Begrudgingly Accepting Help

At the Magic Academy, every mage was instilled with the value that depleting oneself of mana was a way to show irresponsibility. Those with such a lack of control were looked down upon. 

Stephano walked into the duke's chambers expecting to feel that way. He even wore a frown. 

However, as he saw Leonor resting amongst soft pillows, he softened his heart.

She was in a place she had been dying to get to. Even if it wasn't under the right circumstances, she was as close to Desmond as she would ever be without knowing the truth. 

He felt as sorry as he felt envious. The past month of talking to Leonor made him wish there was room in his life for the curse of love.

Since he couldn't pursue it himself, he would do anything to push the two people who meant the most to him together. It was frustrating that one of them hadn't cracked yet. He was mostly upset at Desmond for making the situation so complicated.