He had somewhat prepared himself for her joy but nonetheless, he could not deny the inkling of surprise when she had bounded over so...pleased. Even if she had never been the one to skulk away or approach without some oomph, he had expected less of it since his apparent failure. It was...
a relief, in some way, to see that her view on him had not changed drastically. Yet her mention of his not having come back made his lip pull back in what was almost a grimace, something that turned his head away to glance back over Asteraia as if he were checking for...well, anything. She had noticed his avoidance and for that, he had nothing to say but a mere shrug of his shoulders as he recomposed his features in order to face her. Glad, he was, that his words inspired other thoughts.
His brow rose slightly then as her features rose into something more...suited to her. Elohim had always thought she suited a face full of mischief and pride as opposed to a child trying too hard to be queen. Perhaps that is why he had a preference for Empress: it inspired images of strength and fire, not of passiveness and regality. His mind was mud, too many thoughts to ever be clear. "I am glad to hear it," he could not help but say then with a hint of his own mischevious grin.
As she circled him, he allowed his head to follow her movements, if not a little comically as it snapped back down from time to time, his eyes following her regardless. What had she in mind? He remained in silence for some moments after her mention of trust and careful measures. He had to wonder, then, why she had not directly called upon a wolf by name, a confidant she could be sure of - for a moment, he was inclined to believe that her lack of naming had indeed been a summon for him, one of the few (perhaps) that would be brazen enough to come. The thought might have shown for a moment in the furrow of his brows before he let out a low hmm of consideration.
"Should an Empress not be the judge of such things?" He could not help but toy with her ever so subtly, unafraid to question such things - somebody had to, after all. Elohim's care was not the doting, gentle thing of many others...it never had been. He wished to see Aster succeed and so, he was willing to make her fail if that meant she would stand taller when she picked herself back up. "Time, I have plenty of; careful measures?
Quis potest dicere..." He trailed off with a flash of a tooth, a jesting grin.
"What is your mission, Empress?" After this, he had a barter to propose. Things were never free, after all, as it should be.