Everyone save for Wisteria and Alister left the room, Alister stopping in front of her to keep her there.

“I want to talk. You said no secrets anymore,” he stated, small arms folded in an attempt to seem stern.

Wisteria whined, turning back to the room, “Do we HAVE to?”

“Yes! No secrets! I told you my stuff. You’re hiding something.”

“Yeah but… I mean… It’s not important…”

“It feels important.”

She grumbled, fussing with the fancy dress Alliana had bought her, “Just… I died really violently in my past life to some demons. I don’t like thinking about it. It’s scary.”

Alister softened, “I know it must be scary… but I really want to know. Please?”

Wisteria sat on one of the couches, staring toward the ceiling, “My family line have a well-traced reincarnation trail. Every single one of us, all of the O’neah… erm… the Ov'Nevre - that’s my real last name, just don’t go telling anyone about it -”

“I won’t.”

“I know. Your whole… godkiller thing… made it harder to talk about. I was a goddess in my last life. It’s why the gods talk to us, why they’re so fond of my family line. My mom was a friend of Vera in her last life,” she explained, hands shaking as she played with her fingers, “I knew that’d be what I’d remember when I got my mana core. Every one of my ancestors have been. And then I got it, and… just… I don’t remember a whole lot but it was a really bad really painful death… The divine don’t die peacefully.”

“But… the divine don’t just resurrect as people,” Alister muttered, trying to wrap his head around it. He blushed, realizing his words, “Not that divine aren’t people! They are. I just.”

“I know what you mean. And yes. Usually they don’t. There are a few families spread around the world that are like this, only a handful of people at a time that are like me. Gods resurrect as gods most of the time. I know…,” Wisteria flustered, staring at the ceiling, “It’s why my mother and I were priestesses.”

Alister hummed, quietly thinking about it, “I… don’t hate you for it, if you were worried about that. Does it concern me? Of course. But you don’t even remember much… and you don’t hate me for my past either. If anything, I suppose it’s just lucky… for you, that is. You know you should be able to get quite strong. You’ll be able to protect yourself. I’m happy to know why you’re as capable as you are at your age.”

“You took this better than I thought you would…”

“And I could say the same for you and my own surprise. I’m just relieved. Surprised, but relieved. Any other secrets? I can’t think of anything for myself - I have my pocket space but that’s the only thing I don’t really talk about, and that’s only for safety. I can’t use most of what’s in there currently anyway,” he shrugged, giving Wisteria a gentle smile.

She rolled her eyes, “No, nothing else. It’s not like I expect either of us to have a heart to heart about our traumas or something, but I’m happy we could talk.” He nodded, and she continued, “Your uncle is a pain to deal with. He’s right that he’s far kinder than a lot of nobles can be, but that doesn’t mean he’s not an asshole! He was so rude to auntie!”

Alister laughed, “Ah there the aggressive teen girl I so enjoy the company of is! I was wondering how long you’d manage a polite face.”

“I learned proper etiquette before the coup, so I’m a little rusty but I think I did well,” she huffed, folding her arms as she started toward the door, “I hate when nobles say ‘oh so and so is worse than I am’, as though that makes how annoying they are any better! And that he has such a young mistress! That’s gross!”

“I can’t say much on that part of things,” he said, “In my day, it was much more common to have children very very young. People didn’t live as long as they do now.”

“Fair I guess but now isn’t the same as back then,” she left out the door, holding it open for Alister, “And now, it’s… well it’s still something most people accept, but it’s never sat well with me. I met a lot of sex workers on my travels and the young ones made me sad.”

“Understandable,” Alister nodded, following her, “Try not to let it get you down. You got along with those two boys, and I have so many other cousins, we’ll have a lot of kids to chat and play with.”

“I guess they’re fine… It’s annoying, but they seem to have a little bit of a crush on me.”

“If they didn’t, I’d think they were blind! They’re around your age, and you’re brilliant and stunning,” Alister huffed as they turned a corner. Servants were bustling about the place, and he had no clue where the ones he was familiar with had ended up in this ridiculously giant house. Neth was nowhere to be seen, despite how clingy the naga had been since being rescued, and Alister was really missing his butler Harriet and his home.

Suddenly, he felt small.

No matter how much he wanted to be some tough mage, or how much he remembered, this little body of his still got so overwhelmed sometimes.

Alister sighed and swallowed his pride, cupping Wisteria’s hand to calm himself. She looked down at him, surprised, and he just shook his head, “Shut up.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You might as well have.”

“I… Yeah whatever,” she smiled, laughing, “Let’s find our rooms.”

“I like that plan. I think I could use some sleep.”

Alliana gave a glare full of vitriol to Felthinus as soon as he entered the room. She had puffy eyes beneath her curly brown hair, still crying a little as he arrived.

“Felth,” she began, sounding rightfully indignant, “You best have a good reason to come in here after that drama. You know better than to start spewing nonsense like that to me! You’re a cruel fool. And you know as the duchess I could have you publicly humiliated in an instant for it!”

Felth leaned against a set of drawers, “…I am sorry.”

“You’re what?” Alliana huffed a laugh, “Since when are you sorry! Have you lost your mind since your eldest had her child?”

“I went too far with that line of comments, and so I am sorry,” he repeated, arms folded, “I know you’re displeased, and for good reason. It has been too long since I’ve seen you all last and I wanted… to get back at my brother for his… ridiculous absence. It was immature and unbecoming. And… yes, Megan’s child… my little grandson Sean… he has made me feel so insecure, but also absolutely brimming with love for the little brat. I feel old, seeing him. And seeing you two with only Alister to your name, it makes me genuinely worried. I took that out on the both of you.”

“Amaiara will give you shit for it, you know,” Alliana grumbled. She was furious with him, but she had also known this idiot since they were children. She knew he meant well… somewhere under all the sass and pompousness.

“Oh I’m sure I’ll get a tail slap for it at least. There’s little that snake doesn’t know about here.”

“I accept your apology, but if you do something like that in public then it won’t be forgiven, and there will be consequences.”

“I understand,” Felth gave a half bow to her, “So… will you really be moving back?”

Alliana began taking out her jewelry and letting down her hair as she spoke, handing things to a servant in the room, “I suppose so. Blas has made sounds like he’s thinking about it. It’s about time we did. I feel for him, I do, but… I miss this place. This is my home.”

“Have you talked with Alister about why you haven’t moved here yet?”

“Not yet. It’s a sensitive subject. He knows there was a war but not what about or why his father is so hesitant about it. So much has been going on, and we didn’t know Blas would suddenly decide to move back. I was hoping, always hoping… but realistically I didn’t think it’d happen anytime soon.”

“Ugh… when you do move back, I suppose that means I don’t get to be the Lord of the city anymore,” Felth complained, “You should explain it to Alister before we start traveling again.”

She huffed, “I will tell him when I choose it. Don’t tell me how to handle my own child.”

“Fine fine! I wasn’t trying to! It was just a suggestion. Calm down. Don’t tell him then, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“You’re impressively infuriating. Are you done annoying me? You apologized and I accepted it. Go away and let me get some rest, I’m exhausted.”