I hesitated. Not because I hadn’t already answered that same question in my mind over a hundred times, in a hundred different ways, but my eagerness to overshare often got me into sticky situations. I didn’t detect any sketchy vibes from Orian, nor did I believe he was a gossip—that went without saying, really—but the fact remained that we weren’t besties, and he was the king’s henchman. No matter who I spoke to in the palace, there was always a chance that every conversation was fed back to him, no matter how insignificant. So, even at times like this where the information wasn’t world-altering, for the sake of my survival at court, practicing the art of doing a quick mental scan of everything I wanted to say before I spoke was in my best interest.

I’d already let slip about the library, but we’d ignore that.

“I want to know where I came from,” I said honestly. “Finding my dad is, of course, about meeting the guy himself, but it’s also about figuring out what I’ve missed out on knowing all these years. I loved my mom, and though I feel some resentment about the secrecy, I know she did what she thought was best, but since learning about all this, I’ve begun to doubt whether who I am is actually me, or if it’s only the parts she allowed me to be. There’s an empty space that I want to fill, and a whole twenty-seven years’ worth of questions I want answers to.” I shrugged. “I just want to know who I am.”

“That is… admirable.”

I sighed. “If only I knew something. Just one single breadcrumb is all I’d need.”

“Your resilience will prove fruitful, I’m sure.” He said it with conviction, although his manner remained stony and his voice detached, as if kind words were foreign on his tongue. I appreciated the sentiment, nonetheless. “Should you be in need of assistance… Well, there are resources I could utilize.”

I smiled up at him, grateful for the offer and delighted by his show of compassion. I would melt the Ice Prince yet. “Thanks, Ri.”

Orian’s eyes widened minutely, as if my appreciation had caught him off guard—or no one had ever thanked him before—but he recovered quickly from his internal crisis and dipped his head without another word.