Lilou stared googly-eyed at Tsuneo as he gazed out the window, even as his story sent her heart spiraling in dismay. He was already going...? Noooo!! She'd only just fallen in love for the first time, she couldn't already do something long distance...! She didn't want to be the princess pining in the tower! Pig squeaked frantically in her ear and tried to swat her back to her senses, having a far better radar for troublemakers and liars than her.
He turned to her, planning our future, he said... OUR... Lilou blushed down to her soul. W-Wasn't that the kind of thing that heroes in romance novels said when talking about...
"I'm sure you'll prove yourself! Big Brother Eike will definitely let me go with you." Her index fingers pressed together, hovering over her lips as her eyes averted. Her voice lowered to a murmur. "And maybe on your journey... you can search for my Mother, and get her blessing too..."
She shrugged away the bad thoughts. "I'll wait for you," she affirmed, then patted the torture tools on her hip. "And I'll definitely try not to hurt anybody too badly while you're gone."
I wish I got my own tower to pine in, instead of a dungeon... she internally whinged, I guess they're just for proper princesses...
"I don't want anything from Lady Shannon."
Eike surprised even himself with how fast and forceful his words came in response to Ivelda. It took a moment for his fists to unclench. He was frustrated. Why, why...
Atop of suppressing his true desires, it was hard not to find the sound of Lady Shannon's name grating in this moment. The woman who had stationed a strange man at Ivelda's side. A 'darn shame' they hadn't met... Eike didn't like... this familiarity pressed on him, between himself and a woman he didn't know, no matter their interests. He could never really decipher why, but....
Don't assume... I'd ever desire that.
... It made him feel further away.
"I... apologize... your Majesty," he continued flatly, gaze fixed before her feet. An echo of a smile graced his lips for her. "I stated all I need. You don't need to give me any other thought beyond that. I'll wait for you."
He tilted into a small bow, showing her the top of her head, which was sorely missing her hand. He waited to be petted, but he didn't dare ever ask for it. "I won't leave the dungeon. Your absence will not impact my duties. Of that you may always depend on. I'll never stray from home."