Verina happily nodded, and Lupina was detached from the harness on her waist, now held with both hands while placed above Verina's lap.
"Verina," I began, glancing at her, "Do you know why you're named as such?"
"I think she doesn't know why," Lupina quipped.
"Regardless, I'm quite proud of that name," Verina darted a dagger stare at her talking head of a friend, before continuing her speech. "I'm somewhat attached to it too. Why the question all of a sudden, though?"
"Did you know that there was a Verina in the long-forgotten history of humanity—an empress who plotted conspiracies, backstabbing, and political maneuvers all while balancing power with grace?"
Verina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You're not insinuating that I'm some kind of reincarnation of a puppet master, are you?" she said, though a hint of pride glinted in her eyes.
