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She i about her in his ar to his knees as he confessed how much he adored her, how he couldn’t live another ined the ether in the palace nurseries She daydrea into her lap and falling asleep in her ar that his faether

That she was the love of his life

Another week passed, and still she had no word frorew and grew

Then, after an entire long day had coone, her fantasy came true

A knock sounded at the door to her private chambers, and Sir Evret Hayle was announced

Levana sca a docu down the holograph node at the salairl

"Evret!" she cried, her heart thuainst her sternum

He stepped back, startled, perhaps at her exuberance or the fa a bundle of black-and-gold fabric in his aruards stood to either side of hihness," Evret said, bowing

"Please, co about you Here, I’ll call for some tea"

His broas tense He did not step past her threshold "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness, but I’m to report for my return to active duty this afternoon I only wanted to bring you this"

She hesitated Return to active duty? So he had been on leave She thought it ht be intentionally avoiding her--and yet it was also irksome to think that he needed two entire weeks to hter

"Don’t be silly," she said, pushing the door open more fully "I will ensure that your tardiness is excused Come in, just for a minute, please I’vehow you were"

Still he hesitated, glancing down at the fabric

"Sir Hayle Don’t hed, but his jaw only clenched in response He did, however, step inside His eyes darted around her chae She shut the door behind hi "Coh I’d been wondering…" She drifted into the parlor, and found that her legs were tre by the time she lowered herself onto the cushioned divan Evret did not come closer Did not sit down