Nearly an hour ago...

Near the stream that passed through the mansion’s grounds sat the gazebo, flowers, and neatly tended greenery, carving a path toward the river and the mansion alike.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Beneath the gazebo sat Rosalith in the most prominent position, dressed in red with her collar rolled slightly off one shoulder, nearly baring her chest. Her golden hair was drawn back into a high ponytail, and she puffed idly on a smoking pipe.

Around the tea table were four more individuals, one of them a girl with blonde hair and green eyes, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she watched Rosay. the sort that edged just close enough to teasing.

Next to her sat a white-haired young man, his seat leaned back as he flicked a coin continuously in his hand, wholly unbothered by the presence of the others.

A dark-haired cadet in a suit sat beside him, wearing a slightly lazy smile. With what seemed like great reluctance, he adjusted himself in his seat and produced a cigarette.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

"I think it’s fine for me to smoke since you’ve been puffing nonstop, Ace."

The words were casual and rough, as if he was moments away from falling asleep.

"Show some respect, Cassius. We’re on the Ace’s property, even if her presence doesn’t intimidate you."

A man with brown hair and a prideful, almost luminous expression spoke.

"Then don’t you think it’s time she spoke already?" the blonde-haired lady said, her usual knowing smile on her face.

Drawing on her pipe, Rosay’s attention shifted toward them. Her eyes moved across the tea table, and she noted that not one of them had tasted theirs yet.

She reached slowly for her cup, checked the temperature, and watched the steam drifting from the rim, then, almost instantly, her eyes found theirs again, her expression giving nothing away.

"Did you really think I’d poison you?"

None of them seemed particularly bothered by her words, save for the brown-haired cadet. He reached for his cup and spoke with a pleasing smile.

"I didn’t know we could drink since you haven’t tasted yours."

Rosay held her gaze on him for a moment, then, for reasons of her own, ignored him entirely and turned her attention to the blonde-haired cadet.

"How’s the mission progressing, Celeste?"

"They haven’t returned, but I received a letter. It says the attack was carried out by the Black Arms, a terrorist organization in the underground world."

Rosay leaned into her seat. She knew that much, but she couldn’t tell them the Black Arms had launched that attack on the academy because of her. Besides, she wasn’t going to dismiss the possibility that whoever was using her identity for such atrocities could be one of these four.

Her eyes soon found the white-haired cadet. "How about you, Arthur?"

Arthur kept toying with the coin, completely unbothered.

"The spies have already rooted themselves in the city perfectly. If anything changes, I’ll let you know."

Then, as though he’d found something interesting, he smiled.

"Should we take this as a sign you’re back? You’ve done nothing but bark at us for two weeks now."

Rosay’s eyes grew lazy, and a coldness settled over her. What Arthur was talking about was her notorious personality, and the question he’d just asked was a delicate one.

None of the Calamities were privy to her abilities or her contractual cost, but they were all very much aware of her personality change.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

’...if I let him know my notorious personality is gone, I’ll only get myself killed.’

Her red eyes narrowed just slightly as she held Arthur in her gaze, then, almost as though she’d confirmed what she needed to, she took up her cup of tea, gave it a gentle shake, and let the steam curl up into the air.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Anyway, I called you all here today to inform you of something important."

She had their attention at last, and more completely than she’d anticipated.

"My little brother will be working on the mission with us."

Their faces all switched to confusion, save for Cassius, who let out a soft laugh.

"Your little brother, huh? I’ve been hearing a lot about him lately. He hasn’t been around long, but he sure is your brother."

Celeste’s teasing smile disappeared at Rosay’s last words. "What are you saying, Ace? Don’t you think you’re letting his fame get to your head?"

Rosay said nothing, only silence, as she casually sipped on her tea.

The brown-haired cadet’s face twisted with anger as he spoke.

"That won’t do, Ace. I respect your decision, but isn’t that too much? He’s only a first-year."

Those words, angry as they were, never got to Rosay. Even so, she rested her tea on its tray and turned some of her attention toward the cadet.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

"Are you questioning the capability of my bloodline, Will?"

Will moved to speak, but the words never made it past his throat. Rosay had already placed a finger to his lips, stopping him before he could begin.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

It looked affectionate, but it wasn’t.

"I was once a first-year too, remember? But I still took down an entire pack of wolves affected by a Great Citadel while the rest of you ran with your tails between your legs, and you still doubt my bloodline?"

Celestial leaned in slightly, almost taking hold of Rosay’s arm in a bid for her attention, but one glance was all it took for her hand to pull back.

"I get that your bloodline isn’t something to be underestimated. Duke Godfrey fought and won the Revolutionary War II." Her expression darkened.

"But your brother is a first-year cadet. He’s barely been here a month. This is war, and it’s unpredictable, especially against a notorious bombing organization."

Cassius still wore that smile of his, fascinated by the whole thing, while Arthur let out an annoyed sigh beside him.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

"I don’t care who helps or doesn’t. But if the Ace believes the boy can help, then what exactly is there to complain about?"

Something in Arthur’s words seemed to settle Celeste’s expression, as though they had drawn her attention to something she might have missed.

Will groaned. He wasn’t having any of that.

"What are you saying? Of course, we have something to say. Bringing in a fourth-or-fifth-year would be fine, but a first-year cadet? We must protect our pride!"

Cassius laughed out loud. "Not me. I’m actually fond of the kid."

Celestial shrugged lightly. "Give it up, Will. You know the Ace can’t be changed once she’s decided."

A soft smile pulled at Rosay’s mouth. Leomaris’s involvement was non-negotiable. Even if Leomaris himself remained unaware of his role in it all, it changed nothing in Rosay’s eyes.

He was the only one she trusted to protect her while she remained weakened. She’d been listening, and she was fairly certain she’d worked out the best solution to the problem.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

She turned to Will.

"You doubt his abilities, don’t you? But in this world, there are those born to shine and those who strive to shine. And I believe you belong to the latter, Will."

Will’s face contorted, swelling into the expression of someone on the verge of losing the battle with their own emotions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

"Are you saying he’s better than I am?"

Rosay nodded positively and rose from her seat. She brought the pipe gently to her nose, sniffed it, and pulled a look of disgust before emptying it. Then she reached across the table for a tray piled with tobacco and green leaves, stuffed the pipe once more, sniffed it, and smiled.

"If you doubt me, then follow me. I’ll show you what my brother is capable of."

She offered the pipe to Cassius, who reached into his pocket with a smile and produced a lighter, bringing it to the pipe without a word.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Her piercing red eyes darted to the others as well.

"That includes all of you. You will follow me."