"Yes, of course."

"Thanks." And she kisses him on the cheek and squeezes him and peels off to go to bed.

He watches her walk away, smiling fondly, and then looks at the rest of them.

"Suppose I should go, then."

"I think that would be for the best," Mirelle says.

He nods.

He leaves.

Lyrame sleeps well in her own bed and goes to the eastern garden at sunrise in the morning.

And there is the Emperor, flopped in the grass like always.

She flops down beside him and snuggles up.

Cuddles.

"—I like your family. I wish I could - somehow manage to intimidate them less."

Snuggle. "Sissy seemed to like you okay. And I don't think I would characterize Alle's problem with you as being intimidated."

"Yes, I really appreciate that about him."

"Mom and Dad'll come around." Her mother is alive to come around, it's the best thing!!!

Awwwww. He cuddles her some more.

She kisses him.

He kisses back, slow and soft and deeply affectionate.

She breaks the kiss and settles in against his side to watch the sunrise with a sigh of deep contentment.

He cuddles her and pets her hair. But it's awkward to reach up that far without obstructing her view, so his arm ends up tucked around her waist instead.

Good.

Mmmmm she's so cozy.

Eventually the sunrise ends, and she half rolls onto him and kisses him some more.

This is a positive development. Kisses! Lovely soft warm cozy kisses!

Available signs indicate she is also very much enjoying the kisses.

Oh good.

She breaks away for a moment, studying him with an inscrutable look in her eye, and then she goes back to kissing him. A little harder this time.

Ooh.