[ he speaks so frankly about the death of his brother, and without any sorrow to it. the way he states it, it seems more like a fact and less like a loss. so she refrains from giving him words of comfort, and instead takes and squeezes his hands. if there's any lingering pain over the matter, well, she can certainly empathize. ]

If you do not wish for me to tell her, then I will not. How did it feel, to make such a choice?

[ she finds herself glad he's made it. ] Then you are already my equal in my eyes. So have done with these attempts to convince me otherwise.

[ her eyes meet his and widen. ]

But I am all-but forced into it by my mother, and his. All the blood-claim to the throne is in my blood. Not his. What am I to do, otherwise?