about her? Did you think something untoward when she offered her slavery, and I punished her? How about when Princess Roselynde pushed Rabecca's slavery unto us?"

Walter scratched his forehead with his spare hand. The red covering his ears spread down his neck, the same way it did they shared the bed naked. Alongside his excitement moved guilt, which she noticed in his frown and squinted eyes.

"Yes. I understand your preferences, beloved, better than any woman could. I know your embarassement is a cover for your arousal. The 'Scales of Love and Lust' exposed them, and it is impossible to hide them now. I memorized them. Now, keep in mind, I wasn't harsh with the prime minister for your benefit, and I have no intention of sharing you."

"I would never do anything." His face continued to flush.

"I know, and I trust you. That is why I harbor no concern over it. Can I share a secret?"

"You keep secrets?"

Elin cleared her throat, "I keep 'pamphlet fantasies' under the bed."

"Wait," Walter grinned, "That box under the bed is filled with porno mags?"

"I will tolerate your teasing, temporarily, to improve your mood. They're not innocent stories, so to speak."

After a chuckle, Walter returned his view to the elves working below. "I don't want you to think you're forced to be with me, because I'm a hero or something. I'm not. I'm just some nerd with a little power."

"Ah," Elin slipped her fingers into his hand, "We've shared our souls, beloved, I know you. May I stay?"

"Huh?"

"It occurs to me I never asked. I took it for granted. May I stay with you?"

Walter's hand tightened in hers. "If you'll let me stay with you."

A moment passed.

"Can I read them?"

"Absolutely not."

Another moment passed between them.

"Ambassadors to Bartgoria and the Alune Theocracy have demanded the prime minister's audience. She is requesting us to join her." Elin asked, "What will you do?"

"Create a mess. After all, that's where you find change."