Page 179 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
“You didn’t stop what you were doing to rush here, did you?”
He paused. “No.”
“Kalon.”
“It was only a personal meeting. It’s fine.” He turned to Annie. “Leave us and tell nobody to bother us for a while.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” She curtseyed before scurrying out of the room and tightly closing the door behind her.
“I should have had her pour my tea first,” he mused, sitting down opposite me. “Are you sure you shouldn’t be in bed?”
“I’m fine. I promise I’ll lie down if I get tired.” I watched him pour his own tea for the first time ever—even I would usually do it if nobody else was around, but I knew offering would get me scolded. “I need to speak with you about something.”
Kalon stirred his sugar into his tea. “It sounds serious.”
“I know it’s not been long since I moved to Stein and that we’ve had even less time than that together, but I need to know. How do you feel about me?”
His spoon clattered to the floor. “I’m sorry?”
Welp.
This was off to a jolly start, wasn’t it?
“I’m no fool, Kalon. I know you only approached me initially to annoy Her Majesty and the Crown Prince, and I certainly wasn’t charming enough after one dance for you to fall in love with me at first sight and propose marriage.” I sipped my tea. “But you’re nothing like I expected you to be.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re far clingier than I ever imagined. It’s like having a puppy follow me around sometimes.”
He cast his gaze out of the window. “I feel as though I’ve just been insulted.”
“No. I like puppies. They’re cute.”
“You’re not making me feel any better,” he remarked. “What exactly are you asking me, Allie?”
Goodness.
Surely it was a crime to be this dense.
Fine. I was going in for the kill.
“Do you have any romantic feelings towards me?”
He swung his gaze to meet mine. “I was just responsible for the death of the man who released the monster that hurt you. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a statement of fact and not your feelings.” I set my teacup down. “Is it terribly hard to tell me how you feel? I’m hardly asking for an ardent declaration of your undying love.”
Kalon covered his mouth with his hand and looked away again, and as he turned his head, I caught a glimpse of a blush rising up his cheeks. “I thought I’d made it clear how I felt about you. Have I not done that adequately?”
I touched a finger to my engagement ring. I knew how important that was to him, and I didn’t want to discredit his actions. “It’s not that you haven’t shown me adequately. I’m just the kind of person who needs verbal affirmation.”
He refused to look at me, keeping half his face covered with his large hand.
I couldn’t believe this man was so shy when it came to his feelings.
He was just a big ol’ cinnamon roll, wasn’t he?
I reached across the table and took his hand. “Shall I tell you, then? I like how you always make time for me even if I’m being a fussy baby. I like how you always think of me and take my opinion into consideration, and I like how you support me and cheer me on. I like the way you want to protect me but trust me enough to protect you, too. I like spending time with you, whether it’s talking about work or just having tea.”
