On the other side of the castle, in one of the many parlors, Pitch’s companions were gathered together, trying to decide what they would do next.

“…It seems we aren’t really needed here,” said the Captain of the Guard. “This Queen appears to be fairly harmless…and if by some chance she turns out not to be, I’m sure Miss Goldtree can fend for herself in this environment.”

“It th-think her stepmother might really be sorry for what she did,” said Lucy. “We should be happy for Pitch…this could be the b-beginning of a new chapter in her life!”

Azor just huffed.

“You’re still suspicious…?” asked the Captain.

“Why shouldn’t he be??” Lucy snickered. “As long as he s-still thinks Pitch might be in danger, then he has to stay here and protect her~.”

Azor narrowed his false eyes. “…Of all the ridiculous things you’ve ever said, that may have been the most foolish,” he said.

“Oooh, is that a threat?”

“Keep talking and you will soon find out.”

“Before this goes any further, I feel I must warn you that if you harm the Princess in any way, I am duty bound to either kill you or die trying,” said the Captain. “Just so we’re all on the same page.”

“M-Mr. Azor’s not going to hurt me,” said Lucy, slowly moving behind a chair for reassurance. “He might have before, b-but now he would never, because he knows Pitch wouldn’t approve. He talks tough, but at this p-point I don’t think he would ever r-really do anything that might upset her.”

“Is there a point to this tirade, or are you just trying to provoke me for your own perilous amusement?” Azor asked.

“Well…actually, I’m just teasing, but n-now that I think about it, you do need to hear this: I think you like Pitch a whole lot, and she likes you too, and there’s no point in lying to yourself about it anymore.”

“I saw you guys holding hands the other night,” she continued, smiling. “You’re so cute together now…only she’s gotten so much nicer to you since before, b-but you’re still practically the same. Why don’t you try being n-nice to her, too?”

For a moment, Azor just stared at her, switching his eye-tail. “…It’s really none of your business,” he said. “But I believe I’m as ‘nice’ as I’m ever going to get.”

“I don’t think so. I mean, I said you were p-practically the same, but y-you’ve already changed a little bit. For one thing, you don’t make as many threats of violence as you did before…I just think you could still do more. L-like…you could say her name once in a while.”

“…‘Say her name…?’”

“Well I noticed you never do. Do you?? She says your name a lot, but I never hear you say hers…m-maybe because you’re still not comfortable with your feelings…”

“You know, I agree: the simple act of calling out a loved one’s name can be a beautiful intimate gesture,” said the Captain. “Especially for the first time…”

“I-I think names are kind of intimate all by themselves,” Lucy added. “That’s why we name things we care about, right? Like p-pets, or ships…or countries.”

“To have a name for something makes it personally relevant; it brings it closer to your heart.”

“Mm-hm.”

“I suppose the same could be said for all of human language...”

“Ohhh, I guess it could…”

“In any case, it’s interesting to think about.”

“Yeah…but we’re k-kind of getting off topic. Any minute now, Mr. Azor’s probably gonna—"

Lucy turned back to the corner where Azor had been standing…and found it empty.

She raised her bushy eyebrows. “…Oh,” she said. “He’s gone.”