Princess Kiara made a lot of good points. As outspoken as she could be, Lamont also found her to be quite level-headed. It almost made him envious, in a way, that he couldn't be more outspoken and intuitive like her. 

"I'm sorry that I initially didn't want to get to know you," he admitted quietly, at once feeling awful. "I felt as though if I accepted you, I would be giving in to another one of my parents' schemes. But your reasoning is sound. We will someday rule the two nations together, so we set an example for everyone else. If Astora and Berinike are to get along, it must start with us. It's just... still surreal that you don't find me less of a man because I'm not covered in muscles and scars."

This lead up to his next question, one he felt nervous about asking. He wasn't sure why, it wasn't as though he was going to ask something personal. Still, he had never talked to anyone so directly about his capabilities and interests before. For the first time in his life, he had the desire to take combat more seriously, but he needed someone he could trust to teach him. Someone that wouldn't put him down. He just hoped Kiara wouldn't say no if he asked her to train him. 

But before Lamont could say the words, Kiara confessed the very thing that shattered what little confidence in the matter he had. She couldn't fight.

"Wait, what did you say?" he nearly whispered, hardly believing the timing of this confession. He studied her carefully; she looked fine. Was this a joke? "I don't understand... you move normally. You don't look injured. Who is Ostus?" His throat tightened a little. She was worried about not being able to protect herself, which meant she needed someone strong and courageous to protect her. Already he felt like a failure of a husband. How was he going to protect his wife when he couldn't even protect himself?