Esme remained silent, puzzled by the exchange happening. She rested on the stone edge of the pool, exchanging a glance with Althea who looked like she wanted to say something, but Revana spoke first, her voice cool and unbothered.
"And yet here you are," Revana said evenly, leaning back against the edge, her gaze fixed on the glass wine in her grasp. "Perhaps they've let more than just the standards slip."
"It's actually surprising, is what we meant to say," Naya said, feigning thoughtfulness, "that someone like you would even know how to relax in a place like this. After all, growing up in such unfortunate circumstances must make luxury seem foreign to you."
Esme felt the insult like a lash, and it was aimed not just at Revana, it hit Althea as well. She had assumed such useless people were only in Illyria, but it seemed they sprouted everywhere like weeds.
