Damen sounded as tired as Laurent felt. It brought a tiny smile to his face, feeling reassured that Damen's primary emotion at the moment wasn't anger at him.

"What could I have done that would have made that any simpler?" Laurent asked, rising from his chair and coming over to sit beside Damen on the couch. He approached carefully, wary of displeasing his husband now. All of Laurent's fury and righteousness was reserved for furthering the interests of the people he was duty-bound to serve. He had none left for himself. Resting his head on Damen's shoulder, Laurent hooked an arm lightly over Damen's chest. "Slavery is not a simple thing, and to diminish its hold on your country, should you decide to do so, will be a laborious and lengthy ordeal. Or are you just disappointed that I'm here and poor Erasmus has been banished from your bed? I felt like I was wrenching a puppy away from its master, from the eyes he was giving you." Laurent scowled, still jealous.