Aurelia paused mid-chug.
She slowly lowered the heavy glass bottle, licking her lips and wiping a stray drop of dark crimson wine from her chin with the scarred back of her hand.
Her sharp piercing eyes locked onto her granddaughter.
"Sylvia," Aurelia greeted.
She didn't sound surprised in the slightest.
"To what do I owe the pleasure? Finally got tired of watching the peacocks preen at the main estate? Or did your father bore you to death with another lecture on tax logistics?"
"I need a sparring partner," Sylvia stated tightly.
She walked toward the base of the terrace, unfastening the silver clasp of her dark cloak and letting the heavy fabric drop to the mossy ground.
She didn't bother folding it.
"Julian is too slow… His forms are rigid, the guards hold back because they are terrified of hurting the heir and facing the executioner so I need someone who won't hold back. I need a real fight."
Aurelia raised a single thin silver eyebrow.
