<blockquote>Bretagh closed the door behind him, shut his eyes, took in a breath of four counts, and let it out just the same. He rubbed his thumbs to his temples; he'd had a headache building for hours, but now that he was somewhere private he hoped he might stave it off from the type that would last all of tomorrow. He could still hear the festivities outside, both from other parts of the palace and on the streets below. He was tired and his every nerve was run raw, but he would never dare begrudge the people their celebration.</blockquote>
➤ mutual pining between a king and his political marriage partner
