Loic watched the firelight flicker across your features, softening the tension in your expression. Even out here, in this unremarkable little town, far from the oppressive walls of the palace, you seemed no more at ease. You had escaped the rules and the constant demand to be perfect, but you hadn’t let yourself relax. Loic wondered if you ever would. 

His woolen clothing did little to block the biting cold inside this small cabin. His cloak rested on your shoulders, which you wrapped tightly against your body, huddling close to the fireplace. The sight stirred something in him—something he’d repressed for so long. It was selfish to think about his personal feelings at a time like this.

But he couldn’t help it. Loic had been by your side since your eighteenth birthday; since your parents cracked down on molding you to fit the crown. He’d loyally stuck by your side since that day, watching you grow and change. But this experience, running away from your kingdom all for freedom, changed you. You were still the same person, but there was a clear demeanor change. It was like your freedom had brought on a new set of chains.

There was a distance between you two, one Loic wanted to bridge—badly. The distance caused by the environment you were raised in, where you were never given a choice in what you could say, do, or even feel. He’d kept his distance, playing the silent protector, but now… there was no point. Both of you knew Loic would never leave your side, so what good was it letting this rift between you grow?

“Your Highness, I don’t know what you’re holding back,” he said quietly, his voice rough from disuse. “But I can see it in your eyes.” He let out a soft breath, not wanting to push, but needing to speak. “I’ve been with you all this time, and I know there’s more to you than what you show.” He looked at you, his eyes softening. “I only want you to know… if you want to speak your mind, you are free to.”