"Well, that was fun, don’t you think?"

Evelina said as she walked merrily out of the mansion, the car already waiting just outside. While that alone was enough to catch my attention, considering her usually cold exterior, there was something else that stood out even more.

She hadn’t used her usual baby-prevention magic after we finished.

"Hey, Evelina..."

"Hm?"

Evelina turned to me, a small smirk appearing on her face. And judging by the fact that she read my mind almost twenty-four-seven, it was obvious she knew exactly what I was thinking about.

"Never mind."

"Let’s talk about that soon, okay? For now, let’s prevent a divine massacre from happening."

she said, already stepping into the car as a servant held the door open for her.

"You’re not helping my curiosity."

"Whatever do you mean?"

I just sighed. Whatever she had planned, it definitely had me on edge. But... whichever of the two she chose, it wasn’t important. It never was, as long as she was happy.

"Nothing. You’re right, let’s talk about it later."

"Good~."

I climbed into the car beside her, the leather seats cool against my skin through the fresh clothes the servants had laid out. The interior smelled of polished wood and something floral, Evelina’s preferred scent, and the engine hummed to life before the door had even fully closed.

"The prince’s estate," Evelina told the driver, not bothering with pleasantries.

The car pulled away from the mansion, smooth and silent, gliding through the gates and onto the main road. Outside, Berian’s morning bustle had begun in earnest, merchants opening their stalls, children running through the streets, and the loud hum of the G-32’s patrolling.

"I know you said we’ll talk about it later... but we’re already inside the vehicle, so why not...?" I said.

"My driver’s listening, Cael."

"Right..."

Her fingers traced the rim of the window, the ring on her hand catching the light. The grey iron seemed darker now, almost black, the shifting patterns more agitated than they’d been in the library.

Evelina turned from the window, her crimson eyes finding mine.

"Let’s just use this time to enjoy ourselves, a casual ride instead of just teleporting everywhere."

"You say that like you just didn’t forget to... never mind."

I stopped before I could utter the word ’contraception.’ Considering what we’d just done, as much as I wanted to bring it up, I didn’t think I’d burden the driver with our noble drama.

Even I have that much decency.

The car picked up speed again, leaving the crowded streets behind as we entered the inner district. The buildings there were just as old, grand, and rotten as ever.

"I can’t wait until we pull the rug out from under them." Evelina snickered.

"How long do you think it’ll take before we have this entire city to ourselves?"

"Probably a few more months, give or take, but it also depends on whether the headmaster interferes."

"Think he’ll consider it cheating that you brought in your family’s servants?"

"I’d like to see him try to accuse a D’Arclight of cheating." Evelina smirked. "Besides, he’s very hands-off despite this being the academy’s special program. I expected more restrictions."

"Think Marcellus bought him off?"

"Most likely."

***

Marcellus’s family estate’s gates were already open when we arrived. Two guards flanked the entrance, their armor bearing the royal crest, and they bowed as the car passed.

"He’s expecting us," Evelina observed.

"Of course he is. He’s been expecting us since we left."

"He really doesn’t trust us, huh?"

"You sound amused."

"Anyone would be if they knew their mere existence keeps the imperial prince on high alert."

The car pulled to a stop before the main entrance, and a servant appeared almost instantly to open the door. I climbed out first, then offered my hand to Evelina. She took it, her fingers cool against mine, and stepped onto the marble driveway.

"The prince is in the study," the servant said, bowing. "He asked that you join him at your earliest convenience."

"Of course he did," Evelina murmured, releasing my hand as we walked through the entrance.

The foyer was grander than I remembered from my last visit, or maybe I just hadn’t been paying attention the first time. Marble floors, high ceilings, portraits of ancestors who all shared the same golden hair and sharp cheekbones.

"Your prince certainly doesn’t skimp on decor," I said to Evelina.

"He’s not my prince."

"Careful, he might overhear and call you a traitor to the empire."

She shot me a look that could have frozen the bay. "Me? Sweet old Evelina? The great beauty and daughter of Vredemann D’Arclight?"

"I love sarcastic you."

"We’re just getting distracted at this point." She paused at the base of the staircase, glancing up toward the study. "Let’s save the flirting until we meet them. I prefer annoying them with our closeness."

We climbed the staircase together, our footsteps muffled by the crimson runner. The walls were lined with more portraits, the faces growing more recent as we ascended. Marcellus as a child, Marcellus as a youth, Marcellus in his academy robes with a wand at his hip and not a single Julius in sight.

"I hate that painting," a voice said from above.

I looked up.

Marcellus leaned against the railing on the second floor, his golden hair catching the light from the window behind him. He looked different. He was cleaner now, more composed, but there were shadows under his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

"The one with the wand," he continued. "My mother insisted. Said I looked ’powerful.’ I look like I’m constipated."

"You do, actually," Evelina agreed.

Marcellus snorted and pushed off from the railing, gesturing for us to follow. "Come on. While the others are still on their way."

"Others?"

"Julius and Lillian, and another one that’s far more impressive."

"If what you’re saying is true, then I expected them to be more punctual," Evelina replied.

"This isn’t exactly a meeting we had planned in advance. Deal with it."