章 95: Lust and Royalty, Part Nine

{Armia}

Armia leaned against the balcony railing as she took another long sip of wine.

The rich liquid warmed her from the inside out, dulling her anxiety if only briefly, and the disappointment she felt. 

[Well, this is going swimmingly,] she thought wryly. [Hours into the gala, and the only person I've managed to talk to is a grizzled old general. I mean, that's something, I guess, but still... So much for networking.]

"... and, yeah," Armia continued, "the guy went down face-first." 

Beside her, Neal chuckled just as Armia finished telling her story. 

"So, let me get this straight," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "You actually tripped your professor? On purpose?"

Armia smiled, remembering that day. 

She hadn't, but she wished she had.