“You have made that abundantly clear,” he laughs. “I haven’t worked this hard in years.” He’s not entirely joking, but he’s also not complaining in the least. She’s been her own sort of adventure, a pleasant challenge and often a catalyst for lovely things he’d have otherwise skipped.

“No one else dares call me silly though.” He doesn’t miss that her ears turn pink, but assumes it’s just the flush of this sort of informal dancing. He’ll be gentle then, make it easy on her; better she see this sort of commoner culture is enjoyable. “You shall be the more fearsome of us for treating me so lightly.”