"This dish is delicious. I'm sure it's up to your taste."
Arthur hesitated for a brief second, fingers hovering just slightly above the fork as if he needed that moment to gather himself. Then, quietly, he picked up the piece of meat Natalia had placed so carefully at the side of his plate.
It looked like something he would like.
Tender. Well-seasoned. Not too oily. Exactly the kind of thing he always gravitated toward without even realizing it.
And he did like it.
The moment it touched his tongue, his expression shifted, subtly, but undeniably. His eyes lit up just a fraction, the tension in his shoulders easing as warmth spread through him.
"It's… delicious," Arthur murmured, a small, genuine smile forming on his lips before he could stop it.
Across from him, Natalia watched.
She didn't miss a single detail as she watched him.
