"Uh, I should... probably get changed," Lyra blurted, shooting up from the seat while inching toward the hallway. "I’ll be back in a few. K-knock if it’s serious...!"
"Yeah..." I trailed, nodding after her as she practically ran from the dining room.
The knocking continued. Persistent, but not urgent. I sighed, hoping that whatever this was would take out of the stupor I was currently in. What the hell was that...?
I swung the door open, surprised to find a man in a butler’s outfit holding a sealed envelope in a gloved hand. He was middle-aged, with a neatly trimd, silver-speckled beard with hair to match, and eyes that scanned like he was appraising the whole manor in one glance. Behind him was a large, fancy-looking carriage with two well-grood horses leading it.
"Good afternoon, Lord May," the man began, bowing his head just enough to show respect without overdoing it. "I co on behalf of Lord Greaves, the previous owner of this fine estate. He extends a most gracious invitation to House May for a weekend visit to his vineyard estate in North Podros. The journey is not long, and he insists it comnce as soon as possible. Should you accept, a carriage awaits, prepared to convey you directly to the Greaves Family Estate."
I blinked, caught off guard. Lord Greaves? That was a na I wasn’t expecting to hear so soon. It made sense, all things considered–especially with Isobel still being here. Eh, it would be a decent change of pace, if anything.
The servant stood there patiently, envelope extended, and I took it, breaking the seal to skim the elegant script inside. It was legit, all flowery language about hospitality and strengthening bonds and whatnot.
Before I could say anything in response, footsteps approached from the hallway. It was Isobel, dressed in a sleek black dress paired with polished black boots that clicked against the stone floor. Her dark hair was pulled into a single, tight braid that hung over one shoulder. She eyed the servant and nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Elias," Isobel smiled, bowing slightly. "It’s been a while! Tell Father we accept. We should be ready to leave within the hour."
The man, Elias, bowed again, deeper this ti. "As you wish, milady. I will return the mont after your ssage is relayed. Your family will be delighted to see you." With a flourish, the man vanished into thin air, leaving behind a trail of thin wisps of green aura. Teleportation magic. Lucky bastard.
"Hello, Lloyd," Isobel greeted as she closed the door to the manor.
"Uh, hey, Isobel," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. "Didn’t expect you down so soon. Or... this." I waved the invitation vaguely.
She didn’t respond right away, just brushed past toward the dining room, her braid swaying. "Co on," she called over her shoulder. "Help clean up before we start getting ready to leave."
Isobel started gathering silverware, her movents efficient, and I pitched in, scraping leftovers into a bin and wiping down the table. It was dostic, almost normal, but there was a tension in the air that was palpable. Had Isobel... seen that...?
"You know," she started casually as she folded a napkin. "I was going to ntion I expected that visit today, but I didn’t want to interrupt you and Lyra."
...Of course she had.
I paused, cloth in hand, heat creeping up my face. She gave a sidelong glance, that cool deanor cracking just enough to show amusent. "Was I right or wrong to guess that she’d be submissive to you? She did talk a big ga, but she also pinned you in place with a single hand! I might have to steal that little trick."
My mouth went dry, and I stamred, "It wasn’t– I an... w-we were just talking! Nothing... you know... like... that."
"Right. And what was that you said to yesterday? She was... ’off limits’ or sothing?" Isobel asked, tone playful.
"She seriously is!" I insisted, heading into the kitchen to rinse a plate, my voice firr than I felt. I softened a bit. "Things got a little out of hand, sure. I’m not sure what got into us, but it won’t happen again. It was a one-ti thing." I paused, a wave of worry falling over . "If we crossed that line, it’d ruin our friendship. She’s too important for to risk that."
She sighed, leaning against the kitchen table, arms crossed under her chest. "Sure, Lloyd. But when you two finally crest that hill, be sure to knock on my door, okay? All things considered, I’ve known you two longer than most anyone in Aspia. If that doesn’t entitle to a threeso with you two, I don’t know what does." She giggled. "Perhaps I could use my Advisor privileges to advise that you two call on ? Imagine what we could get up to if it were the three of us and a few clones? That sounds like a fun evening."
"Don’t hold your breath waiting for that. It isn’t gonna happen."
Isobel rolled her eyes. "Right. Whatever you say. Now go get dressed. We can’t keep the carriage waiting forever, and you look like you’ve been lounging all day. That dirty talk with Lyra must’ve ruined your morning routine."
"Go to hell," I sighed as I made my way upstairs, wilfully ignoring Isobel’s laughter.
I changed into sothing decent that Isobel had pressured into buying a few days back: black pants, a white button-down shirt, black gloves with golden accents, and black shoes. And a sword at my hip. For style, of course.
Lyra was, of course, the first person I’d seen when I got downstairs again. Her blonde hair was tied back in that sa ponytail from earlier, gold eyes sparkling under the mid-morning light. She wore tight leather pants that hugged her lower body and accentuated her hips with these black boots that made her slightly taller than normal. She paired it with a frilly white shirt dipped just low enough to show off a faint hint of her cleavage with gold jewelry that glinted on her neck and wrists. Isobel had made her buy that outfit as well, and... thank the heavens she had...
Thank the heavens because she had nothing this fancy before eting Isobel, of course! I didn’t an anything by that!
I turned away, only to find Isobel staring straight at . She was smiling like she could read my thoughts, arms crossed as she looked between and an equally uncomfortable-looking Lyra.
"Eyes up, you two," Isobel said lightly, in a way that let know she really was enjoying this as much as I thought she was. "Elias has been waiting long enough. We should arrive in no less than an hour."
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