He deepened his voice into a flawless imitation of a tyrant king, making the words ridiculously dramatic.
Nnenna smirked despite herself.
Darius stood, dusting off his coat like a man leaving a stage performance. "So, love—"
One sharp look from Nnenna cut him off instantly. Her expression said 'I see you're not afraid of death, but maybe you should be.'
"—I'm sorry, your highness," he corrected smoothly, bowing his head just enough to make the tease sting less. "Our next session will be tomorrow, at any place of your choosing. Just send someone to fetch me when you are ready."
He flashed a grin. "Have a nice day. Hopefully, I bump into you later… though knowing my luck, my room is probably tucked at the farthest end of this castle."
With that, he strolled closer. For once, his charm wasn't laced with arrogance but with surprising sincerity. He gently took her right hand, and unlike the careless flourish earlier, he pressed a respectful kiss to the back of it, slow, deliberate.
