The next morning, Ludwig discovered that destroying manifestations of mortal sin had done little to prepare him for breakfast after kissing Celine.
He stopped outside the dining room and looked through the open doorway. Celine sat near one end of the table with a cup of tea between her hands. Thomas floated beside the window while a servant arranged bread, preserved fruit, and several covered dishes. Ludwig had entered this room hundreds of times, yet the twelve chairs around the table had somehow become a problem.
The chair opposite Celine offered the same distance they usually kept. The one beside her made more sense after the previous night, though choosing it felt like announcing something neither of them had discussed.
Celine watched him examine the table. "Are you planning to join us, or are you waiting for one of the chairs to attack first?"
"I'm deciding where to sit," Ludwig said. "There are more options than necessary."
