The room was steeped in a tense, lingering silence. Arthur sat perfectly still on the couch, his sharp eyes narrowed, as if lost in thought. The faintest furrow creased his brow, though his face remained an unreadable mask. For several moments, neither man spoke.
Finally, Arthur exhaled softly, a small, light smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "So, is it done, sister?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with a subtle edge. "Your warnings, I mean. Quite protective of your darling, aren't you?"
The teasing lilt in his tone was deliberate, the words carrying a double meaning that wasn't lost on Celestia.
From the speaker on the table, Celestia's laughter spilled forth, sweet and airy, but with a razor-sharp undercurrent. "Good, good," she purred. "Quite smart of you, my little brother. Kufufufu…"
