He can take solace in the fact that her behavior could be much worse. She could have thrown a fit or had him dismissed for not catering to her demand. His words displease her but she does not stomp her foot or demand she have her own way. She simply frowns at his statement of facts and knows what he says is true.

She matters to many, she is one person away from ruling. She wants nothing to do with such things, like every other bird trapped in a gilded cage, she longs to be free to do what she pleases. Ninon wants to use her influence and intelligence to do more, to help others, especially the women of the Spire. Before her mind can wander into a childish spiral of dispair and woe-is-me, he takes her hand, capturing her full attention.

Ninon watches him kiss her palm with half-lidded eyes, feeling shaken by his admission and warmed as well, her cheeks and chest flushing once more. She presses her luck, as she always does: "Is that because I may become Spirearch someday? Or is it nothing to do with that?"