Lemuen and her younger sister, Lemuel followed Felix into the Tomorrow's Development building. Inside the office, they were immediately greeted by familiar faces.
Mostima and Fiammetta weren't around, so it was their old companions who welcomed them. As soon as she spotted Lemuen, Spuria rushed over and embraced her tightly, while Patia tugged Lemuel aside, peppering her with questions about the journey.
After a while, work called the others away, leaving only the Sankta sisters sitting across from Felix's desk. The two exchanged a quiet glance.
Lemuel's face still carried the glow of reunion joy, but Lemuen's eyes were more solemn. She could tell Felix wasn't playing at business. Tomorrow's Development wasn't just some small venture confined to Lungmen; the company ran with precision, its framework already solid. It was obvious to her now that Lord Ers's assessment of Felix had been correct.
Her mind drifted back to her last conversation with Ers before leaving Laterano, during her final handover at the Notarial Hall.
"—A pity," Ers had said, "whether at the Hall or in the Papal Chamber, your talents would be well recognized. But I sense where your heart lies. You wish to stay by Felix's side, don't you?"
"Yes, my lord," she had admitted. "His injuries were ultimately because of me. And… his very existence may already have drawn Andoain's attention. I must remain close to protect him."
Ers chuckled. "So that's how young people confess their feelings these days? Subtle indeed."
Lemuen had sighed, exasperated at the old man's teasing.
"But," Ers continued more gravely, setting aside his papers to meet her eyes, "Felix Lanshem's state of mind does concern me. As a Sankta of unusual circumstances, not only I, but several cardinals as well, are… watching his future carefully."
"And the Pope?" Lemuen asked.
"His Holiness has always shown a tolerant, encouraging attitude toward the young. I believe you've noticed that yourself."
Ers's smile was kind but weary. "After that mission, I should have reevaluated your psychological states. Felix has shown maturity far beyond his years, but still—I should speak to him directly, ask where his heart stands."
"You fear he may… fall?" she had asked quietly.
"I fear," Ers admitted, "that his anger toward Andoain might one day drive him to pull the trigger. That's an outcome I do not wish to see."
Then, with a sigh, he added, "Still, with your support at his side, I trust that day will never come. And since you hold him in such regard, well—that makes things far simpler, doesn't it?"
Lemuen had walked away with her head in her hand, speechless at having been so lightly toyed with. Teasing the young seemed to be one of the Notarial Hall elders' little amusements. Clearly, she had been Ers's latest victim.
Now, sitting in Felix's office, she looked at him again. Her gaze held unspoken worry and concern. She understood his ambitions, his vision, and the reason Tomorrow's Development even existed. But could a man like him truly be accepted by Laterano in the future? She didn't know.
How much did Ers and the Pope really see? If His Holiness already knew what Felix was doing yet said nothing, that was one thing. This Pope was not like the iron-blooded pontiffs of the past. That thought allowed her to exhale in quiet relief.
Meanwhile, Felix was arranging housing for the sisters. Tomorrow's Development had dormitories for staff, but for those closest to him, he had rented apartments near the Central District. He rarely stayed there himself—his days were consumed by work—but at least the commute was manageable for them.
Once he had set Lemuen and Lemuel up in their new place, Felix prepared to escort them there for a proper rest. The journey from Laterano to Lungmen had been long and tiring, and the younger sister was already stifling yawns. After the initial rush of excitement at reuniting with her "Brother Felix," the calm of his office and his steady voice had lulled her into drowsiness, much like a student nodding off in class.
"Thank you, for thinking so carefully of us."
Lemuen stroked her sister's head with a gentle smile. "With neighbors like Mostima, Fiammetta, and Spuria, she won't ever feel lonely."
"And you, Felix?" she asked softly.
"I don't go back much myself," he admitted.
It was the truth. His life had fallen into a strict rhythm: long hours in the office, or hammering away at the forge, experimenting with new equipment. The only times he went out were when Mostima or Loughshinny dragged him to a meal. Lately, he'd been locked in a stubborn struggle with some new schematics, with no end in sight.
Felix was not like some bosses in the real world who kept employees working overtime while forbidding them to leave. His staff followed regular hours, while he alone stayed behind in the workshop, hammering away at his projects. After all, only he could handle this work, and he never felt particularly exhausted—he could always pass the time during loading screens by scrolling through bickering forum threads or watching silly new videos.
And if fatigue ever did creep up on him, there were always options: he could ask Loughshinny, Mostima, or Muelsyse for a massage.
Loughshinny's touch brought comfort to the mind and spirit. Mostima, on the other hand, preferred to pause time itself—both to massage and to sneak in a bit of mischief. Muelsyse, naturally, offered water therapy. Different ways of resting, each in their own style.
"Then… what kind of work will I be responsible for?" Lemuen asked at last.
"Have you already decided?" Felix tilted his head.
"Mhm. Since I've come all the way to Lungmen, to stand here with you, I ought to prove my value, don't you think?"
She glanced down at Lemuel leaning sleepily against her shoulder and smiled wryly. "But setting aside those formulaic words… the truth is, I just want to help you."
Felix made a quiet sound of acknowledgment. The work he had in mind for her was the same he had once given to Loughshinny. As Tomorrow's Development grew larger, the burden on Loughshinny had become too heavy for one person to bear. At the last company meeting, Felix had already suggested finding a second secretary to share the load. He had found no one suitable—until Lemuen arrived of her own accord.
She was more than qualified. After a year with the Notarial Hall, she was well-versed in paperwork and document review, and her time with Andoain's squad had honed her political awareness and sensitivity to factional relations. She had managed contacts with many different teams, and each new territory required careful applications and negotiations.
"Very well," she said softly.
In truth, Lemuen had already guessed what her role would be before she even arrived. Hearing Felix's description, which matched her expectations perfectly, filled her with a quiet delight. It meant he understood her strengths and where her talents could shine.
Felix, for his part, picked up on her feelings. By now, after so many dealings with the Sankta, he could sense their emotions in a subtle, almost synesthetic way. Mostima, for instance, was like a cup of mocha: at first astringent and elusive, then deep, rich, and lingeringly sweet.
Lemuen's aura was different—always bright, always warm. When she was near, his own mood inevitably lifted.
She glanced at her sister, now fast asleep, and moved to lift her up. But before she could, Felix stepped forward and scooped Lemuel effortlessly into a princess carry.
"Let's go," he said simply.
"…Mm. Right," Lemuen murmured, blinking at him in surprise.
Sankta were naturally light, but even so, Felix had picked her sister up as if it were nothing. He showed no strain, no sign of fatigue, as if it took no effort at all.
Watching her sister sleep peacefully against his chest, Lemuen felt a fleeting trace of envy stir in her heart.
After settling the sisters into their new apartment to rest, Felix finally turned to his own preparations—for a journey to Iberia.
Being a coastal nation, Iberia demanded some forethought. Felix scrolled through lists of seasonal items on his terminal, scoffing when he saw things like sunscreen. At this time of year, anyone who tried visiting the beach would freeze to death. Even in summer, the sea there wasn't particularly welcoming. If he truly wanted a summer vacation, Siesta or Dossoles would be far better choices.
Still, the question remained: who should he bring along on this trip?
He already felt like something of a hands-off shopkeeper these days. Dragging his officers away from their duties for another adventure seemed… inappropriate.
This wasn't even official business, not like the trip to Kazimierz where Loughshinny's presence had been vital for meetings with the Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce and the wealthy. He doubted he'd need her sharp diplomacy to deal with Iberia's Tribunal. Compared to shrewd businessmen, weren't those men just blunt soldiers in robes?
News of his Iberian trip spread quickly through upper management. When Lemuen heard, her expression darkened immediately. She wasn't the only one—Fiammetta's face, too, turned grim.
The news that Andoain might be hiding in Iberia was no secret. Lemuen immediately worried that Felix's true purpose was to hunt him down in vengeance. Fiammetta, upon hearing of the trip, raised her hand without hesitation—she was coming too. She also had a score to settle.
In fact, Felix had already sent word to his contacts in Columbia a month earlier. It wasn't a full report, but at least an outline of his plans—something to reassure those close to him, even if he couldn't share every detail.
When all was said and done, the final team was set: Mostima, the Grave Knight–Fiammetta, Lemuen, and Patia would accompany Felix to Iberia. Lemuel, who had only just arrived in Lungmen and wanted nothing more than to spend time playing with her sister and her "big brother," was left a little crestfallen.
But there was a reason for this lineup. Given Iberia's tense internal climate, an all-Sankta party would have been a liability. The Grave Knight and Patia, however, had spent years running missions across Iberia and maintained their own intelligence networks. With their presence, the group would face far fewer obstacles.
This time, Felix deliberately left Degenbrecher and Loughshinny behind. The latter had far too much on her plate—he had learned his lesson in Kazimierz, where bringing her along had nearly paralyzed Tomorrow's Development's operations. The crisis had only been resolved when the Emperor swooped down onto the office desk, shrieking orders like a feathered tyrant, and somehow managed to untangle the chaos.
Honestly, Felix thought with some amusement, maybe that method was worth repeating next time. After all, the Emperor's life seemed to revolve around four things: eating, drinking, concerts, and brawls.
As for Degenbrecher, she had already committed herself to her daily drills. Loughshinny, meanwhile, couldn't be spared. All things considered, the team Felix assembled this time was practically the Notarial Hall's Strike Team 2.0.
Three days before departure, however, an unexpected visitor disrupted his careful planning.
"Heehee, Brother Felix, long time no see~"
A pink-haired girl, fluffy and soft like a little kitten, waved cheerfully at him with a grin.
"Susie. It's been a while."
Felix ruffled her pastel hair. The texture was just as pleasant as he remembered. But Susie herself was no longer the timid child etched in his memory. Like Senomi, she had grown into a graceful young woman. She still carried a trace of shyness, a fragile air about her, but her growth had exceeded his expectations.
At the Academy of Arts and Sorcery, Susie's performance was nothing short of stellar. She hadn't stumbled across as many fortuitous encounters as Mandragora, but her diligence was unmatched. Between long hours of study and part-time work at a salon, she poured herself into her craft. She was even hatching plans with Rafaela to open a café together—Susie serving sandwiches and coffee by day, Rafaela mixing cocktails by night. For Rafaela, bartending was more than a pastime; it was a way to keep her late father's memory alive.
"Brother Felix… could you take me with you to Iberia?" Susie asked softly, blinking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
Felix paused. He remembered how Mandragora and Senomi had each traveled with him before. Though Susie had joined not much later, she'd never shared that kind of journey with him. Now, with a holiday break and Muelsyse's water-spirit avatar accompanying her, she had come all the way to Lungmen just to ask.
"Of course," Felix said without hesitation.
To him, bringing Susie along was no burden. She was sweet, easy to be around, and this trip was far less dangerous than their ventures into Ursus. As long as she stayed within safe zones, she would be perfectly fine.
Susie's face brightened, dimples showing as she broke into a radiant smile.
She thought back to the "secret girls' gathering" she'd had with Mandragora and Senomi before leaving.
"Can you believe Senomi snuck off and actually pulled it off? Bet she didn't miss a chance to kiss Brother Felix last night."
"If it were Mandragora, she'd have beaten her to it already."
Susie had barely stepped into the room when her cheeks flushed crimson. She hadn't expected to walk straight into such explosive gossip—and all of it about Brother Felix!
"Ah, Susie~ This time it's only kisses, no going further, got it?"
"E-ehhhh?!"
Susie—sunk in one hit.