Under the Maltese Skies

[Omi]

Charlotte swept through the door without so much as a shred of hesitation or intimidation, staring at the seated Dona opposite with an unreadable expression. She didn't say anything, of course -- she was under the impression she didn't need to, and watching the visible effect that her sudden appearance had had on Loyola herself brought her a tiny glimmer of satisfaction. She'd seen her father exert the same kind of silent, almost innate pressure with just a look during her childhood -- to say nothing of the terror her infamous uncle could wield simply by striding into a war council. Evidently, that same power was something she'd managed to inherit.

She held Loyola's gaze for a few seconds, her eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly as she moved towards the offered seat, lowering herself into it in a slow, deliberate manner. After all, she herself had nothing to explain, nothing to say -- only demands to make, but she'd save those for after Loyola was done explaining herself. She hadn't known what to expect from this meeting, but something about the other woman's almost nervous demeanour set her mind racing. There was something more to this than just a social call or a routine checking-in -- not least because this was the first such meeting in two years.

Loyola's explanation wound its way out bit by bit, interrupted only by a brief sip of orange juice before Charlotte found herself being allowed to speak. Her eyebrow had begun a slow climb up her forehead, higher and higher, with each new word she heard, and her lack of satisfaction with what she was offered was clearly visible before she even began to reply.

"Is that it?" she asked, her tone flat and quavering slightly. "Two years for me to -- to 'go public' again? You're taking me to the capital for a-- public appearance, then, or something?" There was a quiet fury building in her voice, word by word, but she held herself in check for now. "What about the war -- what about my family? What about my sister, and what about the Kingdom? It's been years, Enma, and I haven't heard a thing about what's happened beyond these walls."

Steadying herself against the arms of her chair, Charlotte leaned forwards ever so slightly, trying to suppress the frustration boiling inside her. This news wasn't news -- it was just noise, something she couldn't have cared less about.

"I want to know, Enma -- if you can't give me neural net access, at least give me that much."

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