Riona gritted her teeth, stretched her palm wide, and then folded all her fingers except for the index finger. "First, I don't like you, so there's already zero chance of me choosing you over being a Nightwatch."
She unfolded her middle finger and declared, "Second, I don't want to be anybody's wife. I don't want to be tied down with the responsibilities of a wife–bearing children and all that stuff."
The thought of being trapped inside a manor's walls made her feel powerless. She wanted to go out in the open, show off her skills, and make herself useful in a brave way.
"And third—" Riona unfolded the ring finger, but when the words almost rolled off her tongue, she gulped them back down.
She had always dreamed of marrying the love of her life, just like her parents. She didn't want a political marriage, like her scary uncle did, only to regret it later on when she found someone she loved.
