"Oh, Mathias," Veronica says, a little flustered as she presses a hand to her heart. "That's awfully sweet of you to say. On both counts, I mean." Fluttering her eyelashes, she ducks her head a little. "It's the best part of my day, too."

After all, the minute she spotted him, didn't her day just brighten up? And it had been so bright already. Whatever weight had been on her shoulders before seems to have lifted so utterly, she simply can't care what caused it to begin with.