Irene had this pure expression in her eyes. It was like she had never heard those words before. She was truly like a little child, naive to the world yet one who knows everything. She had that wiseness in her eyes yet her expressions made her seem naive. She laughed softly, her lips falling into a tiny smile. It was the first time she laughed in a long time, even if it was a little laugh. “I’m happy to hear that,” Her voice was oddly soothing. She lifted her somewhat warm hands, stroking the fabrics of the cloak he put back on her shoulders. “I have never worn anything this nice.” She whispered though it sounded like she was talking to herself. In her kingdom, commoners don’t wear the nicest things. They wore plain old clothes that aren’t made of the most comfortable cloth. It was truly frustrating to see everyone around there wearing colors that represent their powers. All kingdoms were different with how they treat the low ranking, but her Kingdom wasn’t very nice.

“Irene. You have everything you need. We have a son. There is no need to get caught up over what people wear. You see yourself as a commoner when I see you as Irene Nirvana.” Her lover would always say. He was always so sweet but she always felt there was some misunderstanding there. She appreciated his words deeply but did he truly understand what it was like to be looked at differently? She pushed the thought away, focusing on Aziel rather than her past memories.

Irene jerked her head to Aziel. She looked deep into his eyes for a long second before speaking. “I am grateful. But please understand that wasn’t how I was raised. I am to repay you, whether you like it or not.” Her eyes presented that she was overly serious yet there was a brightness to them. She was very gentle and calm most of the time but when it came down to it she can be stubborn, though it is mostly in a passive way. She let out a soft exhale, looking away.

Irene was raised to be peaceful. That was what her Nirvana bloodline was made out to be. If someone gave her their kindness then she is to return it. It is the proper thing to do. Most people, especially, the people who were influenced by war, had zero respect for those with the Nirvana name. They would travel to great kingdoms and even bow before the King and Queen. No matter what they were always grateful for the situation they were in. Sadly, that had been passed down to Irene. She had that natural instinct to make peace. Yes, it is a gift yet she had more negative effects from it more than anything. Pushed around because she was never allowed to have a breaking point. Irene could be harmed yet still smile at the same person that maltreated her. It was a curse in disguise. Yet how could she avoid it if that was who she was?

“It isn’t the first time I’ve been treated this way. How your partner treats me….It’s normal, so there is no need to guard me against her bitter words. No matter how she treats me I will still treat her kindly.” She closed her eyes for a long second. Still compelled to say such things made her want to laugh.

Irene had fallen quiet, though she looked more dazed than anything. Finally, her stomach was full and her thirst was quenched. She was in a comfortable environment as well. She was now letting the drowsiness of sleep deprivation set in. She wanted to ask him many questions and she wanted to serve him in any way she could. But now, it was time for her to sleep. Her eyes fluttered open. “I’m sorry,” She whispered in a sorrowful tone. She was apologizing for her tiredness. Irene was practically falling asleep while sitting up. She shifted and found herself leaning against a cave wall. It took her a minute but she managed to fall asleep, even if she wasn’t in the most comfortable position.

“Irene. Wake up.” A startling dream, of which she couldn’t really remember, provoked her to wake up. She didn’t recognize the voice either. It had been a couple of hours since she had fallen asleep. She gulped hard and sat up, looking at her hands. She bunched her fingers into fists and got up. It took her a moment to get steady but she managed.

She didn’t want to waste her time so she decided to get creative, keeping her mind off of that odd but foggy dream. Irene reached for the food stash they had. It seemed like she was trying to steal but she wasn’t. Irene was merely trying to make something. She managed to concoct something out of what she deemed to be overly dry foods. It wasn’t the ideal meal but it was definitely better than the food they currently had. After she was done cooking over the fire, she served a decent-sized portion to Aziel. Without a word, she moved away from him. It took a lot of guts but she brought a portion to Saira. She bowed her head to show some sort of respect. “I thought you could use something to eat.” She spoke gently to Saira though she had the feeling it was only going to anger her. “If you need anything, J..Just ask me,” She smiled pleasantly even if it was a bit forced.

How would Saira perceive this? Would she get offended at Irene even speaking to her or offended with the food? She tried to force the conversation to lighten the moment but Irene didn’t even consider that it could make things worse. “Aziel is a very nice man, but he said you have a hard time liking new people,” He didn’t exactly say that but she was just putting what he said in a very nice way.

It took her a while to catch on to what she did wrong. It made her hesitate. Was she not supposed to say that? She was merely being truthful. If Aziel and her were close then why would Irene hold back on what to say to her? Aziel did say they weren’t partners and that they were like brother and sister. But why would a ‘like brother-sister’ relationship be like this? “I didn’t mean to…” She was of course cut off by Saira. She wanted to take a long minute to explain but she didn’t have the chance to. Everyone makes mistakes, right? This just seemed to be the wrong time to be making those mistakes.

It all happened too fast. She couldn’t even tell what was happening until she heard Saira speak in a raw threatening tone. She grimaced when the knife blade pressed against her throat. The blade tip felt cool yet it craved to harm her skin. She was lucky she didn’t bleed by the pressure but there was sure to be a mark residing afterward. Irene didn’t know what to do. She just kept her eyes closed like a scared puppy. Her breathing grew shallow out of fear. Irene was nearly trembling by the fear but she managed to retain composure. She should have seen this coming. Her mind was racing too fast to follow everything she was saying but one sentence, in particular, caught her off guard. Her eyes opened in shock. He was a Prince?!

She wasn’t even left a moment to think or process the words that spilled from her mouth. Saira just kept presenting threats and nonsense when truly, nothing was Irene’s fault. And for her to say Irene would hurt someone…

Irene pushed herself to speak even though her mind was screaming not to. “Why would I dare hurt someone who treats me well? So I can be absorbed in a world full of people like you who mistreat me? By all means, if I were to kill someone you would be the better option. But you know I am not capable of winning that battle.” Her words were bitter yet she still found herself retaining a calm yet shaken tone. It wasn’t often she spoke harsh words but every human is capable of doing it. Irene would call herself weak. She had no powers to call her own and on top of that, she isn’t well-nourished, even though she recently had a well-filling meal. “You have vast assumptions but no facts. It is unusual that someone like you is feeling threatened by a powerless commoner,” Irene, by good means, could have used a harsh tone and made all the threats she wanted but she didn’t. Her tone was laced with sorrow and concern. She truly felt sorry for Saira at this moment, more sorry than scared to be exact. It almost sounded like she was trying to help Saira.

Irene hesitated abruptly when she saw Aziel grab Saira’s wrist which held the knife. It all happened too quickly and now it was at its end. She was finally able to get her mind clear enough to think. His demeanor was completely different. He was so kind and sweet just a moment ago yet here he was using such a hostile tone. It was startling really. Was he really that protective of Irene after just meeting her? On top of that, his power flourished. Even if it hadn’t surfaced it can still feel it. It was so abrupt that it made Irene freeze out of instinct. Though it felt familiar like it sparked something in her. She felt this odd build-up, almost like an obnoxious dwelling of something. Though that spark ceased when Saira stormed off.

Irene couldn’t help but be retained in silence for a long second, ignoring Aziel’s questions. She finally looked up at him, tears swarming her eyes. It took a lot for her to cry but to be truthful she didn’t know exactly why she was crying. Was it because of the feeling of betrayal? Was it because of the fear? She didn’t know but that was the least of her concerns. “Why?” She said bluntly. It was hard to tell what exactly she was asking the question for but then she continued. “Why let me embarrass myself in front of you?” She appeared to be entirely hurt. It wasn’t exactly the moment that transpired that she spoke of. It was of what occurred earlier. Through her eyes, she had taken the prince’s cloak. She even had the audacity to make the prince food that probably wasn’t quality to his liking. She had spoken so freely around him as well. It was how she was processing it that was holding her back.

Although there was vast confusion she found herself respecting his desires. A prince who will become a king but doesn’t want to be treated like royalty. It was more easy thinking than doing. The natural instinct is to respect royalty and treat them….well like royalty.

She let out a shy exhale, nudging the tears out of her eyes. She allowed herself to settle before speaking again. “There is nothing you can do for her behavior.” She subtly said. It still felt awkward talking to him, knowing that he is to be king someday. She fell silent for a prolonged duration of time. “But I can’t help but thank you,” She finally said. It was still hard for her to shake off the moment. “Who knew what could have happened?” She forced a weak smile in hopes he wouldn’t feel too bad about what happened.

Irene found a seat by the fire once again. Her face was flushed from crying. What was she to do? The last thing she wanted to do was find herself getting attached to him because of his privilege, hoping to get something out of him. Her fingers bunched into a fist out of anger, not at him but at herself. She shouldn’t even be thinking of those things. She wouldn’t do such a thing. “It will take me a while, but I will treat you the way you desire. That is how I can repay you for all you have done. I will repay you by treating you normally,” She gazed up at him, hoping that her words made him feel comfortable.

Irene gulped nervously, hesitating to grab his hand. She was nervous for a lot of reasons. First, it was the horse since she hadn’t ridden one in a long time, and second, she had to grab his hand. It seemed easy to grab someone’s hand but it isn’t every day that you get to grab the hand of a prince. It will take her a while to get used to his royal blood. Irene just had to focus on treating him normally. She quickly pulled the hood of the cloak over her head. It was much warmer wearing it. She flexed her fingers then grabbed his hand. Her teeth gritted out of anxiety. It has been a long time since she had ridden a horse. Irene was startled when his mare walked off. She couldn’t help but latch on to Aziel, in hopes she wouldn’t fall. It took a while but she slowly became more relaxed, not sitting so rigid in her seat.

Her breath was cold in the winter air. It was hard to believe she was traveling on foot in this weather. She was happy to not be anymore. “May I ask why you are traveling? Well, I am quite grateful you were since you saved my life but most don’t travel during the winter.” She asked softly. After she heard his response she decided to continue on this topic. Irene felt more comfortable talking now that she found him to be too kind for his own good.

“I used to travel a lot as a little girl, making small trips of peace. I learned the tricks and traditions of the Nirvana family during that time. But the traveling ceased when um…” She gulped like it was a hard topic to talk about. “...when I was deemed powerless.” She sighed slowly, taking a long moment of silence. “It was fun when I would travel. I especially loved the traditional foods of each kingdom, since they were always distinct from each other. But I have never left the kingdom walls after my thirteenth birthday. I guess you can say I was never allowed,” She laughed to lighten the mood but her laugh seemed a bit nervous. “I was actually supposed to make a trip to your kingdom to see a peaceful blessing bestowed upon the royals.” Irene skipped the part where she wasn’t allowed to go. Why would they have use for a powerless person to bestow blessings anyway? Her parents stopped participating in the peaceful Nirvana trips when they found out their daughter wasn’t going to bear any powers. They had been one of the few to continue traveling even through the suppression of the Nirvana family. There wasn’t a lot around anymore. Now her bloodline seems to be rare, almost like they all nearly died off.

“I will be honored to do a traditional blessing of peace for you. You are royalty anyway,” It had been a long time since she had blessed someone. Blessings were part of the tranquil responsibilities within the Nirvana family. Most women took on this responsibility since they were more elegant and prosperous while the men took on the preaching aspect of things. Women would take minutes to hours. They would take their time with their words finding the right words to say that hit the soul of the one they are blessing. Some would use certain oils, specially made by them, or medicinal herbs during their sessions. Men usually found themselves trying to relax the wars between nations and overall preaching between kingdoms. They had more of a dangerous job.

A blessing wasn’t anything religious but one for everlasting tranquility and peace. It was a great honor to get blessed by one of them. It was unlike any blessing. It tended to be more of a delicacy than regular or religious blessings. Many of the higher-ranking people received them, especially the royalty. Even though most common people don’t like ones with the Nirvana lines they have built a name for themselves.

“I can possibly do the same for your family. I’m sure they haven’t seen one with my blood nor received a blessing in years,” She hesitated afterward. Maybe it wasn’t best to have asked him that, knowing he probably didn’t want anything to do with the royal life. It was still best to offer.

It had been a long journey, maybe a few hours, but it was much quicker than she expected. Well, they were on horseback. If she had been walking on foot it would have been a couple more days, or at least that’s how long it would have been in the starved condition she was in prior. A few times she became drowsy but she managed to stay awake the whole way. She was happy to be traveling again. She felt much safer to be near a kingdom, especially one that is an ally.

Irene became full of excitement. She couldn’t help but be perky and curious. She hadn’t seen this kingdom in years. So much has had to change. Once again that child-like side began to creep out of her. She found herself speechless for a long moment.

Irene chuckled. Her chuckle didn’t last long but a smile lingered afterward as the mere remnants of her pride. Her fingertips tightened against his attire. It was unlike her to just openly laugh like that but she did find his behavior unique to the point of her having no choice but to giggle. “It isn’t something that I just want to do. What I mean is you are going to have to want it yourself or you don’t appreciate it for what it is.” Irene found it comforting to give blessings but there was one thing she always made sure of when mentioning it. She doesn’t want it to be an obligation. Irene believes that each person needs to be in a certain place within themselves to receive a blessing. Not all people are in that place just yet. Her point is that an individual needs to feel like they deserve the blessing, not need it. It was simply something she had learned over time. Her voice grew warmer as she found herself enjoying talking to him. It had been months since she had a broad conversation like this one. “I don’t mean to be blunt but you seem to find everything to be a responsibility.” Her voice ceased, a soft breath escaping her lips. She took in the chilly breeze for a second before continuing. “Not everything is a responsibility, Aziel. Maybe it will help you if you stop looking at everything the same way,” Her voice had become colder, her lips hesitant to speak such words. It wasn’t the fact that he was royalty that she held her words, it was merely the fact that she held her words around everyone. Irene always hoped she wouldn’t say something wrong. “My point is...come to me when you are ready to have your blessing. The worst thing you can do is come to me out of sheer obligation,”

After her long speel of suggestions and remarks, her voice finally settled. She figured it was best to let there be some silence to continue their traveling. Before she knew it they came upon his kingdom. It was hard to believe that she was riding with the future king. He was soon going to rule the Zariya kingdom. The startling thought quickly evaporated as she saw the pearly metal gates open. The kingdom was extraordinary. There was a uniqueness about it that was unlike the Alythni kingdom. It was arduous to tell if her eyes were deceiving her for everywhere she looked it was hard to believe that it was winter. There were so many warm colors and smells that just made her eyes widen with curiosity continuously. Yet even with the warm colors, the winter snow just seemed to make it sparkle in a way that she had never seen before. It was so different from her kingdom. Maybe it was due to the fact that Alythni, at least in her mind, was tainted. She presumed that it was merely her way of seeing it, but once she saw it that way she never saw it how she originally did. Her kingdom was the place where she was deemed powerless, where she found out that her husband had died, where her son had passed away, and where she was treated horrifically. It became so dejected that she doesn’t even feel it is her home anymore. But as they entered this place she finally realized that she had forgotten how beautiful a kingdom can be. Sadly, the stargazing of surroundings had to end as they neared the castle.

Irene didn’t dismount as gracefully as Aziel, seeming to stumble for a second. Aziel didn’t leave her enough time to wander around. She was startled when he seized her hand. She expected them to make their way towards the man before them, not turn in the opposite direction. For some reason, she found his demeanor different than before, almost like he was trying to protect her. Why was he more defensive than before even though he didn’t show it on his face? She allowed him to guide her. She couldn’t help but allow her amber eyes to glance back at the man who watched them walk away from him. She was going to ask Aziel who that man was but he seemed to be in a foul mood for even having to be in this environment.

Her voice held itself still as she watched him mend to his mare, Anya, who seemed exhausted from the trek. Irene felt it was best to leave Aziel alone. The last thing she wanted to do was push his buttons with questions and comments. Her fingers twitched as she placed a hand against the horse’s neck, blinking a minor time as she appreciated what stood before her. She beamed over at Aziel but he was too busy to notice. At the same time he flinched, Irene immediately found coverage beside him. She didn’t usually seek protection of this sort but something told her to.

Her grip tightened on her cloak, her knuckles turning white as she squeezed in hopes it would make her feel safer. The demeanor of the man, who she now figured out was Aziel’s father, was raw and uncomfortable. She locked eyes with his cold icy eyes but she turned her gaze away. There was a manner about her that radiated shame. Irene attempted to step forward but she was frozen. She couldn’t tell whether it was the feeling she got from this man or if it were something else. “Sir, I--” She shamefully tried to pronounce but he was already on his own speel. This reminded her too much of her home, every person treating her this way. It was hard to bear but she managed to glance up at Aziel. Her amber eyes widened ever so slightly as she saw the way he held his head so low. It seemed too familiar. Lift your head up, she wanted to tell him. She couldn’t, her lips slimmed as she watched Aziel’s father storm off. She knew it was wrong of her to speak in such a moment and to even attempt to suggest something that even she didn’t want to do.

Finally, Irene spoke, allowing the moment’s adrenaline to wash out of her veins. “I have experienced worse,” She belatedly stated to Aziel, her eyes shallow with deep sorrow. She felt compelled to comfort him, feeling pity as he pushed a smile for her benefit. Now wasn’t the time. She allowed her hand to be seized by his. Maybe she thought too much of it but there was a way about him that seemed all too familiar.

As they made their way inside, her eyes glittered. The warm breeze of the castle hit her face. It allowed the bitter cold to slink off of her skin. The ceilings were tall endlessly, the walls filled with curves that were charmingly intricate. She knew no matter how long she stared at each feature it would never lose its gracefulness. “It is quite marvelous. I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” She managed to exclaim, somehow managing to keep her voice low even with all of the excitement. Her eyes scanned every inch of the estate like a child in a brand new store. In the heat of the moment, her hand slipped out of Aziel’s as she took kind steps forward. She trimmed her insignificantly cold fingers across every piece of furniture she came across. The woods that made up each piece seemed to be one of a kind, glossy without a single blemish. Each surface was smooth and carved. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she turned her gaze to Aziel. “Your home is better than I could ever anticipate,” She found herself seizing his hand that she once left as they made their way to his chambers.

His chambers were even more glamourous than the basic materials within the estate that she recently experienced and touched. It was unlike her home by a great degree. She used to make a living off of a basic cot for a bed and a home with such a ghastly draft. But here was way different. There were such fine linens, classic hand-carved furniture, and not a hint of dust. Her full lips fell slim as she gazed around. She wanted to touch everything to feel the fine fabrics and furniture that she had never thought to experience before but she knew it was improper to and she wouldn’t want someone doing that to her space. Instead, she slipped her hood off of her auburn hair, slinking it down onto her shoulders. She finally turned her kind gaze to Aziel. “It is rather enchanting,” She finally complimented, the words slipping from her lips like silk. Her fingers skimmed her cloak before placing a hand over her heart, her fingers gripping onto the fabric. “Are you sure it is okay for me to get washed up here? I can always find elsewhere to do so. I don’t want to impede on your space,” She gave a nervous yet genuine smile. “I am quite hungry as well so maybe I should just find a different place and--” Her voice fell silent. Irene knew that he was too kind for his own good. It was best to just accept his offer rather than argue with him. He was only going to refuse what she had to say, insisting that she use any necessities she wanted within this vast estate. “I know you will refuse what I am saying. The least I can do is show you my gratitude by saying thank you. I promise you that I will leave very soon,” Her hush voice lingered as she smiled ever so softly his way. “So thank you very much, Aziel,”

Irene found fondness in his words. Was it that obvious that she still had child-like tendencies, wanting to touch everything in sight? Maybe there was a way her eyes sparkled that told him, or maybe it was because her fingers flexed with anticipation. Irene took numerous steps forward, sliding her fingers across the surfaces. Irene found herself heading towards the bed first. No matter how tempting it was she didn’t sit upon it. Instead, she caressed the sheets. The sheets were obviously made of the finest linens, cold to the touch yet capable of keeping the body warm enough even in the coldest nights. Every so often she found herself glancing back at Aziel in sheer excitement. It was as if she was seeing something brand new for the first time. Even the top markets nearby were sure to not carry such quality fabric. It must be specifically made for the royals. Irene took somewhat large steps towards one of the windows. Her hands hinged upon the curtains, closing them before reopening them just to simply cherish the way they moved. One hand slipped off of the fabric steadily reaching for the tapered glass that overlooked the cold weather outside. Right as she was about to touch the cold window her fingers hitched. Her body swiveled, her eyes wide as she heard someone walk in. She seized her hands, placing them by her sides. Irene couldn’t help but feel astonished. She didn’t expect anyone to come in especially someone to help her clean up. Irene couldn’t help but be nervous until the lady’s calming tone filled her ears. “I really don’t need--” She attempted to protest, but once again she was reminded to not argue. She bit her lip for a split second before smiling.

“I am grateful that you are willing to help me, Madam Maribell. Please call me by my name. I am Irene,” There was a simple reason why she withheld her last name. She wasn’t ready for the castle to know that they were in the accompany of one of the Nirvana lineage. Even though Maribell was of lower rank and privilege within the castle walls Irene found it proper of her to still propose her words respectfully. Her eyes hitched towards Aziel, seeking some sort of security. It helped her by seeing his kind eyes. He trusted this lady so it was best that Irene did the same. Irene’s smile grew even warmer after Aziel spoke his rich words. “The last thing I want to do is kick you out of your chamber. Feel free to stay, I am sure I won’t be long,” She reassured him, waving a gentle hand gesture to show that this topic was nothing major to fret about.

Irene allowed Maribell to guide her to the bathroom, giving a final glance towards Aziel before closing the door behind her. She never knew she would be so astonished by a bathroom. It sparkled with cleanliness yet was filled with the fine scents of soaps. It wasn’t long until a bath was made for her, the water tended with suds of soap and soothing oils. She slipped into the mildly steamy bathwater. The hot water uncomfortably kissed her skin but soon became comforting. She allowed Maribell to assist her in cleaning up since she was the one who knew the best ways to do so. She knew in an estate of this sort that they had better ways of cleanliness. Yet, even as she was getting washed up and merely lounging in the water, it has been a long time since she had received such peaceful bathing. Irene had minor scratches and bruises on her arms and thighs but it was nothing huge to worry about. Her skin grew flawless even though she could use a few more meals to thicken her skinny features. The blemishes, marks, and stains slipped off of her skin finally leaving her to be clean after a treacherous journey.

As they moved along, it was already time for Irene to be dressed. She was truly baffled that she was actually given the opportunity to have an outfit altered specifically for her. It all felt too good to be true, like a dream she never expected to have. “I don’t want anything too formal, Madam Maribell. I will be traveling soon so I want something that I can move freely in,” The last thing she wanted was something too poofy and restricting. She didn’t want to appear as royalty either for she wasn’t deserving of such material.

After many long moments, her outfit was made to fit her astonishingly perfectly. Her outfit was made up of fine fabrics that collared around her neck. It was slimming and well fitted on her upper half. Irene was pleased to not have anything loose draping off of her, knowing that she would get caught up on things if she had to travel long distances. At her hips, the outfit tapered out like a skirt but in a manner of a cloak, nearly reaching her calf. It gracefully tapered upwards in the front. The front of her outfit reached her upper knee. Each piece laid perfectly along with her figure. The fabrics were made up of a generous mixture of black, teal, and gold. The main base color was black embroidered by gold yet there were hints of teal fabrics to counter such a dark color. The mixture was light and not heavy to the eye. It was easily capable of working with the cloak Aziel had generously given her. Her specially-made dress fit her perfectly and even with the dark colors it didn’t dull her skin.

Other than her outfit, her skin was pearly, shining like the moon, though she was lucky to have a light tan in such cold weather. She would usually come across as pale in the winter weather. She was fortunate that she didn’t catch a cold either since she always grew sickly and she knew there was no chance of sickness right after such a cherished bath. Her face shape was clearer now that she didn’t have as many blemishes. Her figure was now more visible with the more fitted outfit. Her cheeks were partially flushed from the warm bath making it hard to tell whether the bathwater was too warm for her sensitive skin or if she was simply satisfied. Her auburn hair was pulled lightly back, leaving small flocks of hair hanging alongside her face. Her hair that was pulled back was twisted with curls that reached the mid of her back, close to her hips. In the light, her hair had flecks of natural ginger that stood out but overall her hair was blessed as auburn. For once her demeanor wasn’t dull but was rather sparkling.

She had never felt this great. Maribelle had done a glamourous job tending to her. There were only a few other moments in her life that made her feel this great so she did everything she could to cherish this moment, hoping it wouldn’t disappear. Irene felt compelled to pinch herself just to be sure that all of this was real. “Thank you for taking time to help me, Madam Maribell,” Irene still called her Madam whether she liked it or not. She didn’t want to be rude or insensitive especially given the fact that she had been given so much in the past few hours. As they exited the bathroom, Irene inched her way out in shoes that she knew were too nice to call her own. Her eyes finally scanned the room and landed on Aziel. Her fingers slipped along the fabrics that made up her dress as she spoke. “I wasn’t trying to go for anything formal and I truly didn’t want it to be restricting. I hope it still looks nice,” Her voice was calm, warmer than before as she finally found herself satisfied.