"A loyal… alchemist?" Angela's tear-stained face shifted, her grey eyes narrowing with skepticism. "Wouldn't that be like looking for an honest politician?"
"Girl, please," Cecilia scoffed. "I know an honest politician. I'm looking at her right now."
"Meeeee? Honest?" Angela's eyebrows shot up towards her hairline. She threw her head back in a mocking arc, her long curtain of black hair swaying erratically with the motion. The sheer, theatrical sarcasm of it made a genuine giggle burst from Cecilia.
"Of course you are," Cecilia said, her smile softening. "Let me tell you a funny story. You remember Stormy? The werecat who runs our favorite inn?"
Angela nodded slowly, curiosity replacing the mockery. "Why?"
"When I checked in, I told him I was divorced. Just flat out. And you know what he did?" Cecilia's smile turned wistful. "He accepted it. Immediately. No pity. No judgmental pause. He even tsked and said my 'previous husband' sounded like 'no good'. It was so… normal."
