"Yeah. Which is why I've never really cared about it." she admitted. "Or I guess, why I've avoided it for so long. I never really considered having sex with anyone unless I had to because we were married. My parents are like, super sex-positive, which is gross to talk about, I know, but... growing up entrenched in palace politics, it's different. They would tell me one thing and I'd learn something else from living as royalty. But none of that really matters, I guess. I'm just trying to say that... I wanted to do it with you. And I'm glad that I did. So... yeah."

Pari pressed her lips together, considering his question and how to answer it. She could reach over and take his hand, assure him that it had been exactly what she'd wanted-- what she'd needed... but what if he pulled away - again?
She could say, it was fine, stop asking, and she'd shut his line of questioning down, but she'd also cut him deeply, and he wouldn't believe her, because what well-tussled woman would wave it off like that? Even if it had been fine and she did want him to stop asking.
"No," she said instead. She couldn't be kind, and she couldn't always be honest, but she could be honest about this, at least. "I thought sex would be boring. I figured I'd just have to look nice and make some noises and let a guy do what he wanted, and maybe, if I was lucky, it wouldn't hurt too bad. And that would be that."

"It was," she agreed quietly. "... like I said, I didn't think I'd have a good time. But you... you made sure that I did."

Pari remained silent long enough for the silence to grow a little colder. She didn't mean for it to, but... she hadn't expected him to ask her out. And how could she accept? "We can have more good times together." she said. "Like this. If you want. But dates and things, it... I don't think it's a good idea."

"I could end up engaged again." she replied, trying to keep her voice light. I could lose it all again. And she'd learned her lesson this time.

"You wouldn't be happy," she added; he had to know that he didn't want this. "I'm still a princess, Feo, and you hate it when people pay attention to you. And you work for Mirza, you're not supposed to be in the public eye. So where could it go?"

"You can't stop thinking about me?" Pari repeated slowly. "... do you think that's the mind control stuff?"

Pari shrugged a little. "It could be. I don't even know if when I'm talking to you, I'm actually hearing what you think or if..." she was hearing what she wanted him to say. But putting that out there, saying it out loud, sent a jolt of terror down her spine. That was always the question, wasn't it? If, when she talked to anyone, they were just parroting her own feelings back to her.

But to his surprise, the door opened to reveal a very pink-nosed and delighted face. "Feo-beo!" his mother trilled, throwing her arms around him. "My baby boy!"

She straightened, clearing her throat and casually brushing out her gown. "Yeah, well... me neither. Saskia was nagging at me to visit my parents, so... I'm not sure why she dropped me in the middle of your office."