Kai bursts into laughter, his voice filling the room with delight as I recount my tale.
"I'm telling you, I was stunned!" I grumble, thinking back on the younger Brendholm prince and his annoying antics.
"Heavens!" Kai gasps, falling off the chair in hysterics, his fan clattering to the floor. I roll my eyes at his theatrics, though I can't help but feel a little amusement myself.
Just then, Nicholai enters the room, dressed head-to-toe in his mage attire. The sharp lines of his uniform accentuate his figure, and the way he carries himself—calm, confident—immediately draws my attention. I look at him, curiosity piqued.
Without a word, Nicholai strides over to me and kneels gracefully. He takes my arm and, with a reverence that never fails to make me smile, places it on his cheek. His skin is warm beneath my fingertips.
"There's been an emergency at the Mage Tower. I've been summoned," he says, his voice low and smooth.
"Okay," I respond, my fingers naturally rubbing his cheek in a soothing gesture. Nicholai kisses my palm tenderly, standing up with an elegance that always makes my heart skip. I watch him as he turns to acknowledge Kai with a brief nod before leaving the room, the door clicking softly behind him.
I realize, too late, that I've been smiling like an idiot. Kai, with his sharp eyes, immediately catches on.
"Wipe that smug smile off your face," he teases, but I can see the amusement dancing in his eyes.
Oops. I hadn't even realized I was smiling that much. I school my expression into something neutral, trying to hide the warmth that's lingering on my cheeks.
Kai sends me a pointed look, one that's half teasing and half exasperated. "Careful, green is not your color," I say, unable to resist needling him a bit.
"I look amazing in all colors, thank you very much," Kai retorts, fanning himself dramatically.
I laugh. "Can't argue with that."
"Oh dear, when will I ever get a passionate love like yours?" Kai says, hand to his heart, throwing himself onto the couch like some heartbroken heroine. The sight is so absurd, it triggers a sudden wave of déjà vu.
—On Earth, in a New York penthouse—
"Passionate love?" Kai dramatically collapsed onto my plush carpet, lying flat on his back with his arms spread out as though appealing to the universe. "Dear universe, I deserve love, don't I?"
I laughed, raising an eyebrow. "Oh please, should I slide into your unread DMs for you?"
Kai groaned, his hand flailing for his phone. "They don't count," he said, pulling the phone to check his reflection on the screen.
"I know you've got a particular taste for the old and broken," I teased, poking at him with a wicked grin.
"I do not!" Kai retorted, sitting up indignantly. "They're just... a tad bit older."
"Oh really?" I said, my grin growing. "What about Mr. Lancer?"
"Please, he was just 52," Kai scoffed, rolling his eyes.
I gave him a long, suspicious look. "He was a five-time divorcee."
"He was a *talented* lover," Kai said with a shrug, as if that explained everything.
"And a five-time divorcee," I repeated.
"Pfft. Small issues," Kai said dismissively.
I couldn't stop laughing, but I wasn't done yet. "Let's see, there was Mr. Rogers—47 and a widower, Mr. Brown—49 and a war veteran, Mr. Harris—53 and also a widower—"
Kai waved his hands, cutting me off. "Hey, Jason was only 33."
I gasped. "You were 18, and he was your high school principal!"
"Small issues," Kai repeated, both of us dissolving into fits of laughter. My best friend had the oddest tastes in men, but I loved him for it.
—Back to the present, in the royal palace—
"Princess?" Kai's voice pulls me from my memories. I blink and smile at him, realizing I had been lost in thought for a moment.
"I was merely saying, you've got a bunch of unopened letters." He gestures towards a pile of elegantly tied envelopes. "It's like the gift room at the Elysium of Petals."
I stifle a laugh because as expected Kai responds,"They don't count."
Kai fans himself with his usual flair, sending me a stink eye. "I know of your peculiar tastes," I tease, nibbling on a slice of fruit from the platter nearby.
Kai feigns ignorance, looking away with exaggerated innocence. "I know not what you speak of. They just happen to have more... life experience."
The action sends me into a fit of laughter. He's exactly the same as he was back on Earth, and the realization warms my heart. This was the Kai I loved, both then and now.
He really is the same person, isn't he?
"I've been meaning to ask... what is that ball of fur?" Kai says, motioning to the little kitten nestled in my lap, still fast asleep. He raises a perfectly arched brow, his fan paused mid-flap.
I glance down at the tiny creature, which has been resting there peacefully this whole time. "Isn't she beautiful?" I say, stroking the soft fur gently, feeling the kitten's warmth as it shifts slightly under my touch.
Kai's face contorts into an expression of pure disgust, as if the kitten were something truly offensive to his refined tastes. "Beautiful? Really?"
I can't help but laugh, the sound spilling out as I continue to pet the little kitten. "What? You're not a fan of adorable, fluffy things?"
"That" Kai says, pointing dramatically at the kitten, his nose wrinkling as if it might infect him with some kind of dreadful cuteness. "Absolutely not."
I chuckle and shake my head. "Oh, come on, she's harmless."
"Harmless now. But give it time, Princess.They grow claws." He gives a theatrical shudder, snapping his fan shut with a flourish.