Arriving at the home of Villanueva, you are greeted by Ajax. He indicates that there is an unexpected guest this evening.
Entering the salon, you find Villanueva sitting with a woman wearing trousers and sporting natural hair. Villanueva greets you and then turns to introduce you to the woman.
"Please, Thundertusk ., allow me to introduce you to…well, how should we address you?"
"Thérèse is fine," she replies.
"A pleasure, madame," you begin.
"Please, don't call me that," she replies.
"Mademoi…?" you begin.
"No. No titles, if you please."
"Thérèse, then?"
"Yes."
"What brings you to New-Orleans…Thérèse?" you hesitate.
"I need your Quaestor's help."
Does she know that Villanueva is not officially the Quaestor of New-Orleans? Does she care? Perhaps she is flattering him by according him the respect he demands? You suppose that—if she needs his help—it would serve no value for her to antagonize him by bringing up the provisional nature of his title.
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