As promised: more Winter Palace mayhem. Cheers!
Assumptions Make You An
"Tell me it isn't true."
Melusine leaned her head to the side to hear Sera more clearly but didn't take her eyes from her target: Grand Duchess Florianne. "What are you talking about?"
"Did you fuck Solas?"
A courtier nearby dropped their glass, and a collective gasp erupted from another small group of nobles. Melusine turned, grabbed Sera's elbow, and steered her away from the group. She didn't stop till they were by the wall and relatively isolated.
"What?"
Sera crossed her arms over her chest, "You fucked that egg-headed prick, didn't you?" She shook her head and looked thoroughly disgusted. "I thought you and Prince Charming had a thing going. Why in the hell would you-"
"Before you go further," Melusine held up her hand and shook her head, "I didn't 'fuck' him. Yes, we kissed, and clothing was loosened or lost, but it was all a ruse. Did the story you heard not tell you some guards caught us in an area not open to general guests?"
Sera's eyes widened, and, after a moment of shock, she doubled over in a fit of laughter. Melusine smiled and nodded to passersby, who looked at the pair of them with concern. She waited until Sera sobered enough to resume the conversation like a normal person.
"Oh man, the things we sacrifice for the Inquisitions, am I right?" She wiped at the humor tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry for losing your innocence, Mel. I will not leave your sacrifice to waste." She began another fit of giggles just as Thom and Ironbull came close. "Hey, did you guys hear about Mel's glorious sacrifice for the cause?"
Melusine rolled her eyes and sighed. She would never live this down. And no doubt, Cullen would assume the wrong thing and go stubborn-mode in the middle of this shit-storm.