‘What is that I'm seeing?’
Out there in front of her... were Morgan and Seishan.
The Princess of Valor and the Princess of Song were sitting on the ground among the rubble, having completely forgotten their sense of decorum.
They were... playing cards.
Effie blinked and rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was imagining things. But no, her eyes weren't lying to her. Morgan and Seishan were indeed sitting on the dusty cobblestones and playing cards, discussing something quietly amongst each other.
She could hear bits and pieces of their conversation.
“Another ace? How can this be?"
"That is called skill, Your Highness."
“Don't your highess me, wench. You're cheating!"
“How would I cheat? That doesn't even make sense."
“Five aces in a deck of cards is what doesn't make sense."
"Oh, so you have a pair of aces? Hmm... unfortunate."
“Of course I do. Or do I only want you to believe that I do?"
“I will believe anything you say, Your Highness. I wouldn't dare doubt your honesty."
"How are you so good at being infuriating?"
“It comes with practice."
“Stop practicing on me, then!"
Effie stared at them, dumbfounded.
“What are you doing, fools?"
Morgan and Seishan looked at her. Morgan shrugged.
“Waiting for you, obviously."
Seishan nodded.
“What, did you expect that we'll leave you all alone on this fine morning?"
Morgan threw one last glance at her cards, then grimaced and stood up.
"Let's go. We'll see you off to the gate."
Effie gave her a long look, then smiled.
“It's an honor... Your Highness."
Morgan's eye twitched, and she forced out a smile.
"Why, of course. Anything for our esteemed Steward of the East."
Seishan rose, then stretched and spoke in her husky, tantalizing voice.
“By the way, I always wanted to ask... in your case, wouldn't it be the Stewardess of the East? That would make more sense."
Effie could only stare at her blankly.
"Did the plague rot your brain?"
Seishan shrugged.
"Someone would have to split my skull open to find out."
Hearing that, Morgan livened up.
“If you want to, that can be arranged. I'll volunteer."
Ignoring them, Effie walked past.
“Fine, let's go. I appreciate it. Goodness gracious, it's still dark outside! A fine young lady like me shouldn't be walking the streets alone in the dark... who knows what terrible things might happen!"
To whoever was foolish enough to bother her, that was.
The three of them made their way to the city gate, sharing a lighthearted conversation. The mood was carefree and laidback, as if they were not passing through burned ruins and stepping over the blackened bones, circling around rotting corpses from time to time.
It was so carefree, in fact, that for a short while, Effie was distracted from the truth. From the fact that today, her life could very well come to an end.