It was well past midnight when the last of the guests finally left, and Edea all but collapsed into one of the plush chairs. Already, the staff were beginning to clean up the leftover food and the decorations that were spread out across the room.

"Take the leftovers to the kitchens," Alternis said sharply to the nearest staff member before he too, sat down heavily in a chair.

"Next time we have to throw a quarterly party for the nobles in Eternia… let's not," Edea suggested weakly. It was something that Braev had started, and Edea had promised to continue. Now, she was regretting that promise.

He grunted in response, then held out his hand. "We should retire for the night."

"More like morning," she replied, but took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. Together, the two of them left the large hall and headed to the elevators to their rooms.

Her room was closest; Alternis's room had always been tucked away in the back, where very little people could find him. He liked it that way, for some reason. It also made it easier for him to escort her wearily to her door, where they stopped.

"Well, goodnight," he said, bowing slightly. He had removed his thick black suit jacket in the elevator and now it draped over one arm.

"Wait," Edea said, turning back to him. She tossed her heels into her room, not caring where they landed. "My maids are asleep."

"I would imagine," he replied. Given the hour, there was no reason for her maids to be awake, considering that they always came early in the morning to air out Edea's room and help her dress. Edea wasn't a slave driver.

She gave him a scathing look and turned her back to him, pulling her hair over her shoulder. "Unzip me."

It was just as well that her back was turned; she could see not see the deep red flush that spread across his cheeks and ears. "I beg your pardon?" he asked, though he was already moving his jacket to his shoulder so that both hands could be properly free.

"I can't unzip this on my own," she explained, very patient in spite of the late hour. "You can unzip the back, can't you? I'm not sleeping in this."

He had to clear his throat before he could speak again. "I can do this," he said to himself just as much as her, as he found the zipper - small and silver and hidden under an embroidered collar at the nape of her neck. There was a snap as well, which he also undid for her. Then, trying not to follow the sight of the fabric falling open to reveal her creamy skin, he tugged the zipper all the way down the length of her spine until it finally reached the end at the base of her back. He caught a glimpse of her white stockings.

Her dress had long sleeves, and so it wasn't threatening to fall forward off her chest, but Edea held her hands up to herself anyway as she turned back to him, tossing her hair to cover her mostly bare back now. "Thanks," she said, and if she noticed the flush on his cheeks, she did not mention it.

Alternis nodded. "Of course. Anytime."

Her eyebrow raised. "You'll unzip me anytime?"

There was a long pause before he bowed again. "Goodnight, Edea!"

Her laughter followed him as he hurried off to his own rooms.