28 Yes and No

West watched as Sir Duncan stared at the invitation in a thoughtful expression.

"That's a pretty name. Imagine having Moon Petal as a name," he looked at West and Nelle in a goofy way. "We're stuck with Eglantine, though."

Nelle rolled her eyes, "Weren't you the one who named the troupe?"

Her father blinked innocently, shrugging his shoulder. "I just thought that it's nice to name something between eggs and…" he trailed, thinking deeply of what to add next. West joined him on thinking of words that end with '-lantine'. Eglan-sign? Eglan-rhyme? "...ah, shine! Eggs and shine. We shine through our breakfast."

Giles and West laughed. Ruben stared at them with curiosity and started laughing along with them, even if he didn't know what they were laughing at. Meanwhile, the ladies looked like they wanted to remove themselves out of the room.

"Why are men so stupid?" Hellen said, crossing her arms. She smiled tightly at her friend, as if sharing a conversation with their eyes.

"Don't look at me," Nelle snapped. "I'm in no way related to them."

"You hurt me, dear daughter."

"You shame me, dear father."

The male witches fell on another fit of laughter, letting the others confirm that they were right at calling them such. Although, Nelle could only mock her father once in a while.

The others would probably lead into arguments.

It was what West treasured in their troupe. They were a family there. It's what he was supposed to be protecting. 

"Then, what should we do with the invitation?" Leila asked.

Their eyes snapped back to the part of parchment outside the envelope that was peaking back at them. It shouldn't really lead to much thinking. The answer was just between yes or no.

But sometimes, it's the hardest question of them all.

They originally scheduled a night out in a pub for a meeting but the moment he read the letter inviting them, Sir Duncan felt like the best place for it to take place would be inside the inn. Giles was most disappointed since a lady there promised him a taste of a new brand of white wine, free of charge. 

The rest of them were dismayed because they're tired of smelling the damp scent of the moldy ceiling.

"They must know that we've already accepted it," said Hellen. She picked up the letter from its case and focused her eyes on the way curves of the letters were written. "Do you think it had something to do with Patrick? They should know that it was his choice to throw himself in our troupe."

"Just like how Evelina should know that it was Patrick's choice that he left after attending the first challenge."

 And they really went there.

Although, it was already inevitable. Who would want to be treated like a rug, the vampiress constantly stepping on her.

Speaking of Eve, he didn't get the chance to talk to her. And West wasn't exactly sure when they'll be able to talk again since it would be another start of a busy week for the recruits.

"Or this could be a good way to welcome us here in Eldham?" Sir Duncan suggested. "We haven't seen many theatre artists around except for ours. Eglantine witches might be talented, but we also need to learn from others. Here's our chance, then."

He was exactly the kind of person West admired to be. Sir Duncan's answer had been very close to his. He would consider it if… if not for the fact that they waited a long time to call for them. They could have met them before the whole Patrick fiasco since they were almost positive that they created a name for themselves when they performed their first three shows.

But there was none until that time.

Although, they should always consider that Moon Petal prepared a grand play. It's not exactly for them. They were just invited.

"Where is Lemver Street?" 

"Oh," said Giles. An expected call from someone who likes the outdoors a lot. "That's where everything- the most expensive clothes, the shiniest and heaviest jewelries, the richest meat, and the most perfectly balanced sweets- I mean everything that's for the empire is located there."

He got the awe in clothes, jewels, and meat since they all could contain their own tags. What West didn't get, though, was how the witch figured out how balanced the sweet was.

Did someone give him one and he didn't share? If so… how dare he. Giles knew he liked sweets!

"Even a stage? For theatre?"

"More of two stages! There's the outdoor one and there's a literal majestic, indoor theatre there! The late empresses were said to have loved theatre during their life until their graves so the emperor built them one. It looks like the prince and princesses inherited their mothers' love for the shows."

By then, everyone's eyes were twinkling with fascination. There had only been a few times when they held their performances in an indoor stage. One was in a shabby diner that was almost abandoned if it weren't for the goats that came and went. The others were at the inn and pubs they stayed at. 

They once experienced performing for a whole day, show after show, for a one night's stay. By then, it did seem reasonable. Especially since those inns were no Madam Delphine's.

Ah, how grateful they were.

Hellen let out a dreamy sigh,"How nice would it be to be loved by the emperor? A theatre for the empress! Fantastic!" 

Fantastic.

West didn't speak. He watched her jump to her feet, pulling Ruben with her. The human boy giggled as they struggled to twirl in the tight space of the room. 

Despite being a brilliant witch, Hellen was also a writer- thus making such fantasies her gain. Either for herself or for her writings. Sometimes he did not get it either, since she lost traces of anxiety whenever she wanted both.

"Don't you think we should watch and see what the street offers to us?"

West chuckled. "Apparently, none, since we only have a couple silvers to last us… say, three days."

The street performance didn't gain a lot. 

"Plus, I didn't say empress. I said empresses. The theatre was for all of those ghostly women whom he left in the dark," Giles added, shattering the girl's dreams.

Nelle found a way to comfort her friend, patting her back softly. "Don't worry, Hellen. You'll find your prince who will sweep you off your feet… although, he will probably be a jackass since he's a prince. They're literally trained to be charming at all ladies. That and running an empire, I guess."

Or not. 

West could almost hear Hellen's breath leave her body, her hands dropping its gentle hold from Ruben's arm. The little one patted her head, hoping to cheer the playwright up.

"Then shall we settle this?" Sir Duncan said, their attention back to him. "Who says we should at least check out the street?"

There was a nice amount of raised hands.

"And who says that we should not?"

West locked gazes with Nelle, an agreement taking place between their minds. Without hesitation, the two lifted their hands.

-*-

Leila, West, and Nelle were the last ones who got out of the room- with West locking it with a spell. Leila told them of how she was going to see their prisoner since it had been long since he had eaten his dinner.

"I do hope he likes carrots."

"What have you been doing before the meeting, then?" West asked, his voice etched with concern.

He hadn't expected Leila to take a liking towards Mitchel. He assumed that it was after sharing their secrets, which he and Eve didn't get to hear.

"Well, I gave him dinner. But I just thought that he was a tad bit hungry right now since it's already late."

Oh.

Oh?

It wasn't that late. Just a minute or two away from tomorrow. But… was that care he noticed?

"Be careful, Leila," Nelle said, as the other made her way to where their food was stored.

When they reached the room, Ruben surprised them by pulling on Nelle first. "Sorry, West. I want to be with Nelly. So you gotta sleep on your own bed tonight. Don't cry, though!"

Why this little-!

Defeated, West shook his head. "I think that you should give me your love, too, Ruby."

Ruben hated the nickname, and West only used it to teach the child a lesson or if he wanted to play with him but West had too many antics he needed to complete. Or even when he can't even wash that one dish, particulary his, unless he's told to do.

The boy marched in front of him, his eyes wearing a sad look as he frowned up at West. "You called me Ruby. Then I shall not sleep beside you for a week."

His forehead raised, he walked back to the bed. 

What a boastful kid.

Now, what?

Nelle laughed with him as they watched Ruben retreat to her bed. But then, the younger witch sighed, leaning in to whisper. "Did you ever want… want to build an adventure outside of Eglantine?"

"What?"

"It's just a harmless question, West!"

"Then, what is it that made you think of that?"

He had never thought of it. Living with the whole troupe was the only taste of family he got. And he believed that it was more than being just a family, since the word is a title mocked to those who did not have one. Eglantine… was different. There was a sense of comfort there.

Everything felt perfect except for the money they earn. 

"Nothing. I just thought that…"

"It's the man who asked for your hand the last time, wasn't it?" He remembered them saying that he was a merchant? West let out a breath, hidden within the air yet it was there. "I wouldn't judge if you wanted to run away with him. I just don't-"

"What are you talking about? I said I wouldn't leave the troupe for a man. I just… feel suffocated, I don't know. It wasn't here and then there it was again," she inhaled before trying to patch on a smile on her face. "Was that a no then?"

"No?" 

But why did he not sound so sure?

No. Who was he kidding? He had finally stopped feeling alone when he joined. There's no reason for Nelle to feel...suffocated, when their memories had always been something that brought him joy. 

It wasn't a yes or no.

He was staying.