"It takes almost an hour to reach where the healers live," Xion pointed out.
It was exactly this overbearing person who had made them live so far from the castle grounds.
"And… and I don't want to take you with me."
That earned him a narrow-eyed glare.
"Why?" the Archduke demanded. The look in his eyes promised that, without a good reason, he might punish Xion again.
"You'll scare them," the brave kitten scoffed. "Don't think I didn't see how you glared at that poor bard…"
Darius' expression hardened further, though a mocking little smile tugged at his mouth.
"You pity him."
Xion exhaled in exasperation. "Of course, I pity him. Can't I even feel sorry for someone being wrongly accused and glared at?"
"No." The reply was flat, just like the Archduke's pursed lips.
And then, as though to silence any further protest, he flopped down fully onto Xion again, knocking the breath right out of his lungs.
"Too heavy!" Xion gasped, squirming under him.
