Charles blinked. "You… what?!"
"I borrowed you," Gregoris repeated, unbothered, like he'd requested a chair from another office. "Temporarily reassigned."
Charles stared at him in genuine disbelief. "That's not a thing you can just…"
"It is," Gregoris said, and the grin sharpened. "I signed the request."
Charles's mouth opened, then closed, because he could physically see how that would happen. A form. A stamp. A signature. Damian's bureaucracy dressed up as law. Gregoris weaponizing paper as efficiently as he weaponized ether.
Charles's voice went thin with outrage. "Gabriel—"
Gregoris lifted a brow. "Approved."
Charles froze. The line of Shadows collectively held their breath, because hearing the Consort Empress's name attached to the word approved made the situation feel much worse.
Charles's eyes flashed. "He approved you borrowing me?"
"He approved you learning," Gregoris corrected, tone almost mild. "And yes. He approved."
