“I don’t even need to open my eyes to tell it’s happened already.” She squeezes me closer. “What would I tell Piero? Our patrons? The inappropriate things they’ll think…”
“How would they doubt the Ring’s gift?”
“Easily.”
Easily.
The matron thought I was doubting, and I didn’t realize it. It almost feels like the default state of a person to doubt the Ring.
Her chest heaves against mine; her hand grazes just behind my shoulders in a spot that stops my breath. “I appreciate you, Kate. Just you. Not for your work. Not for being here for me. But because you exist.”
I’m not sure if she’s talking to me.
“Enjoy your access to the Ring for the day—I won’t be joining you in the parlour. You can still manage, right?”
“I can.”
“Good.”
“...Mistress?”
“It feels so wrong to hear you call me that like this. Please, just ‘Vincenza.’”
“Vincenza.” Something buzzes between our skin. “I don’t mind talking with you. I-if you want, we can keep doing this. Not as mistress and apprentice, but just… as us?”
“Do youwantthat?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” She slowly releases her grasps, leaning away.
It’s time to go. I grab the rest of my bowl and leave with it.
Chapter 22
Corn for Lessons
Is it strange that I just feel hollow?
I have the Ring’s consent to use this magic, but I don’t want to. It feels like a betrayal. Was I there for her? Or just to touch upon something I found more beautiful? I guess it can feel like the Ring’s opinion hardly matters when it’s only this very worldly woman who talks back to me, never the Ring.
“Hey, Catarina.” Piero walks in front of me, the first time he’s been back since he crashed on the desk.
“Oh, hi, Piero.”
“I was wondering if Vincenza was doing okay.” His face tenses into a difficult smile.
Bad timing.
I guess I can also try a difficult smile back. “She’s fine, but she’s staying in her office today.”
“Not even for me,” he hums while laying a hand on his chest.
“Especially, I think.”
“Could I at least ask what’s wrong? I haven’t seen her in a week.”
“Well, she was fine most of the week. You just—You just came in on the day she wasn’t.”
