Marielle stood near the edge of the stone fountain, her head tilted slightly as she looked at Iryna with absolute judgment. The soft, rhythmic splash of water pouring over the carved marble basin was the only sound breaking the heavy silence between them.
Slowly, Marielle raised her hand, extending her pinky finger and sticking it into her ear. She gave it a light scratch, twisting her wrist back and forth as if trying to clear out unwanted physical debris that might be distorting her hearing.
"Weird," Marielle said flatly. She pulled her finger away and flicked her hand toward the nearby rosebushes. "I could've sworn I just heard you say that I was going to be betrothed to you."
"That is precisely what I said," Iryna replied smoothly, her arms folded gracefully over the fabric of her gown. She didn't so much as blink, standing tall on the cobblestone path with the calm posture of someone discussing the weather.
