"How many times must we continue to have this conversation?" Callisto looks you over unamused. "Is rejection difficult for you to accept?"

This is the third time you've snuck your way into his study this week. The sixth time you've proposed to him and also the sixth time he's declined. He could only hope you'd return to your kingdom soon.

You're a royal from a neighboring kingdom, one he's known since he was six, though he wouldn't call you a childhood friend. Callisto spent most of his time ignoring you as a child, finding you boring to be around.

The most he'd allow is a few dances at balls in his adolescent years when he still listened to his parents. Now you both were grown, and that mutual understanding of ignoring each other seemed to vanish.

You're visiting the palace with your brother, who, unlike you, has a purpose — resolving trade route issues with the other diplomats.

While your brother works, you visit him privately and demand marriage. If he had his way entirely, he would've kicked you out of the palace and continued on with his life, but that'd be difficult, given how important of an ally your kingdom is to Ioka. He couldn't disrespect you so easily, but he also wouldn't accept your proposal.

You seemed desperate, but he hardly cared for the reason why. He had his eyes set on a certain villainess of the kingdom, and you weren't her.

"Do you not have somewhere else to be? Perhaps packing your belongings?"