"You're right. It was unfair to you."
She tilted her head. "Oh, thank you, Your Majesty. A royal acknowledgement of injustice. Should I bow?"
Kyllian gave a half-smile, but it faded quickly. "Jane…"
"We never had a wedding night, Kyllian. You just… asked Talon to pick me up, I was rushed into the hall, married in a heartbeat like I was a placeholder bride—and I didn't see you the rest of the day."
"So, I ask again, how long are you going to ignore me?" she asked.
Kyllian looked down, shame tightening his jaw. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "Truly. I was wrong. I shouldn't have been so… presumptuous. About everything."
Jane stepped closer and dropped to her knees in front of him.
"Kyllian," she said, searching his face, "do you hate me?"
"No… Of course not. Why would you say that?"
"Because that's how it feels. You look through me like I'm invisible. Like I'm just one of Talon's reports sitting on your desk."
