With the dress ging to her like a sed skin, Vivien an unfamiliar sense of power radiating from her every movement. She couldn't help but smile as she looked at her refle in the gss windows as they walked, the garment shiftiifully with each step. But even as she basked in the feeling of the perfect fit, she khere was ohing she hadn't yet done—express her gratitude to Ardyn. After some coaxing, Rava had finally mao pull her away from the shop, though Vivienne did so relutly, casting o lingering look at Ardyn's store.

  As they walked through the busy streets, Vivieiced the stares she was garnering now—admiration, curiosity, and more than a fereciative gnces from those passing by. But it wasn’t just the townsfolk that were notig; Rava, walking by her side, seemed to be affected as well. Vivienne couldn’t help but notice the way her panion’s gaze lingered just a little lohan usual, the subtle flush of her cheeks that betrayed her posure. Vivienne smirked to herself, the ers of her lips curling as she ehe attention—both her own and, it seemed, Rava’s.

  “Well, since you have your dress, all we need is tanize a wagon with a opy and we will be able to leave, hopefully tomorrow if that leatherworker works quickly,” Rava said, attempting to keep the versation grounded, her voice betraying no hint of the slight disfort that lingered in the air.

  Vivienne’s eyes flicked over to her, watg as Rava’s gaze darted around, avoidiing her own. “Well, is there anything else we o do today?” she asked, her tone light but teasing.

  “Other than firming our supplies, no,” Rava replied, her tone a little too quick. She cleared her throat, clearly trying tain her posure, though her fiwitched slightly, betraying the shift in her demeanor.

  Vivienne couldn’t help but grin at the sight of Rava’s struggle, a teasing sparkle in her dark eyes. “Well…” she drawled, letting the silence hang in the air for just a beat before tinuing. “How about we find somewhere o eat? I’d like to sample more of the Serkoth cuisine.”

  Rava scoffed softly, clearly unimpressed with the suggestion. “rimarily warriors, Vivienne. Our cuisine is nothing fancy like those from Kaeritha or Thalrynn.”

  Vivienne leaned in slightly, her smile widening, knowily what to say to throw Rava off bance. “Yes, but you aren’t from those pces, are you?” Her voice was soft, yet her words carried an undeniable weight, a subtle challenge ed iness.

  Rava’s lips pressed together, and she gnced away briefly, her cheeks flushing even deeper. She didn’t say anything at first, though Vivienne could see the way her fingers ched and unched, the way her shoulders tensed.

  Vivienne’s heart fluttered slightly, but she didn't allow herself to linger on the feeling. Instead, she nudged Rava’s side gently with her elbow, pushio engage in the pyful banter. “e on, Rava. A meal together isn’t going to kill us. And who knows? Maybe we’ll discover something delicious that we didn’t know we’d like.”

  Rava seemed to sider this for a moment, her gaze still avoiding Vivienne’s. But eventually, with a resigned sigh, she hough there ark of amusement in her eyes. “Fine. But don’t expect a feast fit for royalty.”

  Vivienne ughed, the sound rid warm, though her heart was rag just a little faster than before. “Then I suppose as a queen I must debase myself a little to enjoy the pany of a handsome woman. It is a sacrifice I am willing to make.”

  Rava hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowing as she g Vivienne from the er of her eye, clearly trying to keep her posure. But the hint of a smile tugged at the ers of her lips, betraying her amusement at Vivienne’s words. She quickly looked away, clearly not wanting to give Viviehe satisfa of seeing her flustered, though the subtle flush on her cheeks was hard to miss.

  “Sacrifice, indeed,” Rava muttered, though her voice was lighter now, the edge of irritation gone. She gave a slight shake of her head, her lips curling into a smile that she didn’t try to hide this time. “You may have a queen’s attitude, Vivienne, but you’re not fooling ah your fttery.”

  Vivienne caught the soft smile and the fleeting glimmer in Rava’s eyes a a small thrill of triumph surge through her, though she kept her expression casual. “Fttery? I assure you, Rava, I am nothing but sincere,” she said, her tone pyful but with an undercurrent of warmth. “It’s not every day a queehe honor of dining with someone as captivating as you.”

  Rava snorted softly, though there was no denying the way her eyes softe the pliment. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”

  Vivienne’s smile only widened. “A you tio suffer me.”

  Rava rolled her eyes, but the slight twinkle in them betrayed her. She crossed her arms over her chest, her posture rexed, though there was a subtle tensioween them—aric current that Vivienne couldn’t quite pce, but didn’t miher. The two of them walked side by side, the bustling sounds of the town swirling around them, but there was an ued ease to their steps, a quiet intimacy that settled between them as they tinued on their way.

  As they neared a small open-air tavern, Rava gnced over at Vivienne again, though this time her gaze lingered just a bit longer. “They serve hearty meals here. They are generous with the meat.” she said, but her tone had softened, a quiet warmth settling in as she added, “but it’ll be good. Nothing fancy, but it’s ours.”

  Vivienne smiled, her heart giving an ued flutter. She nodded slowly, not trusting herself to speak for a moment, though the joy in her chest was undeniable. “I’m sure it’ll be perfect,” she said at st, her voice steady. “The pany’s more important anyway.”

  Rava raised an eyebrow, looking at Vivienne in silent surprise. “How gracious of you, your majesty.”

  Vivienne’s smirk was just a touch coy. “I ’t be a queen of such high standards all the time, I?” she teased.

  Rava didn’t respond immediately, but her lips quirked in the beginnings of a smile. She led Vivieo a small, wooden table at the edge of the tavern, the quiet hum of versation and the gentle king of mugs surrounding them. As Vivie down, she couldn’t help but notice how easy this all felt—the quiet ughter, the small moments of teasing, the unspoken tension that hadn’t quite broke but lihick with possibility.

  Vivienne’s grin widened as she leaned forward, teasing the silehat huween them. “Have I got something on my face?” she asked, her voice dripping with pyful mischief as she locked eyes with Rava. Her gaze flicked down to her chest with a subtle shift, her smirk growing. “Or is it something on my chest?”

  Rava’s rea was immediate—her eyes widened, and she choked on the breath she had been holding, caught somewhere between ughter and surprise. Her hand flew to her throat as she sputtered, trying to recover, her face flushing with an ued heat.

  Before Rava could respond, a soft voiterrupted them.

  “Hello. Food? Drink? Both?” The lekine waitress was standing there, a polite smile on her face as she awaited their order, unaware of the awkwardhat had just erupted at the table.

  Vivieill watg Rava with an amused gleam in her eyes, stifled her own ugh. She leaned back, casually crossing her arms, the pyful tension lingering in the air.

  Rava, still a bit flustered from earlier, cleared her throat, trying tain her posure as she looked back at the waitress. "Yes, we’ll have some food,” she said, her voice betraying just a hint of hoarseness, as though the moment had caught her off guard. She shot a quice at Vivienne, her eyebrow raised in pyful challenge, before returnitention to the waitress. "What meats do you have?"

  The waitress, still nervous, brightened a little. “We’ve got some thornbacks roasting in the back if you’re ied!” she said cheerfully.

  Rava’s ears perked at the mention of thornbacks, clearly more ied in the offer now. "That sounds perfect. How much per cut?" she asked, leaning forward slightly.

  “Two silver a piece,” the waitress answered quickly, her eyes flig nervously toward Vivienne, as if to gauge her rea.

  Rava thought for a moment before turning her gaze back to Vivienne, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “I’ll take two cuts, and…” she said casually, looking over to Vivienne.

  Vivieilted her head, a sly smile tugging at the ers of her lips. “How much do you want to spend?” she teased, her tone pyful but with just a touch of challenge.

  Rava, not missing a beat, grinned. “Let’s start with eight cuts for her,” she said fidently, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she dared Vivieo challenge her.

  The waitress’s face paled slightly when her eyes nded on Viviehey widened with a mix of fear and awe. She hesitated for a moment, visibly nervous as she opened her mouth to speak, but the words died ihroat wheook in Vivie form and monstrous features.

  “A-are you sure?” she stammered, her voice shaking as she g Vivieaking in the predatory shape of her form and the sharpness of her features. “I mean… they’re really big cuts…” Her gaze darted nervously from Vivienne’s face to her cwed hands and then back down to the table.

  Rava chuckled softly at the waitress’s rea, the sound light and teasing. “Yes, we’re quite sure,” she said, her voice rich with amusement. “Don’t let her size fool you,” she added with a wink, leaning closer to the waitress. “Vivienne out-eat anyone in this town and still have room for more.”

  Vivienne, clearly enjoying the waitress’s disfort, leaned ba her seat, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Two tankards of your best ale, too,” she added casually.

  The waitress, her faow a little flushed from both nervousness and the ued forcefulness of Vivienne’s presenodded quickly. “O-of course,” she stammered, her voice still trembling as she backed away from the table. “I’ll bring that right out.”

  Vivienne looked over at Rava, her expression feigning mock despair. “You know, I’ve dressed myself so well, yet the people are still scared of me! Woe be unto me,” she decred dramatically, pg the back of her hand to her forehead like aed tragedy queen.

  Rava rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a wry smile. “As if you don’t love it,” she said, her voice tinged with amusement.

  Vivienne shrugged in a pyful manner, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Guilty as charged,” she admitted, her tone lighthearted.

  The pair psed into a fortable silence as they waited for their food. Vivienne didn’t mind the quiet; it allowed her to watch the bustling tavern around them, and she was tent with the occasional gnce from Rava. But they didn’t have to wait long. Apparently, the cuts of meat were se that the waitress had to enlist the help of two of her co-workers t ies, eae nearly overflowing with food.

  Vivienne’s nostrils fred as she inhaled deeply, sav the rich, savory st that filled the air. Her qui of eyes widehe irises shifting in delight as she stared at the bounty before her. The waitress and the two other waiters, h he table with hesitant gazes, watched her ily, no doubt w how Vivienne would mahe immense portions.

  Without missing a beat, Vivienne quickly grabbed a cut with two of her cws, holding it with ease as her mouth split open in a wide, predatory arc. Her sharp teeth gleamed in the dim light, a stark trast to her elegant demeanor. With little effort, she tore the meat in half, swallowing the first piece almost without chewing, the act both swift and effortless. The onlookers watched in horrified fasation, eyes wide with disbelief as Vivienne didn’t even flinch, dev the sed half with the same casual grace.

  “Rava,” Vivienne said between bites, a satisfied grin spreading across her face, “these are magnifit!” She gave a low, tented hum as she chewed. “I don’t know why you were talking dowh food. Most cooked meat has almost her in it, but these…” She paused for a moment, sav the mouthful. “Not only are they cooked, but they’re ri aether! I don’t eveo ask for raw meat anymore!”

  Rava chuckled softly, clearly pleased. “I’m gd you like it. It’s one of my favorites, too. We don’t get many thornbacks around here, so this is a real treat.”

  Vivienne nodded in agreement, tearing into ahick eat, her razor-sharp maw eagerly dev the flesh. Her eyes glinted with satisfa as she swallowed, lig a smear of blood from her lips before speaking. “Well,” she said between bites, her voice warm and full of appreciation, “you have great taste, Rava. This is some of the best cooked meat I’ve ever had.”

  She paused for a moment, eyes lighting up with a hought. “Oh! We should take some of this back to Kivvy. She’ll probably love it too. I’m sure she hasn’t had anything quite like it.”

  Rava’s ears twitched at the mention of Kivvy, a slight smile pulling at the ers of her lips. “That’s a good idea,” she agreed. “She might not get to enjoy it for long, though. You’ve already eaten most of it.”

  Vivienne’s grin was mischievous as she tore into another piece, as if determio finish every st bite herself. “I’ll make sure there’s some left,” she teased, a pyful sparkle in her eyes. “But, holy, Kivvy’s not picky. She’ll eat anything as long as it’s fresh.”

  The two shared a quiet moment as they tinued eating, their attention focused on the food in front of them. Eventually, the servers who had been watg Vivienne’s impressive meal with wide eyes seemed to e to their senses, slowly pulling away from the table with noticeable relief. The initial waitress, now looking a bit more at ease after seeing the pair focus on their food, returned with twe tankards of ale.

  The tankards were se that, when Vivieook hers, it looked almost ically rge in her hands, her cws barely ing around the handle. Meanwhile, Rava, whose paws were rge enough to match her stature, effortlessly grabbed hers, her grip firm but graceful, the tankard looking perfectly proportional in her hands.

  Vivienne lifted her mug with a grin, her eyes twinkling as she g Rava. “Cheers,” she said, her voice deep and pyful, as she raised the tankard high.

  Rava raised her own, her expression more restrained but still pleased. “To good pany and good food,” she said, her tone warm as she ked her mug against Vivienne’s.

  They both took hearty sips of the ale, the rich, bitter fvor plementing the savory meat. Vivienne leaned ba her seat, satisfied, and for a moment, it felt like time slowed around them, the k of tankards and the hum of distant versation fading into the background.

  She asked for seds, of course.

  SupernovaSymphony