"It has."
"I suddenly miss the battlefield."
Liora laughed, not the polite laughter expected of a princess but a genuine laugh that escaped before she could stop it. "You look positively miserable."
Marcus looked at her with theatrical despair. "Your Majesty..." He lowered his voice dramatically. "...I've spent years watching Alpha Thessian make questionable decisions." He glanced toward the growing pile of pastries. "But this..." He shook his head sadly. "...this may finally bankrupt us."
Thessian looked completely unbothered. "I conquered two kingdoms."
Marcus nodded. "You did."
"I think we can afford pastries."
The merchants nearby tried very hard not to laugh, and most of them failed. Even Liora found herself smiling so broadly that her cheeks began to ache. Soon several neatly wrapped parcels had been arranged across her lap until there was barely enough room left for the flowers, the carved horse, and the old book.
She looked down in disbelief. "This is ridiculous."
