Must you answer me so sharply?
“Then what would you have me say?” I asked, frustration threading my words like a fine blade.
For a long moment, the channel went silent. The absence of his voice felt heavy, like tension hanging over a meeting before a deal gone wrong. At last, he muttered, Do as you please, before severing the connection.
How ironic. Once, when I asked why he visited Selara’s quarters in the eastern district, he called me meddlesome. When I pressed to know when he would return from her side, he accused me of clinging too tightly. And now, even my attempt to understand him drew his ire.
With a quiet exhale, I set the documents aside. Worrying would not repair the growing divide between us. There were still ledgers to balance and reports to finalize before the Don’s inspection.
When the night watch concluded, I remained behind, sweeping the hall and extinguishing the lamps. Returning to Darian’s quarters felt unnecessary, almost burdensome.