He bows his head slightly in deference, a boyish smile pulling at his lips, making him appear younger than his years for a moment— a side of him few people ever had the chance to see, but has long given up feeling the need to present himself as stiffly put together around Kisara as he once had.

"Not to say they were intentionally duplicitous, but I imagine we both kept a great deal to ourselves. I certainly kept my own feelings veiled, to an extent— if your surprise at my proposal is anything to go by."

Never mind the fact that there were plenty of other factors that made the proposal itself startling, but the fact remains that he knows he could afford to be more open with his feelings— and he should be. Kisara deserves that and more.

"They were dinners between friends, but I have long seen you as much more than that, Kisara."