"What is the meaning of this, Rodolphus?"
He watches as Andromeda enters the room, a letter on her hand and her beautiful features marred by indignation and anger. He knows what she means, but he won't back down and let her win.
"Our marriage contract, Andi," he says and opens his arms.
He waits, watching at she struggles against her own wishes and her need of him wins at the end. She approaches him, her arms crossed on her chest and her head leaning against his shoulder.
"This is not what I wanted," she tells him and sighs heavily. Her arms finally relax and she hugs him back.
"You'll have my money and my surname, Andi. What more could you possibly want? You'll be my queen."
She scoffs and hits his shoulder with the letter. "Don't be stupid, Rodolphus. I don't want your money. I don't want any crown you could give me. I only want to be free."
He doesn't want to hear about that again; her rebelliousness has been fun but he's afraid she will leave him and seek the liberty she claims to want.
"I can give everything to you, Andromeda. If I was a king, I'll give you my kingdom and my very soul."
He is scared by her smile then because there is something ferocious in it; her lips call him, though, and he bites her softly, almost tenderly.
"I'd burn your kingdom to be free, Rod."