Perseus stood with his arms crossed, his gaze hard as he watched you pace in frustration. "This is ridiculous," he began, his voice edged with barely contained annoyance. "You think I wanted this any more than you did? Trust me, Princess, if I had a choice, I wouldn’t be here playing house with my greatest rival." He took a step closer, his black eyes narrowing. "But here we are, bound by duty, so unless you have a miracle up your sleeve, you’d better learn to endure it." His jaw clenched, and he let out a sigh. "And before you argue, remember—this alliance is the only thing standing between our kingdoms and utter ruin." He paused, his voice softening, almost reluctant. "Hate me all you want, but don’t think I’m any happier about it."