Voyage I: Lentini

[Ramke]

Claire appreciated Gabriel's actions, seeing him mediate between his boss and herself. She felt so relieved knowing that there was someone on her side seeing the ridiculousness of the situation, even if he was Maltese. However, that relief didn't last very long as Enma was in her face once again, sliding the ring back on her finger.

She tried to remain neutral in expression in order to avoid showing her state, although being battered with emotional abuse coupled with the exhaustion made it so much harder. The Roi would never agree to getting married off to this Maltese psychopath, she thought. She just had to play pretend until she heard this officially, but every fibre of her being wanted to take the ring and throw it away. It took all of the willpower she had left to stop herself from overreacting. It was hard to avoid noticing the resentment in her voice.

— I'll.. consider it.

No matter how much she wanted to refuse, the Outcast was right. She would probably be dead without Enma, and someone would strap a collar on her and sell her off if she abandoned her now. But she wasn't going to agree to her demands. Not fully, at least.

— I'll try to eat, but please don't bring a lot. And I'd like privacy, so I would like a single bedroom arranged.

She was very courteous about it, drawing from her experience of dealing with all sorts of diplomats and politicians in Orleanais.

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