Of course she noticed the affect on him, but Regina had long since got out of the habit of asking questions that people might answer and she'd be forced to pretend she cared. If things had changed, and she had remembered that she did care, she still didn't ask. Already the weight of his loss pressed in like a heavy morning fog.

Besides, her magic was no gift. All magic comes with a price, dearie. If it was a gift for someone, they'd be like Miss Swan. Which hurt on so many levels.

Instead, she ducked her head away from the emotion in his voice, the hauteur stripped down to simple honesty. "I'll need help with the crops. I'd prefer it be someone who won't be disturbed by how often they've grown."