The Marquise’s replies were curt and concise, leaving no room for any debate or question, and so she decided to leave it at that and let the matter rest. Though Serault was well-known (more like notorious, really) for its bizarre practices and dark history, the presence of Marquise in the public eye (if the Inquisition had enough prestige to set such a stage) helped its image somewhat, anchoring the marquisate to normalcy and thus dispelling anything that sounds too outlandish.
It is then that Josephine realized that the Marquise possessed the hints of a tactical mind–one that simply beckoned at her to be explored and challenged.
She gave the Marquise a patient smile–the smile she used whenever the other nobles at court asked after her family in relation to the scandal that had gotten them exiled from Orlais. It, by no means, meant that the Marquise was testing her patience, no–it was merely a force of habit, for there had been many of those enquiries. At least with her, Josephine felt a sense of kinship, one defined by a shared sense of loss and desire to restore their families’ good names.
“Indeed. The cycles of fortune are just that–cycles. We are proof that with enough determination, wit and luck, we can change the position of our spokes in that great wheel. But enough about that–I’m certain that my lady did not come all this way to discuss the past, not when there is still room for the future to be… profitable.”
Ninon was grateful that the Ambassador seemed content enough to leave the matter of her glassworkers alone. After all, with the world as it was, there were far more important topics to discuss. Serault was only one of the reasons she had made the lengthy trip from her marquisate. The Game was afoot, as it always was, but with rebel mages and mad templars on the loose— the Huntress felt compelled to lend her aid to the only ones who actually were doing something about it. That was not to say that she hadn't brought ledgers, and petitions for a trade agreements with her (no, those were to remain hidden for the time being).
She nodded in agreement. It had taken a great deal of work, and no small amount of dumb luck, to drag Serault from its knees. Ninon's eyes flitted from Josephine, and to her surroundings for a moment. Interesting, she thought to herself, while making note of the distinct lack of sitting arrangements. Her smile grew as she turned her attention back to the woman before her. The Ambassador was cunning, and for a brief moment she thought that perhaps she would enjoy her time with the Inquisition.
“Profitable... yes,” she began while folding her hands behind her back. “The Inquisition is both a curiosity, and a cause for concern to many. It cannot have escaped you that there are a number of interesting things being said all across the empire.”
While Ninon saw it as her duty as an Andrastian to help the Inquisition, she would not reveal such a thing yet. No— she would keep her motives vague for the time being. It would do her no good to reveal her hand so early in the Game.
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