The corridor outside the throne room softens into velvet quiet, the court’s footsteps fading behind the open doors. Rosmira barely has time to breathe before Cleara hooks an arm through hers and steers her aside.
Madam Cleara
You could have warned me before you spoke like that in front of the Queen.
Madam Cleara
And yet... it worked. Annoyingly, brilliantly, it worked.
Rosmira
Cleara is still flustered, but she is not angry.
Cleara exhales, her stern posture loosening as the relief finally catches up with her embarrassment. She glances at Rosmira, then away, like she is deciding whether to stay strict or laugh.
Madam Cleara
Next time, let me have my dignity before you save me.
Rosmira helps her set up the call to Jews. The message goes through, and Cleara’s voice turns practical, warm beneath the formality as she explains they will not be back at Rose Mansion tonight.
Madam Cleara
Tell her we are with the Queen’s blessing, and that Soul Hall is our next stop.
When the call ends, Cleara lowers the phone and finally looks amused. The corridor feels lighter now, and the two of them stand shoulder to shoulder with nowhere urgent to be, only the evening ahead.
“um sis you know when leon and nayla come out there as going to be hungry but i quess jews can handle them they should be out in a hour. BUt we will be at soul hall then.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Conversation, rolled -1)
Rosmira keeps her voice low, and the corridor answers with the hush of polished stone and distant music. Cleara’s expression shifts as she takes in the update, the sharpness in her shoulders easing a little.
Rosmira
Um, sis, you know when Leon and Nayla come out, they are going to be hungry. I guess Jews can handle them. They should be out in an hour. But we will be at Soul Hall then.
Madam Cleara
An hour, then Soul Hall. Good. That gives us a clean handoff and no wasted wandering.
Cleara lowers the phone fully and lets out a small, relieved laugh. Her gaze lingers on Rosmira a beat longer than before, no longer defensive, just thoughtful.
Madam Cleara
You are thinking ahead for them. For all of us, really.
The open throne room doors glow behind them, but the hallway now feels like a private route forward instead of a place of scrutiny. Cleara steps in sync with Rosmira, matching her pace.
Madam Cleara
Come on, then. Let us get to Soul Hall before the evening gets any more interesting.
“Before that we are changing. YOu are not showing up in a maid outfit. Sis sexy night dress time.”
SUCCESS (Fair Style, rolled +3)
Rosmira slips a hand under the clean line of her dress and lets the shift happen in a blink. The formal edge softens into a sleek night look, dark and fitted, made for a private evening rather than courtly duty.
Madam Cleara
...That is much better.
Cleara stops mid-step, looking Rosmira over with startled approval. Her brows lift, then her mouth curves as if she cannot decide whether to laugh or admire her.
Madam Cleara
Well. You made that decision very quickly.
Rosmira’s return pass peeks from her hand, the paper catching the hall light as they move. Cleara’s shoulders settle lower, and the tension between them turns easy.
Madam Cleara
If we are meeting someone tonight, I would rather do it looking like we mean to enjoy ourselves.
She glances back toward the throne room doors once, then back to Rosmira, clearly impressed by the quick change. The corridor feels less like an exit and more like the start of a shared outing.
“YOu too sis with a snap of my fingers cleara maid outfit disappears and a black silk dress with white inlines cover her frame. Cleara is as jaw dropping as the queen now.”
SUCCESS (Fair Style, rolled +0)
Rosmira snaps her fingers, and Cleara’s maid uniform dissolves into a black silk dress with white inlines that fall cleanly over her frame.
Madam Cleara
...Oh.
Cleara goes still, then looks down at herself as if she has been startled into elegance. Her shoulders ease, and her breath catches once.
Madam Cleara
That is far more unfair than what you did to yourself.
She lifts her chin, then gives Rosmira a slow, appraising look that is no longer stiff with duty.
Madam Cleara
If we are meeting anyone tonight, I suppose I should not arrive looking like I am still on shift.
The corridor feels warmer with her approval, and the night ahead starts to feel shared instead of assigned.
“Next stop soul hall with a wave of her hand cleara and ros teleport right to soul halls front door.”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled -2)