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“Does it hurt?” I asked, meeting his honey-colored eyes once again.

His thick eyebrows jerked up in surprise, but he quickly schooled his features into an expression of indifference. His gaze dropped to the ground, as was expected of well-behaved men when talking to women they weren’t related to.

“It’s nothing that Her Highness needs to concern herself with,” he replied, holding the dog out to me.

If I took the puppy, Salas would be free to leave and go back to his bricks. Instead, I left Ria where she was, essentially trapping him into the conversation with me. Ria didn’t seem to mind it one bit, happily accepting the ear scratches.

Should I tell him about the appeal progress of his case? I feared that would make me look like I was expecting his gratitude when, really, I didn’t think he cared about his case at all.

“That fight you started...” I said instead. “Why didn’t you defend yourself in court? Why didn’t you complain about the other men insulting you?”

Maybe if I knew the answers, I’d sleep better tonight. If curiosity was what kept this man in my thoughts, then all I had to do was satisfy it.

He kept his gaze down. “There was nothing to defend. I lost my temper. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You attacked four men—”

“Six.”

“Pardon?”

His beard moved, and I could’ve sworn it was now hiding a smile. Or a smirk.

“There were six men, Princess. The other two ran away before the guards got there.”

I held back a gasp. “You attacked six men? Alone?”

“I didn’t mean to break any bones,” he muttered into his beard.

I believed he didn’t. He looked genuinely remorseful about that. Though, I wasn’t sure whether he regretted the entire fight or just the arm that he broke.

“Why did you do it? What could they have possibly said that made you so mad at them?”

He rolled back his shoulders with a wince and shifted his weight to another foot. Yesterday, he kept stealing curious glances at me. Today, he seemed to try his hardest to avoid my eyes at all costs.

“The matter is of too little importance to trouble Your Highness with,” he fired off.

His posture was humble, his voice remained respectful. Why then did I feel like I’d just been told to fuck off and mind my own business?

“Your Highness!” Gem marched over from the patio, flanked by at least a dozen guards. About half of the women carried crossbows with bolts soaked in sleeping potion. If it weren’t for the crossbows, I doubted a dozen guards would be enough to stand against Salas if he chose to fight them, since six men hadn’t been a match for him the last time.

Gem touched my elbow.

“We should go, Your Highness. It’s time to get dressed for dinner.” It sounded like a suggestion, not an order. Only the firm grip of her fingers on my arm left no doubt she meant for me to follow her without a debate.

I didn’t move, looking at Salas, but he thrust out his hands with the puppy again, as if silently imploring me to take the dog and leave.

My curiosity had not been satisfied, not in the slightest. If anything, it only burned brighter now. But I couldn’t keep questioning him with all this crowd here, especially since he refused to reply.

“I just want to help you,” I said. “With the case.”

“I appreciate your kindness, Your Highness.” He bowed to me with the unexpected grace that could rival that of a courtier. “But there really is no need to trouble yourself. I committed a crime. I accepted my punishment. The case should’ve been closed.”

“Would you rather they deliver those two lashes?”

He frowned, shifting stiffly, but said nothing.

“You don’t like attention,” I replied for him. “I can see that. But it doesn’t mean you should let bad things happen to you.”