Arella was looking through the designs, this time the one avoiding his eyes. "Can you not keep a secret?" She asked, "did you have to go all the way to avoid me?"
"Well, I knew I would have spilled the secret if I was around you. That would have spoiled the surprise." He sighed, "Although I guess that the surprise is spoiled now irregardless."
"Okay, fair point." She finally flipped to the last design. "They are all beautiful."
King Varziel's ears perked slightly at her words despite himself. "You think so?" His voice was soft, almost cautious.
Arella glanced up at him, her lips twitching into a small, reluctant smile. "Yes, you dolt. They are very beautiful. The fact that you even tried to design something so meaningful for me--" her words trailed off, and she swallowed hard as an unexpected wave of emotion washed over her. "It is thoughtful. I cannot believe you would go through so much effort."