Ernesto took pleasure in the girl’s laughter, and there was a certain excitement that rose within him at the cheek of her rolled back eyes. She seemed like the perfect playmate, and he intended to make the most of it. At her retort he couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“Stinks?!” he replied, his tone afflicted with mock offence as he flipped his head in indignance. “I don’t smell anything, maybe you need to get your nose checked. O tal vez simplemente no estás acostumbrado al olor de un hombre real.”

He murmured the last sentence a little more quietly, more to himself than her in his teasing way.

“Not so foul if you ask me,” he quipped back, a twinkle in his eye as he watched for her reaction.

At her question he tilted his head.

“Ah, I fell into this royal court by accident almost. I heard this was a place for bachelors to run free, and, well, I don’t much like rules so it sounded good enough to me. I’ve been here ever since, making friends, causing trouble, meeting beautiful ladies, you know – the usual.”

Another grin at his lips, he ducked his head.

“They call me Ernesto, what can I call you?”

ernesto
heartbreak is savvy and love is a bitch