Ingrid burst out of Cassian's room in a panic.
Her heart was racing. Her hands trembled slightly.
Cassian's not here. This is a disaster.
She frantically scanned the hallway, searching for any sign of him.
"Where could he have gone? How did I not notice he'd woken up?"
Ced saw her in a panic as he approached.
His hands were in his pockets, his steps leisurely.
"If it's about Cassian, I saw him earlier on the first floor."
Ingrid spun toward him sharply.
"Is he okay?!"
Ced nodded slowly.
"He seemed… fine. But less energetic than usual."
He paused.
"Maybe a bit… distant?"
Ingrid clenched her fists.
"I need to check on him right away."
She was worried because, over the past few days while watching over him, Cassian, even unconscious, had seemed frightened by something.
His expressions would shift. He would groan occasionally. As if trapped in an endless nightmare.
At first, she hadn't been thrilled about cutting her vacation short.
She was supposed to visit her family in the south. But after understanding the reason, she had thrown herself into the task wholeheartedly.
The royal physician had said Cassian just needed rest.
"Nothing physical," he had explained. "His body is unharmed. It's his mind that's been shaken."
Ingrid asked Ced, trying to keep her tone professional:
"Take me to Cassian."
Ced shook his head.
"That's a bad idea."
Ingrid frowned.
"Why?"
"From what I saw, Cassian seemed like he wanted to be alone."
Ced crossed his arms.
"It'd be a bad idea to disturb his peace."
He paused, looking at Ingrid with curiosity.
"Cassian seemed really different from usual. I'd love to know what happened, but I don't have all the details."
Ingrid hesitated.
Should I tell him?
She sighed.
"From what I overheard, it happened after Cassian tried to bring a dead person back to life."
Ced's eyes widened slightly.
"Bring someone back to life?"
"Yes. Apparently, he screamed suddenly and then passed out without explanation."
Ced frowned, thinking.
"That's really strange."
He started making conversation, asking more questions.
"And the dead person in question, who was it?"
"A knight. The Grand Master of the Order of the White Swans."
"And did it work?"
"No."
But Ingrid didn't feel comfortable with this conversation.
She started walking away.
He's a human from The Shoreless Sea. I don't know how to act around him.
Is he even human? The realism is too unsettling, and it makes me uneasy.
I'd rather keep my distance as much as possible.
Ced narrowed his eyes.
He had noticed Ingrid had been doing her best to avoid him lately.
But I can't let this chance to get closer to her slip away.
After all, it was his winning ticket to possibly escaping.
Cassian? Impossible. If he noticed Ced wasn't under his control, who knows what he'd do.
The Captain of the Guard? Out of the question. His position was too dangerous.
The other humans from The Shoreless Sea? They might report to Cassian that Ced wasn't under his control if he confided in them.
Ingrid was the safest choice right now.
Her position wasn't too high, and she wasn't directly tied to Cassian.
The perfect target.
Ced walked behind Ingrid as she moved away.
Without turning, Ingrid asked in an irritated tone:
"Why are you following me?"
Ced replied innocently:
"The hallway only goes two ways. It's not my fault we're heading in the same direction."
He's starting to get on my nerves, Ingrid thought. He's not even hiding it anymore.
She walked a few meters, then entered a random room.
That should deter him.
But Ced followed her into the same room.
Ingrid turned around, arms crossed.
"Of course…"
Ced looked at her with an innocent expression.
"What?"
"You know exactly what."
Ced tilted his head, then glanced around.
He pointed behind her with a smile and said:
"That's my room."
Ingrid frowned, turned, and looked more closely.
Oh no.
It was indeed Ced's room.
His bed. His desk. His personal belongings.
She didn't dare turn back to meet Ced's gaze because she knew he had a smile on his face.
I'm not giving him that satisfaction.
Instead, she walked to the curtains and opened them as if it had been her plan all along.
Ced raised an eyebrow, surprised.
She's not backing down, is she?
He chuckled inwardly.
Ingrid then moved to leave the room, but Ced said in a teasing tone:
"I didn't know you were now in charge of tending to my quarters."
Ingrid stopped.
"What?"
"If you wanted to take care of my room, why just open the curtains? Might as well sweep the floor too."
He paused.
"Or maybe dust the furniture?"
Ingrid slowly turned to face him.
She gave him an icy glare.
Ced felt a shiver run down his spine.
That was chilling.
But he didn't show it outwardly, keeping his smile.
Ingrid left the room without another word.
Ced stayed there, a hand under his chin.
He chuckled softly.
She won't escape me.