Despite her sudden visit, Kani looked very presentable in her 'commoner' disguise.

Kani had a majority of her dark raisin purple hair tied back into a neat bun, yet left a large portion of her bangs untouched. The light from the room softly reflected against her light brown skin. Her eyes were a dark muddy brown, but one could mistaken them for black with how weary they looked at the current moment. 

For as long as Orion had known her, Kani always preferred to have a large chunk of her bangs swooped over her right eye. It didn't matter what outfit it was or how she styled the rest of her hair, Kani always maintained that style of bangs.

However it seems Amaya decided to focus on something more important; the reason why Kani being here in the first place.

“Please tell me Count Hartlase knows you are here,” The charcoal blue haired women pleaded, “…And that you did not sneak out like some irresponsible noblewomen?”

They were all sitting in Orion's personal study at his desk area. Orion had to teleport in another chair for Amaya to sit next to him. However Amaya was not sitting down, opting to stand as she looked at the young noblewomen with a stern expression.

Despite being twenty-two, she looked strangely younger with how meek she looks at this very moment. Most people probably would be when faced with Amaya's righteous concern.

Orion watched as Kani was fiddling with what looked to be a golden pin with her father's family insignia on it, which acted as a clasp to her simple brown hooded cape and her 'commoner' ensemble as a whole.

The pin itself was made of gold, and inside the emblem resembled something of a deer head, with large antlers and a shield with four sections behind it. Her outfit on the other hand consisted of a corset that matched the color of her brown hooded cape, which nicely contrasted against her dusty blue skirt and tan dress shirt.

"Well?"

Kani looked a little guilty before mumbling, "I already told him."

This response only made Orion raise his eyebrow in disbelief.

“Did the count give his approval?” he questioned dryly, which seemed to make Kani falter a bit.

“Um…”

Amaya placed one of her hands on her face before letting out an exasperated sigh in response.  Her steel grey eyes almost resembled a dark storm cloud brewing over a choppy dark sea. 

“I told you to…”

But before she continue her statement, Orion gently guided her to sit down. He then gently intertwined his fingers with hers, using his thumb to draw calming circles on top of her knuckles. This seemed to calm Amaya down despite her shoulders still remaining tense.

"You are not in trouble Kani," Orion said in a dry yet assured manner, "Amaya's just a bit…worried, she means no harm."

This wouldn't be the first time someone felt overwhelmed by Amaya's well-meaning scolding, yet Kani didn't seem all that phased by it. He watched as Kani's dark brown eyes darted to the pin she was fiddling with before looking up to respond.

“I know….I have to stay home and rest…"

Amaya turned her attention to Kani with a huff.

"What on Oethr was important enough for you to sneak out, especially at 7:45pm in the evening?" There no bite or anger in Amaya's words, but Kani looked apologetic regardless.

"I…I really need to talk to Orion, in person.”

“You could have just sent a letter," Orion explained in a slightly confused tone as he still held Amaya's hand, "We also would have seen each other at the upcoming festival.”

Kani looked like she wanted to argue, but seemed to shoved the words back into her throat before they could escape her mouth. 

Orion and Amaya watched as the dark purple haired noble composed herself before responding.

"….I don't really know how reliable using magic to send letters," Kani explained slowly, and Orion let out a skeptical 'hm' before glancing at Amaya.

Amaya simply looked back at him with lightly concerned expression, but refrained from make any outward comment. This isn't the first time Kani had outwardly expressed her…lack of 'trust' in magic to Orion. It wasn't out of malicious intent, rather she seemed wary of it's true capabilities.

"…I have seen packages and letters getting lost all the time because of a misplaced rune or just faulty spell-work…"

Orion simply chalked it up to her upbringing in the Fyrenalda Empire's magic-based education system. It isn't the only one to do so, and like many magic-based education systems, it tends to place importance on one's magical ability. As a consequence, it tends to at best, outright ignore those who lack the ability.

At It's worst, it alienated and viewed them as 'lesser', and treats them as such. 

"….It's honestly better that I just send it traditionally through a post office."

Orion's eyes flicked up, and furrowed his eyebrows slightly. Even if sending a letter through magic was as unreliable as she stated, she simply could have sent a maid to deliver it on her behalf.

"Besides, I… I didn’t know if your personal assistant would let the letter reach you on time,” Kani explained evenly. “So… I wanted to make sure I talked to you, in person.”

Orion's hickory brown makes eye contact with Kani's dark brown eyes. Despite the nervousness of her voice, her eyes seem calm, almost resigned.

“I need to give Amaya something before our chat.” Orion explained, “Afterwards I will have time to talk to you.”

Kani gave an silent nod before falling silent. She seemed to be mulling something over in her mind before saying; "Oh… Did I interrupt your time with Amaya…?"

Orion looked at Amaya, who furrowed her eyebrows in response. Orion turned his attention back to the dark purple haired noble.

"I had finished my work for the day, and Amaya decided to spend time with me during my break." Orion admitted. Kani slowly hung her head as she heard hid explanation, and for a moment caused Amaya's eyebrows to soften, "I have one last meeting for the evening coming up, but that won't be until 8:20pm."

The young noblewomen got up from her seat, and bowed at the two people in front in an apologetic manner. Amaya eyes widened as Kani stood up, snapping her out of her own thoughts.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your time together.” Kani said weakly, "It…It was an oversight on my end, I would… I would have come at another day had I known…"

“No, no, you're not interrupting anything,” Amaya quickly corrected, “I…. I just want you to take better care of yourself."

Kani didn't respond right away or many any moment; she continued to bow as she took in Amaya's words.

“Thank you,” Kani said as she continued to bow, "I will…try to follow through with your request."

Orion watched as Amaya tried to reassure the young noblewomen, but Kani still looked deeply apologetic. Orion's eyes flicked over to Kani, who continued to apologize, and decided to intervene.

“As I stated before, Amaya means well.” Orion assured in a firm tone, “Next time, just send me a letter through whatever method you prefer. I will make sure to respond.”

Orion takes a second to find his thoughts before speaking, “I am sure your father and Taylor would be happier if you were resting instead of being out so late,” Orion added afterwards, "There are a lot of people who care about you, including us.”

Kani slowly rose from her bow, and looked at at Orion with a strange expression. Her face scrunching up slightly as her lip quivered, almost as if she was about to cry. Amaya's face softens as she gets up from her seat and moved to hold Kani's hand.

"Hey…It is okay," Amaya said with a soft tone, "We are going to have so much fun at the festival, so you have to focus on recovering so that we all can enjoy the whole evening together, okay?”

Kani seemed to have calmed down after having Amaya stand next to her. Orion, with a soft smile on his lips, wordlessly gets up from his desk and moves to one of the drawers. He pulls on one of the drawer handles before pulling out the stash of healing potions he reserved for Amaya.

“I am being serious, you have to be more careful,” Amaya gently reminded, “you're a count's beloved daughter, at least a knight with you if you are to go outside.”

“After I am done talking with Orion, I’m going to tell your father you're here, and then I will be escorting you back home.”

Kani sheepishly looked away after the scolding, not attempting to provide any defense for her actions.

“Please let him know I got here safely…and that I'm sorry for worrying him,” Kani said before speaking again, “And…"

Kani stops herself suddenly, before softly apologizing and shaking her head.

“I shall keep that in mind,” The dark purple-haired noblewoman corrected before headed towards the office doors, but stopped to give another polite bow. “I will wait outside the office for my turn then.”

“See you in a moment!” Amaya cheered as Kani left the room and politely stood next to Morgan, who was standing outside the office. As the door closed behind Kani, Orion handed Amaya the grey-ish brown satchel of potions.

“I can obtain more potions if this is not enough.”

Amaya opened the bag and stared in awe at the number of potions inside. All of them are glowing a beautiful hue of yellow, like liquid sunlight trapped in various-sized bottles. 

“This way is more than enough!” Amaya exclaimed in awe before noticing something else in the large bag. She slowly pulls out a thin staff with a dark blue crystal inlayed inside of it. 

"It's a replacement staff, you mentioned requiring one after last week's accident." He explained with ease. Amaya held the sleak looking staff in her hands, her eyes scanning it as she did, "Duke Atlas has been busy with the preparations for the Starlight Ball, so this will have to do for now. " 

"Thank you for the replacement, this will make healing alot....easier?" 

Amaya stopped, noticing Orion looking at the closed door, lost in thought. “Is something wrong?”

He looked at Amaya before silently muttering to himself. He tugged at his dusty purple ascot as he looked off into the distance, his hickory brown eyes darkening as he looses himself in his thoughts. 

“No, it is nothing,” Orion assured, but Amaya couldn't tell if he was saying that to her or himself.

“I suppose I'll have to go tell Count Hartlase now.” Amaya sighs before softly adding, “Seriously, I wonder what is going on in that girl’s head.”

Orion dryly chuckled before responding to Amaya. He watches as she reties her seafoam blue sash after smoothing out her vest. He waits for her to finish before speaking; “I suppose I be finding out what she wants in a few minutes hm?”

“We survied the Onyxforge, so it can not be as bad as...That," Amaya joked back before trailing off. 

Orion watched as Amaya looked away for moment, her face scrunching into a bitter yet somber expression. Orion slowly moved to place Amaya's hand into his, gently hold it. He didn't speak, simply observed as storm in Amaya's grey eyes slowly settled in her heart. 

"I'll go inform Count Hartlase," Amaya repeated reassuringly as her expression softened. "Let me know if Kani mentions something I should be concerned about."

Amaya reluctantly removed her palm out of Orion's hand and moved to the entrance of the office with the bag of healing potions. The bottles clinking together sounding like little bells as she held the bag 

"Okay, be safe," Orion said suddenly, which made Amaya stop her hand from reaching the doorknob. Amaya waited for a moment before responding, her face a bit warm.

"You too."

Amaya opened the door and called out to Kani, who seemed to be staring at Morgan intensely.

“Kani, it is your turn!” She said in a warm tone, not noticing Kani's strange behavior towards the assistant. Amaya’s voice seemed to have snapped Kani out of her trance and turned to face her with a sheepish expression.

“Oh, thank you!”

She gave Amaya a polite bow before heading towards the door. She gives a curt nod towards Morgan, who hesitantly returns it back.

“See you after the meeting,” Amaya beamed before Morgan led her down the hall. As the pair leave, Kani watches on with her hand still on the doorknob. Morgan seemed eager to leave the area if the speed of her feet were any indication. Kani’s eyes wandered over to the green haired women, and narrowed them. 

Once they dissapeared out of view, Kani turned her attention back to the door, and opened it just a crack.

She then slipped through the opening, shutting it behind her.

The moment Kani closed the door, the atmosphere slowly grew tense. Kani doesn't seem affected by the sudden change, calmly making her way over to her previous sitting location.

“Now that we are alone,” Orion asked calmly, “What did you really want to talk about?”

His his tone was still dry, yet carried a calm edge that made Kani blink. She takes the moment to mull over her options. 

Her dark brown eyes were almost unreadable, a stark contrast to how they looked before. She looks back up at him. Her still looked resigned, yet there was a sliver of determination in her dark brown irises.

“There is a lot I have to talk to you about.” Kani confirmed calmly, “But I just started with something simple.”

She then makes eye contact with Orion before speaking, her gaze unwavering;

“...Do you still have the research I have done on herbs in the Twilight Forest Dungeon?”