"Smooth," Elowen whispered, almost as if she were hesitant to break the hush that had fallen over the group. The breathy quality of her voice revealed her genuine surprise. She lifted her wrist to her nose and inhaled, eyes fluttering shut in a moment of pure delight. "And it smells like herbs and citrus. You could weaponize charm with this," she added, her tone half-amused, half-impressed.
Estella responded with an understated smile. Her entire demeanor exuded a poised confidence that came from having anticipated exactly this reaction. Perhaps she'd rehearsed it in the privacy of her chamber, or perhaps she simply understood her queen better than most gave her credit for. She reached into the slim leather folder she held with her other hand, carefully unrolling it on a nearby marble bench.
