"Interacting with others, it may seem as if I navigate with ease, but in reality, it's far from that, even clumsy wouldn't be an overstatement," Vivia observed with precision that took Howard by surprise.
As a king, it was indeed true; he had almost lost the art of socializing.
He believed his facade was convincing, yet Vivia saw through the essence of his being.
"You're hiding something. I don't know what it is, but it must be significant to you," she noted.
"Everyone has their secrets; complete honesty is an impossibility. Such is the nature of humans, a contradictory species, forever chasing after what we know is unattainable."
"I am such a person, too," Vivia said, her laughter tinged with self-mockery.
"I won't ask you to explain anything. I understand that doing so would make you vanish."
"Though I have no reason to be sure, this I am certain of—perhaps it's a woman's intuition."
