"No," Zahira admitted, voice very soft for a moment. "Caring for someone isn't loving them, that's true."
There was a faint shake of the older woman's head and she adjusted her arms around her daughter, listening to her as she talked. A hand brushed back her hair again as she met her daughter's gaze, and almost rueful smile curling her lips. "Zuma, he did marry me without knowing me. And I did marry him without knowing him. That was simply how it was. I turned eighteen and then, one day, I was told I would be married to him. And then I was. We came to be friends of course and we're very close, but we didn't know each other at first."
When Zuma wrapped her arms back around her, Zahira did the same, holding her gently again. "Maybe the Princess doesn't want to be married, I don't know, nor can I say I know the Earth King well. It will be resolved for her, one way or another. And why is your father saying you can't hug Kuzo? Or is he simply saying that you can't hug him like you do?"
An amused smile curled her lips and she teased, softly. "You can be very exuberant, my little one."