[ Aw, Mercy. Royce smiles a little. ]

Mm. [ She's sweet. He's glad that she has some sweetness to her at all - must've come from Gwen. ] I would ask, but I know he wants to go home.

[ He holds Mercy a bit more tightly. ] I'll survive without having a friend in the palace. We'll just visit Hadrian more often. That way you can see Allie, as well.