Aegis had herself a good rest upon coming back from that tiny village.
As she woke up late, she smelled Evelyn before she heard her.
Well, not Evelyn herself, but the tea she was carrying. Something minty and sharp that cut through the haze of sleep and made Aegis's nose twitch.
"My lady."
"Mmrgh."
"I have news."
"Mmrgh?"
Evelyn set the tea down on the nightstand and waited. Aegis, after a few more seconds of pretending she could go back to sleep, finally sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Okay. Hit me."
"House Goldspire has issued a formal challenge."
That woke her up.
"A challenge?"
"A duel, specifically. For Princess Talia's hand in marriage." Evelyn's expression was carefully neutral, which meant she was worried. "Darius Goldspire wishes to settle the matter of the betrothal through single combat."
Aegis blinked a few times, processing that.
"Huh."
"You don't seem surprised."
