103.

“How do you think? It’s the same as always.”

Hailot spat, his voice laced with irritation despite lacking the strength to lift even a finger.

Nicholas Diazi offered no response, his stoic demeanor unchanged. Hailot, slumped on Chloe’s back, glared at him with as much ferocity as his limp body allowed, though it hardly made an impression.

“Listen, Nicholas Diazi.”

Hailot growled, his patience wearing thin.

“You, of all people, should know that we can’t keep going like this. We need another solution.”

A faint crease appeared between Nicholas’s brows, the only hint that Hailot’s words had registered.

“I’m a very busy man.”

Hailot continued.

“At least while I’m stuck here in Baghdad, I thought I’d get to see Ophelia more often. But where has she disappeared to now?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

Nicholas replied, his voice sharp for the first time since the conversation began.

“Ridiculous bastard. Since when was Ophelia ever yours?” Hailot sneered.

“What is it you really want to say? Get to the point,” Nicholas snapped, uninterested in Hailot’s taunts.

“I have no intention of wasting my time having a lengthy conversation with a man who doesn’t respect the High Priest,” Hailot retorted, feigning indignation.

The exchange was typical for the two. Despite Hailot’s reputation as a “madman” High Priest, Nicholas’s communication skills were just as lacking. The only thing they shared was their feelings for Ophelia, a mutual fixation that forced them into an unlikely collaboration. Their conversations rarely led to meaningful dialogue, leaning instead toward curt declarations and terse warnings.

“The Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony is soon. The Emperor has summoned me for it. I’ll need to leave for a while, so you’ll have to manage things on your own.”

“For how long?” Nicholas asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.

Hailot ignored the question, continuing as though Nicholas hadn’t spoken.

“I wasn’t exaggerating earlier. We can’t keep doing this. Find another way.”

Rather than answering, Hailot pointed a silver rod at Nicholas, his expression a clear warning. Then, without another word, he signaled for Chloe to carry him away. Nicholas silently watched his retreating figure until it disappeared entirely.

He stood motionless for some time, lost in thought. Hailot’s words had not fallen on deaf ears. Nicholas had known for nearly a year that this arrangement couldn’t last. He had been tethered to Baghdad for too long.

Nyx was undeniably a catastrophic threat, capable of plunging the continent into ruin. But it was equally untenable for both the head of House Diazi and the High Priest to remain bound to one entity indefinitely.

Alternating with Hailot to channel divine power and suppress Nyx’s strength had taken its toll on Nicholas. With Hailot gone, the daily responsibility of reinforcing Nyx’s seal fell solely on him, a daunting and exhausting task.

‘For Ophelia’s sake, this has to end soon,’ Nicholas thought grimly.

He recalled the message he had received just days ago from his loyal knight and friend, Jack Bains. The carrier pigeon had brought troubling news: Ophelia’s condition was as precarious as it had been a decade ago.

The moment he read the message, Nicholas had wanted to abandon everything and go to her. But he couldn’t. If Nyx’s seal broke, his next target was clear.

Could Ophelia withstand another tragedy like what happened with McFoy? Nicholas wasn’t sure. He understood, albeit imperfectly, the obsessive attachment Ophelia had toward Aisa McFoy.

‘I’ll have to send another letter to McFoy,’ Nicholas decided. He had thought that everything would fall into place once his brother Norma returned alive. Yet nothing had come easily.

‘No progress.’

Nicholas thought bitterly as he pushed his fingers through his hair, brushing it back from his forehead. Despite the predawn hour, the air was oppressively hot.

The height of summer was approaching, and with it, Aisa McFoy’s birthday—a significant day for the head of House McFoy.

* * *

As preparations for the ‘Lord of McFoy’s Birthday Banquet’ began in earnest, guests started to arrive at McFoy Castle one by one.

This banquet held particular significance—it marked the first official appearance of Norma Diazi as the consort of the Lord of McFoy. It was for this reason that he had been summoned to the parlor early that morning.

Typically, the banquet hosted McFoy’s vassals and guests with ties to Romdak. However, this year brought surprising news: Milan Diazi, representing Diazi in his brother’s absence, was coming. His stay would be brief, given his role as acting head, but his acceptance of the invitation was unexpected.

Milan Diazi, now my ‘father-in-law’, was as formidable as ever. When he accepted my formal invitation, I couldn’t help but regret extending it. Yet, seeing the subtle excitement on Norma’s face, I swallowed my discomfort and refrained from showing any unease.

As Erika skimmed through the guest list, she spoke.

“So, today the only guest the two of you will greet personally is the head of the Norton family. That concludes the report.”

“Archie hasn’t seen his uncle in years, so make sure to handle it with care.”

“Yes, my lord.”

With that, there was a lull in my schedule. While I mulled over how to spend the downtime with ‘that stardust of a man’, Norma unexpectedly stood from his seat.

“Aisa, I’ll be taking my leave for now. I have something to learn from Lady Seymour.”

Norma, always reluctant to leave my parlor or office, was acting unusually hurried. Suspicious, I gave him a questioning look. After all, Norma had a habit of lingering in my presence as long as possible, devising countless excuses to stay. And to my knowledge, he had no commitments until lunch.

“What is it you need to learn?”

“Ah, it’s a secret.”

His mischievous tone, paired with a face full of amusement, left me at a loss for words. I didn’t press further. One thing was certain: he was up to something.

As my heart betrayed me with an odd mix of anticipation and nervousness, I nodded lightly.

Before leaving, Norma glanced at the staff standing nearby.

“…”

The ever-efficient McFoy staff immediately picked up on his silent command as if it had been shouted. Their expressions screamed, ‘Leave it to us!’ They nodded briskly at Norma and promptly pretended to busy themselves elsewhere.

‘How am I supposed to get used to this? Are they really doing this as if I wouldn’t notice?’

Watching their exaggerated and awkward movements, I could only sigh. They likely believed their pretense of normalcy was flawless. It wasn’t.

Even as I drained my empty teacup to feign ignorance, my embarrassment only deepened. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to comment, thinking my feigned indifference might be more awkward than their charade.

Just as I set the cup down, Norma leaned closer, his face drawing near. Reflexively, I squeezed my eyes shut.

I fully expected him to kiss my lips. Instead, a soft pressure brushed against my cheek.

Startled, I opened my eyes to find his face mere inches from mine, his half-moon smile and shimmering eyes glinting mischievously.

‘Damn it. Why did I think he’d kiss me on the lips?’

Norma chuckled quietly, clearly amused by my reaction. Before I could compose myself, he darted forward and planted a light kiss on my lips.

‘Oh, right. Because recently, it’s always been the lips first.’

“See you later, Aisa,” Norma whispered, his voice low and teasing as he let a breath of air graze my earlobe. A chill ran up my spine from the base of my neck to the top of my head.

It wasn’t surprising anymore. Neither the sensation nor the realization that I had fallen into another one of his schemes caught me off guard.

From the corner of my eye, I felt the servants’ curiosity burning through my flushed skin. Erika’s exasperated expression was almost palpable.

At this point, I didn’t care. Frozen in an awkward pose, I glared at the door Norma had just exited through.

‘What am I supposed to do with that audacious man?’

Since the day Norma had declared separation due to his fever, our relationship had taken an unexpected turn.

In his case, it was a shift toward boldness.

Norma no longer hesitated to express affection, even in front of others. It was as if he had found a new certainty within himself.

And it all started because he refused to let my slight against him go unnoticed.

“I didn’t realize being denied your heart could hurt so much,” he had said one day, his voice calm but laden with weight.

“What should I do to ease your pain?” I asked, guilt gnawing at me. My only knowledge of comforting someone came in material forms, so that’s what I offered.

 

“Oh my. I wasn’t asking for anything,” he replied, feigning surprise with wide eyes, barely concealing his playful act. Overwhelmed by guilt, I pretended not to notice.

“Just tell me what you want.”

“Well…”

 

When his flushed cheeks glowed with a spark of mischief, I braced myself, though his request turned out surprisingly simple: *to kiss me whenever and wherever he wanted.*

At first, I thought it absurd. Didn’t he already do that? But I had underestimated Norma Diazi’s talent for taking advantage of any opportunity.

It didn’t take long for me to learn exactly what he had meant.

Norma had apparently been holding back. For instance, he used to refrain from touching me when others were present.

When I casually agreed, thinking little of it, and he promptly kissed me in front of the staff, I nearly leapt out of my seat.

 

“What—what are you doing?!”

“But Aisa, didn’t you permit me?”

 

My flustered reaction made him look crestfallen, and I couldn’t bear his expression. I stammered something about maintaining the dignity of the lord’s position.

Norma’s face brightened instantly. He assured me he’d take care of it, grinning with unnerving confidence.

Of course, his “solution” was this ridiculous act of everyone pretending not to notice.

As for me, I ended up like this.

I was constantly on edge, bracing myself for Norma’s unpredictable kisses. That alone was overwhelming, but there was a greater issue.

I had brushed off his tearful declaration that his feelings were no mere misunderstanding. But the more I thought about it, the more it struck me.

If it wasn’t a misunderstanding, then…

‘Does he… truly love me?’

The realization made his whispered “I love you” replay in my mind, leaving my ears burning.

Even in his absence, heat spread across my cheeks as vivid memories filled my thoughts. I pressed a hand to my forehead, slumping against the chair’s backrest.

‘This is absurd. Am I a teenager again?’

Ever since I had begun to acknowledge Norma’s feelings, I felt like I was regressing.

Every interaction left me tense, and merely sharing the same room with him had become unbearably awkward.