“You need to rest, darling.” Xe brushed a thumb along hir cheek.

Ze pulled away. “I can’t afford to. I don’t have time.”

“Why are you doing all this for me?”

“Because you are the sun in my sky, the beacon in the dark that leads me safely home, the first softness I had ever felt and still the warm hearth by which I would sit the rest of my nights, would you want me there. I love you, and I will remain by your side for so long as you require.”

“How do I get people to love me?”

“I think a better idea may be to stop caring so desperately about whether they do.”

“I don’t know how to do that either.”

Ey had time to deflect the projectile but not well; it embedded itself in eir upper arm, but since the alternative had been the heir’s throat ey couldn’t complain.

Not much anyway.

Ey couldn’t stop the initial yelp of pain. The heir whipped around.

“I’m fine,” ey insisted weakly, but xir sharp eyes were already scanning the brush for the attacker, not out of concern for xirself but because xe was not about to let this person get away with hurting eir.

“Do not use that term again,” ey snapped, then drew back guiltily. “I apologize, it is simply that you do not understand the language or the context behind that particular word.”

“Oh! I’m sorry. Is it something offensive? I mean the princex called you that so I assumed it was a term of respect, I meant no offense.” Ze bit zir lip. “What- what does it mean if you don’t mind me asking?”

“It is… not offensive, just incredibly familiar.” Ey sighed. “The closest translation in this language would be something like ‘beloved’.”

“Sometimes, when the darkness descends, you need to let it. Nighttime is important too; you need a time to rest and recover.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s [X]. I’m worried. Ze’s great, and I love zir, however. Zir taste in potential mates is poopoo trash garbage and ze needs help.”

“What is that?”

“Anti theft protection! Nobody’s gonna want to steal this thing if this is the first thing they see when they open it up!”

“Why?” the monarch pouted. “Why do you have to be so good at your job?”

Xir advisor turned. “Hm? Would you rather I be bad at it?”

“Well if you were I’d have an excuse to keep you here within the palace walls all to myself instead of having to send you off to do diplomacy all the time.” Xe drew the advisor close, resting xir head on eir shoulder. “I’ve half a mind to do that anyway.”

“You were supposed to be chosen.”

“I have a country to run! I don’t have time to run around subverting prophecies of ruin, when there are other, perfectly qualified candidates for that position with nothing better to do!”