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Steph shrugged “Not really I’ve had expectations put on me my whole life, especially since my father ealthy I had to behave a certain way, lest it hurt his ie”

“You coround?” Mehdi asked, surprised

“Yes Why does that surprise you?”

“Because a girl who coe,” he said

“Ah, you figured that part out, huh? Yes, but notice I said that I ealthy The stockwe had, and h, in their minds, to support ed h My mother always intended for me to be married this way”

Mehdi nodded “That’s very likely It is custoe a better situation for herself I can understand why your mother would want that kind of security for you”

“You can?” she asked “Then ould you do all of this?” She waved a hand around the toward the palace and the courtyard

Mehdi cleared his throat “I don’t know It just see to do?”

“Subtext: you’re not going to tell me?”

“Correct,” Mehdi said with a rin

They sat in co the cool air of the i with heat After a while, servants ca ways at that point, but Mehdi didn’t ht in

Steph laughed “I couldn’t possibly eat another bite!”

“Oh, I think you’ll change your mind Everyone always has roo as plates of chocolate-filled pastries and custard cakes s