"I won't be returning home today."
There was a short silence.
The coachman, Bram, slowly turned his head from the driver's seat, while the woman, Orianna, standing beside the carriage simply blinked at Calyra, dumbfounded.
Orianna had served the Arcanis household for many years and had personally taken care of Calyra since she was still a child.
Although she was technically the head servant assigned to accompany her, Calyra had always thought of her as something closer to another mother.
Which was exactly why the gentle smile on Orianna's face suddenly became somewhat strained.
"Young Lady," she began softly. "Would you mind explaining what you mean by that?"
"I mean I have somewhere else I need to go first."
"Somewhere else?"
"Yes."
Orianna studied her for a moment.
"And was this something you arranged beforehand?"
Calyra hesitated for half a second.
"Not exactly."
Bram glanced toward Orianna, then back toward Calyra.
"That does sound rather sudden, Young Lady."
