Chapter 549: A demon doesn’t know what a demon doesn’t know

"Sam, can I ask you something?" Cass asked as soon as Sam came back, placing a small plate with cut up sandwiches on it on the table before them. Sam hadn’t taken too long to come back from his excursion to the kitchen, his expression still severe.

They were all stressed with the implications of everything they were discussing, but Sam nearly jumped at the question directed towards him.

Cass and Taniora had both sat down again, trying to get their nerves under control while they waited for Sam to come back. Until they heard his answer, they would need to wait anyway.

"Of course, my Lord." Sam said, a little confused. "What do you need?" He asked, open, welcoming. Cass gulped.

"Do you know if demons can make more than one deal at a time?" He asked. Sam paused. He drew his brows together, his face scrunching up as he fell deep into thought.

"Oh. That’s...not something I would ever think to consider." He muttered. "Hmm. The contract rule doesn’t really apply to imps since we normally work without a contract. I...I don’t know, my Lord. I’m sorry. Do you want me to find out for you?" He asked and Cass hesitated before he nodded.

"Is that alright? Can you do that? I don’t want to put you at risk." Cass told him seriously and Sam’s expression softened.

"Well, how about I wait until Byron comes back before I go off to find out then? That would put both of you at ease, I think." Sam said, glancing towards Taniora and offering her a soft smile. Taniora nodded.

"It would put us at ease." She agreed, and Sam nodded.

"Okay. I’m happy to find that out for you, my Lord. Can I...ask why you need to know?" He asked carefully and Cass swallowed.

"It’s related to the deal that my Mother made with the Demon King." Cass told him, trusting Sam. Sam’s expression hardened.

"Understood, my Lord. That is rather...serious then. It would be important to know if the Demon King was able to make several of those kinds of deals." He said in complete agreement. "I am happy to find that out for you. At the same time, I might as well pick up more of your tonic at the same time. Cover my bases." He said. Cass relaxed.

"Thank you for doing this, Sam." Cass said and Sam waved off his words.

"Of course, my Lord. It is my duty. I am yours to move. I am happy to be of help." Sam sounded genuinely happy that Cass was asking him to do this, even if it would put him in danger. After all, Cass wasn’t an idiot. Imps weren’t powerful demons. They were weak, and Sam himself knew that as well. It would be strange for him to ask about how many deals a demon could make. It could paint a target on his back, and it wasn’t like he was incognito. Other demons could recognise him and realise who he was working for.

"How dangerous is this for you, Sam?" Cass asked and Sam shrugged.

"About as dangerous as working for a Lord who lives with not just one Saint, but two." Sam said and Cass frowned. Sam’s eyes sparkled at his cheeky response. "I wasn’t raised in the demon realm. Some strange questions will be forgiven, my Lord. Especially if my Lord has just awoken his demon blood." He said with a wink.

Cass gasped. Oh! He could use that as a solid cover. Cass felt his face warm as he hadn’t even considered that, but Sam’s smile was warm, caring.

"I appreciate your concern, my Lord. If you care so much for me, please eat some of the sandwiches." Sam said, gesturing to the snack he’d brought over. Cass, feeling obligated, reached for one half and began to slowly eat. Taniora chuckled.

"You’re a good aide, Sam." She told him and Sam blushed.

"I-I just do as I am told." He muttered and Taniora shook her head.

"No, you don’t, which makes you better at your job than you think. If you just followed what you were told, Cass wouldn’t keep you as close as he does. Right Cass?" She turned to Cass to get his clarification and Cass nodded. He was chewing the bite he’d taken before he responded.

"While I appreciate your loyalty, the fact that you try to do what is best for me over what I tell you sometimes is appreciated." Cass told him. Sam blushed, dropping his head. He jerked his head suddenly, glancing towards the door.

"I-I think I hear someone approaching. Pardon me." He then fled and Cass watched him as he did so. The sound of the door slamming shut behind him was loud in the quiet room. Cass and Taniora sat in the quiet for a moment before Taniora started to laugh. Cass watched her, the tension fading from the room for a moment.

"Did he just run away so we couldn’t praise him?" She asked and Cass smiled.

"Absolutely. He gets embarrassed easily." Cass said. Taniora glanced at him, then smiled.

"Ah. So, he takes after you then." She said. Cass would have thought she was teasing him if not for the soft look in her light violet eyes. Cass felt his whole face warm.

"He can’t take after me. I’m not his parent." Cass protested while Taniora’s smile grew into a grin.

"I would beg to differ. Servants usually take after their Masters, and Sam strikes me as the kind of fellow who would delight in being similar to you." She countered and Cass felt the awkwardness of the praise wash over him. If he fought it, it would only make her statement true.

"We’ll have to agree to disagree." He muttered and she threw her head back and laughed.

"Alright, Cass. Why don’t you finish eating your sandwiches while I clean up the mess I’ve made. Hopefully our dragon friend will be back by then." Taniora suggested and Cass nodded in agreement.

He knew that he should be telling Edgar and Gideon what was going on, and it wasn’t that he was keeping this from them but...he just wanted to wait to call for them until Byron came back.

Then he could explain where the thought process had come from and why it was important. While also hiding some of what Cass and Taniora had spoken about. Gideon needed this time to learn how to control his powers and that was more important to him then Cass stressing everyone out without answers anyways.

~

Cass and Taniora continued a more light-hearted conversation about Cass’ past while they waited for Byron to come back with, presumably, his Mom. Cass didn’t think that he’d gone with anyone else, but there was a chance he could have gone with an...aunt? Uncle? Cousin? Cass wasn’t exactly sure how he was connected to each member of the fairy group that had arrived.

While they were waiting for everyone, Gideon and Edgar finished their lesson and came to check on/bother Cass in his office. Edgar could sense that something was up as soon as he knocked on the door and heard Cass call him in.

Gideon didn’t notice something was wrong right away, but Edgar’s pause, the way he glanced around the room as he stepped inside, had Gideon halting in the doorway. Edgar continued into the room but it was Gideon who looked around, sniffed, and narrowed his gaze.

"Where is Byron?" He asked and Edgar nodded.

"Where did you send him?" He asked, catching on right away that something wasn’t right. Cass gave a wry grin.

"He’s out on a mission. He’ll be back soon but then he’ll be going out again with Sam." Cass told them and Edgar glanced at Taniora who was now sitting across from Cass again, her tears gathered up and placed on the tray that Sam had brought Cass’ sandwiches on. He frowned, his brows drawing together.

"I see. Did...something happen while we were in our lesson?" Edgar asked cautiously. "And if it did, why didn’t you come get us?" Edgar asked. He sounded a little hurt and Cass winced internally.

"I’m sorry if you’re upset, but I wanted to wait until we had results before letting you two know what was going on. I didn’t really want to worry you and figured that your lesson was more important." Edgar and Gideon had the same upset and disappointed expression on their faces. Edgar didn’t sit down on the couch next to Cass. Instead he reached for the edge of the couch, gripping it in his hands until it overflowed between his fingers, but not hard enough to break through the couch itself.

"Cass, I can clearly tell that it was an emotional moment for you and I would have liked to have been here and supported you if that was the case. I can understand if you want privacy, but to say that Gideon’s lesson is more important than you is just..." Edgar closed his eyes for a second, shaking his head slowly. Gideon let the door close behind him, coming over to stand in between Cass and Edgar. He stood behind the couch, staring at Cass while glancing at Taniora and Edgar.

"I agree with Edgar, Cass. If you were emotionally distressed, I would have liked to know." Gideon told him seriously. Cass swallowed.

Now he had two of them trying to help him and take care of him. It was...a rather strange, surreal experience.

"I...I’m sorry you two, I just-"

"He was recounting what had happened to him to get here." Taniora spoke up. "I cried more than Cass did. In fact, his eyes are rather lacking in red rings." Taniora said, giving a soft, kind smile. "Byron is checking on something that Cass noticed when inside the dungeon with us. Something that he remembered while talking with me." Taniora said. "If what he thought, what we think has happened is true, the issue of my body being moved is bigger than we thought." Taniora said.

Edgar scrunched up his face in confusion, but not anger.

"Your body being moved is already a very big issue though?" Edgar replied, confused and Taniora nodded.

"Yes, but-"

"Byron’s back." Sam called, interrupting them as he opened the door. Then he flushed as he realised he’d cut Taniora off. "Apologies." He said quickly and Taniora smiled.

"It’s alright, dear. Is he upset?" She asked and Sam nodded without hesitation. Cass felt his heart squeeze tightly in his chest.

Gideon and Edgar turned to Cass, watching him closely.

"What does that mean?" Edgar asked, partially already knowing the answer.

"It means that the likelihood that what we theorized happened, and that means that things got more complicated." Cass told them seriously. It was not a good outcome for Cass’ workload.