WARNING: Sexism

"So, what did he say?" Edin asked. Thalia rubbed the bandages on her palm and didn't meet Edin's eye.

"Why are you sending me to spy?" She asked, flopping down on the sofa and picking up a book. "You can easily-"

Edin took the book out of her hands as soon as she opened it. "Because he trusts you. The little Devil despises me."

"Yeah, I wonder why." Thalia thought sarcastically. "Can I have my book back?" She asked. Edin shook his head and threw it next to the fire.

"You're a girl. You shouldn't read." He said. Thalia rolled her eyes. "Besides, if the little Devil finds out you can read, he won't trust you anymore. Now, what's our plan of action? What did he tell you?"

Thalia shrugged. "There's going to be a royal ball. Supposedly, the prince is going to get married."

"Great. When?" Edin pressed for more details.

"End of June, goes on for three days." Thalia recited dully. Edin clapped his hands once and grinned. There was no other word from it apart from 'grin', even though he looked like a wild animal hunting for prey.

"Perfect. You will go to the ball and I will be your chaperone." Edin said. Thalia looked down at her dress and picked at the embroidery around the hem.

"Edin?" She asked timidly.

"What?"

"I, um, I heard a rumour..." Thalia trailed off.

Edin sighed. "You and your stupid gossip. Come on, out with it. What?"

"The, um, the prince- Prince Remus, um, he doesn't like girls." She said quietly. She rubbed her neck, the ends of her reddish-brown hair sweeping across the bandages across her hands. "It's just a rumour, of course, but, um, I heard that-"

"That he's gay?" Edin asked. Thalia looked up at Edin before nodding. "Well, maybe you can change that."

Thalia stared at her brother. "Edin, that's disgusting!" She exclaimed. "Imagine if someone tried to change you, to- to make you-"

"Yes, but this isn't about me." Edin snapped. "This is about us and getting out of this wretch of a house with mother, while still alive."

A little knock on the door made them both jump. Virgil scratched the back of his head.

"What are you two talking about?" He asked.

"None of your business, little Devil." Edin said. Virgil nodded a little and looked down.

"Anyway, just thought I'd say. If you're talking about the ball, there are actually two princes." He said. He didn't look at either step-sibling. "And, if it's quite alright, I'd like to go to the dance too."

There was silence in the room. Then, Edin burst out laughing.

"You?! You've got to be joking!" He laughed. His laughter abated all of a sudden and his mouth turned down into a snarl. "Why would we want someone as scruffy as you at the palace with us? We'd be a laughing stock."

Virgil pulled on his sleeve. "I mean, I'm sure I could find something that I'd be able to wear. Something that was suitable. I don't even have to go to the dance properly." He said. "I just... I just want to go to the palace. See what it's like."

All throughout this, Thalia hadn't said a word or even looked at Virgil. Instead, she focused on her folded hands in her lap.

"Edin." She said quietly. "What if, perhaps, we let Virgil go? As like a footman or something?"

"Are you insane, Thalia?" Edin asked. "No one would want to look at us if that was our servant." Edin glared at Virgil as if anything in this conversation was his fault. "Who'd want to associate with someone who had hair like the Devil?"

I hate this chapter. I don't know why. It's just... bad.
Bye,
Blaize