Leon attacked again, tickling her side with quick, precise movements. Seraphine twisted in her chair, laughing hard enough that her carefully maintained commander persona shattered completely.
Seraphine tried to twist away without releasing him. Her chair scraped across the floor, and the commander who could stare down trained soldiers was reduced to breathless laughter as Leon pursued the same vulnerable spot.
"This is an unfair technique," she managed.
"You taught me to exploit openings."
"Not against your master."
"You never mentioned an exception."
Her grip loosened. Leon shifted his weight, already imagining himself returning to his seat with a clean victory and the last word.
For one glorious second, he thought he had won.
Then she caught his wrist.
Her other hand found his unprotected side, and Leon immediately understood the scale of his mistake.
"Master, wait. We can negotiate."
"You attacked first, my dear disciple."
