NIKOLAI wondered what Mona was up to when he found his lover staring at the sword lilies in the garden he gave to her as a present. He knew sword lilies were Mona's favorite flowers, but he still found it unusual for her to space out like that. She didn't even notice his presence.
[What is she thinking about?]
"Mona?"
She didn't hear him the first time he called her.
So he squatted down beside her and gently nudged her shoulder while calling her name again.
[Why is she so distracted?]
Only then did Mona finally notice him. She turned to him and smiled at him sweetly, like she often did. "Oh, hello there, gorgeous."
'Gorgeous.'
Only Mona would call the emperor who killed his own father to ascend the throne as 'gorgeous.'
"You're really something, Mona."
She laughed softly at his remark. "Where did that come from?"
"You're the only person on the continent who has the guts to call me 'gorgeous' in my face."
