Shade beckoned behind the sofa. From among his pile of Spellcasting Materials and relics, a badge bearing the Duchess's insignia, ringed with a white bone border and capable of Witch Detection, flew over:
"I am indeed Miss Galina's man."
He showed the badge to Miss Benanis, who recognized that the insignia upon it had been made by another Great Witch.
"When you invited me to meet yesterday, I temporarily refused because I considered the possibility of a misunderstanding. I agreed to meet today because I brought letters from other Witches."
That letter flew over as well. Shade handed it to Miss Benanis, then returned to the side sofa with the cat in his arms.
The Blonde Witch opened it with a slight frown. The letter was only one page and not very long, and she quickly finished reading it. Yet when she saw the handwritten signatures and seals of four Great Witches at the bottom, her confusion only deepened:
"If you used your looks to seduce Galina and immature Sylvia, then Sivie only likes women, doesn't she? And Grandma Cassandra—the oldest Great Witch—actually has feelings for someone like you..."
She handed the letter to the curious Miss Lathers beside her, placed her puppet on the table, and looked seriously at Shade:
"In any case, you did save me just now, and you also helped me obtain this, so I will not do anything to you. Now, return to the manor with me. This is not a good place to talk. Let us keep a low profile and move quickly. It would be troublesome if The Church discovered us."
"What does this have to do with The Church?"
Shade asked as he teased Mia, who had been of great help earlier. Miss Benanis made a rather complicated expression:
"The Mad Puppet