"Your Grace... have you ever liked someone?"
A delicate voice asked him.
Liked?
The word echoed strangely in Darius' mind. They were spoken so softly, so vaguely that it felt oddly out of place.
Darius didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze lingered on Xion's face, searching for something — a reason for the sudden question.
Why was he asking that now?
Had someone caught your pretty eyes?
A flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes, and his jaw instinctively clenched.
He'd been occupied lately, far too busy with missions, court sessions, and war briefings.
There had been unrest in the northern territory, forcing him to send Nazia and Berry ahead of them.
Despite all that, he'd tried to keep Xion close, but the healer had slipped from his sight more than once.
Not to mention, this foolish kitten was far too trusting.
It had taken Xion such a long time, three long years to be exact, to notice Soren's dirty inclinations, and even longer to understand what they meant.
