"His Grace left again almost immediately."
Jean lifted a brow.
"He returned only to disappear?"
Sarah lowered her voice carefully. "He entered briefly, then was summoned and departed again."
Thalia, standing near the doorway, gave a small bow and stepped out, leaving the room quieter than before.
Salviana remained still for a moment.
"Alright," she said at last.
Her tone was even, though something beneath it had cooled.
Sarah waited for further instruction, but none came immediately.
Instead Salviana crossed slowly toward the sitting area and removed the outer clasp of her sleeves.
Jean watched her.
"You expected him to be here."
"I did not."
"You did."
Salviana ignored that.
But once Sarah withdrew discreetly toward the adjoining chamber, leaving them privacy, Salviana sank into the nearest seat.
The room felt strangely large again.
The warmth from earlier had thinned.
And because silence always made thought louder, Jean's earlier words returned too easily.
