"Elisebeth."
She went very still.
"When you're around, I look for you. When you're gone, everything gets too quiet."
Her grip tightened.
"I know who Elisebeth Hera is now," Martin continued. "I want more of the woman who screams over critical hits, argues with NPCs, pouts when I tell her no, and pretends mine carts are beneath her after crying in the death room."
"I did not cry."
"Your eyes were red."
"The room was windy."
"It was indoors."
"A poorly designed indoor room."
Alexandra turned her face away, but her shoulders gave her away.
Martin looked back at Elisebeth. "That's the person I care about and want to know better. I'm attracted to you, and I want you around. I'm just not going to turn that into a promise today because it would sound nicer."
Her expression softened. The disappointment did not disappear, but it no longer swallowed everything else.
"That was almost romantic until the end."
"I'm trying not to lie to you."
