"I do not know where we stand, Prince," she says quietly, turning a piece of straw between her fingers. "I believe that I have made it clear how I feel about you. I do know that you do not reciprocate those feelings."

That doesn't stop her from a split second's pause, though, hoping against all hope that he'll tell her she's wrong. She hates herself for it.

"What I am trying to say is that you are free to do as you will, Highness," she says, finally glancing up at him. "I want to make it clear: I will not hold you to some agreement that our parents made when we were children. You are not tied to me."