Shaia puffed her cheeks. "Fine. I still have more."
Lilia opened her eyes in alarm. "You have more?"
"Oh, many more," Shaia said proudly.
Lora made a tiny distressed sound.
Theo, perhaps out of poor judgment, nodded. "Go on, then." He was very close to pounce on Shaia; she seemed very proactive today in her efforts to win his grace.
Shaia pointed at his belt. "Senior Brother, do you know why the younger sisters trust you so much?"
Theo folded his arms. "Why?"
"Because you always carry such a reliable—"
"Stop!" Lilia barked at once.
Too late.
Shaia grinned devilishly and finished anyway. "—presence!"
A few girls coughed so hard they had to bend over.
Theo still did not laugh. But his expression changed in a different way. His ears reddened slightly, and whatever he was thinking, it was clearly not comedy.
Elara noticed it first. Her smug expression faltered.
