"I should hope not. I haven't had breakfast."
Kaiden laughed, earning a wounded look from the woman tucked beneath his arm. He could at least have tried to restrain himself while she was explaining how she had accidentally arrived to ask for his hand.
His hold tightened in affectionate apology, and Yunohana leaned into him despite herself. After everything he had just said, there was very little point pretending her hopes were modest.
With his warmth at her side, Yunohana found the courage to meet Vespera's eyes again.
"Then... I would like to make him happy. Your son has been very good to me, and I want to be someone he is pleased to come home to."
Her voice softened as she said it. The wish had grown larger while she stood in this room, listening to him claim her so readily. She wanted to belong with him, to be welcome among the women who loved him, and she wanted his mother to know how seriously she meant it.
"I hope you can believe that."
