["Don't protest." Hmph! He might not verbally protest, but he will still huff, like a cat, annoyed at being interrupted in what he is doing but tolerating it because while he will not admit it, he GUESSES he likes her.

She is being oddly affectionate to him, but he isn't reading into it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, he supposes, and he has been absent as of late.]

If you are not careful I might think you have grown to like me after all, Princess. Are you reconsidering my proposal?

[Because he can't just have a nice moment. She might think he's gone soft, or worse! That he's become tolerable!]