Leofrik did not look away. He remained silent for a moment, letting the weight of the question settle between them, while the midday light lit up his golden eyes with a calm, determined glow.
Finally, he stepped away from the window and returned to the desk, placing his hands on the wood, leaning slightly toward Helena. His eyes remained fixed on hers, unblinking, direct.
“Hel,” he began, his voice firm yet calm, “you don’t owe me anything.”
Helena blinked, surprised by the clarity of the answer, by how direct it was.
“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” Leofrik continued, gently but with that steady resolve that always seemed to envelop her whenever he spoke to her like this. “I’m not doing this because I expect something from you. I’m not here to collect favors or bind you to me
