Scarlett found Rosa in the woman’s quarters, seated in a dim corner beside a round table, head lowered and klert cradled in her arms. Soft halcyon notes floated from the instrunt, enveloping the room in a glum lody. Scarlett paused at the entrance, observing the bard, who seed absorbed in her music.
Through haunted walls where echoes weep,
A lody of secrets, the troubadour does keep~
A visage cloaked in heartache’s guise,
Yet, a plea for joy in wanting cries~
Smile for , ‘neath the silver veil,
In the spectral dance, let joy prevail~
Ghosts of laughter, shadow’s glee,
In the haunted night, smile for ~
Rosa’s voice, a quiet murmur blending with the music, carried layers of unspoken emotions. The lyrics… Scarlett faintly recognized them from the ga, though she suspected they were slightly different.
She lingered near the doorway for a while, allowing the song’s final note to dissolve into silence. Rosa’s gaze remained fixed on the empty floorboards for several seconds, before eventually, Scarlett approached.
Rosa’s head lifted at the sound of footsteps, and a wry smile appeared on her face. “…Fancy eting you here. Didn’t think I’d catch you sneaking around like this, but who could bla you?” The smile transford into a smirk. “If you wanted a show, you could’ve just asked.”
“And I would have if that is what I desired,” Scarlett replied, moving to sit opposite the bard, placing the [Bag of Juham] on the table between them.
Rosa glanced at the bag, then back at Scarlett. “So, how’d your little city excursion go? Heard you went to rub elbows with so big-shot duke or other. Climbing up the social ladder, are we? Soon you’ll be beguiling princes and princesses.”
“I most assuredly hope not.” Scarlett shook her head. “And the eting with the duke went well. He expressed interest in further discussions with before we return to Freybrook.”
“Yeah? That’s good, I bet,” Rosa said, the woman’s gaze drifting to a painting of a ship on the wall, her fingers absentmindedly plucking at the strings and keys of her instrunt.
Watching her from the side, Scarlett wondered what was going through the bard’s mind.
Eventually, she reached towards the [Bag of Juham]. “I have sothing for you.”
Rosa blinked, turning to look at Scarlett. “For ?”
“Yes.” Scarlett pulled out an item from the bag. “If you recall, upon our arrival in Bridgespell, we visited several artisans to commission equipnt for the group. I have already distributed the items to everyone else; yours is the last remaining.”
“Oh, right,” Rosa said, her voice fading. “I’d completely forgotten about that, honestly, with everything else happening…”
She paused, her attention caught by the object Scarlett revealed.
Crafted from rich, polished wood and embellished with intricate detailing and imagery, it was an item Rosa was plenty familiar with. It featured multiple strings stretched across an exquisitely constructed bridge, with deliberately placed keys fashioned from bone-white marble adorning its face and a wheel of sorts set into the wood at the center. At the instrunt’s base, a single handle beckoned to be cranked.
[lodyscript Klert (rare)]
{Born from the hands of an expert artisan working with a seasoned enchanter and made from the rare Lyradra Wood, this instrunt seems imbued with a sense of life and artistry, eagerly waiting to express its unique sound}
“You once jestingly suggested we ask Dean Warley Godwin to enchant your instrunt while he was staying at our mansion,” Scarlett said, observing Rosa’s reaction. “Obviously, the notion of having one of the most powerful mages in the empire attend to such a trivial task was ludicrous. I am also certain that whatever enchantnt you would have requested would have been pointless, at best. However, that conversation did prompt to consider if there might be more practical alternatives.”
She gestured towards the klert on the table. “That is why I had this commissioned for you. It was before we left for Bridgespell, and thus technically separate from the other commissions, but through my connections, I found an eminent craftsman and a capable mage for the task. The body was fashioned by Sir Elowen Dalton, if you know of him, with the enchantnt later added by a Master Docent Harding of Bridgespell Tower, upon Miss ndenhall’s recomndation.”
Rosa remained silent, her gaze intently fixed on the instrunt.
Scarlett observed her closely, her brows creasing slightly. Did Rosa perhaps not like it and was considering how to bring that up? Maybe the woman felt a sentintal attachnt to her old klert? But this enchanted one would objectively be superior during their excursions. Rosa could always keep the old klert for other occasions if she wished to.
“Is there sothing wrong with it?” Scarlett eventually asked, breaking the silence that had stretched for nearly thirty seconds.
Hopefully Rosa wasn’t disappointed with the quality. Scarlett would have preferred getting an Epic-tier instrunt for the bard, but that hadn’t been an option due to resource and ti constraints. Creating a klert from scratch was a slow process, and unlike the other workshops Scarlett had commissioned the rest of the equipnt from, Sir Elowen had inford her that he couldn’t custom-make a klert for Rosa in under a month.
This klert had been the makeshift solution, repurposed from existing materials he had lying around. Scarlett supposed it was impressive that he managed to get it done and enchanted by a mage in the ti that he did have. It was apparently the first ti Sir Elowen actually created an item to be enchanted.
The enchantnts themselves were sowhat limited due to the lower quality of the item itself, but this was still better than nothing.
Finally, Rosa’s response ca as the woman turned to look at Scarlett with both eyebrows raised. “What, you think this face of mine is one of disappointnt?”
Scarlett’s concerns eased slightly, though she didn’t show any of it on her expression. “It is challenging to discern such things with you.”
The bard chuckled, briefly looking down at the klert in her lap, running her fingers over its surface, before returning her gaze to the new one on the table. “Mind if I give it a whirl?” she asked.
“It is yours,” Scarlett replied. “You hardly need my permission to use it.”
With a smile, Rosa set aside her old klert and picked up the new instrunt, inspecting it from various angles. She then placed it on her lap, testing the keys and strings, adjusting the tuning pegs at the top, and performing other small checks unfamiliar to Scarlett.
After her adjustnts, Rosa seed content and cranked the handle at the bottom. A fleecy, lodic tune filled the room, its sound rich and seeming to infuse the very air with vigour. She began to sing in a low, folksy voice.
And oh she lived, that she did~
She bilked, she duped,
and she kept her way~
Tilde, never once did she keep her say~
She was a scamp, a cheat,
but she kept you astray~
Scarlett recognized the song, both from the ga and their first encounter.
When the bard finished, she looked back at Scarlett with a steady gaze. “This might be the best gift I’ve ever gotten. In my whole life. Period.”
“…Surely you are exaggerating.”
“No.”
Scarlett studied her, a mont of uncertainty passing as she wondered how she was even expected to respond to that, then she shifted her focus back to the [Bag of Juham]. “If that is the case, then I am curious to hear your thoughts on these next articles.” She pulled out two more items from the bag.
[Harmony’s Veil (Epic)]
{A symbol of the harmony that a minstrel’s songs can bring, this veil’s purpose of protecting its wearer and spreading its lody far and wide will sing true}
The first was a flowing purple mantle, its fabric almost seeming to dance and flicker in the ambient light. It was made from a mixture of the ashenwraith dragon’s hide and a particular kind of silk called athystine silk, which Scarlett and the others had collected on one of their dungeon runs.
Though primarily a mantle, it was large enough to fold over the front and shield the entire body if necessary. A small spatial enchantnt had also been woven into it, allowing Rosa to stow away her klert inside whenever she wanted. That particular feature had been expensive due to the rarity of most spatial enchantnts and the materials, but the convenience it offered was undeniable.
Following the mantle, Scarlett revealed a pair of leather boots.
[Harmony’s Echostriders (Rare)]
{Made from the finest silver silk, the luminescent threads within these boots sing the song of travels, aiding its wearer in their journeys}
Rosa stared at the two items as Scarlett laid them out.
“What, I’m really getting these two as well?” she asked.
“You are, yes.”
Balancing her new klert on her lap, Rosa leaned forward to inspect the mantle and the boots more closely. “If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought you were trying to win my heart with all these extravagances. If only I hadn’t been there during that Tuesday store-run of yours to witness the casualness with which you spent enough solars to buy a castle. Nothing’s scarier than seeing nobles throw around money like it grows on trees.”
Choosing to ignore Rosa’s jest about her spending habits, Scarlett placed the [Bag of Juham] on the floor. “This is hardly the first instance of my ensuring you are supplied with valuable equipnt. You are a key mber of my party, and thus, investing in your capabilities is only logical. Building up one’s available assets is a natural course of action.”
“Now that’s the quintessential Scarlett response,” Rosa said with a hint of amusent.
“It is the truth.”
“Yeah, yeah.” The bard waved a hand dismissively as she continued to explore the mantle and boots. “The klert I think I can figure out on my own, but what about these? What do they do?”
“The mantle and boots both carry basic enchantnts for increased durability. The mantle also offers additional protection through a warding enchantnt and includes a small dinsional fold for storing your klert. As for the boots, they are ant to improve your stamina and agility, and should theoretically enhance your charms as well.”
Rosa whistled appreciatively. “Now that is fancy. With everything else you’ve given , I’m starting to feel like a treasure trove on legs. Any day now I half expect a dragon to co swooping in and claim as the crown jewel of its hoard. A re ‘thanks’ feels lacking for all this.”
“As I have already stated, you are a valuable asset to . There is no need for thanks when my actions are solely for my own benefit.”
“And the klert? Was that also purely for your benefit, then?” Rosa asked, lightly tapping the instrunt.
Scarlett’s eyes moved to rest on it for a mont before she nodded. “Primarily, yes.”
Rosa flashed a knowing smile, but didn’t say anything. A brief silence ensued, where the bard continued looking over her new possessions with smug curiosity.
Eventually, Scarlett spoke once more. “With that dealt with, perhaps it is ti for us to have a talk. We have not had much ti or opportunity for a proper conversation since you left for Crowcairn.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” Rosa answered with a casual air, her attention caught by the spatial pouch inside the mantle. She placed her klert inside, then pulled it out, repeating the action several tis. “Where do you want to start?”
Scarlett regarded her. “…How about we begin with how you are?”
The woman paused, a flicker of surprise crossing her features before she regained her composure and t Scarlett’s gaze. “Are you sure that’s where you want to start?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure, sure?”
“I would not have asked if I were not.”
“Well, I was kinda expecting the first thing you’d do once we got back here was give a piece of your mind, considering everything. Was afraid they’d need Fynn to sniff out what’s left of my body from the city’s alleys afterward,” Rosa half-joked.
“…I would not have had you killed, regardless of what you may have done to anger .”
“Really?” The woman wiped an imaginary sweat drop from her brow. “Whew, that’s a weight off my shoulders.”
“Let ask again,” Scarlett pressed. “How are you, Rosa?”
The bard squinted her eyes at her. “You’re really sure that’s where you want to start?”
A hint of impatience entered Scarlett’s voice. “Do not start this again.”
“Sorry, sorry,” Rosa conceded with a light grin, then leaned back in her chair, looking across the room. “To actually answer your question, I’m fine. Much thanks to you, really.”
Scarlett arched a brow. “You are reverting to old habits, asserting that you are fine while wearing a smile that you have every right to forgo.”
Rosa’s smile cracked, then gradually vanished. “…Guess you’re right on that one as well.”
“I have been inford that I tend to be correct about a great deal of things,” Scarlett said.
“And humble too…” Rosa muttered under her breath, then sighed and fiddled with her new klert. “…You know, I used to go by this old adage. Not sure where I picked it up, but it always stuck with . ‘Don’t tell your friends about your indigestion. “How are you” is a greeting, not a question’.”
“That is a rather bleak outlook on relationships.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Not arguing with you on that, but it’s true, isn’t it?”
“In so cases, perhaps. But I have never asked you that question without genuine intentions.”
“I’ll be honest, I think that makes you weirder than it does .” Rosa shook her head, a slight hint of amusent showing on her face, though it soon faded. “…But I’m not lying to you this ti. I really am fine. Mostly. Better than I have any right to be, at least. Better than I’ve been for years. That part isn’t a lie.”
“Yet you can still hear Anguish,” Scarlett pointed out.
“There is that,” the woman admitted. “Turns out she’s a pretty sore loser. I’ve spent the last day listening to her attempt about a hundred sches to convince to set her free and embrace the old mass-homicide routine. I’ve also considered shutting her up a dozen tis, but there’s sothing comforting in hearing the thing that ruined your entire life desperately beg and plead for your attention, you know?” She pouted slightly. “Or, well, I say ‘desperately’, but it’s mostly just a bunch of her laughing at my supposed naivety, but I take what I can get. Don’t know what that says about , but at this point, do I really care?”
A frown appeared on Scarlett’s brow. It was sowhat worrying that Anguish was still up to that kind of stuff, yet, at the sa ti… She had to admit that she also found so grim satisfaction in imagining the demon’s futile attempts to sway Rosa, all the while Anguish was incapable of doing anything to stop the chaos that was no doubt currently spreading in her domain.
“She’s also told all kinds of stories about you that would make Drakon the Despoiler sound virtuous,” Rosa added, “but it’s pretty clear most of it’s made up.”
Scarlett paused, looking at the woman.
The thought had crossed her mind that Anguish might tell Rosa things that Scarlett didn’t necessarily want her to know.
The bard t her gaze, her clear violet eyes searching.
“Most of it,” Rosa continued, “but I wager even a demon like her might have sprinkled so truth in there, even if by accident.”
Scarlett remained silent at first, considering her words, before finally responding. “It should perhaps not co as a surprise that I have indeed been harboring many secrets from you, although I hope you understand that I had good reason to do so. I cannot address allegations I am unaware of, so if I may ask… What exactly has she been saying?”
Rosa hesitated. “…First, I want to ask…” She glanced down at the area above her chest, where the [Astralbane’s Nexus Heartstone] lay concealed beneath the fabric of her blouse. “You knew about Anguish’s presence inside from the start, didn’t you? Even before we officially t?”
“I did.” Scarlett had no reason to deny it at this point.
“So when you claid you knew when we first t in that inn, it wasn’t that you had heard of as a bard, but that you were aware of my whole ‘incarnate’ situation, even though I didn’t even know about it myself?”
“…Yes.”
A mix of emotions played across Rosa’s face as she looked at Scarlett. “Is it also true that you struck a deal with Anguish, agreeing to steer clear of each other’s affairs?”
“Yes,” Scarlett answered, “However—”
“I know,” Rosa interrupted, holding up a hand. “It’s not like I’m accusing you. It’s just that I finally have an explanation for why the visions stopped around you. Besides.” She offered a small smile and rapped her fist against her chest, producing a faint, crystalline sound. “You clearly found ways around that pact of yours.”
Her smile then faded into a more somber expression, and she moved her gaze, letting it drift around the room. “…’Course, then we had the other things Anguish shared. Truth or lies, they led to so realizations about our relationship that I’d been blind to. About how so of my assumptions were wrong. Looking back, it’s clear that I was always dancing along to your tune far more than I ever suspected.”
“Rosa, allow to—”
“I’m still not blaming you, you know?” the woman cut in. “I’m the last person who has any right to do that, after everything you’ve done for . It’s just that, realizing that there was so much that I missed in our interactions, so much context and aning that I was completely oblivious to each ti I talked with soone I thought I knew… It feels weird, you know? Disheartening, almost. Makes wonder if I was the only one taking all those tis seriously. At face value.”
Scarlett took a mont before replying. “There was never an instance where I did not take you seriously.”
“Yeah?” The corner of Rosa’s lips lifted as she shot her a wry look. “You willing to stand by that claim?”
“Discounting all of the tis that you were being a Rosa,” Scarlett corrected herself.
“It’s encouraging I’ve made enough of an imprint for my na to have beco a noun,” the bard laughed, then her gaze shifted away again. “…Anguish’s been trying to make out as this master manipulator and scher, even around , but I never fully bought into that. She seems to think she’s got you pegged, but honestly, I don’t think she has any idea what you’re truly like. Even if you had been manipulating like she said, even if I had been nothing but a pawn in your gas and everything had been a lie, I think I would have been fine with it. Though, once again, that probably speaks more about how much of a ss I am than you.”
“I do not believe you are a ss, Rosa,” Scarlett said.
A humorless laugh escaped Rosa. “That’s mighty kind of you, Red, but this is one ti where you’re definitely wrong. I’d wager a dragon’s bottom that you can’t find another pulchritudinous lass in the empire that’s as selfish and contradictory as this one.”
“…You expressed a similar sentint in Crowcairn, but I struggle to understand the reasoning behind you labeling yourself as selfish. I have seen too many instances where you have prioritised the well-being of others above your own, to the point where it has been exasperating.”
There were several occasions when Scarlett had wished the woman wasn’t as softhearted as she was.
Rosa shook her head. “If you knew anything about my past, you wouldn’t be saying that.”
“I do know your past,” Scarlett interjected.
The bard froze.
“My awareness of you from before we t was not limited to your identity as an incarnate, Rosa. While I do not claim to know everything, I am familiar with many of your struggles.”
Slowly, Rosa turned back to face Scarlett, eyeing her. “…Then you should know that people have died because of in the past. Because of this thing inside . Because I didn’t have enough sense to just head into the forest and live alone with my demons. Because I…I couldn’t even envision a life where I was entirely isolated.” Her voice carried a heavy sincerity. “I have been nothing but selfish for most of my life, Scarlett. That’s a fact.”
Scarlett observed her in silence. “…I am aware. Yet, it is also a fact that I have seen your compassion nurous tis — caring for and healing children who cross your path, assisting strangers who have nothing to offer you, and trying to protect us despite your own pain. You even chose to risk your own life for a village belonging to the Tribe of Sin.”
“Doesn’t that highlight my problems, if anything?” Rosa asked. “Anyone can help out a kid or two if it doesn’t cost them much, but that doesn’t speak to whether they’re genuinely good. You’d think that soone with an actual sense of decency wouldn’t hesitate to distance themselves from their friends if it ant saving them from herself. Yet I did hesitate. So many tis. And this was before I knew you could help . What I should have done back then was leave after the first ti I got paid, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
The woman let out another laugh, this one bitter and tinged with self-derisiveness as her gaze dropped to the mantle and boots on the table.
“Besides…” Rosa halted before continuing. “Weren’t you the one saying my aid in Crowcairn was misguided? I never disagreed with that. Like I’ve already told you, my actions weren’t borne out of so saintly compassion or being unable to see people die in front of . People have already died around . Because of , even. The truth is that I just… I wasn’t sure I could live with myself if all my actions—the culmination of everything stupid and cowardly I’d done in my life—ant getting away scot-free while an entire village of unrelated families died. Even if they belonged to the Tribe.”
She shook her head. “Or maybe it was the opposite… Maybe I did think I could live with myself after that. I’ve never wanted to be that kind of person, but in a way, I probably always have been.”
“…I was not aware you felt so conflicted on the matter,” Scarlett said after a mont.
This was sowhat different from how any of the storylines Scarlett had encountered in the ga with Rosa. Surprisingly, Scarlett found herself actually sympathising with so of the woman’s sentints.
“So of these thoughts were new to as well.” Rosa gave a weak shrug. She touched the Heartstone embedded in her chest. “But when you put this thing in … When, for once, I gained full control—if only for a mont—over both myself and the demon that’s plagued for so long, it was the first ti I actually felt that I had the chance to change. Or to try to, at least. And so I took that opportunity. I took it, even if it ant betraying your expectations and potentially risking half the continent by inviting a galomaniac demon intent on laying waste to all of civilization into my body. Sure, I felt fairly certain I could have stopped Anguish at any mont by simply stopping myself, but it was still a risk no sane person would take. So how does that possibly render deserving of being called ‘kind’?”
The bard t Scarlett’s gaze, letting the silence stretch between them for a few tense monts. The heavy air gradually lifted as though Rosa seed to realize herself, shifting in her seat and returning to fiddling with the klert in her lap.
“…Then do you regret it?” Scarlett asked after so ti.
“No,” ca Rosa’s reply, without a trace of doubt. “Not even for a second. Even if I’d lost my life at the end of it all, I would have made the sa choice again. Even knowing it would have made you waste all that effort you put into helping . Like I said, I’m selfish like that.”
Scarlett watched the woman, her gaze thoughtful as she listened to the faint notes produced by the klert’s strings. “…I am beginning to think that we are more alike than I had previously thought. However, there also remain many respects in which we are distinctly different.”
Rosa looked up from her instrunt, a hint of confusion in her eyes. “You’re not gonna pull the ‘noble’ card on , are you?”
“I am not,” Scarlett said. “But I will say that, between the two of us, I am unequivocally the more selfish one. Do not forget that I was the one who orchestrated the events that transpired at the citadel and with Anguish, including the circumstances that ultimately led to Malachi exposing the Tribe’s enclave in Crowcairn to Duke Valentino’s n. You may question your own goodness, Rosa, but at the very least, it is clear that you harbor a desire to be good. That is more than many others can say.”
Rosa’s expression hardened slightly. “Maybe, but you can’t deny the hypocrisy of asking for that much understanding at this point.”
“And what does it matter if it is hypocritical?” Scarlett asked. “Who is there to pass judgent but yourself? I refuse to condemn you for your past, and the only judgent that should truly influence your actions is your own. You see yourself as a ss, but I assure you, my own failings are much more substantial, and there is no reality where I am not a hypocrite. Yet I refuse to let this govern who I am.”
“Ehm, we’re not talking about who’s got the best social skills here, Red.” Rosa gave her a puzzled look.
Scarlett returned her a pointed glare. “That is not what I ant.”
She paused briefly, steeling herself.
“I will only be saying this once, so do not expect to reiterate this ever again; however, I am aware that I can have a problematic personality. I am, as already stated, hypocritical, overbearing, conceited, callous, vain, petty, prone to irrational anger, and I struggle with maintaining even the simplest of healthy relationships with those around. I have nurous quirks and prejudices that likely skew my perception and judgent on matters far more than I realize. It was only a few months ago that I could not even hold a proper conversation with my sister without entertaining at least one thought related to strangling her with my own hands. And even now, as we discuss matters of importance which deserve my full attention, a part of is still indulging in the thought of seeing Anguish pleading for rcy simply because you described her as desperate.”
Scarlett had to stop as she grimaced, both annoyed and proud of herself for managing to say all of that. Discussing so of her less favorable traits was never a pleasant experience, but sotis it was necessary.
With a faint scowl lingering on her brow, she refocused on Rosa. “Despite my best efforts, I still struggle to empathise with the plights and feelings of others to a degree that, in most cultures, would undoubtedly be considered abnormal. In our visits to Freyadow, your distress at repeatedly witnessing the village and its residents’ fate remains palpable, while I, unfortunately, remain more concerned with the odors and maintaining the cleanliness of my appearance.”
Holding Rosa’s gaze, she continued as earnestly as she could. “If we are discussing kindness, Rosa, then know that you would be deed a saint in comparison to the company to keep. You may worry that your secrets could change how I perceive you, but know that there are far more truths that I keep from you, many of which would cast as nothing but a ruthless villainess in the eyes of most. You can, at the very least, find solace in that you are aware of your faults and can work to correct them where possible.”
Rosa blinked, eyes wide as she stared at her like she was so mythological beast. “…Ehm…it certainly sounds like you’re pretty familiar with your own faults as well.”
“It may seem that way, yes, but in reality, I question my own character on a daily basis. There have been many instances where I have doubted whether it is even possible for to change. Much can be concealed beneath a guise of conceitedness and indifference.”
Rosa continued staring at her for a while longer, before suddenly bursting into laughter. Soon, she was doubled over, gasping for breath, while Scarlett watched with a scowl.
“That was not intended to amuse you,” Scarlett said flatly.
Rosa, still laughing, raised a hand as if asking her to wait. “Never thought it was,” she spoke between breaths. “It’s just that…this whole conversation is absurd!”
“And what, exactly, do you an by that?”
It took a while for Rosa to compose herself, breaking into renewed laughter more than once as Scarlett waited with slight annoyance, but eventually she looked back at Scarlett with teary eyes.
“Sorry about that,” the woman said, wiping her eyes. “It’s just…how did we get to the point where you of all people were trying to console by explaining how much more of a ss you are? And making a case for hypocrisy? Really? I can tell you’re a real aficionado at this whole ‘comforting’ business.”
Scarlett was about to give a rather sharp response, but then she stopped, her brows knitting together.
Actually, why had she veered off into this line of conversation? It was far from her original intention. “…As always, you prove to be a poor influence on , Miss Hale.”
The amused and quizzical expression on Rosa’s face disappeared. “Hey, hang on a second. Did I just get demoted from ‘Rosa’ to ‘Miss Hale’ simply because I laughed at you?”
“You have always been ‘Miss Hale’ to ,” Scarlett replied with just a bit of ice in her voice. “Occasionally, I have slips in judgent that lead to temporarily forget this, that is all. Fortunately, you never fail to do sothing to remind , Miss Hale.”
Rosa frowned. “This is unfair.”
“Fairness is irrelevant here.”
“It’s an abuse of authority.”
“Not in the least. And even should it be, I believe I have already made it abundantly clear that I do not care.”
“You really are a villainess.”
“Yes.”
The two of them exchanged looks, then a wide smile appeared on Rosa’s face. Even Scarlett allowed the corner of her mouth to rise ever-so-slightly.
“You’re going to lay all the responsibility for sidetracking this serious talk of ours on , aren’t you?” the bard said.
“That was not my original intent,” Scarlett replied. “However, now that you ntion it, the idea does carry a certain appeal.”
“Suppose I’ve earned that much.” Rosa relaxed in her seat, gaze wandering up to inspect the ceiling. “…I’m not really sure what to make of all this, though. Does this an you forgive for my less-than-wise actions?”
Scarlett’s eyes remained on her for a mont longer before shifting away. “Are you referring to how you sabotaged my plans in the citadel?”
“Yeah, that.”
“In part, I already forgave you back in Crowcairn.”
“Buuuut…” Rosa’s voice drew out the word.
“But I am also a very petty person,” Scarlett said.
“Yeah, figured as much.”
Scarlett's attention drifted to one of the paintings in the room as her thoughts strayed slightly, and a llow lody echoed out from her left.
“So.” Rosa broke the quiet as her soft tune filled the room. “Was it just , or did you admit to having thoughts about murdering your sister earlier? Among a bunch of other things.”
A frown crept back onto Scarlett’s face. “…I did, yes.”
“That is pretty ssed up.”
“I am aware.”
“…Want to talk about it?”
“No.”
“Alright.”
There was another bout of silence, filled only by the lody of Rosa’s music. After a ti, Scarlett faced Rosa once more.
“And what of you?” she asked. “I do not expect you to beco a new person in a day, but with the Anguish situation largely addressed for now, do you believe yourself capable of being more honest with moving forward?”
“Don’t know,” Rosa replied. “Probably. Think I would live to regret it if I didn’t.”
“That is a fair assumption.”
“Then there you have it. Does that an I can also expect you to be more open with ?”
At that, Scarlett didn’t imdiately respond.
“…Yeah, almost figured as much,” Rosa said.
Scarlett studied the woman’s expression as she played away on her klert, showing neither disappointnt nor joy on her face.
Perhaps she could offer a compromise.
“…I will endeavour to be more forthcoming where possible. That is the best I can commit to at present. I hope it will suffice.”
The bard shrugged, smoothly cranking the wheel of her instrunt. “I don’t think I can ask for more. After all, you’re the reason I’m out of the shadows, free to not look into every dark corner afraid that sothing’ll stare right back at . Have I ntioned how nice that is, by the way? I don’t think I have. There’s not really a word to describe how great that is. I suppose ‘subli’ is as close as it gets.” A small smile did find its way onto her face at that. “Dealing with the occasional inner demon failing to convince into doing an unspeakable thing or two and being kept out of the loop on whatever gods-defying secrets my boss has got tucked away in her closet doesn’t seem like such a bad deal in return.”
Scarlett wondered whether the woman was being entirely honest there.
Technically, Scarlett could probably share more with Rosa, but did she want that? Was there any point in doing so? Sure, she could reveal only certain things — maybe let her in on so of the dealings she had across the empire with figures like Beldon Tyndall, Warley Godwin, and perhaps even the Cabal.
However, sharing that would inevitably lead to more questions from Rosa, questions that Scarlett didn’t feel ready to answer. Questions like where she actually got her information from, or even questions surrounding her real identity.
Telling Arlene was one thing, but Rosa as well…?
Did her reluctance to do so an that she trusted Rosa less than Arlene? That shouldn’t be true. But then, where did her hesitance co from?
Scarlett shook her head. That didn’t matter. Those thoughts could be left for another ti. She would tell Rosa more eventually, but everything would have its ti. For now, she needed to shift this conversation back to one of the main concerns she’d wanted to address since departing Crowcairn.
“Rosa,” she said, bringing the bard’s attention back to her. “Would it be possible for to speak with Anguish?”
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