Cordelia didn't sign immediately; she discussed several points of the contract with Elizabeth until both were satisfied—or at least until the latter yielded enough for the former to sign with a face that didn't show even a hint of defeat.
After that, the conversation shifted to other matters. From time to time, Cordelia tried to extract information she still couldn't deduce, but Elizabeth didn't let anything slip easily.
Morgana and Victorio were released, while the duke was taken to another room so he wouldn't interrupt senselessly.
"If Elara now holds this force in her hand, what are the future plans?"
"He didn't say anything about that, though he'll probably head to Pradiles once this matter is settled."
Cordelia seemed to have an idea why, but she still frowned slightly.
"We should use this force to suppress Lucratis."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
"Mmm, this world should be under his control anyway, so I'm not against what you're saying."
The two women looked at each other with smiles; two highly calculating minds that were clearly going to get along very well. Morgana stood with her arms crossed, wearing a displeased expression for being left out, while Victorio simply listened attentively. He had already carried out tasks his mother entrusted to him, so he knew exactly what kind of woman she was. He also thought he knew Elizabeth well… or so he believed, because she always surprised him with something new.
A defeated sigh escaped his lips.
By the time Cassian arrived with Adela, the whole matter was already settled. Elizabeth was about to stand up and take the signed contracts so she could leave.
"Looks like I worried for nothing."
A subtle smile appeared on Elizabeth's face, but instead of Adela's usual enthusiastic greeting, she maintained her professional demeanor.
"I've made a deal with the Valois, Master."
"Mmm, that's fine. In three days Cassandra will crown Elara, and two days after that I'll head to Pradiles, Elizabeth. Prepare everything for my departure as well."
She lowered her head in acknowledgment. Seeing him arrive, Cordelia stayed silent, analyzing the interaction between the two. When it finally ended, she stood up and approached him a little, but before she could say anything, a figure shot past her.
"Darling! Your subordinates were way too rough with me! How do you plan to make it up to me?" Morgana complained as she grabbed his arm, giving him playful looks.
Cassian raised his eyes and ignored her. He focused on the other woman who was approaching, as if saying: "What do you want?"
"You won," Cordelia said in a flat voice. "It seems I really underestimated the situation, though you could have been gentler with the people in my house. I'll be complaining to Caelia," she added the last part with a hint of irony.
He simply raised an eyebrow and didn't respond. He pulled his arm out of Morgana's grip, turned around, and said:
"Let's go back. I'm tired, Adela…"
The ignored woman clenched her fists.
"Darling, it looks like you don't want me in your bed anymore."
He gave her a brief look.
"Cassane was faster than you. Quite the disappointment."
"Huh? That ice cube beat me? Wait, no, that's impossible!"
"Well… she certainly tried."
He said nothing more and disappeared with Adela and Elizabeth.
Morgana was left with her mouth open. She looked at her mother with a pitiful expression. Cordelia only responded by darkening her eyes slightly. She approached her daughter, placed a hand on her shoulder as if to comfort her, then gave her son a look and sighed.
…
At the Astaford Mansion, Selyne and Valeria returned from the center of the capital with tired faces and clothes covered in blood and dirt.
Selyne immediately threw herself onto the first sofa she found and let out a weary sigh, her mind processing everything that had happened during the day.
"So many Transcendents…" she murmured.
The arrogant face of that man appeared in her mind. She clenched her fist and remembered the happy expression Sylvia had when talking about him, and how he had helped her overcome the third limit. "It's time to collect what he promised me…" she thought, though her eyes seemed distracted by something else.
Valeria watched her mother throw herself onto the sofa with all her dirty clothes to rest. Although she wanted to scold her for being so careless, she understood that today wasn't the day for that kind of comment. Her mind kept replaying every swing and cut of her sword from today, trying to figure out what she was doing wrong.
"No, that man wouldn't do it that way…" she murmured to herself.
A sigh from both women echoed in the room, and they looked at each other in surprise. A light, amused laugh filled the space.
…
When they arrived at Nexus's office, Cassian sat down, massaging his brow. Adela quickly positioned herself behind him and began massaging his shoulders.
Elizabeth was a bit slower, but she approached, removed her master's hand from his forehead, and began massaging him herself. At the same time, her other hand held Cassian's, gently caressing it. His eyes opened to give Elizabeth a look that revealed nothing of what he was thinking.
"There will be several matters to attend to these next few days," he finally said.
"Mmm," Elizabeth nodded, knowing she would be busy. She moved her hands from his forehead to focus solely on his hands.
The silence was broken only by the soft sounds of both women's hands moving, occasionally interrupted by Cassian's low, hoarse groans.
"Master, what have you been doing these past few days while you were away? Adela didn't tell me enough. Who was the person you went to see?"
"I didn't tell Adela too much either, Elizabeth. You both already know I'm not Cassian Varkas. My real name…" He avoided saying it. He knew they probably wouldn't understand; Rosalind hadn't. And he felt he still needed to understand it himself. Though he knew what it implied, a tired sigh escaped him. Avoiding the topic, he continued: "She is one of the women I met in the past. She's someone from a higher world. She didn't have a very kind fate either, just like the two of you. But of all the women I met in my previous life, she and nine others are the most important to me."
His eyes looked at the two women before him.
"You understand, don't you?"
Adela listened attentively. She wanted to know everything about her master, even if it meant learning about his close relationships and a version of him she had never known.
Her fist tightened, but she didn't let it show in her posture.
Elizabeth seemed to take the new information more calmly, though her calculating eyes were simply filing away its importance and analyzing how she could use it.
"What's her name?" she finally asked in a soft voice.
"The one in this world is called Xingyue," he replied. "You'll probably notice her quickly if you see her, since her appearance stands out too much… unless she starts suppressing it and changes her clothes…"
"We're twelve now," Adela interrupted to mark her position, puffing out her cheeks while continuing the massage. "Master, you'd better not expect me to serve that woman if she comes. My exclusive dedication is only for you."
Cassian let out a low chuckle, amused by Adela's little intervention.
"I suppose so. Twelve, huh? Though I think you're deliberately avoiding counting certain people."
Adela avoided his gaze and let out a:
"Hmph!"
Cassian only looked at her with a soft smile in response to her little tantrum. However, a moment later, his eyes darkened slightly and, in his mind, he whispered to himself:
«Eleven, actually…»
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