"News from Tarlonnd? And it has something to do with the Verde Family?" Upon hearing Betty's words, Gawain's first reaction was blank confusion—he could not imagine what could have happened on the Tarlonnd Continent, across the northern seas, that would be connected to the empire's Verde Family. But the next second, a piece of intelligence he had nearly forgotten suddenly surfaced from the depths of his mind, and his expression changed at once. "Have her come straight to the study!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Betty immediately bowed deeply, then quickly rose and left the study. The crisp tap-tap of her running footsteps soon echoed down the corridor.
Only after Betty had left did Gawain look up, meeting Amber's gaze as she looked over at the same time.
Their eyes met. They nodded slightly, already reaching an understanding before either spoke and thinking in the same direction. Gawain said in a low voice, "Do you remember Modir's Travels..."
Amber spoke almost at the same time. "Betty actually remembered the guest's name when she came in to deliver a message this time!"
Gawain: "..."
Amber: "..."
"So that serious look and nod just now were for saying that?!" After half a second of stunned silence, Gawain finally tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I thought you were thinking what I was thinking!"
"I thought you were thinking what I was thinking too!" Amber showed no embarrassment whatsoever. Instead, she planted her hands on her hips with her usual righteous confidence. "Who knew you were so serious because you were actually thinking about something serious..."
As she spoke, the half-elf waved her hand vigorously and forcibly steered the conversation back where it should have gone before Gawain could say anything. "Anyway, forget that, forget that. Now that you mention it, I remember too—Modir's