Aldric stood, brushing invisible dust from his coat. Overall, he was satisfied with the way things were moving, though one detail made his chest tighten.
For years, he'd assumed Leroy's refusal to learn sign language was pure indifference. But now, watching him, Aldric realized it was something else entirely. Leroy had always known the princess could speak. He simply refused to meet her in the middle because he wanted her to choose to speak to him, wanted to hear her voice, wanted her words.
Two people locked in the same stalemate.
The prince unwilling to yield first. The princess, unwilling or unable, to unlock the door she kept shut.
What stubborn fools. And yet… perhaps it wasn't time for either to surrender.
"If you want to sit here daydreaming about tormenting the princess, you'd better stay alive to do it," Aldric said, heading for the door. "And clean this disaster of a room."
