Chapter 21 - Revelations - Part 1

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Steph ran a hand through his curls, ruffling them as he considered his words.

"At first, when Ivy was taunting you in the garden that day, I realised no one recognised me as a Grimwood Scion. Particularly not covered in jam and flour." Steph smirked. "I'm not in the habit of announcing myself beyond the Fort's gates... I like my anonymity, and people show you their true colours when they think you are beneath them." Steph sneered at the memory of Ivy's scorn.

"Then, well, you took off racing after Marmot through the streets, and there was no time to introduce myself correctly."

Penelope scrunched her nose in mortification and Steph chuckled.

"When I returned to the Upper Concourse with your belongings, looking for someone who might have known you, the Sisters accosted me almost immediately. They recognised your coat and thought I had done something awful to you. Sister Rosin was on me before I could even begin to explain."

Penelope groaned and Steph laughed.

"The guards were involved, and everything became chaos. I was busy trying to explain what had happened at the river, dodging the Sisters' bags as they tried to smack me with them, while also trying to convince everyone that Marmalade was neither a kidnapper nor a danger to your life so they wouldn't execute her on sight and... well, everything got a bit away from me."

Penelope pressed the heel of her palm to her brow. "What a mess I caused."

"It was impressive, even by my standards," Steph grinned.

Penelope huffed and motioned him to continue.

"I originally wanted to go out with the Rangers to search for you, to ensure you were safe, and to also make sure they didn't imprison Marmalade... or worse. But Ranger Steven threatened to rat me out to Ethan, and, well... my brother hates me going too deep into the forest—for reasons I now better understand," he added with a bitter huff, "and then Ethan would have locked me in my rooms, or at least tried to—" Steph shook his head.

"Anyway. When I overheard the Sisters saying they would search the Faewood for you themselves, I snuck off after them and begged to help. Even offered myself as hostage, and... Well, I didn't think they would have quite gone for it if they'd known I was a Scion of Grimwood so... I just didn't mention it. Sister Rosin threatened me all the way back to your cottage, but by halfway through the journey I don't think she really meant it."

Despite herself, Penelope couldn't help but giggle.

"When we got to the cottage, it was too dark to go stumbling about in the woods, though Sister Rosin wanted to. Put up a real fight about it, too. Sister Heely convinced her to wait until morning so we didn't all break our necks tripping over tree roots, but then you just showed up on the doorstep, covered in flowers, and passed out." Steph smiled, his face fond, as Penelope grimaced.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright before I went back home. But the longer I stayed, the more I wanted to stay... And if I'd told you all who I was, the Sisters would have marched me back to the Fort gates by the scruff of my neck, I'm sure."

Penelope nodded in agreement.

"I was being selfish, I should have told you. But at the time I thought, what harm could a few more days do? My family is used to me sneaking off. It's really only Ethan who even kicks up a fuss about it anymore. Even my father is mostly resigned to it." Steph grinned, all boyish mischief.

"Then... you were telling me your dreams of finding a prince to marry and live a royal fairy tale..."

Penelope buried her face in her hands with a groan, but Steph tugged them away.

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