“We’re just lucky these bugs stick to animals,” he adds, sounding a bit more relaxed once she had moved the focus of conversation off him. As long as too many personal questions weren’t thrown his way, he didn’t seem to raise his hackles much.

Guts was the type to return the courtesy, at least. He’s happy to sit in silence over probing into her past, even if she was a noble. Old habit, mostly. Mercenaries almost never brought up each other’s history - made it easier to avoid drudging up old feelings on the job.