“Not all of us long for a true Lady, Ava, and I think you know it too well. You’re no less a challenge, and that is all any of those men crave.” He saw it clearly enough, even as they prattled on about love and beauty. He could put on that show as well as anyone; probably better than most. But he’d never really been a fan.
“Have I? One would never know it, as infrequently as I am granted your company.” It wasn’t over the top, but it was an invitation all the same. He wouldn’t plead with her to spend more time at hand, but he wouldn’t make a secret of desiring it either. Mikino hadn’t as far to travel, which meant he had ample time to waste. However, he took her dismissal for what it was and offered up one last bow, this one abbreviated and lacking a bit of the formality of the first.