[ at least she's cheering up, even if it is going to take a bit more to get through to her; it seems like she wants to believe in his fairytale but she's too... what, mature? jaded? it makes him sad either way. this isn't how things are supposed to be for kids; no wonder she had envied his freedom, so much that she was heedless of the drawbacks that come with vagrancy. he almost wishes he had been able to meet her earlier in her life. ]

How would I know who needed my help if I didn't know their names? [ he makes it sound matter-of-fact, like it's simple. he can easily play the fey stranger here. ] Besides - a smart, pretty girl who longs for adventure, locked up in a tower? That sure sounds like a princess to me.