"So I’m useless in your eyes, Seraphine," I said in a flat voice.

The red-haired woman seemed to realize what she had just said the very same instant. She lowered her head, shifting uncomfortably in her seat; it was easy to see she felt guilty.

I knew perfectly well that she had only been trying to put Morgana down, not me. Even so, I hadn’t expected Seraphine to win an argument against Morgana; the former clearly still lacked the maturity to do so.

I stood up from my seat, tired of the whole spectacle. I gave Klaus a look, letting him know I would be leaving first. He nodded in response, and I left the dining hall without bothering about the stares or the pointless commotion.

Seraphine didn’t take my departure well; the guilt grew inside her.

For her part, Morgana seemed to intend to follow me, but something in the way I left told her I didn’t want anyone near me at that moment.

...

As I was walking back, someone stopped me.

Margery, with whom I hadn’t spoken since the incident with the people from Pradiles, seemed to want to say something.

She stood in front of me, arms crossed, and looked at me with clear anger.

I stared at her, confused.

She raised an eyebrow and blurted out:

"Aren’t you forgetting something?"

I frowned, not understanding what she meant.

"You said you’d take me to see the person who helped us the other day against those from Pradiles," she reminded me firmly. "Besides, I already told Father what happened; it shouldn’t be long before he arrives in the capital."

I looked at her, remembering that it was true. However, I didn’t answer, and an involuntary yawn escaped me. She immediately punched my arm hard and frowned in indignation.

"Brother! You can’t be so hopelessly apathetic!" she exclaimed, puffing out her cheeks.

"It was just a joke, Margery," I replied with a half-smile. "The woman you’re looking for should be at Nexus’s main headquarters."

"Nexus?" she asked, confused. "Is she part of them? Why would she be there?"

"Mmm, something like that. Wait for me a moment. I’ll get something, and then we can go see her."

Margery watched me walk away with a hint of displeasure, but she eventually let out a resigned sigh—the typical sigh of a sister who knows her brother is hopeless.

...

Margery stopped in front of the immense building that was the center of Nexus’s massive operations. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Will we really be able to see her?" she whispered, unable to take her eyes off the entrance. "I’ve heard that Nexus executives or important people don’t usually receive just anyone."

I let out a tired sigh, exhausted by her constant insecurity.

"I told you I know her, Margery. Let’s go," I replied with a casualness that only seemed to make her more nervous.

Once inside, a receptionist greeted us with a professional smile, but she didn’t even get to ask us anything. Thalassa came down from the upper floor at that exact moment and received us herself.

"Cassian!" she exclaimed with a smile far too cheerful for my liking.

I had asked Adela to go ahead and let her know, so Thalassa would be ready to receive my sister.

Margery looked the woman up and down. Her distinctive sea-colored hair and mystical aura stood out in the lobby. She couldn’t help but notice the suspiciously close relationship she seemed to have with me.

Her eyes narrowed as she shot me an inquisitive look that silently asked: Where the hell did you meet a woman like this?

I simply shrugged. Margery, not wanting to seem disrespectful to her savior, turned her attention to Thalassa and put on her best smile.

"Thank you so much for the other day! I really don’t know what Cassane and I would have done if you hadn’t been there. Cassane wanted to come thank you too, but since this guy..." —she shot me a withering look— "...didn’t tell us anything more about coming to see you, I had no choice but to drag him here myself."

Thalassa replied in a soft, melodious voice:

"There’s no need to thank me. I would have done the same for anyone, and even more so since you’re Cassian’s sister."

Thalassa and Margery chatted for quite a while. While the latter kept thanking her nonstop, the former seemed far too interested in hearing anecdotes about me. How I appeared in the eyes of those who didn’t know my true nature seemed to be very important to her.

"So he’s that lazy... though I guess I’m not surprised," Thalassa commented, letting out a soft, melodious laugh.

It was then that Margery asked the question she had been holding back:

"And, Miss Thalassa... exactly how did you meet my brother?"

The siren was stunned by the question and immediately looked at me, silently pleading for me to save her from the situation. But the truth was, I didn’t really know how to explain it to Margery either—especially since she was already aware that Thalassa not only looked impressive, but also possessed eighth-circle power.

"We met here, Margery. I had to buy some things, and it just so happened that Thalassa was looking for feedback on them for Nexus."

"You? Shopping here? When was that?" she asked immediately, incredulous.

But I didn’t let her keep questioning.

"That doesn’t matter. We’ve already taken up enough of her time, and she must be busy."

My words were enough for Margery to drop her interrogation. She looked at Thalassa with an apologetic expression as she lowered her head.

"I’m sorry! It was supposed to be just a thank you, but I ended up taking so much of your time..."

Thalassa looked at me with amusement as she nodded at Margery’s apology, taking the opportunity to withdraw. She understood perfectly that it was for the best.

The moment she disappeared from our sight, Margery pinched my arm hard.

"Don’t think you’re getting away with this," she hissed. "She’s such an incredible woman, and she clearly looks at you with eyes that aren’t for mere ’acquaintances.’ Hmph! No wonder you say you’re not interested in Cassane, spending time with such mature women..."

If only she knew that not long before she saved her, I had been holding this woman by the neck and considering killing her. I sighed wearily.

...

In the mansion that Marquis Windsteel had left for the Varkas in the capital.

"Alexandro?" Eleanor looked at the newly arrived man with surprise, not expecting his presence there.

He observed her without the slightest interest and replied:

"Oh, Eleanor. That’s right, you had come here for a few days."

"Yes... and you said you had matters to attend to in the county. Why are you here?"

"Margery sent me a message saying she wanted to talk. She’s coming today with Cassian, so you should let the kitchen know there will be many of us," the Count ordered, ignoring his wife’s questions as he removed his coat and began giving instructions to the servants.