For the staff of Chaldea, eating in the cafeteria was a routine affair.
Of course, beyond dining in the cafeteria, they could take their meals back to their quarters or even to their workstations.
There were no restrictions on this.
During busy times, wolfing down food at the workplace was common enough.
After all, work was always paramount... especially now, with the future of humanity resting on Chaldea's shoulders, making work exponentially more critical than ever before.
Olga Marie, in the past, often ate in her office while working. Now, as a ghost, she rarely ate unless an irresistible craving struck.
Even then, she did so in her office.
But today, she came to the cafeteria.
All eyes were on where she sat.
Across from Medea!
"I didn't expect this. Yesterday it was Jeanne Alter and Medea, and today it's the Director and Medea..." Ritsuka muttered quietly to Morpheus beside her. "Are you sure you don't want to go over?"
"No need. It's just girls having a friendly chat. Why would I butt in?" Morpheus grinned, picking up some noodles and slurping them down.
He was eating tomato beef sauce pasta today, the tangy sweetness paired with the savory beef pleasing his taste buds.
As for Olga Marie and Medea's conversation... one was Chaldea's Director, a strong woman; the other a kingdom's princess, vastly experienced and equally formidable, with a wealth of life knowledge... Morpheus trusted nothing would go wrong.
Even if something did, he was right there and could intervene quickly.
At that moment, someone sat nearby, placing a large bowl of udon on the table and muttering, "Looks like it won't come to a fight."
It was Romani, the doctor and Chaldea's second-in-command. He carried none of the demeanor of a leader, his face brimming with curiosity and gossip.
Morpheus rolled his eyes helplessly. "It was never going to be a fight. Why do you sound like you're hoping they would?"
"If they did, wouldn't it be a great show?" Romani chuckled, taking a bite of his noodles before continuing, "But you're something else. I've watched Marie grow up, and it's been a long time since she's been this impulsive."
"Impulsive?"
"Nothing. Keep eating."
Seeing Romani wasn't going to elaborate, Morpheus didn't press. He could guess what the other meant, so he said no more, eating his pasta while discreetly observing the two women.
"I know about you and Morpheus," Olga Marie said to Medea.
She had a modest portion of food before her. Though she'd come to eat, it was just an excuse to talk to Medea.
Medea smiled, taking a bite of her dish before replying, "Is that so? Then I must thank you, Director, for taking care of my husband."
The response made Olga Marie raise an eyebrow. It sounded ordinary but carried a provocative edge. She took a deep breath and said, "I know about your relationship. If I recall, you're not married, right? At most, you're just boyfriend and girlfriend."
Medea showed no anger. She ate naturally, saying between bites, "It doesn't matter. Whether it's me or Artemis, we see him as our husband, and he sees us as his wives. It's a recognition from the heart."
At this, Romani, eavesdropping nearby, gave a mental thumbs-up.
Medea was sharp, not falling into Marie's trap and instead using it to jab at her. Unless Marie made a move, she'd always be at a disadvantage.
More crucially, if Marie said too much or took too firm a stance, it would shift from normal questioning to jealous rivalry, putting her in the spotlight... a massive pressure for her.
Unless she could find a private moment to talk with Medea, but Medea might not give her that chance.
Romani glanced at the one person who could resolve this quickly... Morpheus.
Yet Morpheus was still battling his pasta, oblivious to the exchange.
Olga Marie was now conflicted. Medea's attitude was that of Morpheus's wife, and she had the credentials to back it. Meanwhile, Olga Marie felt she had nothing to say.
After wrestling with it, she picked up her food and said, "I'm just reminding you as Chaldea's Director. You may be close, but we're in a critical period. Don't let your actions disrupt the plan!"
With that, she left without looking back, shooting Morpheus a fierce glare as she went.
Morpheus, seeing her leave, spread his hands. "See? I told you it'd be fine."
He continued devouring his food. Then a figure approached... Medea, smiling at them. "May I sit here?"
Her smile was gentle and refined, like a proper lady.
They quickly shuffled to make room for her.
Once seated, Medea looked at Morpheus and suddenly said, "Your Director really likes you, doesn't she?"
Instantly, everyone at the table stopped eating, eyes on Morpheus, curious for his response.
But Morpheus kept eating casually, unfazed.
"Yeah, I know," he said between bites.
Of course he knew. He wasn't blind to romance. Olga Marie, who could barely hide her feelings, was obvious to him. But sometimes, knowing didn't mean acting. Maybe it was just a fleeting fancy on her part?
Until she was certain and resolute, Morpheus wouldn't make a move. It was respect, giving her the freedom to choose.
He was, after all, a gentleman who respected women!
Hearing his reply, Medea sighed. "She's just a young girl. Don't be too hard on her."
The exchange stunned the table. What kind of turn was this?
"I'm not. Sometimes being too impulsive leads to future regrets, especially for someone like her, whose position doesn't allow recklessness." Morpheus shook his head, slurping the last noodle and exhaling contentedly.
A good meal, especially a delicious one, felt amazing.
Medea resisted the urge to retort, saying only, "You used to say similar things about me."
Morpheus smiled, recalling how he'd dodged her feelings back then, only for Medea to reverse-seduce him in an unexpected moment.
From then on, he'd faced her genuine, passionate love head-on, with no regrets despite their eventual parting.
They'd been separated for millennia... for Medea, literal millennia!
He could hardly imagine how she'd endured such a span, so he reached out, gently touching her cheek. "Sorry."
"No need to apologize. It was my choice." Medea shook her head, taking a small bite of her meat dish. "This is really good... way better than what we had in my time!"
Then, while eating, she steered the topic to magic.
"When do you plan to summon Artemis?"
Morpheus pondered. "Not sure yet. I want to, but I'm worried about issues. Last time with Shiva, I accidentally called one from another world. If I summon another world's Artemis, it'll be tricky."
"I can help," Medea said. "With your bond with Artemis, a precise summoning spell should lock onto her. Considering your condition, if you summon Artemis, her powers as a virgin goddess might stabilize you."
"Stabilize me?"
"You're planning to summon the three goddesses and unite them to call the primordial Shakti, right? That could be tough, but with Artemis, a goddess, helping, it'll be easier. She embodies the goddess concept, and as your other half, that's a key concept too."
Medea smiled slightly. "Don't forget, I can help too. I have the Scarlet Woman's power and the wife concept, plus the mother concept she grants. With Artemis and me, we can make summoning the distant Shakti much smoother."
Morpheus considered her words and nodded. "You're right. It could work. But that means we'll be busy these next few days... redesigning the spell and ensuring we summon Artemis accurately!"
Nearby, the others listened, unable to join in. Even Romani, as Solomon, with vast magecraft knowledge, couldn't keep up with the heavy magical content. He could understand but needed time to process it, unlike Medea, who'd studied magic with Morpheus for millennia.
If not for the Throne's research limitations, she might've escaped it already.
...
Back in her office, Olga Marie set her food down and stabbed a piece of meat with her fork, chewing aggressively.
"Damn Morpheus, can't he just talk to me?!" she grumbled under her breath.
Medea's expression fueled her frustration.
"What's so great about getting to him first? I refuse to believe I can't win over a mere Morpheus with my looks!"
She froze after saying it.
Blushing, she muttered, "What am I saying?! How could I say something like that?! It's like I'm some desperate harlot!"
She glanced around nervously, relieved no one was there, and sighed.
Then she stuffed another piece of meat in her mouth, chewing while complaining, "It's all Morpheus's fault. He's why I blurted that out!"
But as she spoke, she sank into thought.
As Chaldea's Director, she knew how close Medea and Morpheus were.
Chaldea provided quarters for staff, including Servants. Medea had her own, but last night, she'd stayed with Morpheus all night.
The thought made Olga Marie imagine what they might've done.
The kind of things couples do!
It was only natural... Morpheus, even in Singularities, openly stayed with his beloved women, heedless of others' opinions!
Someone like him, with Medea last night... how could he have stayed chaste?!
Impossible!
They must've had a very happy night!
Olga Marie gritted her teeth, chewing her meat to bits.
"No, as Director, I must reprimand him properly. He can't let this affect his rest and work!"
Determined, she grabbed the communicator. "Get Morpheus to my office. I need to talk to him!"
This was her duty as Director, for her staff and humanity's future!!
***
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