The day that followed was an exercise in frustration.
Merwyn, true to his word, had tried to be 'charming'. He had taken her to the most beautiful parts of the city, pointing out architectural details, historical anecdotes, and the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements of flowers in window boxes. He bought her a new ribbon, a shimmering length of emerald green silk that he insisted brought out the 'depths' in her eyes. He even, in a moment of surprising sweetness, bought her a small, sticky pastry from a street vendor, declaring it 'a culinary masterpiece of the common folk'. Though 'bought' was rather questionable, given that she had no idea how the fae could have gotten any money.
But the shadow of the encounter with Ignis lingered.
