What I wrote is technically true but it’s just... missing several extremely suspicious details.

Soren glanced at the message.

His eyes narrowed slightly, like a man who suspected something but was currently too hungry to investigate it.

"Let’s go then," he said, stretching his arms again. "I’m starving."

Before I could object, he finally scooped me up.

I allowed it this time though, because my priorities existed first.

As soon as he lifted me, I climbed onto his shoulder like a small albino general overseeing a battlefield.

From that position, I turned my head and locked eyes with Agatha then I quietly opened the delivery tab on my OmniSync.

Delivery ETA: 30-55 mins.

I tilted the screen so only she could see it then I quickly wrote another message on the hologram and tilted it toward her.

"Make sure to hide it."

Agatha nodded once with the calm expression of someone who had definitely helped conceal questionable purchases before.

Perfect. Mission saved. Or so I thought.

Unfortunately, Soren noticed me looking at her. "Why are you staring at her?

Before I could react, his hand gently grabbed me and pulled me off his shoulder, placing me back into the crook of his arm.

"Do you still have something to say to her?" he continued.

He reached up and pulled me off his shoulder, tucking me into his arm like I was some kind of judgmental loaf of bread.

"Nyang nyang nya-ang nyang!"

Translation: You don’t even understand what I’m saying so I’ll just say ’nyang nyang nyang’ hahaha!

I gave him the most innocent smile my leopard face could manage.

Soren studied me for a moment then shrugged. "Fine."

He started walking out of the room, carrying me like a fluffy armrest.

Agatha stayed behind, already moving toward the balcony area.

Meanwhile, we stepped into the hallway where Mikael was already waiting for us.

He bowed slightly the moment he saw us then began walking ahead to guide the way to the dining room.

Everything looked normal. Except—

As we walked down the corridor...

Soren’s gaze briefly shifted away from me and landed on Mikael who was trailing silently beside us.

Their eyes met for a moment.

Soren didn’t say anything but the look he gave Mikael was sharp.

Mikael responded with a tiny nod while continuing to maintain his usual calm expression and continued walking as if nothing had happened.

And unfortunately for everyone involved—

I was far too busy celebrating my successful smuggling operation to notice the silent tension forming in front of me.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

"Agatha~"

Agatha paused mid-movement.

The bedsheet she had just finished smoothing went perfectly flat under her hands as she slowly turned her head toward the door.

Slowly, she looked toward the door.

Leaning casually against the doorframe—like he had all the time in the world and absolutely nowhere else to be—was Mikael.

One arm crossed over his chest, the other loosely holding the frame.

Smiling.

Always smiling.

Agatha stared at him for a moment before calmly returning her attention to the bed.

"It seems that you have too much time on your hands, Mikael," she said flatly, pulling the sheets tight.

"Hmm," he hummed. "Dropping the formalities now?"

He stepped into the room uninvited, unbothered, and far too comfortable.

Mikael walked over as if he actually intended to help, reaching down toward the sheets.

Unfortunately for him, Agatha knew him too well to trust either of those things.

Agatha immediately yanked the fabric away before his fingers could even graze it. "Don’t," she said.

Mikael blinked once then laughed softly under his breath.

"What are you doing here?" she continued, now turning fully toward him.

Mikael casually glanced around the room as if seeing it for the first time.

"Oh, nothing really," he said as he walked a few steps toward the dresser, inspecting it with idle curiosity.

"Master seemed to have... forgotten something here."

His fingers lightly tapped the wooden surface. "So I thought I’d retrieve it first since it seems important to him."

He turned back toward her, smiling pleasantly. "And then I’ll be on my way."

Agatha continued straightening the bed. "Find it then leave."

Mikael’s smile widened slightly. "But you seem to know something."

Agatha walked past him toward the dresser, grabbing a cloth to start dusting the furniture. "I don’t even know what kind of object the Master left here."

She moved to walk past him again but Mikael suddenly shifted his position, blocking her path like a cat lazily sliding in front of a laser pointer.

Agatha stopped as their eyes met, his smile never changing. "Move."

"Hmm," Mikael tilted his head slightly. "You’re being awfully defensive."

That was the moment the patience officially ended.

Agatha’s leg moved without warning.

WHOOSH.

A perfectly aimed kick shot toward Mikael’s ribs.

Mikael stepped aside so casually it almost looked lazy.

Her foot sliced through empty air.

"Oh?" he chuckled.

Agatha didn’t give him time to enjoy it as she followed with a spinning elbow.

He ducked.

The elbow passed over his head and nearly knocked over a vase on the nearby table.

Both of them froze for half a second.

The vase wobbled.

Left.

Right.

Left—

Agatha casually caught it mid-fall and placed it back down.

Then immediately tried to punch him again.

Mikael sidestepped, the broom behind him wobbled. He caught it mid-fall without even looking. "Careful," he said mildly. "The Lady would be upset if something broke."

Agatha lunged forward, a palm strike aimed at his chest next but he caught her wrist.

She twisted as he let go before she could flip him.

They separated again.

Both landing lightly on the floor.

"Must we really fight in here? Or you can just tell me—"

Agatha didn’t even give him to finish as she quickly launched another kick.

He hopped onto the edge of the bed frame to avoid it.

The mattress bounced.

A pillow slid off the bed.

Agatha snatched it out of the air before it hit the floor and tossed it back onto the mattress.

Then lunged again.

Mikael twisted aside and grabbed the falling blanket before it could drag the neatly made sheet apart.

For several seconds the two of them moved around the room like extremely polite assassins.

Kick.

Dodge.

Punch.

Sidestep.

All while carefully avoiding damaging anything.

Agatha swung her foot aimed at his head.

Mikael blocked it with his forearm while simultaneously pushing a chair back into place with his foot.

She pivoted and attempted to sweep his legs.

He jumped onto the desk as a small stack of books slid toward the edge.

"...!"

"...!"

Both of them reached out at the same time.

Their hands caught the books as they paused, placing them back neatly then immediately resumed trying to incapacitate each other.

"Still as aggressive as ever," Mikael remarked as he ducked another strike.

"Still as irritating as ever," Agatha replied.

He leaned sideways as her fist shot past his shoulder. "Come now, Agatha."

He stepped back onto the floor. "You know why I’m here."

"No," she said immediately.

Another kick.

Another dodge.

"Yes," he replied calmly.

"You’re in the way."

"I’m searching."

"You were snooping."

"Same thing."

She tried to kick him again but he spun aside then she slid past him and suddenly placed herself directly between him and the balcony.

Mikael noticed, his eyes flicked briefly toward the glass doors then back to her as his annoying smirk returned. "Ah."

Agatha’s expression didn’t change but her stance lowered slightly.

Mikael chuckled softly. "You’re hiding something," he said.

Agatha’s grip tightened around the feather duster like it was a weapon. "I’m doing my job."

"And your job involves guarding the balcony now?"

"Perhaps."

He chuckled. "Oh dear."

Agatha shifted her stance.

Just before they could attack each other again, a faint mechanical whirr sounded from outside the balcony.

Agatha moved instantly, dashing towards the balcony door.

But Mikael moved just as fast, sliding in front of her again.

"Excuse me," he said pleasantly.

Outside—

A small shadow passed across the balcony glass.

The delivery drone had arrived.

Agatha’s eyes widened for the briefest fraction of a second.

Too late.

Mikael moved first.

He darted toward the balcony doors with the speed of someone who had been waiting for exactly this moment. The glass doors slid open with a sharp shhk just as Agatha lunged forward to stop him.

But he was already outside.

The delivery drone hovered a few feet above the railing, its metallic wings humming softly as it completed its task. A small compartment opened beneath it and a neatly wrapped box dropped gently onto the balcony floor.

The drone beeped once.

Delivery complete.

Then it shot upward into the sky and disappeared between the clouds like a guilty accomplice fleeing the crime scene.

Mikael bent down and scooped up the package.

Agatha burst through the doorway a second later. "What the hell are you doing, Mikael?!" she snapped.

She grabbed the box immediately and pulled it toward herself. "That isn’t even yours! It’s from the Lady!"

Mikael didn’t let go. Not even slightly. "I know that," he said calmly. In fact, he sounded almost amused. "That’s why I’m personally giving it to the Lady."

Agatha glared at him, the look that says ’you’re just gonna show it to the master’. "Oh no you’re not."