[IRP] And a Toast to Our Victors

[Lavi]

"A deed worthy of recognition, of course," Cecily seemed to have appeared from nowhere, standing next to the White Knight with a polite smile.

In actuality, she only stumbled across them while passing through the crowds in search for the formerly-Etrurian marquess. During her search, she had concluded that, even though the new marquesses were selected based on their loyalty to the Lycian empire, there would still be a level of distrust (perhaps even resentment) of the new lords. She would not be surprised if she would become the first of the Lycian houses to offer an opening of diplomatic relations to the Etrurian houses. It would only be natural for them to be anxious to find allies, even if one of them is a house with a history of betrayal.

"Marquess Aquleia, I presume? May I know your name? Your real name, of course?" she asked.

Only those who were already familiar with her eccentricities would recognize this as her typical means of introduction; a method of judging new people. However, if Ambassador Silri of Badon got to Urai first, the Etrurian marquess would have been warned of her oddities, including her question. Silri and Cecily had a long history together, dating back to their childhoods. Cecily's mere presence at banquettes is an oddity in itself, after all, though it would be no surprise to the Lycians that she would be intrigued by the new marquesses.