“So, you made my daughter smile,” Edward said, turning away to examine a tapestry on the wall. “And you won my tournament. Both a courtier and a warrior. Yet you came in disguise. Why?”
“With all due respect, Sir — I made your daughter smile long before she was … brought here,” Isaac stated as politely as he could manage, wondering just what the other male was planning to say (or do) to him. Hesitating then, he pondered over the right way to word his explanation, before sighing. “I…I didn’t want her to know it was me and be disappointed if I were to fail. And I wanted you to treat me like all the other Knights, which you might not have done had you known who I was at the time of the tournament.”
Edward raised his eyebrows, looking back at Isaac. “She chose to come. There was no force involved.” After a moment, he took a step closer to Isaac, looking him over more intently. “You were the one Derek had guarding her. Why would you think I would treat you differently? Have I reason to fear you?”