"Kriss? Just Kriss?" only commoners do not have the right to hold a last name like Mary but he was a noble. She was hoping for a splendid name! It reminded her of Kriss Kringle!
"I did not use it anymore." She could feel the anguish in his voice and sighed.
"You seem like you have a story to tell. I am all ears if you want." Who would not love a little bit of sympathy.
Isn't that how ladies make friends at the salon?
"I will say everyone has their secrets. You are the future duchess of the empire yet you are
working so tirelessly to earn. If I did not know any better, I would have thought you were short on funds." Mary paused.
"Well, we both have secrets we hold. So why don't we do one thing?" He leaned closer. Much closer that she could feel his breath on her lips.
"Let's start the venture you are looking for. We will share our secret when it goes successful?"
hmm!