"Stop babbling. Princess Cordelia hates babblers," Atticus said, and Nikun snapped his mouth shut so quickly he almost bit his own tongue. "And I'm not sacrificing a rowboat on you." The likelihood that he would get lost and end up at the bottom of the ocean was all too high, and high-quality rowboats were too valuable to waste on such a risky endeavor.
"Since you want to repay me, I have just the task for you," Atticus continued, making sure to sound as menacing and ruthless as the rumors claimed he was.
Nikun subconsciously leaned back at the ferocity in his voice.
"Win Princess Cordelia's heart in her matchmaking tournament. There will be dire consequences if you don't."
"I'll do my best!" Nikun promised, his tongue wetting his lower lip in anxiety. "But there's no guarantee the princess will take a liking to me. Matters of the heart cannot be forced, and I can only―"
