"Okay - I'm sorry."

"That's she's straight? Why are you sorry? If she wasn't we'd have been together since we were about fifteen and you'd never get a bit in edgewise."

"... Fair point," he laughs. "But I'm sorry that you're pining."

"I'm not miserable. I just haven't quite got to the point where I can look at other girls without comparing, in my head."

Adarin nods. "Okay. Then - I suppose I'll shut up about it?"

"Sounds like a plan. You make her happy, okay?"

"I'll genuinely try my best."

"Good. Library's end of this hall, can't miss it."

Shara is in there! She is freshly bathed and in a nice dress and still wearing her crown with the lazily floating diamonds as she leans over a book.

"Hey," says Adarin, for lack of anything better to say.

"Hi!" says Shara, looking up. "How're you doing?"

"Good - you, um. You look nice."

"Thanks! I just sort of throw on whatever my handmaid gives me but she has good taste and I definitely needed the bath."

"Sorry. Anyway, how do you like it here?"

"It's nice - Vi is being abrasive with the staff, though."

"Oh dear. Do I need to intervene?"

"No, no, it's just the uh - maid was acting like we were uncultured. Which, technically we are, but - sister."

"...If she's being rude I can get you a nicer one."

"Ask Zeviana, I was fine with it," he shrugs.

"Okay. So what's up?"

"Um, okay? What?"

"Apparently, uh - you have a crush on me the size of a continent?"