Kiara leaned back slightly before glancing at her with narrowed eyes.
"Sometimes," she replied dryly, "I genuinely wonder whether you came here to complete your punishment or simply spy on me all day."
The response caught Serestia slightly off guard, though she quickly recovered. "It is not as though you were speaking secretly," she defended herself calmly. "And I did not wish to embarrass you by suddenly revealing myself when it was obvious you preferred that I stay uninvolved."
This time, Kiara genuinely looked surprised.
Because Serestia had accurately guessed her thoughts.
Letting out a tired sigh, Kiara rubbed lightly against the kitten's fur before finally speaking.
"I already defeated Wester Silver twice," she said quietly. "If we clash a third time, he will probably die."
The calmness in her voice somehow made the sentence feel heavier.
"And neither Arceus Silver nor your father would appreciate that outcome."
A brief silence followed.
