The next visit is a surprise.
Gura is embarrassed to admit that she walked past the Empress without even registering her at first, so shrouded was she in the shadows of the statue garden, but it did click in her head a moment later that they don't have a statue of the Empress.
"Should I be concerned that you managed to bypass the guards?" Gura says in lieu of a greeting, trying her best to look aloof and unconcerned. She needs to be professional, though that's rather hard when fighting the excitement that instinctively shoots through her.
"Perhaps." The Empress says with a smile. She's dressed in her usual outfit; the revealing dress with the single glove and stocking. "Though will all due respect, my Queen, you have seen the teleportation capabilities I have displayed. Is it so unbelievable that I-"
"Can teleport directly into the palace? Not at all." Gura finishes. She should have anticipated this really. It's a massive security risk… but Gura can't find it in herself to be all that worried. She's too busy being relieved that for once the person ambushing her isn't some noble trying to sell her on marrying their son- or them, for that matter. "To what do I owe the unexpected pleasure, my Lady?"
"I had a spare minute or two." The Empress says simply, her smile growing impish. "And a delivery to make."
Gura raises an eyebrow in confusion as the Empress twists her hand and a book appears in her fingers. It's not her usual book. Not the one with the stylized red eye on the front that floats over her head. This one is simple, wrapped in a blue cover with an english word and an atlantean word printed on it: 'Dictionary'.
"Pardon for taking my time with it, but I wanted to ensure some measure of accuracy." The Empress murmurs, offering it to her.
Gura takes it as calmly as she can, restraining her eagerness. She must maintain composure. "You're too generous."
"You have not seen the depths of my generosity yet." The Empress says, somehow managing to make that sound like a threat. "The only thing restraining me, my Queen, is your busy schedule."
"That sounds like a challenge, my Lady." Gura responds, tilting her head up just a bit to look down her nose at the shorter woman.
"Perhaps." The Empress purrs back. One of her eyelids cracks open, tempting Gura with a glimpse of the stars beneath. "Only if you rise to the occasion, of course. I would not be opposed to you simply allowing my victory."
"Surrender? Before even fighting? You offend me, my Lady." Gura says, putting on a smirk. She leans forward, looming over the shorter woman ever so slightly, and reaches out a hand to tip up her chin. Gura's heart is pounding in her chest, and she hopes desperately she doesn't look as foolish as she feels. "What sort of general would I be if I did not fight back?"
Both of the Empress' eyes are open now, starry voids staring at her with an expression Gura might call shock, if the Empress is even capable of such a thing. Her flaps are sticking straight up, which fills Gura with an odd sort of smugness. It's what gives her the confidence for her next strike.
"Challenge accepted, Ina'nis." Gura growls. She leans in and, both delicately and firm, presses her lips to Ina's. She relishes the way Ina's flaps quiver and her mouth trembles under Gura's. She removes herself with the same delicacy with which she attacked, grinning smugly at the stunned empress. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend and then an offensive to plan."
"A-An offensive?" Ina'nis squeaks.
"Why yes." Gura says, emboldened by Ina'nis' response. "An occasion such as this calls only for the most delicate of strategies for which I must plan… extensively."
Ina'nis squeaks again, wordlessly.
"So again, you must excuse me, my lovely lady, but I have a meeting to attend." Gura says with a sweeping dramatic bow.
She walks out of that statue garden with the stupidest grin on her face, and only barely wrestles it back under control for the meeting. She's never paid less attention in a meeting since she was a child, and she couldn't care less.