"Oh my, look at the time. I promised my uncle I'd help him with… with… ah—walking."
The sentence made absolutely no sense, but before anyone could question it, he ran off.
***
"We have four people,"
Miyeon said quietly.
"How many more do you think are involved in this case?"
Nephthys didn't answer. She looked distracted.
"Did you find another one?"
Miyeon followed her gaze, thinking she had spotted another suspect.
They were on the palace rooftop, the best vantage point available.
Down below, in the crowd, Nephthys spotted a visibly frustrated Avner—looking around as if completely lost.
"Miyeon, keep your eyes open. I'll be right back,"
Nephthys ordered as she stood up.
"Wha—wait, wait, wait! Where are you going? Leaving me alone with such a huge responsibility?!"
Miyeon panicked immediately, already imagining the mission collapsing onto his shoulders.
"You'll do just fine. And I'll still be observing."
"I will not do 'just fine'!"
"How can you leave all this responsibility to me?!"
"Miyeon, calm down."
"What could possibly be more important than this right now? How can you leave me alone?!"
"I'll be back. I'm not abandoning the mission. I just need to check on my student."
"WHAT?!"
Nephthys ignored him and jumped off the rooftop.
"He's not a child. He'll survive,"
Miyeon muttered bitterly.
"You know that."
"I can't believe this… how did I get stuck between these two lovebirds? Sigh…"
"AAHH—this skill is still new to me! What if I miss some tattoos and they escape?!"
He took a deep breath.
"Alright, Miyeon. Calm down. You can do this. Breathe in… breathe out. Nephthys trusted you because she knows you're capable."
He forced himself to focus.
***
"I can't believe she lied to me,"
Avner muttered.
"Said she'd be at the ball, but she's nowhere to be found. I even spent so much time getting ready—for nothing. My feet hurt, these clothes are uncomfortable, and these people are insufferable. How can they talk this much?"
"Looks like you have a habit of talking to yourself."
Avner would recognize that cold voice anywhere.
He spun around instantly.
Even though he had been angry just moments ago, all of it vanished the second he saw her. Relief washed over him.
"You're here."
"Of course I am. I'm the entire reason this ball exists in the first place."
Without warning, Avner pulled her into a hug, catching her off guard.
She hesitated—then gently patted his head.
Nephthys assumed he'd been acting this way because he was lost and overwhelmed. The palace was massive, after all.
"Don't think I'll go easy on your training just because you're acting like a child,"
she warned calmly.
"I understand. Just… let me stay like this a little longer."
Hearing that, Nephthys couldn't help but smile softly.
***
"Ah—finally! I've found Nephthys! Come on, my friend, faster!"
The Emperor spotted her just as she leapt down from the rooftop.
"Yes… I'm coming, Your Majesty,"
the assistant panted.
He had been chasing the Emperor all night.
"Huh?"
The Emperor stopped abruptly.
"Your Majesty? What's wrong?"
"I'd like to know the same thing,"
he growled.
"Why is that nuthead standing next to Nephthys?"
"Do you mean Young Master Avner Daenerys, Your Majesty?"
"Yes. Him."
The assistant was confused—hadn't His Majesty been praising the boy earlier?
"HWI—!"
The Emperor made a strange, sharp sound.
"W-What?! What is it?! Are we under attack?!"
The assistant immediately began scanning the area in panic.
"HOW DARE HE?!"
"Oh no…"
The assistant finally realized it.
He followed the Emperor's gaze—straight to Avner hugging Nephthys.
"Calm down, Your Majesty!"
The Emperor lunged forward, but the assistant grabbed him with all his strength.
"LET GO, YOU IDIOT!"
"YOUR MAJESTY, YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS!"
The Emperor caught sight of Nephthys smiling.
That only made it worse.
"YOU! YOU—HOW DARE YOU MAKE MY NEPHTHYS SMILE, YOU DAMN PLAYBOY?!"
He pointed wildly at Avner, kicking his legs while trying to break free.
Then—suddenly—he stopped.
"All right. All right,"
he said calmly.
"I'll stop overreacting."
The assistant did not let go.
He had known the Emperor far too long to trust that tone.