Shady

Ky glanced at them, then glanced away anyway, not wanting to embarrass him. She didn’t like when people stared at her own scars. And it wasn’t any of her business. ...

“Yes ma’am.” She dipped her head, blushing a bit. “I-I just… I know I’ve done horrible things. But… I appreciate the grace. Ma’am.”

Ky felt awkward. Should she leave? Look away? Or did it matter since he was a man? Had she ever seen Papa shirtless? She had Tadaaki. But that was very, ...

(It really is! When used appropriately lol ) “Aleth,” Ky said quietly. “…or, well, Aleth’s clients, I guess. He didn’t personally oversee anyone — almost anyone. But I had to ...

Ky forced a little smile. “Thought you might like a little company.” Ky glanced around with a little frown. “Thought you’d be patched up by now, though. Doesn’t your shoulder ...

“Bad.”

“Well… the application was morbid.” She blushed. “The author was explaining how to keep a population unsteady but still productive… make sure they’re fed and feel safe so they work ...

“…I don’t know. I’m exhausted.”

“Those were the highlights,” she grumbled.

“Oh, it was a philosophy book from off continent,” Ky said, furrowing her brow as she tried to remember more of the details. “…it was actually kind of awful. But ...

“He…” Ky sighed and waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t know. He said I needed to stop sulking and exercise and stuff.”

"They're upset either way, regardless of the source," she said sourly. "Which is all I meant. I am upsetting everyone and Emery was telling me to knock it off and ...

"Oh, um, it's this pillar, I suppose? At the bottom is the foundation you need to hold the rest of it up, you know? And the very bottom level is ...

"Does it matter?"

"O-oh-sorry!" Ky said hastily, eyes wide. She hadn't meant to reference anything at all that Lady Constance wouldn't know. That risked bruising her ego. And bruising a noble's ego risked ...