"Let's not stand on etiquette, Ten. In the last few days I think we've proven ourselves as individuals that toss aside the rules when it suits us and our personal morals," she said with a wide smile. Solae stepped forward and, without allowing the criminal broker a chance to react, put her arms around him in a tight hug. He was surprised by the embrace but did not push her away. Very few people in his life touched him without his express permission and not even the nubile young men that he paid for their company would have been so bold. A rare smile alighted on his features briefly as he reluctantly returned the gesture. It would have been rude not to- but a casual bystander could discern in that moment that they were honestly friends.

Rosaria, Yarue, and Dasin watched with varying levels of confusion, curiosity, and shock. All three were now aware that the duchess was so far above Ten's station, not just because of the legitimacy of her profession, but also due to the rigid social structure of the empire, that their platonic relationship would be considered inappropriate. What was more baffling to the trio was the affection. The trio was acquainted with the concept of mates. What was more foreign to them were the very virtues that set Solae apart: her compassion, her kindness, her unconditional love in realms beyond the romantic, her gentler sentiments. Their brutal lives had created an innocent towards softer feelings. Not since their mothers- whom Rosaria did not remember as she was abducted as a babe- had they seen someone so warm and caring without restraint.

"Yes, well," Ten cleared his throat to keep his composure, "thank you, duchess."

"Write me discreetly," she ordered as she withdrew enough to flash him a smile, "but I must insist you call me by my first name when you do or else I'll be cross with you. Having a few people not address me by my title will keep me humble," the diplomat teased playfully.

"Oh yes," Ten remarked dryly, "I do worry about your [i]humility[/i]." His sarcasm was evident that even Yarue and Dasin, who struggled with grasping a human's sense of humor through the language barrier, could appreciate he was not being serious. The bigger concern in the room was whether or not Solae would respect her limitations physically. The number of times she had willingly thrust herself into dangerous scenarios, and come perilously close to suffering severe consequences, suggested that she and Rene shared a selfless recklessness.

"Take care of yourself," Criestia called to the former marquise. "And if you can't seem to take care of yourself, at least take care of each other."

"I'll try to heed doctor's orders," Solae confirmed with feigned solemnity as she also thrust a hug upon the unsuspecting physician. Criestia was just as surprised as Ten had been, but more quickly reciprocated, patting her on the back before releasing her. A tear sprung at the edge of one eye. She wanted to believe in the capacity of the virtuous pair but, regardless of the newly acquired bodyguards, she feared that this was the last time they would meet. Luck only lasted so long. If both of them survived this rebellion and subsequent war it would be nothing short of a miracle.

"Kiss for luck?" she asked Rene before standing on her toes to peck him on the lips. She gave it a few prolonged seconds before she winked and whispered in his ear, "I'll need help getting out of this dress later if you're available and fit enough for the task." The garment in question had been hiked up to her hips in order to get the suit on and fitted over top. As she had theorized with Criestia it would have taken much more effort to peel it off of her than try to cover. Solae made a motion to Dasin and Yarue to follow her and allow her paramour the opportunity to say his farewells with a little privacy.

They climbed onto the middle section of the sled that lay empty for their use. Either Dasin or Yarue- it was impossible to tell them apart with their helmets on- helped the linguist make the large step up while the other simply plucked Rosaria off the ground with the greatest of ease and handed her to the duchess. This had bothered the youth but she knew better to say anything aloud. Instead of complaining she helped Solae to tie back her hair, clip, and seal the protective headgear into place.

"I have a duty to you too, Yarue, Dasin," she said in Syshi as she activated the communicator inside the suit. "You may have accepted a bodyguard position, but I will be as diligent as I can to keep you from ever having to shield me from danger. That is what a true lady does," the golden-haired woman elaborated as there was no proper translation for the word 'duchess' in their language. "Your leaders rely on their warriors only when necessary, but they do all they can to prevent battle, to prevent harm, and loss, as the way of twins tells us that both sides fill a purpose. The ship we have is stolen, and I apologize if your recognize the purpose it served before we reclaimed it from slavers, but please trust I will not fail you. I did not come this far to let someone as irredeemable as Thorne win over me."

"You stole the ship?" Yarue or Dasin- she needed a visual cue to discern the correct identity- questioned skeptically.

"We did, from slavers and murderers, who had committed many crimes against the Syshin. In both our cultures it is a sin and I will accept your judgment, but please allow it to ferry you away from this planet, and to somewhere safe," she replied, still speaking in Syshi.

"It is not our place to judge you, mistress," one of them softly said in a voice quiet with anguish. "We have all done things to survive."