"You're good at this."

"Thank you, Svetka."

"I've done it for myself, more than a few times - it's difficult to find servants trustworthy enough, after all."

"I guess it would be for someone like you."

Hum. "I'm a high priority target, yes."

"I always train my own girls because of that."

"Seems like that would have other benefits, too. No bad habits to deal with."

"The same as with my horses."

"I don't know that horses and maids are quite the same thing..."

"Both serve me."

"In different ways."

"A pity."

"I wouldn't trust a horse to brush my hair."

"But if I could train a servant as I train my horses..."

"Would you make them sleep in the stables?"

"If they seemed to benefit from it."

"Uh huh."

"Do you think they'd dislike it, Svetka?"

"I've slept in a stable before. It's better sleeping on the ground, but I'd still prefer a bed."

She brushes some hair aside. "I'll be sure you always have a bed, then, Svetka."

"Thanks, Senka."

"You're welcome, Svetka." Her thumb strokes Svetka's cheek.

Light shiver.

"...I think you got that spot already," she murmurs.

"I did." Her hand trails down the side of Svetka's face.

"Um." Blush!! "You. Um. Got that spot too Ishouldgowashmyface-" She stands a bit hurriedly.

She lets her hand fall to her side with a smile. "I imagine the residue feels a little unpleasant."

"The residue. Yeah. Um. Be right back."

She heads for the bathroom to slosh some water on her face and maybe try to get her pulse and her emotions under control a bit. She's definitely reading way too much into this. The Darkling's- way older than she is, it's just the Sun Summoner thing, that's all. There's no way she could be in to Svetka, this silly crush is entirely one-sided. Inappropriate. Don't see things that aren't there. (Even if some of that talk about treating girls like horses was surprisingly hot...)

She takes a deep breath, dries her face, and re-enters the main room.