Instead of a defensive and assuring confession, Artie ended up laughing at his face. Larkin twitched and made an angry face, but the archduchess was busy laughing into her hand. She then used her vacant hand to soothe her chest and then the tears welling in her eyes. "Oh, my God! Really? That kind of—hahaha!"
She slipped her hand off a Larkin's grip, and she kneeled in front of him. Larkin was shocked as she embraced him, with his face pressed against her chest. However, she actually started to hush him and caress him like he was a dear thing. "No, no, no… don't be like that, Larkin. He's cute and all, but he still had nothing on you. Shhh, you're my only one… my very own little prince—even if you're not a prince."
Little prince? Larkin's face darkened. "Little prince? Isn't that your endearing words to a round cat? Unhand me right now, woman."
