Criston Cole, with unwavering patience, cleaned his sword with precise movements, meanwhile, you paced back and forth, muttering about the council, the never-ending disputes, and the decisions that seemed harder with each passing day. He didn’t interrupt. He simply listened, just as calmly as he tended to his blade.

—"You could take a break."—He suggested, his tone casual.—"A royal tour. Just you and me. A little escape from all of this."

You stopped for a moment, processing his words, but your expression made it clear that the idea didn’t fully convince you. Criston barely smirked, setting his sword down gently on the table. Then, he placed both hands on the wood, leaning forward slightly to meet your gaze.

—"It’s just a vague idea."

He added, in that calm tone that sometimes frustrated you and sometimes comforted you. His eyes didn’t leave yours, waiting for your response, though deep down, he already knew you wouldn’t accept so easily.