For a brief moment, none of them moved.

Then— Ivy tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint, almost amused smile.

"Well," she called out, her tone light but pointed, "if you’re going to discuss me, at least try not to make it so obvious."

The three guards stiffened instantly.

Percy cleared his throat, straightening his posture. Nico looked away as if the sky had suddenly become fascinating, while Benny pretended to check something on his watch that clearly did not need checking.

Teddy, however, remained where he was, unfazed.

Ivy pushed herself off the car and took a few slow steps toward them, her gaze moving from one face to another.

"I must be very interesting," she added, her voice carrying a teasing edge. "All that attention... I’m flattered."

"No, Madam, we were just—" Nico started, but the words died midway under her steady gaze.

"Just doing your job?" Ivy finished for him smoothly.

Silence.

Her smile widened just a fraction.

"Good," she said. "Because I’d hate to think you were slacking."

Benny swallowed, unsure whether she was joking or warning them.

Probably both.

Ivy then turned her attention to Teddy, her expression softening slightly.

"So, Teddy," she said, as if nothing had happened, "have they been this subtle all morning, or is this a special performance just for me?"

Teddy’s lips twitched, the closest he had come to showing amusement.

"They are usually more disciplined, Madam."

"Ah," Ivy nodded thoughtfully. "So I’m the problem."

"No," Teddy replied calmly. "You are the variable."

That made her pause.

For a split second, something sharper flickered in her eyes.

Then she smiled again.

"I like that," she said. "Sounds important."

Her gaze swept over the group once more before she turned back toward the car.

"Relax," she added over her shoulder. "If I wanted to run, you wouldn’t even realize I was gone."

The statement was delivered so casually that it took them a second to process it.

And when they did—

A chill ran through them.

Because she wasn’t bragging.

She was stating a fact.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier curiosity now replaced with something far more serious.

Teddy watched her quietly, his expression unreadable.

For the first time since meeting her, he realized something clearly.

Their job was not just to protect her.

It was to keep up with her.

"Anyways," Ivy said, clapping her hands lightly as if resetting the situation, "tell me—which food outlet should I go to?"

She pointed toward the four bustling outlets lined up ahead, each one equally crowded, each one equally tempting.

Teddy frowned slightly. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Nico, Percy, and Benny, on the other hand, exchanged blank looks.

"Madam... are you hungry?" Percy asked cautiously.

Ivy let out an awkward laugh.

"Oh, very observant—wait." She paused mid-sentence, blinking. "I just realized... I don’t even know your names."

Percy immediately straightened, clearing his throat like he had been waiting for this moment.

"I’m Percy, Madam," he said proudly. "And they are Nico and Benny."

Nico and Benny stiffened as well, nodding in unison like well-trained soldiers.

Ivy nodded thoughtfully.

"Okay... Percy, Nico, Benny," she repeated, as if testing the names. "And Percy, to answer your question—yes. I am extremely hungry."

Teddy’s gaze lingered on her for a second, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

When Xander had briefed him in the morning, he had mentioned breakfast with the family.

Then how is she hungry already?

The thought crossed his mind, but he said nothing.

"And now," Ivy continued dramatically, looking back at the food outlets, "I am deeply confused because all of them look interesting."

The three guards immediately leaned forward, their attention snapping back to the mission at hand.

"Madam, I’ve been to that one," Benny said quickly, pointing ahead. "They serve the best fried chicken. Crispy, juicy—top quality."

That immediately caught Nico and Percy’s attention.

"No, Madam," Nico cut in, pointing to another outlet on the left. "That one has a mouthwatering menu. And look at the crowd—it means it’s good."

"Is that so?" Ivy nodded, genuinely considering it.

Before she could respond further—

"No, Madam!" Percy stepped forward, pointing to the outlet on the right. "You should eat from this place. My girlfriend says the food here is amazing."

Nico: "..."

Benny: "..."

Teddy: "..."

Ivy blinked slowly.

There was a brief, heavy silence.

Then—

"Your... girlfriend?" Nico muttered.

Benny looked personally offended. "Since when are we trusting your girlfriend’s taste over actual experience?"

Percy puffed his chest. "She has great taste."

"Clearly questionable," Nico shot back.

"And you?" Benny added. "You’re recommending based on a discount!"

"That’s called being smart!" Benny defended.

"And I know what good food is," Nico insisted.

Within seconds, the discussion escalated into a full-blown argument.

Voices overlapped.

Fingers pointed.

Egos bruised.

Teddy closed his eyes briefly.

I should not have brought them.

They were trained. Discipline d. Efficient. And yet here they were... debating food like their lives depended on it. Before he could step in—

"Ah! Enough!"

Ivy raised her voice, cutting through the chaos.

All three guards froze instantly, snapping their mouths shut.

Teddy opened his eyes, now curious.

Ivy placed her hands on her hips, looking at each of them with a thoughtful expression.

"I get it," she said. "You’re all very passionate about food. I respect that."

They straightened slightly, unsure where this was going. Then her lips curved.

"So here’s what we’re going to do."

Teddy’s instincts sharpened. That tone...doesn’t feel right

Ivy clapped her hands once.

"How about all four of you," she said sweetly, glancing between them, "go and bring me takeout from all four outlets?"

"..."

"And don’t worry about the bill," she added casually, already turning toward the car. "Just put everything under Xander’s name."

The four of them exchanged stunned looks, as if they had just been assigned an impossible mission.

Before any of them could even think of objecting, Ivy clapped her hands and started pushing them one by one.

"Go on," she urged, nudging Percy forward, then Nico, then Benny, and finally Teddy. "Chop chop... I’m starving."

"Madam, but—" Benny tried.

"No buts," she cut him off, giving him another gentle shove. "Just go. I can’t wait to eat everything."

Her bright smile made it sound harmless.

Almost innocent.

The guards, however, looked anything but convinced.

Still, none of them dared to argue further. One by one, they reluctantly headed toward the food outlets, glancing back as if expecting her to change her mind.

She didn’t.

Ivy simply waved at them cheerfully.

"Don’t take too long!"

And just like that, they disappeared into the crowd.

The moment they were out of sight, the smile on her face vanished.

Completely.

Her expression shifted, the warmth draining away, replaced by something colder. Sharper.

Focused.

She straightened slowly, her gaze sweeping the area with quiet precision, no longer the playful woman from moments ago.

Every movement around her registered. Every detail mattered as a faint breath escaped her lips.

"Alright," she murmured under her breath. Then her eyes hardened.

"Back to work, Raven."