"I think Lord Christopher should go see your sister."

Eve's voice is followed by them giving you a subtle wink. It's hard to ignore how thankful you are to her for sparing you yet more time with Isabelle. You got the feeling she was building up something, and from the disappointment on her face at Eve's interjection that was less a feeling than a fact.

"I'm sure my sister could wait a little longer." Isabelle said.

"I don't think we should keep Christopher from your sibling." Felicaite said looking you over. "I'm sure we will get more times to get to know each other." The ambassador finished, walking to the bath houses front entrance.

Isabelle opened her mouth in another attempt to control your actions but was cut off by Delilah's arm tugging hers after Felicaite. "I'm sure your mother would prefer we keep the Ambassador company, not Christopher." Eve said.

Isabelle was sudden torn. Approval from Anastasia was apparently not the only familial attention she desired. "Until next time Lord Christopher." The haughty response was better than you had been expecting in all honestly so you took it and made a quick exit.

The crowd was much less interested in following you around so you slipped out it pretty quickly. The trip back to the academy was easy and in the fading light, relaxing. Walking up the hill you got to the city from above it's skyline as the fading red bathed the whitewashed buildings in glowing fire.

With an appreciative smile on your face you passed underneath the gate, feeling the eyes of the gate guard, you still couldn't spot, on you as you did. You made your way to the estate, though on your way you did give a wistful look at the dorms entry as the smell of dinner wafted out of it.

Reaching the estate the door opened to Blue standing in it. "You've very **** to come when my Lady calls."

It is quite possible that Clare may have been right about Blue not coming around to tolerating you if you just gave her and Edin time. "I got involved in the tour Isabelle was giving Felicaite." Your answer did not move her from the doorway. "Delilah said Ana wanted to talk to me."

Blue stared at you for a long moment. "My Mother came by to visit." She stepped into the estate and you followed her inside. "Queen Aurora has given Ana a task. We'll be out of the Capital for next week, touring the local nobles to ensure the slaves traded after the parade get to where they are supposed to go." She hit the word **** harder than necessary, you got the impression it was to get under your skin, which it did.

"Oh, um, so ..." you didn't really know what to say. Aurora was rather obviously trying to get Ana out of the city while Felicaite was here. It would make it easier to believe you're marital relations were secure without the risk of accidentally stumbling on you fucking Ana, something Ana would probably do her best to ensure would happen. "Did she want me to go with her?" That seemed like the obvious solution to the problem.

"No, my mother made it clear you'll be staying. Though she did say that Edin would be accompanying us." The sharpness in her voice made you appreciate Clare. Her correctness about Blue taking out her inability to be with Edin on you, and the way that was going to escalate was beyond reproach. That you weren't treating this as a competition for Edin's affection but as a, love corner, with Edin caught between the two of you made it sad.

You were about to ask if she was going to tell him how she felt on their week long trip but bit your tongue. Clare had said that that was going to have to come from Ana not you for it have any meaning. Something this week long trip is going to help with. Blue's snarkiness was a bit undercut by the sudden excitedly hopeful smile on your face. "I should say goodbye before she leaves then."

Blue chewed her tongue for a moment. "She's in her room with Black and White getting her clothes for the week sorted. I'll go and help Edin pack." She spun on her heel and walked towards the door you had just come in from.

You made your way to Ana's room and heard it before it ever came close to you view. Ana's bodyguard was standing in the hallway and left as soon as you appeared. She really wasn't going to get over your lax attitude to her charges safety, kinda justified that.

Walking into the room you discovered either an apoptotic event involving every colour of every rainbow in the form of cloth, or an extremely dissatisfied Ana who couldn't find a weeks worth of clothing. Black was standing by the fire, acting as a goalie for the occasional item throw at it. She gave you a wink as she twirled a pair of Ana's underwear in her hand.

White was trying to pick out certain items and a naked Ana was rejecting everything. "Baroness Sria hates green and lace, Duchess Brea loaths anything without frills. If I'm to meet them I need something they will respect. This is a chance to garner more support of the local nobles." Ana threw a blue dress over her shoulder that was deftly caught by Black before it had a chance to catch of fire. "And where's - Oh there you are."

She approached you and planted her lips on your. Her tongue darted out to lick your lips but didn't tarry for a proper make out. A look at her aura show it as much a taste test for her sister on your lips as it was to kiss you. "Sorry for taking so long. You're being sent away for a week?"

"Yes my mum doesn't want me getting in the way of the ambassador." She waved her hands dismissively as she walked back to White and her offered clothing. "But it gives me a chance to expand my support base and she can't punish me for doing so, since I'll be doing it at her instruction." There was a somewhat malicious glint in her eye as she said that. "I need help picking outfits."

"Oh, ah, well." You felt very put on the spot, you hadn't a clue on any of this. "That looks nice." You said pointing at a blue slinky dress, that might just be a shirt. Ana picked it up and gave it to White who picked out several matching items from the various piles. They were then put in a neatly stacked pile on the bed.

Ana meanwhile pulled on a red frilly dress and modeled it for you. "Do you like it?" She asked flatly.

"It's very, frilly." You answered with a half hearted smile.

"Duchess Brea likes frills, she thinks it exemplifies a simple elegance." Black said, barely holding back her laughter.

"Don't forget Baroness Kira, you'll need something that appeals to her."

Ana hummed as she pulled off the red dress, threw it to Black and looked around. "Christopher I need something that shows skin without showing too much."

"And you're asking me because?" The implied dressing seductively for, presumably older woman to win her support felt kinda, icky.

"Because I want her to remember me, but not so much she spends her night think about me with a hand between her legs." Ana sounded frustrated.

"Oh." Looking around the room something clicked. "How long have you been doing this?"

"Several hours." Black said as she subtly threw the red frilly dress into the fire. "Baroness Kira has been the issue. She's rarely without the company of her Duchess or one of her fellow Baroness so we need something that appeals to them all."

You got the impression the 'several hours' wasn't going to being soon, and you would be a part of it for the forseeable future. "So just making sure, you're ok with being sent away so your mother can pretend me and Mary are betrothed to an ambassador?"

"An ambassador from the dwarves, they never maintain relations for very long so fighting her on this would be waste of an opportunity." Ana said grabbing for a very slinky black dress.

"Too much." You and White said at the same time.

And people said that she wasn't proactive, just letting others do the work for her. "Then let's find you something tastefully slutty. Also I need to talk with you in private after this." Black and White gave you a smirk. Well it would be a week away from her so probably that too.