Shiina stopped a short distance from the throne and folded her hands behind her back. There was no sign of embarrassment, no attempt to apologize for the deception. If anything, she looked faintly entertained by the realization passing through Nathan's mind.
"Well," she said lightly, "you look less surprised than I expected."
Nathan gave her a long look. "Only because I should have expected it sooner."
Her smile widened just a little.
Norihiro watched the exchange without interrupting, as if he had been waiting to see how Nathan would react. The faintest hint of approval touched his expression, though it vanished so quickly Nathan could have imagined it.
"You have already met," Norihiro said at last.
He was there after all watching.
"Yes," Shiina said. "Though that was a far more entertaining introduction than most."
Nathan's eyes stayed on her for another moment. "You could have said who you were."
