Otto met his intelligent gaze. “Neither do you.”
“Coincidences are usually the name we give to things we don’t know the true answer for yet.”
“As soon as you were here…” Otto started.
“…something like this happened,” Alwin finished for him.
Otto hardened his jaw.
Had it involved Henne? Just because it wasn’t him personally didn’t completely rule him out. Or had someone else seen Alwin somehow? There was no way to tell.
“We should go inside,” Otto said, wanting walls between Alwin and whatever was lurking out there. He ushered him toward the door, only pausing to grab the old barrel and drag that behind him.
He didn’t relax until the door was closed and locked, settling into the living room and making sure the curtains were tightly closed. He wouldn’t be sleeping tonight. He didn’t want Alwin out of his sight.
“Is this for me?” Alwin asked.
Otto turned. “What?”
Alwin pointed at the barrel in the middle of the room. “This.”
“Oh.” Otto frowned. “Of course. It was the only thing I could find in town. You need it, don’t you?”
Alwin stared at him for a long moment before he looked back at the barrel, sounding a little more croaky than usual. “Yes.”
It was a reaction he often had to any show of kindness.
“I think you should be able to fit, though it isn’t the most elegant,” Otto said.
“Are you trying to strip me of my dignity, young master? Offering me a barrel instead of a copper tub?” Alwin played along.
“I wouldn’t dare to offend your delicate sensibilities, Your Royal Highness. But this is all this humble one has to offer. I hope it will do.” He bowed deeply.
Alwin snorted, eyeing the tub before climbing awkwardly inside. Otto rushed to offer his arm in case he fell, like an official courtier. Soon Alwin was ducking down into the space.
Otto stepped back and leaned against the wall, watching Alwin shift until only his head was visible. The head that had haunted Otto’s nightmares was now something he was used to seeing. Something that just was. Alwin. Someone Otto knew. Someone with an interesting mind, a lot of knowledge, and a plethora of secrets Otto wanted to uncover.
Not a monster.
A person.
A person who clearly wasn’t completely happy. Or satisfied with the solution Otto had come up with, no matter how hewas trying to hide it. As much as Alwin played at being a fussy prince, he wasn’t so picky. Images of him sleeping on the floor flashed into Otto’s mind. A barrel wasn’t beneath him, but as Otto watched him squirm uncomfortably, he realized it wasn’t enough.
He said as much out loud and Alwin’s head snapped up.
“What?”
“It’s not good enough,” he said. “I can tell you’re not as…pleased with it as you were in the pond.”
Alwin shuttered his expression, trying to hide his reactions.
“It will suffice,” he said. Otto didn’t like that answer. “Once the water is in it will work.”
“Will it? Because you look miserable.”
“I am not miserable, Otto,” Alwin said, voice shockingly soft. “Your company more than makes up for the lack of…well…”
“What is lacking here? Other than the water,” Otto asked, coming closer and kneeling so they were eye level. “Please, tell me.”
