Nina stared at the towering mountain of durians, utterly speechless.
She had to admit... their sincerity was beyond question.
Turning toward Setan, the corners of her lips twitched with a sudden, irresistible amusement. "So..." she asked, her voice rich with a barely suppressed smile. "Are you still going to kneel?"
Setan clenched his jaw. His expression hardened into that of a warrior marching open-eyed toward certain death.
"Yes." His answer didn't waver. "No matter how many there are, I'll kneel."
If this absurd, thorny penance was the price of Nina's forgiveness, he would press his weight into them until his knees gave out entirely.
Beside him, Yian proudly nudged his son with a sharp elbow.
"So?" He puffed out his chest, radiating a smug, fatherly satisfaction. "See? Your old man gets things done."
He swept a grand arm toward the spiky green fortress. "Are you satisfied with my preparations?"
