aleksander can't help but smile at her words as he steps into the room. ❝ for one whose very nature calls to light and warmth, you can be quite cold, alina. ❞ an attempt at a light-hearted jest. he recalls a time that feels an eternity ago when she would return his smile, though he suspects he may never see that again. with the soft sound of a click, he closes the door to the bedchamber to allow them privacy, but he doesn't approach any further. he stays by the door, leaving that wide, empty space between them.
❝ i'm no fool, ❞ he continues, the jesting now dropped. ❝ i know you didn't enter into this with any consideration for me, or for us. you did it for the people. for our grisha. and for that, i'm grateful. ❞ idle steps lead him along the wall, where he admires the new décor he'd ordered into the palace. less gaudy, more elegant, he believes. accents of black and gold. of he, and of she. ❝ so please, come down with me for them. it'll do no good for your image to stay cooped up in here... and i don't want them thinking i've forced you to stay cooped up. ❞
he had long decided to stay matter-of-fact with her. alina knows him too well now, has seen the extent of all his trickery and cunning words, to be manipulated by him ever again. part of him thinks the idea of keeping her as a beautiful bird in his black iron cage would be quite lovely. but her will is free now, despite the bands on her hand. she flies out of his reach, and all he can do is watch. perhaps, one day, she will fly to him as she once had.
❝ at least make an appearance. you bring ravka such joy. ❞