"Oh my," Elara murmured, her tone laced with intrigue as one delicate brow arched upward. "That's quite…"
She didn't finish the sentence, but the way her gaze lingered on him made Florian's pulse quicken. He tried not to fidget, though his hands were already slick with sweat.
"I know it's… a bit presumptuous," he began quickly, his words tumbling over themselves. "Maybe not even a bit, but I assure you—whatever I request in the future, I'll make sure it's within reason. It won't compromise your position as Duke, nor bring harm to your—"
Elara raised a graceful hand, silencing him before he could finish.
Florian froze mid-sentence.
'Oh no. She's about to reject it, isn't she?'
But instead—
"I accept your terms."
Florian blinked, certain he had misheard. "You… accept?"
Elara's smile deepened, smooth and deliberate. "Yes," she said. "Truth be told, it's quite bold of you. But that only proves further that you're the right person for this task."
