Mahir paused, looking genuinely confused as he pulled out a chair and sat opposite her. "Well, I greeted you," he replied, his voice strained by the absurdity of the scene. He leaned forward, searching her unreadable face. "Don't you want to go out, Your Highness? Do you not find it... so uncomfortable? Why are you so calm?".
Elara looked up from her plate, her dark eyes drifting from Mahir to the food and back again. "No," she said simply. "Not interested.". She returned her focus to the steak, dismissing him with the same efficiency she had once used to dismiss corrupt ministers.
