"So sweet, my pretty one." Hannibal murmurs against the delicate shell of Huaisang's ear, giving it a soft kiss of his own. He takes another sip of the wine, and carefully delves further into the conversation.

"Now ... I believe you were telling me before, you were - are - a Sect Leader. Jiang Cheng is also a Sect Leader. Yet you were only lovers here. I would have thought you would have sought out connections of that variety back home. If only to deepen the bond between the two of you."