"I-I..." Hera stammered, struggling to find the right words, but Gael's intense gaze made her feel exposed, as if she'd been caught red-handed. The weight of his eyes on her was too much, and in a moment of vulnerability, she quickly shut her mouth and bit her lip, unable to handle the embarrassment.
She had gotten so caught up in her amusement that she hadn't realized she was letting her mouth run unchecked. Normally, Hera wasn't this careless, but seeing Gael's genuine and selfless love for his mother—so pure that he didn't even consider material gain—had caused her to lower her guard. It was in that moment of vulnerability that she let the slip happen.
