Charlotte was greatly surprised to see the visitor. "Hughes!"
"How did you get here?"
Hughes wore a cold expression as he asked, "Aren't we old friends?" He placed particular emphasis on the words "old friends."
Charlotte could not help laughing. "We really are old friends."
Their relationship was complicated. Though their hatred ran deep, there was also a strange sort of friendship between them.
Charlotte stepped aside and invited Hughes into the room. "It's a little messy. Please don't mind it. I have standard Fars coffee here. Would you like a cup?" He did not know why Hughes had come looking for him, but he was in no hurry to ask. Hughes would surely tell him.
Hughes did not care about the mess. He had fought wars for years; what sort of environment had he not endured?
He sat in a chair, raised the coffee, took a sip, then closed his eyes to savor it. "The South Seraph Restoration Army is almost out of people."
Charlotte nodded. "I know."
The Madame Nansera had risked their lives for Byron and fought Fars bitterly for years. The fact that any had survived was already a small miracle; keeping even a few veterans would have been the stuff of literature. That Hughes had managed to preserve the army's structure and maintain a certain scale truly made him a first-rate talent and an outstanding military commander.
Hughes asked, "I heard Teacher Vigo has been doing fairly well?"
Charlotte shrugged. "I never concern myself with my subordinates' private lives. Maybe he enjoys this life; maybe he finds it tormenting. Who can say?"
"He is now the commander of the Dolmabahçe! You know, most Madame Nansera have grown tired of war. Vigo does not particularly like fighting either, and the Dolmabahçe almost never goes to the