A/N: Thanks to Rainstorm Amaya Arianrhod for the title and to Lady Silvamord from whose lovely Kallydar fics and characterizations I drew inspiration for this drabble. Comments and CC are always appreciated.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"Give that back to me, right now."
Emperor Kaddar Iliniat surveyed his wife with a maddeningly amused expression, one eyebrow raised in interest. Kalasin sighed exasperatedly, never taking her eyes off the small book now in her husband's hands.
"I suppose you find my distress entertaining, don't you?" She demanded.
"Not at all. All I find entertaining is having found you so deeply engrossed in what seems to be," he glanced down at the cover of her book, "a romance novel. Judging from the shirtless man and scantily clad damsel on the cover that is." His eyes danced with wicked amusement as he continued, "Strange, I never took you for a romance novel type; I'd have expected you to be spending your time in much more…intelligent pursuits."
Wishing fervently that she were taller, (Kally had learned early on that looking haughtily down your nose is quite difficult when height differences are working against you.) she was forced to settle for glaring viciously in the best imitation of Aunt Alanna that she could muster.
"If you must know, I was engaging in some healthy relaxation time. Perhaps if you were to do the same, you wouldn't be so impossible all the time. Besides, you can't blame me for attempting to add a some romance to my otherwise unromantic existence."
Kaddar gave her a startled look. "I never knew you wanted romance," he said, as if unable to grasp the concept.
"Nonsense. Every young woman wants a bit of romance in her life," she explained, rolling her eyes. Unable to resist a final jab she added, "Especially when her courting days were cut short so rudely."
"Well, perhaps we shall have to work on rectifying that some time," Kaddar replied casually, "especially if I want to put an end to seeing my wife reading books with shirtless men decorating the front cover."
Upon later reflection, Kally would realize that it wasn't exactly Kaddar's fault that she hadn't been able to engage in some of the flirtations most girls of her age had enjoyed, but technicalities were of little importance at that particular moment (or when cliché offerings such as chocolates and roses began to find their way onto her pillow, for that matter).