A Path of Regret

"Have you grown attached to the princess?" Larza followed him after Arthur was dismissed by the duke, defeated. "I told you to stay away from her, yet here you are holding her hand every night." 

She scrutinized him, looking for any slip-ups that would give him away. Suspicions were written clearly on her face. As her slit irises darted from one place to the other, Arthur hurried to grab her hand and kiss it. 

"No such thing, my lady," Arthur explained. "I was only advising the duke to avoid the risk, but he seems to trust his daughter. I was only fulfilling my duty to you." 

"Is that so?" Larza smiled in contentment. "I missed you for the past two weeks and also missed our little sessions." She placed her hand on his neck and he resisted the urge to slap it away. 

He had managed to recover well thanks to his work on the herb and his visit to the duke's house. Yet now, Larza was here. This will make it more difficult for him to escape.