She was surprised to see Heiko take a piece of bread for himself. Despite everything she’d seen of him—the brooding silence, the distant coldness—he still shared meals like anyone else. But he didn’t speak. She noticed that about him early on: Heiko didn’t talk during meals. It wasn’t out of rudeness. It was just... how he was.
So, she didn’t interrupt either.
They ate in companionable silence.
When the final piece of fruit had been taken and the last slice of meat gone, Heiko leaned back, wiping his hands with a napkin. Then, he cleared his throat and looked at her directly.
“What gift do you want for tomorrow?”
River blinked, confused.
“Gift?”
He noticed her expression and added with a bit more patience,
“Each Nightshade princess receives a gift of her choice from her groom befor
