A few minutes passed. Then Edmund stepped back out.
He was now wearing a white linen shirt… simple, slightly loose. The shirt has a short cut on the chest area, exposing his toned chest.
It softened him in a way, covering the bare chest she had just been looking at, making him look less exposed.
He adjusted the sleeve once as he walked back into view.
Ariel glanced at him briefly."…Better," she said simply, then looked away again.
A small smile pulled at Edmund's lips.
He moved and sat beside her on the wooden chair, careful not to crowd her. The wood creaked softly under them.
Ariel shifted a little without thinking, making space for him, still wrapped in his cloak.
He watched her for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the floor. "Why do I feel like you are acting cold towards me?" he asked quietly, then looked back at her.
Ariel blinked once, as if the question caught her off guard.
"I am not acting cold," she said, softer this time. "I think… I am just quiet."
