Ugliness

"You're not mistaken," she confirmed with a charming smile, "we are...friends after all, and what could be more normal for friends than to see each other. You understand that very well anyway, since you and Azhewo are also...friends."

"And that's what's eating away at you so much, isn't it?"

"Yes!" she admitted without breaking her impassive smile, "but you also know very well what you're talking about, don't you?

They looked at each other.

"He will never love you as he has loved me and will always love me. Your Azhewo, who is above all mine. No matter how much you say, how much you do, you'll never change that. You will always be in second place. And," she added with a light, amused chuckle, "there's probably nothing worse than knowing that, and you, Ariadne, know that."