At that same hour—
Inside Twilight Manor—
Loki lay face-down across a sofa after being dragged home, while Riveria remained nearby to ensure she did not attempt to sneak back out.
Finn placed a copy of the Guild’s public statement on the table.
“You truly liked that young man.”
“I already told you, I’m not interested in men.”
“I meant as a person.”
Loki was silent for a moment.
Then—
“That boy is dangerous.”
There was no humor in her voice.
“Not because he’s strong.”
“Right now, practically any one of our children could deal with him without even drawing a weapon.”
She rolled onto her back.
“But he starts viewing people as pieces almost immediately.”
Her red eyes narrowed.
“And more importantly…”
“He looks at himself the same way.”
Finn’s thumb tingled.
“What makes you say that?”
“His eyes.”
Loki threw one arm over her forehead.
“Someone afraid of dying calculates their own escape first.”
“Lelouch calculates what his own life is worth to the overall outcome before he thinks about preserving it.”
Her voice became quieter.
“Those are the eyes of someone who has already placed his own life on the board before.”
Riveria frowned.
“And yet you loudly mentioned Freya in front of half the tavern, essentially advertising that he’s exactly her type.”
“I wasn’t advertising!
I was warning him!”
“You said Freya’s name loudly enough for half the room to hear.”
Loki paused.
“She wasn’t actually there by coincidence…
right?”
Riveria looked at her with open disbelief.
Finn ignored that exchange.
“Why warn him during your first meeting?”
Loki stared at the ceiling.
“Because the most tightly locked door…”
She sighed.
“…is the one Freya wants to open most.”
Her expression turned thoughtful.
“And that boy isn’t just a locked door.”
Finn glanced at the negotiation report again.
“We should watch him.”
“Obviously.”
Loki’s voice remained serious.
“But not as an enemy.”
“Not while Astraea remains one of the reasons he chooses to protect this city.”
Riveria looked over.
“And if that reason disappears someday?”
Loki did not answer immediately.
Her red eyes remained fixed on the ceiling.
“Then we should hope he finds another one…”
Her voice dropped.
“…before he decides to burn the board itself.”
On the other side of Orario—
The Hostess of Fertility closed after midnight.
The staff cleared tables.
Washed dishes.
Extinguished lamps one by one.
When the others had gone upstairs—
Syr remained seated at the table the Astraea Familia had used for its celebration.
Her fingertips rested on the rim of the glass Lelouch had used.
Mia stood behind the counter with her arms folded.
“Stop staring at that cup as though it’s going to answer whatever question you’ve got.”
Syr smiled without turning around.
“What do you think I’m wondering about, Mama Mia?”
“I’m not interested in guessing what goes on inside a god’s head.”
Syr’s smile stopped.
No one else remained in the tavern.
There was no longer any reason to pretend she had misunderstood.
“He rejected my sight.”
Mia frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“I couldn’t see his soul.”
Syr closed her eyes.
She could still remember that instant perfectly.
A black door.
A will that made no sound—
Yet completely rejected her authority.
Throughout all the ages she had spent in Heaven and the Lower World—
No mortal had ever done that.
“He’s Astraea’s child now.”
“And when he comes here, he’s my customer.”
Her eyes hardened.
“Don’t bring trouble into my tavern.”
“I haven’t done anything.”
“I know that look.”
Syr opened her eyes.
Gray reflected the light of the final lamp.
“He told me he dislikes being told what to do.”
“Then listen to him.”
“He also said he belongs to no god.”
Mia’s expression became warning.
“Syr.”
“Don’t worry, Mama Mia.”
The gentle smile returned.
But the fascination inside Syr’s eyes had not faded.
It had merely been hidden more carefully.
“I won’t force him.”
Her fingertip slowly traced the rim of the glass.
“At least…”
She smiled.
“…not yet.”
Mia released a heavy sigh.
Syr looked through the tavern window toward the moon.
Loki understood her far too well.
A door standing open held little mystery.
But when one door dared to close in the face of the goddess of beauty—
How could she not wonder what was hidden behind it?
“Lelouch…”
She spoke his name softly.
Not a command.
Not yet a declaration of ownership.
Merely the name of a mystery—
One Freya had already decided she would not allow to disappear from her sight.
….
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….
I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length.
If you’re following a particular series, please wait your turn a little If there’s a particular novel you’re enjoying on Patron, please give it a ‘like’ so I know to focus on it