Jasmin's POV
The unexpected compliment caught me completely off balance.
Beauty was not foreign praise to my ears. Yet in this moment, I wore the facade of a man.
Having another male declare me beautiful while maintaining this disguise could only spell disaster for my carefully constructed deception.
"Strange words for such circumstances," I managed a light chuckle, keeping my gaze steady on his face.
Elliott finally broke his stare, awareness dawning across his features. Whether from embarrassment or regret, his ears flushed crimson as he squeezed himself from the cramped space. "My mind must be addled," he muttered, shame coloring his voice. "Forgive me, that was inappropriate." His eyes refused to find mine.
I emerged as well, exhaling quietly. "No harm done. People say it often since I resemble my mother rather than my father. I inherited her features," I said with practiced ease.
