With his index finger wrapped tightly around the handle of the cup and his pinkie extended outwards, the Duke of Rosanne winked playfully for the woman opposite to him and brought the warm beverage to his lips. After sighing contently, Virion wiped his mouth politely with a serviette before smiling courteously.

"I've noticed you've been rather occupied lately. Have you discovered anything exciting while conducting your research?"

Cradling her own cup of tea with both hands, Tharja raised the beverage and took a small sip, her fingers drumming absentmindedly on the surface.

"I've made some progress of sorts, but without a suitable test subject I suspect I won't be able to continue further."

Virion adopted his typical devilish smile. "I hope you understand, my love - that for the purpose of research I am more than willing to participate in any sort of experiment or procedure you wish to conduct. I am always here if you need me."

Unamused, Tharja averted her eyes. "Yes, very clever. We've already established you're immune to my curses so performing on you would yield no desirable results."

Discouraged to witness her despondent expression, Virion returned to speak sincerely. "I may not be of assistance for this particular situation but should you ever require my services, you need but ask."

Tharja's stoic expression softened, and she smiled weakly.

With a courteous smile, Virion raised his cup of tea and acknowledged her with an affirmative nod. Tharja returned the gesture and brought her cup to her lips before gently placing it back down, her eyes still affixed away from his.

After taking another sip, Virion sighed contently and returned to admiring the dark mage before him. Before he could inquire any further, the dark mage exhaled despondently.

"Is something the matter?"

Tharja returned her eyes, visibly conflicted. "I'm fine, thank you."

Virion didn't need to possess a tactical mind to determine something was troubling her. Venturing as to what it could be, Virion sighed remorsefully. "I think understand."

Tharja was concerned to see that the usually charismatic man had developed an apologetic expression.

"Please, Tharja, I assure you my actions were no more than a playful ruse, and I never meant to cause any offence or discomfort. At no point was I ever trying to humiliate you."

Tharja grasped the surface of her cup tightly.

"But still" he began seriously, "that does not excuse my appalling behaviour. Even if it was in jest, my performance was still impolite and rude. I was deceitful and dishonest, and you never deserved to be subjected to that kind of audacious mockery."

Stirring uncomfortably in her seat, Tharja whispered softly. "I wasn't talking about that."

"Sorry?"

"That. I wasn't talking about your charades." She averted her eyes once more.

"Then what, if you wouldn't mind me asking?"

Tharja raised her cup to avoid speaking. With the gentleman's persistent concerned expression, Tharja wiped her mouth with her serviette. "I don't…look, I don't know what I was trying to say. Can we please just drop it?"

The dark mage's demeanor was causing Virion a great deal of concern. He was more than prepared to accept responsibility for whatever injustice he may have done, but she had asked for his understanding, and he respected her request.

"My deepest apologies for being so intrusive. I understand this must be quite difficult for you, so I won't pester you any further." He retrieved his cup. "But with that said, I'm deeply sorry for whatever I may have done to upset you. I may not be able to justify my actions, but I assure you, offending you was not my intention."

An unusual sensation of remorse and guilt began to envelop Tharja, thoroughly displeased with herself for insinuating she was upset with him when, in truth, she knew she had no reason to be.

"You haven't done anything wrong. I'm just…", she stirred uncomfortably, "I'm just confused."

Virion adopted a comforting smile and extended his hand across the table in hopes that the she will accept his gesture.

"Would milady feel comfortable sharing her concern with me?"

Tharja returned her attention to him with a conflicted expression, evident by her furrowed eyebrows and darkened cheeks. The dark mage exhaled deeply. "I just…I don't understand why you chose me."

"Sorry? I don't quite follow."

"You know what I mean" she retorted. "It's just…why me? Why did you pick me? Of all the women in this kingdom and you settle for me? why?"

Virion felt his heart sink upon hearing Tharja's hurtful accusation.

"Tharja, please. It wounds me to see you so -"

"You haven't answered my question."

The charismatic social butterfly was at a loss for words. It wasn't the first time the woman had tried to scrutinise him for his affections towards her - each time he had reassured her that his feelings were pure – but that particular episode was the first time she had approached him about ever since they'd united, and Virion knew he had set things right.

Pulling himself closer to the table, Virion spoke sincerely.

"I understand your concerns, and you have every right to be suspicious of my proclamations. Even with the time we have spent together, we still aren't acquainted terribly well with another, and our glaring dissimilarities only reinforce the notion. But I promise you: I am not settling for second-best, any available port in the storm or any other sort of appalling relegation."

Tharja listened attentively - curious and desperate to hear what he had to say.

"I love you, Tharja, and I promise you that I shall never leave your side; not until the final breath is sucked from my being. You may think yourself but an unpleasant, undeserving individual, but that isn't who I see. Even with the reprehensible slaughter and bloodshed surrounding us - when lesser beings care for none save their own-self-preservation - in between the tides of war and conflict you've always put others' safety and well-being before your own, and that is quality you mustn't ever feel you need to disguise, because beneath your exterior is the most wonderfully talented, caring, compassionate and beautiful woman to ever grace the Earth, and someone I would cordially dedicate my life to, because she deserves it more than anyone else I have ever met."

Tharja brought a hand to her burning cheek. Staring breathlessly at the man before, Tharja couldn't even begin to process what he had just been professed.

"Do you really mean that?"

Virion adopted a passionate smile and nodded. "I've made a commitment to protect you, Tharja, just as you have done for others, and I don't ever intend on abandoning that oath."

Rather than return his beautiful gesture, Tharja experienced difficulty trying to express her inner emotions into words.

"No one's ever said anything like that about me before."

Extending her hand across the table, Tharja tentatively placed hers over her husband's and smiled appreciatively, her face still burning passionately. "…I love you too. I've never met someone quite like you ever before, and I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me."

With a warm, comforting smile, Virion acknowledged. "I can assure you, my blossom, it was my inestimable pleasure."

Grasping the cup of tea in his hand, he extended it into the air. "To us", he toasted before taking another sip.

Scoffing playfully with a roll of her eyes, Tharja begrudgingly raised her cup as well.