And in the time that Sophie spends reading, Hikaru's working through his cigarettes and occasionally glancing over to check how far she's gotten on the file. By the time she's done, servants have already come with their food: two lacquered boxes, sake. Small but fine Japanese meals. He's pouring sake for them both when Sophie speaks again.

"They did what they thought was right at the time. Their real mistake was that they did not bother to think of the consequences." He tilts his head, appraising her. "So now you can kind of see why you're a different cut from the Bladians that we usually get."