Caught off guard, Leal froze for an instant before clearing his throat. "Which version of the answer would you prefer to hear?" he asked.
Hilde snorted. "There are versions? What are my choices?"
One corner of Leal's mouth lifted. "The one you won't mind others overhearing," he began with a hint of teasing in his tone, "and the other kind."
When understanding of what he might mean dawned, Hilde threw him a dirty look. "You really can't help yourself, can you?" she said drily.
Leal inwardly kicked himself and thought, 'What am I doing?'
He said aloud, "It would seem that I can't."
For one moment of pure regret, he thought the conversation he had managed to open—something that already went against all expectations—had now ended. But then...
"Well, Prince?" Hilde urged, choosing, it wo
