Exchanges weren’t new to him, even outside of the Institute. Aristocrats rarely did favours for one another for free. But those were nobles and this was… a little human girl, one who was managing to beam while still frugally managing her advantages. Bargaining with him, was she? Aidou couldn’t help but think that if he had kept up his act around her, perhaps things wouldn’t have come to this point.

But to seem so carefree about it, too… Anise made propositions with more joy than he would. He might have been impressed in another situation. When her playful baiting was directed at him, though, he had to smother a wave of choler.

At the mention of people in the ruins, a frown touched his lips. He set his spoon down. The girl was apparently not adverse to accepting Landel’s-related information, and Aidou was not exactly bereft in that sense. But she was also hinting at some other tidbit. So the question was… was she trying to be cunning or merely cute?

Aidou forced his voice to remain smooth. "Not about to share without getting something in return, hm? I see. Do you have something specific in mind?"