"I reserved a bottle of the new Drunken Lotus from The Pinecrest Pavilion. I was going to share it with you on the lake."
"Since you're already here, that saves me a trip to the Black residence."
Drunken Lotus...
My mind drifted for a moment.
I remembered being a little girl, mistaking Drunken Lotus for tea and gulping it down.
I'd slept for three days straight. The memory pulled a faint smile from me despite everything.
Lester's expression softened. He reached for my hand. "I knew it. I knew you'd like that."
"Norma, you've given me the cold shoulder long enough. Whatever anger you had, surely it's passed by now."
"Let's go back to the way things were. In a few days, I'll petition the Imperial Observatory to set an auspicious date, and I'll marry you properly."
My smile didn't waver. I listened quietly until he finished.
Then I pulled my hand free. "I'm a candidate in the bride selection. You are an outside official, General. This kind of contact is improper."
Lester went still.
He stared at me in disbelief. "What did you just say?"
