When the witch spoke, she expected some sort of cruelty. Every sentence the witch had said thus far had been touched with something unkind, and so it did not surprise her when she called him a monster. She would have argued with her, based on that statement alone, if he hadn't spoken and turned to her.
The pleading in his eyes surprised her. The only reason she had left her response as vague as she had was because something in the back of her mind warned her that it was a secret, her being in his castle.
"I very much want to stay with him," she said, the certainty and fondness in her voice unmistakable. "Though I could not tell you how many guest monsters have, as I do not know any monsters." The last was said gently, but firmly.