Around an hour later...

Ishaza has taken her time and made her excuses, and finally retired to her own rooms on her estate. 

She takes out the priceless tetrahedron from its small pocket inside her uniform, and lays it on the desk before her. She presses one of the faces, and it lights up with a low red glow. 

The tetrahedron begins to flip, face-to-face, at a moderate pace. 

She lifts her pen, and marks the flips. The code is not elaborate, but it is personal to her, Bitter and Cocoa. Not even her parents know how to transcribe it. Just in case.

ISHAZA

CONTACT, COMPLICATION 

C UNDER SWAY ARIA

CONSERVATIVE CONTACT NOT OBSERVED

ARIA WILL PLAY NEUTRAL  

C ADMIRES COCOA 

MENTORSHIP OFFERED

OFFER UNDER CONSIDERATION

OWE ARIA FAVOUR FOR ACCESS

ARIA ALWAYS COMPLEX

BEWARE

ILY 

LIBERALS FTW

She smiles slightly to herself, taps the other side of the tetrahedron, and begins to dictate back. 

COCOA

ARIA COMPLICATION BUT BETTER THAN CONSERVATIVE

ARIA GENUINELY NEUTRAL

ARIA CARES ABOUT C

ARIA WORKABLE

MENTORSHIP OFFER GOOD

ADMIRATION GOOD

THREE ADDITIONAL FAVOURS AUTHORIZED

SPEND WISELY

PLAY SOFT

ILY 

LIBERALS FTW

Back in Bitter Silvertail's rooms...

Bitter Silvertail has Cocoa's cock in her mouth when the metaphorical phone rings. 

She sighs, pulls off gently, and produces the tetrahedron. "It's for you," she says.

Cocoa takes a heavy breath, shakes his head to clear the fog of arousal, and accepts the tetrahedron. 

"Please, go on," he says as he starts to transcribe the message in his head. 

Bitter doesn't need to be told twice.

Meanwhile, in Indigo Bramble's private rooms...

Indigo spreads out the letter he's recieved from Leah. It's... somewhat disturbing. 

Dear Indigo,

I've spoken to our mutual acquaintance. They seem attracted to me, but also appear to be under the sway of one Countess Roscente, who I presume to be of the liberal faction. I've extended an offer of tutoring as a prelude.

Yours, Dame Brachia.

So Corvina is both gay - or bi, at least - and under the sway of Countess Roscente. Who Leah does not know of and thinks is a liberal patsy. And she was supposed to be competent.

He absolutely must sort this out post-haste. 

He raises his voice. "Ms. Carpenter?"

Ms. Carpenter approaches and bows. "Yes, my lord?"

"I need to dictate an urgent reply to Dame Brachia. You are to escort it personally."

"Yes, my lord." 

Ms. Carpenter produces a lap desk for her lord within a minute. 

He sets quill to page. 

Dame Brachia

Countess Roscente is a dangerous neutral third party. She plays her own games surrounding mentorship of new admissions to the academy. I am not impressed with your performance so far. 

Your mentorship offer must have come at a price, but you neglect to have mentioned it. Be careful that you do not become burdened with debts you cannot pay.

The Conservatives back you in prying Corvina out of Aria's grip. Use the attraction well and do not hesitate to seduce; you have my blessing despite the politics of it.

Ms. Carpenter will observe you destroying this letter. 

- Indigo

He passes the letter to Ms. Carpenter. "Be sure this is destroyed after reading. The contents are politically sensitive."

"Yes, my lord." 

Ms. Carpenter curtseys, accepts the letter, and takes her leave.

About twenty minutes later...

Leah stands with her feet planted in the dust, facing down a trio of striking dummies with her longsword. She goes through her forms one after another, practicing her strikes with live steel. Each one parts the rolled mats of her target cleanly, each single strike simple, clean and efficient. 

She's wearing leathers to train, rather than her heavier full plate, but sweat clings to her beneath her doublet and her arms ache familiarly. 

This is so much simpler than politics.

Her assigned maid approaches her and curtsies.

"Excuse me, Dame, but there's a message for you at your rooms."

Already?

Indigo must have sent a priority courier. 

With a sinking feeling in her stomach, Leah sheathes her sword. "I'll go receive it immediately." 

When she steps back into the privacy of her rooms, Ms. Carpenter is waiting for her silently, message outstretched in one fist.

Shit.

She must have misstepped somehow. 

She keeps it off her face as best as she can, and accepts the letter.

Ms. Carpenter crosses her arms and stares at her as she reads it.

... So Aria is her own person. Damn it. 

She thought she was trading to the liberals, but instead she's dealing with a third party. A dangerous one, moreover. 

And she's to seduce Corvina. Well enough.

She peels off the seal and consigns the letter to her room's fireplace.

"Tell Indigo I'll take responsibility for the favor I owe. I'll make this work."