As Agnes and Adrian sat across from Rachel, the air between them felt strangely calm compared to the chaos earlier. The three of them occupied a quiet corner of the imperial guards' cafeteria, a place that had just recently been filled with whispers and stares.
It had all started because of Rachel.
When Adrian had suddenly disappeared from his quarters suddenly, Agnes had been caught off guard. He wasn't the type to leave without notice When she pressed him for answers upon his return, she'd learned the truth, he wasn't being racist. He actually knew the elf that had been brought in by the lieutenant.
The revelation surprised her, but what caught her curiosity more was the nature of that elf's stay. A guest, not a captive. That detail alone was rare enough to stir interest across the base. So, against her usual caution, Agnes had dragged Adrian along to meet the elf. Visiting a prisoner might have broken rules, but seeing a guest? That was harmless enough.
