[ Frankly, if Thancred had told her that point blank she probably wouldn't have been very surprised. Nobles all played a similar game and Hilda was no exception. The key difference there is that had never been any formal training or any political intent behind it on her part. All of it had been for her own gain. And gain for much of Hilda's life meant doing the most not to lift a finger or break a sweat before later on using it only when she deemed it necessary - like when Claude asked.

Something something, use your power for good not evil.

But all of that is to say that ulterior motives are the farthest thing from her mind at the moment. Not when she feels the genuine sound of Thancred's laugh. A life in noble company had been more tiring than she had anticipated; she vastly prefers this. Even if this had started in a strange way.

She gazes at the card, making a show of scrutinizing it and the portrait of the cheerful visage on it. ]

You know what, I'd believe it. Especially if she made it into a card game.

[ Idly she flips through the rest of the cards. ]

Do you play this outside of the Horizon as well?