《There Is No Lie In This World》


 Chapter 1: A Simple Mistake

    Chapter 1: A Simple MistakeIt all started with a simple mistake.


    An administrative mix-up, a system glitch, human error - whatever you wanted to call it. But somehow, here I was, perched like a crown jewel at the top floor of the Roen Group headquarters, the same mega-corporation that practically ran the country. Standing on trembling knees in my office - my office.


    It all started just a few hours ago - Monday morning. My first day at work.


    "Good... good morning, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯m a new intern here starting from today. I¨CI was told that I can ask for directions at the reception when I arrive," I said, almost whispering. I was never good with first days - at anything, anywhere.


    As soon as I presented my ID, the receptionist hurriedly phoned someone. She spoke quietly, but I overheard her say, "She¡¯s here," as if she¡¯d spotted a wanted criminal.


    I froze on the spot, not knowing what to do - not knowing what I had done wrong.


    It just felt wrong to be here, but it was about to get a lot worse than that.


    Shortly, a group of men - men who looked far too bulky to be regular office workers - rushed over. A sharply dressed woman, clearly someone of senior rank, hurried toward me, her heels clacking on the marble floor.


    "Ms. Roen, welcome home," she said. She beamed a warm smile, but there was a nervous glint in her eyes¡ªand what did she mean by ¡¯welcome home¡¯?


    To make matters even more confusing, after her strange greeting, everyone bowed to me - very deeply. Their backs bent at 90 degrees. It was so formal, I wondered for a second whether I should kneel and bow till my head touched the ground.


    The group then courteously ushered me down a long hallway that seemed completely off-limits to regular staff. No one else was around. The further we walked, the more wrong it felt - yet no one acted like anything was wrong at all.


    At the end of the hallway stood a woman dressed in an immaculate black suit. Pristine white shirt. Perfectly knotted black tie. Her shoes were so polished I could see my distorted reflection in them.


    She was pale, almost unnaturally so, with long silver hair and ethereal gray eyes. Eyes that could see through you. Eyes that you could fall into.


    "Nice to meet you, Miss Roen. I am your personal assistant, Luc," she said with a nod and a professional smile.


    Wait - my personal assistant?


    "I will take it from here," Luc said to the others, and everyone quietly scattered. I was left alone with the enigmatic woman, who pressed the elevator button.


    "Please, follow me."


    I wanted to protest. To explain that there must have been some mistake. But her invitation carried a gravity that made interruption feel like blasphemy.


    And so I followed. And now, I stood alone in a skyscraper I had no business being in, gazing out of floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked a skyline I couldn¡¯t afford to dream about.


    I wasn¡¯t supposed to be here. I wasn¡¯t supposed to be anything, really.


    Instead, I now had a corner office with glass walls and a view of the sky that made me feel like I¡¯d been pulled out of the atmosphere. I placed a hand against the window, half expecting the whole illusion to ripple like a dream. It didn¡¯t. The glass was cold. Solid. Real.


    I closed my eyes and shook my head, but it only made me dizzier.


    "Miss, are you sure you are well?"


    The voice came softly beside me, closer than I realized. It was low and husky, but sharp around the edges, like a scalpel made of velvet. I flinched hard enough to almost fall against the window.


    "P¨Cplease! Don¡¯t sneak up on me like that!" I yelped. My voice cracked. It sounded high and ridiculous in this quiet space built for power and poise.


    "My deepest apologies, Miss," she said, with a fluid bow of her head. "I shall never do that again."


    I turned, only to stumble back at the sight of her suddenly kneeling - yes, kneeling - on one knee before me. Like a knight from a fairytale.


    "No, no, no! No need to kneel! Please get up!" I flailed, waving her upright like a lunatic.


    She looked up from below, composed. Behind me, the endless blue sky reflected faintly in her gray eyes¡ªeyes that weren¡¯t cold, just... ancient. Like they had seen too many truths and no longer cared for lies.


    She wasn¡¯t pretty. She wasn¡¯t beautiful. Those words were too small. Too flimsy. Her presence didn¡¯t shine. It absorbed light. She was a knight in a jet-black suit. If I dared reach out to touch her, I felt I¡¯d vanish from this world.


    I took another step back, bumping into the glossy black desk behind me.


    "This... I¡¯ll say it again... is all a big mistake."


    "If that makes you feel better, Miss," she replied smoothly, "then let us call it a mistake."


    "No! I mean it!" My voice cracked again. "I¡¯m just¡ªjust an intern! I¡¯m not supposed to be here. None of this makes sense. I don¡¯t know how I got this office. Or why people are bowing. Or why you¡¯re kneeling in front of me!"


    Luc didn¡¯t flinch. She stood like rising water - seamless, graceful. She adjusted the cuffs of her blazer. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I understand. This must be difficult to accept. I¡¯m terribly sorry for your loss, and it is unfair for you to be burdened so soon. But Miss, you are the heiress of the Roen family. I will assist you however I can."


    My brain short-circuited at the word heiress. It echoed like a slap.


    I covered my face with my hands and pressed against my eyes. Maybe I¡¯d wake up on the floor of my cheap apartment, next to a cold bowl of instant noodles.


    But nothing changed.


    "You don¡¯t look well." Her voice again. "Please, take a seat."


    I felt the gentle tug on my sleeve and let her guide me - almost against my will - to the enormous leather chair behind the desk. It wasn¡¯t a chair. It was a throne. I melted into it.


    Luc remained still beside me, a silent sentinel.


    The desk gleamed like black water, and in its reflection, I saw myself - unkempt hair, wide eyes, a stunned face. A girl who didn¡¯t belong.


    My name is Lin Roen.


    A 23-year-old nobody from a village no one can pronounce. No top university. No connections. No talent. I just wanted a job where no one would yell at me.


    And somehow, I ended up here.


    I¡¯d applied to 21 companies. All rejections. Except Roen Group.


    The most powerful conglomerate in the country.


    They called me back in two hours.


    I thought it was a scam.


    But they smiled. Asked strange questions. Hired me on the spot.


    That was last Friday.


    Today, I¡¯m seated in a skyscraper I shouldn¡¯t be allowed into.


    The only thing that happened between then and now was...


    A disaster.


    The Roen family - CEO, heirs, every board-level member - died in what the media called a freak incident.


    Now, I¡¯m the only one left.


    At least, that¡¯s what they believe.


    But I¡¯m not.


    I¡¯m not anyone.


    I¡¯m just Lin Roen.

 Chapter 2: There Is No Lie In This World

    Chapter 2: There Is No Lie In This WorldI must¡¯ve blacked out for a second.


    Or maybe it was just my brain buffering.


    Because the next time I opened my eyes, the assistant - my assistant? - was standing in front of me with a glass of water in one hand and a folder in the other, as if both were of equal importance to my survival.


    "Miss Roen," she said gently, "I¡¯ve prepared the briefing for today¡¯s transitional meetings. Shall I summarize, or would you prefer to read it in full?"


    "I-, what?"


    My voice barely worked. I was still sunk in that ridiculous throne of a chair, staring up at her like a child caught sneaking into a VIP lounge.


    "I suggest the executive summary first," she said, as if I¡¯d asked. "You must be overwhelmed."


    Overwhelmed didn¡¯t begin to cover it. I took the water without thanking her - too numb - and immediately felt guilty. She didn¡¯t seem to mind. She never seemed to mind anything.


    "Your attendance has been requested by the internal board," she continued. "They¡¯d like to welcome you in person. Nothing formal. Just handshakes, condolences, reassurances."


    I blinked slowly. "I¡¯m not-"


    "-ready. I understand." Her tone was sympathetic yet neutral, an impossible mix of sincerity and professional formality, intimate and detached at the same time.


    "You don¡¯t have to say anything today. Just smile. They¡¯re not expecting leadership from you right away."


    Of course. They thought I was grieving. That¡¯s why no one was asking questions. That¡¯s why no one was calling me out.


    They weren¡¯t being polite.


    They were being cautious.


    They thought I was fragile.


    They thought I had lost something.


    They thought I belonged here.


    "I... I don¡¯t think I should go anywhere," I mumbled.


    She didn¡¯t flinch.


    "If you prefer, I can postpone the welcome. However, I must advise against long absences. Visibility, Miss. The staff needs to see you."


    My eyes flicked to her face, her unreadable expression. "What¡¯s your name?"


    She paused, just for a second.


    "You may call me Luc," she said.


    "Is that your real name?"


    "It¡¯s the name I use here."


    2


    I had no idea what that meant, but the way she said it felt slightly odd, and perhaps - unless I was imagining things - there was a very, very slight pause before she answered.


    I was never good at reading people, but this lady was certainly on a different level of diplomatic manners that I couldn¡¯t even dream of understanding.


    Before I could press, there was a soft knock on the door.


    Luc turned her head slightly. "Enter."


    The door opened without a sound. A man in a charcoal suit stepped in, followed by two others. They looked like triplets grown in a corporate lab - hair sculpted, suits wrinkleless, smiles carefully measured for medium sincerity.


    "Good morning, Miss Roen," said the first man with a practiced bow. "On behalf of the transition team, we welcome you and grieve with you. If there¡¯s anything we can do to make this day easier-"


    "I¡¯m not-" I started, sitting up, but Luc moved beside me so smoothly I barely saw her move. She placed a hand just above my shoulder-not touching, but it managed to halt me from moving or speaking any further.


    "She appreciates your support," she said, voice sharp and clear.


    The man smiled tightly and nodded. "Of course. We¡¯ve also taken care of the downstairs lobby," said another. "There were some... memorial gestures left overnight. Flowers. Cards. A lot of journalists trying to get statements. Security has cleared them."


    Memorial gestures.


    For people I never knew.


    People I was allegedly related to. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet I was here, somehow in the position to continue their legacy that I had no hope of carrying even for a fraction of a second.


    "Please take your time, Miss Roen," the third one said. "We¡¯ll wait for your command."


    My command.


    The men bowed again in perfect sync and left the room like they were gliding. The door closed behind them with a low click, sealing the silence back in like a pressure chamber.


    "You handled that well," Luc said with a hint of motherly pride in her voice.


    "I didn¡¯t do anything."


    "Exactly."


    She placed the folder on the desk beside me, another matte black marvel.


    "The less you say, the more powerful you seem."


    "That¡¯s... not how it works."


    "In here," she said, "it is."


    I slumped back into the chair. I didn¡¯t even feel the plush leather anymore. Just the weight. Like the chair had grown roots and was trying to absorb me.


    Above me, the ceiling glittered faintly with the chandelier. A minimalist monstrosity of asymmetrical white glass and golden rods. It looked like frozen lightning. Beautiful and threatening. Like it might come crashing down the moment I breathed wrong.


    I didn¡¯t belong here.


    "You said I¡¯m the heiress. Why?"


    Luc answered without hesitation. "Because you are, Miss. But let¡¯s call it a mistake for now, just as you wished."


    "That¡¯s not an answer."


    She tilted her head slightly. "You arrived at the exact moment the position became vacant. You were in the system under the Roen name. A name that, as far as the public record is concerned, was privately connected to the family lineage. The board was already aware of rumors. Of a contingency heir. A hidden child."


    "Hi...hidden child?!"


    Luc said nothing and just calmly looked into my eyes.


    "I... I was just eating instant noodles and crying over job rejections until recently..."


    Luc didn¡¯t smile, but the air around her seemed to ripple with restrained amusement.


    I stood up abruptly. "Someone¡¯s going to find out... Someone¡¯s going to realize this is all a lie..."


    I was shouting now. My hands were shaking. My voice didn¡¯t sound like mine anymore.


    "Miss. There is no lie in this world."


    "That is not true! This world is full of lies and I¡¯m one of them now!"


    "The only lie in this world is what people believe is the truth."


    ...


    "Eh?"


    "All we know is that you are the one. That is the truth."


    My brain short-circuited. Didn¡¯t that mean that¡¯s the lie?


    But as her eyes locked onto mine, I could feel the unshakable conviction in her.


    How can I convince someone that I¡¯m not the one when they believe in me so much...

 Chapter 3: A Symbol Of Hope

    Chapter 3: A Symbol Of HopeI didn¡¯t sleep, but I must have blacked out again, because when I blinked, Luc was already standing at the foot of the bed I didn¡¯t remember lying down in.


    Where am I even? I thought I was sitting on my throne earlier. There¡¯s a bed in the office too?


    Luc didn¡¯t comment on my confusion. She held out a suit that was black, high-collared, and tailored so sharply it could cut air. Without a word, she laid it on the edge of the mattress.


    "I¡¯m not wearing that," I muttered, sitting up slowly.


    "It¡¯s the expected color of grief," she said without looking at me.


    "I¡¯m not grieving."


    "I know." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That should¡¯ve felt like comfort. It didn¡¯t.


    The outfit fit well. Actually, it fit too perfectly as if someone knew every inch of measurement of my body. When I looked in the mirror, I didn¡¯t see myself. I saw a silhouette that I became.


    Luc stepped behind me and adjusted the collar with a light and careful touch. There was something almost tender about it, like a tailor.


    I didn¡¯t speak. I didn¡¯t want to hear what my voice would sound like in this costume.


    Going out like this, seeing people, wearing this, talking to people, perhaps even squeezing out tears for the deaths of people I didn¡¯t know - it was wrong.


    Nevertheless, we took the elevator down to the executive wing. The marble walls had veins of subtle gold, and our shoes clacked on the cold stone floor.


    As soon as I stepped out, everyone stopped and looked my way.


    A young man with a tablet, a woman with two phones, and a group of men and women standing around and chatting.


    Everything stopped for them as what felt like my parade started.


    Their silence wasn¡¯t a polite acknowledgment.


    It was reverence.


    "Good morning, Miss Roen," someone whispered just about loud enough for me to hear.


    Luc walked a few steps ahead of me, and when I saw that everyone was bowing to me in a way that I¡¯ve never been bowed to before in my life, I leaned forward and whispered,


    "They¡¯re not bowing to me."


    "They are," she said.


    "They don¡¯t know who I am."


    "They don¡¯t need to," Luc replied calmly.


    As we turned a corner, a man in his forties stepped aside and said softly, "Welcome, Miss Roen."


    I nearly stopped walking at the sheer weight of respect that anchored his voice.


    Luc sensed my unease. "They¡¯re grateful," she said. "For your presence."


    I didn¡¯t say anything else.


    As we arrived at the staff cafeteria, I saw that long white tables were set up, sparsely decorated with lilies and folded black napkins. No one was eating.


    There were hundreds of employees inside. All seated in uniform lines like a silent congregation.


    As I entered, a murmur swept across the room like wind through dry leaves. Heads turned. Forks were set down. Conversations died mid-sentence.


    Luc leaned in. "Public relations requested a brief walkthrough. You don¡¯t need to speak. Just walk slowly. Stop once or twice. Make eye contact."


    "I can¡¯t do this," I whispered. "I¡¯m not their savior."


    "You will be," she replied, quieter now, almost gently.


    I stepped into the light.


    There¡¯s something awful about silence that¡¯s too respectful. Like a room full of people holding their breath. Watching to see if you¡¯ll break first.


    I kept my eyes down at first. The floor was impossibly clean. I could see my reflection in it, like a shadow cast in glass.


    Someone stood up near the front. A woman. Young. Clutching something in her hands.


    I froze.


    She approached slowly, as if afraid she might wake me. When she reached me, she held out a small paper crane that was folded neatly, carefully, in plain white copy paper.


    "For luck," she said, her voice shaking. "You¡¯re our future now."


    I didn¡¯t take it right away.


    My hands were trembling. I didn¡¯t know what would happen if I touched it. If the lie would collapse. If everything would unravel and I¡¯d be dragged out of the building screaming.


    But I took it.


    The woman exhaled. Something between relief and awe flickered in her eyes.


    Behind her, someone clapped. Just once.


    And then another one followed, and another.


    Soft, rhythmic applause started to fill the room.


    It felt like a ritual performance that was both a farewell and a welcome.


    All I could think was that I shouldn¡¯t be here receiving all this.


    When I returned to the office, I peeled the jacket off. The impossibly light and comfortable fabric felt heavy as lead now. My skin felt damp, not from sweat, but from a layer of shame for pretending.


    Luc was already standing near the desk as if all that happened just before was merely a daily routine. She held her tablet in one hand, tapped the screen once, then looked up as I entered the office from what I now knew to be a little sort of a ¡¯bedroom¡¯ for me to rest, joined to this massive office.


    "You did well. The staff responded positively," she said.


    I collapsed into the chair while still holding the jacket in one hand.


    "That girl gave me a paper crane."


    Luc nodded. "It¡¯s a nice symbol for hope and healing. Very appropriate."


    "She said I was their future," I stared at my shoes.


    "You are," Luc replied matter-of-factly. "You¡¯re the heir to Roen. This is your place now."


    I sat up slightly. "I didn¡¯t-"


    Luc turned toward me before I could finish. Her voice wasn¡¯t stern, but firm. "Miss Roen, you have every right to be here."


    "I never said I was-" I began again, more softly this time.


    She set the tablet down gently. "It¡¯s alright," she said, tone easing. "You¡¯ve had a difficult week. Everyone understands that. You don¡¯t have to explain yourself."


    I closed my mouth, unsure how to continue. Every time I reached for the truth, the words felt clumsy in my throat.


    Luc poured me another glass of water and placed it beside the paper crane, saying nothing more.


    I looked up at her, wanting to say "This isn¡¯t me", but she was already at the window, tapping something into her tablet.


    Maybe it wasn¡¯t worth saying anymore.


    Yet, I felt like I had just taken a wedding photo in a marriage that I was getting into just because I couldn¡¯t say no.


    I heard such stories.


    A girl starts dating because she didn¡¯t know how to cleanly reject.


    Then the relationship lasts for years because she didn¡¯t know how to leave.


    A romantic proposal, eventually. Flattered and scared, accepted with a nod and a whispered yes.


    Seconds thoughts, third thoughts, fourth thoughts - endless thoughts and doubts before the wedding day - yet it goes ahead.


    But I never thought it could happen for real. At least not to me - someone who¡¯d shriek and run away easily at the first sign of something I couldn¡¯t handle.


    Yet, here I was. Going through motions.


    The only thing I was sure I felt was the infinite loneliness.


    Nobody would ever understand why I couldn¡¯t just say no.

 Chapter 4: Dinner for Two

    Chapter 4: Dinner for TwoThe paper crane was still sitting on my desk when I woke up.


    Why am I keep falling asleep in this office? Exhaustion from all the stress?


    At least, I assumed I had fallen asleep. One minute I was staring at the chandelier, wondering if it would finally crash down and solve everything for me, and the next, Luc was gently knocking on the wall - not the door, just the wall.


    "Good morning, Miss Roen," she said. "I¡¯ve updated your calendar."


    Calendar?


    She placed a sleek tablet on my desk. The screen blinked to life with a schedule that made my stomach twist. Meetings. Appearances. Memorial planning. More meetings. A silent meditation at the memorial garden.


    All under my name.


    I stared at the list again. Some of the meeting names didn¡¯t even make sense. These weren¡¯t things I knew how to do. I didn¡¯t even know who to ask.


    I wanted to ask Luc what would happen if I just didn¡¯t show up. But I already knew the answer. This machine didn¡¯t have brakes.


    I squinted. "Do I have to go to all of these?"


    "Only the ones with your name on them," Luc said, sliding a cup of tea beside the tablet.


    I frowned.


    "They all have my name on them."


    "Exactly."


    She left me to get dressed.


    My suit - yet another perfect one - was already hanging on a minimalist hook near the changing area. This one was charcoal gray, softer around the shoulders. Less like a coffin, more like a shroud.


    I didn¡¯t say anything as I put it on. I was learning. The silence made everything move faster.


    Closer to the evening, I asked for one thing.


    "Can I go get my own coffee?" I asked, hovering awkwardly in the office doorway. Luc was reviewing something on her tablet. She glanced up.


    "I can have it brought to you."


    "I want to get it myself."


    She paused for a beat. "There¡¯s a staff caf¨¦ on Level 27, Miss. You can take the internal lift."


    She didn¡¯t protest more than that. No smile. No raised eyebrow. Just a nod. A yes.


    It made me feel almost like a person again.


    The caf¨¦ was smaller than I expected. Quiet. A bit too clean.


    People noticed me the second I walked in. Not with bows or applause. Just stillness. Like I was a glitch walking through their code.


    I tried to act normal - whatever that meant now. But every step I took felt like it echoed. At least in my heart it did. The tile clicked beneath my shoes too crisply, like I was mic¡¯d up for a documentary I didn¡¯t agree to be in.


    A barista greeted me with a stammered "Miss Roen," It was an odd feeling to have people whom I¡¯d never met recognize me. She handed it over without charging me.


    At one of the standing tables, two junior staff members stopped whispering and stood straight the moment I passed. A security guard by the elevator muttered, "Good morning, Chairwoman," then flinched as if he hadn¡¯t said it fast enough.


    One of the staff near the corner watched me without blinking. His eyes followed me even as his hands continued typing, like he couldn¡¯t afford to stop. Or maybe wasn¡¯t allowed to. I felt that my mere presence here put pressure on people.


    I sipped my coffee in silence and realized something strange. I wasn¡¯t just being watched. I was being memorized. The way I stood. The way I held my cup.


    It was suffocating.


    When I returned to the office, the white paper crane was gone from the desk.


    In its place sat a new one. This one was folded from black paper. Sleek and precise.


    I didn¡¯t ask. I just sat down and stared at it for a while, coffee warming my palms that have somehow managed to get cold.


    Hours went by without me doing much - actually nothing at all.


    That evening, Luc returned without announcement, carrying a tray with two covered dishes.


    "I didn¡¯t order anything," I said automatically.


    "You didn¡¯t eat yesterday," she said. "Or lunch today."


    I looked at her, "You¡¯re keeping track?"


    "I¡¯m assisting."


    She set one of the dishes in front of me and sat across the desk, uncovering her own. Simple food. Rice, steamed vegetables, miso soup. Mine was untouched.


    Luc took a bite of hers without comment. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I picked at mine. "You don¡¯t... seem surprised by anything. Ever."


    She glanced up.


    "Would it help if I pretended to be?"


    I let out a small laugh. Probably my first one today.


    "Probably not."


    We ate in silence after that. It wasn¡¯t comfortable. But it wasn¡¯t uncomfortable either.


    I sat back, watching her for a moment longer than I should have. She didn¡¯t falter under my gaze.


    "So when do I get to go home?" I asked.


    "No."


    "...excuse me?"


    "If you don¡¯t mind, Miss, and I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t - you can use the room joined to this office that you were resting in before. Chairman Roen practically lived here most of the time."


    That wasn¡¯t really an answer I wanted and I desperately wanted to go home, but I didn¡¯t push. I didn¡¯t want to break the calm that had finally settled between us like steam rising from a warm bowl.


    Luc stood after clearing the dishes.


    "Tomorrow¡¯s schedule has fewer engagements," she said. "You¡¯ll have time to rest. Or work privately, if you prefer."


    I nodded slowly, and she turned to leave.


    But just before she reached the door, I found myself speaking.


    "Luc?"


    She paused and turned her head slightly, waiting.


    "Why... the crane?"


    She glanced at the black one now perched quietly at the corner of the desk.


    "For balance," she said simply.


    3


    And then she was gone.

 Chapter 5: First Morning

    Chapter 5: First MorningThe room was too quiet to trust.


    It wasn¡¯t comforting silence. It was engineered. Designer silence. The kind you find in five-star hotels where even the air feels expensive and artificial. If I had won this experience through some lucky draw event I might have enjoyed the luxury, but I did not deserve to be here. In a way this was ¡¯luck¡¯ too, of course. But it did not feel like lady luck smiled on me this time, but rather, it felt like an error that shouldn¡¯t have happened.


    I lay awake in the Roen Group¡¯s executive sleeping suite, which I refused to call a bedroom. I had not slept. Not even close.


    Instead, I¡¯d spent the night catastrophizing in high definition. Every possible humiliation I could suffer as a fake heiress played in my head like an algorithm fed playlist I couldn¡¯t turn off. The reels of doom scrolled inside my eyes.


    Trip during a speech.


    Say something historically offensive by accident.


    Get caught googling "what is an IPO."


    The bed was perfect. Too perfect. The mattress was oppressively soothing. The sheets were tucked with clinical precision. I felt like a fraud just lying on them. They knew. The blankets. They knew. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eventually I started whispering to myself.


    "If I just lie still long enough, the system will assume I¡¯m defunct and discard me."


    "If I hold my breath, maybe I¡¯ll get logged out."


    "If I dissolve into thin air, Luc will be forced to find someone else."


    The third option seemed to be the best, but I couldn¡¯t quite find a way to achieve that.


    At some point I must have drifted off, because the next thing I heard was a knock.


    A quiet, polite knock.


    I opened my eyes and saw Luc standing a few steps away from the bed. She didn¡¯t knock on my door, I realized. She merely knocked on one wall as she already stood inside my room with a tray in her hands.


    "Miss Roen," came Luc¡¯s voice. "Apologies for the intrusion. I¡¯ve brought coffee. And minimal conversation."


    God, did she scan my brain while I was asleep and figure out exactly what I needed?


    Still groggy, I rolled to the edge of the bed, but it did not stop there - I somehow managed to roll OFF the bed and land on the floor.


    Laying face down, I wanted the soft carpet to melt and turn into a blackhole I could disappear into, never to see the light of day again.


    After the silence that lasted a full five seconds, Luc spoke.


    "Miss, would you like me to assist you or should I pretend I didn¡¯t see that?"


    2


    "Please pretend..."


    With that, I heard the footsteps distance away from me.


    I rolled to my back and closed my eyes again.


    ¡¯I just want to lie down and die...¡¯ That was all I could think of.


    When I finally came out of the bedroom, I saw that Luc stood there holding a tray with two coffees and a white paper bag that smelled like butter and something divine. Her silver hair was in perfect form, her suit was pristine. Her expression was neutral yet emitted rays of kindness like statues of saints in cathedrals.


    She nodded toward the seating area like a butler in a period drama. I followed on autopilot and sat down across from her at the table. Luc unwrapped the pastries with elegance and handed me a napkin folded into a sharp rectangle.


    We ate in silence for a while. The good kind.


    I took one bite and made an embarrassingly weird moan. I didn¡¯t dare to look at Luc.


    "This is unreal," I muttered nevertheless.


    "Quite contrary. It brings you back to reality."


    I was about to say ¡¯That sucks." But held back.


    When I studied this enigmatic lady sipping coffee in front of me, I realized that this was the first time Luc showed a hint - a very very very faint hint of happiness. For some reason I couldn¡¯t comprehend that made me smile - probably for the first time too in a while.


    "Do you always eat breakfast here?" I asked.


    "Here?"


    "In the office."


    She paused. "I can eat outside the door standing if you prefer."


    "Please don¡¯t."


    After taking her time to thoroughly enjoy the coffee, which was also the best cup of coffee I¡¯ve ever had in my life, Luc set down her cup and slid a folder toward me. "Your briefing. I¡¯ve pushed your first meeting by fifteen minutes."


    "Out of pity?"


    "Heiress of the Roen family needs no pity."


    I wanted to protest, but she was right. A heiress of such prestigious family and wealth needed no pity, and a FAKE heiress like me didn¡¯t deserve any pity.


    I opened the folder and immediately closed it again.


    Luc raised one eyebrow. "Is there a problem?"


    "No. No problem. It just... freaked me out."


    "I see."


    I wasn¡¯t quite sure what she saw, but just hoped that she wouldn¡¯t remember whatever it was.


    2


    After we finished eating, I reached for the napkin again, but I noticed it had been folded into a little bird.


    When did she do this?


    It wasn¡¯t a sleek origami crane like the day before. This one had uneven wings and a slightly crooked beak. Something about this clumsily made bird made me laugh - again, for the first time since yesterday.


    "You made this?" I asked.


    "I had time," Luc said, without looking up. It was truly a mystery just when during our short breakfast she found a time to do this without me noticing.


    "It looks... a little funny."


    Or perhaps it was just funny because there was such a mismatch between her perfection and this unexpectedly child-like duckling-looking-thing.


    "I tried my best."


    While I was considering what she meant by that, Luc just stood and adjusted her blazer with a smooth motion.


    "I¡¯ll return before your next appointment."


    And just like that, she turned and walked out of the office without waiting for a reply.


    I stared at the door after it clicked shut.


    Then down to my coffee.


    Then back at the bird.


    Maybe I¡¯d survive today after all.

 Chapter 6: The Interview

    Chapter 6: The InterviewIt started with the shoes.


    As I went back to ¡¯my room¡¯ and entered the dressing room, I was overwhelmed with the forest of fine clothes. It instantly made me remember a line from the Great Gatsby - ¡¯It makes me sad because I¡¯ve never seen such-such beautiful shirts before.¡¯


    I did not have the beauty of Daisy, but I probably matched her airhead-ness.


    But what really caught my eye as I looked around was my old clothes, or more like the only clothes in this room that were actually mine.


    The simple and modest black suit that my parents shelled out for me to wear for job interviews.


    Just below the suit that hung on the hanger that was probably more expensive than the suit itself, I saw the matching black leather shoes that I got at the same time. It was polished by someone at some point, for I never managed to keep them so clean before, and I saw the dull reflection of myself on its surface.


    Yeah, I once walked in those shoes.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The Roen Group lobby was filled with natural light that shone through its beautifully clear glass walls. It was both comforting and intimidating at the same time. It felt like this place was blessed from the God Himself, carrying the weight of His grace.


    After a short nervous interaction with the receptionist, I was guided to a room on the 4th floor to wait for my interview. I was seated on a leather bench that I did not want to get up from, partly because it was so cozy and partly because I dreaded the interrogation into my personal life and non-existing skills and achievements that was soon to begin once my name was called out.


    "Ms. Lin Roen, please come in."


    A tall man, dressed in subtly stylish gray suit came out of the room and welcomed me.


    Once I entered the room with my heart bursting with anxiety, the first thing I noticed was just how bright the room was. Everything reflected light, including people¡¯s eyeballs.


    Then I looked ahead and found that three people were already seated across the table.


    They didn¡¯t look like recruiters. More like a well-dressed jury. All smiles. All perfectly still.


    "Miss Roen, please, take a seat."


    I sat. The chair made a noise, just loud enough to scare me and immediately lose my confidence - did I screw up already?


    "Welcome to the Roen Group, Miss Lin. Thank you for finding time to attend this interview."


    "Tha... thank you for giving me this opportunity."


    I was the one who was infinitely grateful - and mortified - for this God given chance, but I appreciated that they seemed to try to make the atmosphere as welcoming as possible.


    But I¡¯ve failed way too many interviews to let my guard down. I already had a few interviews that started very positively with smiles on everyone¡¯s faces - except mine - and quickly escalated into tough questions that pressure-tested me.


    "We¡¯d like to begin with a simple question," said the woman in the center once I was seated.


    Her voice was smooth like a butter-knife.


    "P..please go ahead."


    This was the second time. Maybe now they were starting to think I had a stutter.


    But before my fragile heart could implode, the woman continued in the same tone.


    "Why did you apply to the Roen Group?"


    My mind went blank.


    I felt like I was staring at the monitor screen that gave me a prompt to enter the password that I had forgotten.


    Why?


    Why indeed?


    Because I was desperate? Because I had nothing to lose? Because I liked the logo?


    "Well, uh, I was drawn to the company¡¯s reputation... for innovation," I said.


    I thought I answered relatively well, but the eyes fixed on mine - despite looking kind - signaled that I should continue.


    "And structure."


    Structure? What the heck did I just say?


    "Interesting," said the man on the left, nodding like I just said something genuinely intelligent.


    "What would you say you bring to the team?"


    "I bring... myself," I blurted out.


    The interviewers exchanged glances, and nodded their heads in acknowledgment.


    That was probably the stupidest thing I could have said. I knew I had to say something more.


    "...Which includes a strong work ethic. And, erm, a willingness to learn. Rapidly. At speed. Under stress."


    "So you¡¯re resilient under pressure?"


    "I live there."


    Another pause. I tried to recover.


    "I mean- yes. I adapt. Efficiently. I¡¯m used to stress. I was born with it."


    The woman made a note as I was failing hard.


    Then the man on the right took over to question me further.


    "Could you tell us about a situation where you failed and-"


    "Every job interview," I said, before my brain could stop my mouth.


    The man in the middle laughed. I was blushing. I was sure of it.


    "I meant to say, a situation where you failed but used it as a learning experience."


    The man that I interrupted earlier kindly gave me a chance to salvage myself.


    "I¡¯ve learned... about my inadequacies."


    Eyes. Looking right through me. They were searching for more answers.


    I had none.


    "And you did fantastically to overcome those, right?"


    "Yes!"


    I shouted a little too loudly - or, probably, I shouldn¡¯t have shouted at all.


    "And how do you define success, Miss Roen?"


    "Survival."


    A longer pause this time.


    Then the woman smiled again. "That is a very inspiring answer."


    I¡¯m sure it would inspire the woman to tell her colleagues over lunch today ¡¯You won¡¯t believe the stuff that came out of this interviewee¡¯s mouth today.¡¯


    "One last thing," the man said, flipping through a folder.


    But all I could think was how this was already ¡¯last thing¡¯ that they wanted to ask me.


    Nothing about my qualifications, nothing about my personal background, nothing about my academic grades - but then again, maybe it was a good thing that they didn¡¯t ask.


    "When do you think you could start working?"


    I blinked.


    Wait-, did I... just get the job?!


    Thankfully though, years of disappointment and failure tore my dumb dream down in no time and I realized it was a hypothetical question.


    Maybe it¡¯s just to test how keen I am to work here.


    "I can start this afternoon."


    They all looked surprised - lost even.


    "Miss Roen, please excuse us for a moment."


    With that, three of them exited the room hurriedly.


    What the hell...


    Even in my worst interviews, the interviewers never ran away from the room before.


    This wasn¡¯t just another failure.


    This was a catastrophe.


    There was no point for me to continue here.


    The best thing I could do was probably just get up and leave.


    But then I would run into them just outside the door wouldn¡¯t I?


    What do I do then?


    Just thinking about it made me so anxious that my hands started to tremble.


    After a minute or so, the door opened again and the three of them came back in.


    "We are terribly sorry, Ms. Roen. Please accept our apologies, but this afternoon will be a little... difficult."


    "I... I understand..."


    "But we will get back to you as soon as possible."


    Right.


    I would probably get a polite text message of rejection.


    "I guess... that¡¯s it for me then."


    "For today, Miss Roen. For today."


    Then they all bowed to me - way too deep. I struggled to match their angle.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Back in the present, I blinked hard. The memory left a weird taste in my mouth.


    "Would you like my assistance in picking your suit for today, Miss?"


    Luc was standing beside me again. She had a knack for just turning up without me being able to notice, as if she appeared from thin air.


    But somehow, it never felt intrusive.


    "I... I remembered the interview."


    "You did well."


    "I was a disaster."


    Luc tilted her head. "You were memorable."


    Wait-


    "How... how do you know?"


    "I read the transcript."


    My face blushed again, probably at least as red as it did back in that interview room.


    "Please erase all memories of that transcript."


    "I could, if that was your order. But respectfully, I¡¯d rather not. Those are my precious memories."


    "I¡¯m sure you were... amused."


    Luc only answered with a smile, but it wasn¡¯t mocking. Quite contrary, her smile somehow carried genuine sense of gratitude.


    I don¡¯t think I can understand this woman at all...


    "As for the shoes, Miss Roen. I recommend those over there." Luc opened her palm to direct my gaze to a classy pair of black shoes. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But if you prefer to wear the pair you came in with, I polished them again this morning."


    And I could swear she can read my mind.

 Chapter 7: Gaze into future

    Chapter 7: Gaze into futureI stared at the pair of shoes Luc had polished for me - my old shoes, the same ones I wore to the interview that was changing my life.


    2


    But surely this can¡¯t last forever.


    Luc stood beside me, composed and graceful. The suit she¡¯d chosen for me fit a little too well. I looked like someone important, but worse than that, someone who believed she was important.


    She opened up and showed me the path to proceed with her extended hand.


    "Shall we proceed?"


    I nodded, mostly because I didn¡¯t know how to argue, or think, or exist, actually.


    We walked out of the dressing room and into the private elevator. The shoes clicked softly on the marble. I was so clumsy even my foot steps didn¡¯t have steady rhythm to it. Like a jazz drummer wannabe who liked to drift in and out, unmusically. As the elevator¡¯s doors slid shut, Luc spoke again.


    "Your presence has been requested on the twelfth floor."


    I felt my skin get hot.


    "A me-, meeting...?"


    "No. Public Relations."


    The word ¡¯public¡¯ instantly freaked me out.


    "I, I, I- can¡¯t give speeches."


    "It¡¯s for a portrait."


    Oh.


    "...Like, to make an ID?"


    Luc tilted her head.


    "For inspiration."


    There was a long pause as I tried to process that sentence.


    "Could you say that again...?"


    She didn¡¯t. She just looked ahead as the elevator descended into the depth of hell.


    ¡ª


    The twelfth floor had been turned into something that looked like an exhibition at a modern art museum or some wedding photo studio. Or both. A glass atrium looked like melting liquid in natural light, and the area was busy with several people rushing around as if they were preparing for an haute couture fashion show.


    A woman in pastel beige approached me like a small, excited butterfly.


    "Miss Roen! Welcome. We¡¯re so honored to finally work with you. I hope the light is to your liking?"


    I looked around.


    "It¡¯s... bright, but nice."


    I did like that she seemed to be someone who appreciated different shades of light.


    "Perfect," she beamed, already leading me toward a chair surrounded by screens and soft panels. "We want to capture you as you are. Timeless. Grounded. Human, and inspirational."


    Luc remained a step behind me like a silent guardian angel.


    Who knew at this point.


    The next hour passed like a dream where I watched myself from a bird¡¯s eye view. They made me sit. They made me stand, hold a pen - hold a different pen; what was I going to write? Nothing. But apparently, holding a pen seemed important.


    I gazed at something invisible, something that wasn¡¯t there. I had no idea what I was doing. They just told me to look like I was gazing into future. I almost got it right and was proud of it for a moment, until they told me I should look ¡¯further¡¯ into future.


    After the future routine was over, they told me to smile like I just saved a puppy. When I did, they told me it wasn¡¯t quite right. They said I smiled like I was a puppy myself. I pulled on a different smile. The friendly woman, ever so patient, told me that I looked like I was just saved by a puppy. I caught a glimpse of Luc from the corner of my eye. She was totally expressionless, but I knew, I just knew that she was suppressing a laugh.


    "Chin up, Miss Roen. There. That¡¯s it. Just a little more. Visualize - and then express. Look like a woman who just inherited a kingdom. The glory, the honor, but with an infinite heaviness of the burden on your shoulders - but you can bear it, oh yes, you can bear it. No, please - don¡¯t frown. You look like you are being crushed by the burden."


    I wanted to die.


    "Try tilting your head just slightly to the left. Yes, now you are listening. You are listening to the future whispering into your ears. The future¡¯s telling you good things. Very good things. Glorious things."


    Luc didn¡¯t intervene. She just stood nearby with arms behind her back.


    I was getting desperate.


    "Luc, please help me. How do I gaze into future?"


    "Like this, Miss."


    Everyone¡¯s jaw dropped instantly as Luc somehow pulled off the ¡¯gaze into future¡¯ face.


    "How... how?!"


    "And this is how you gaze into past."


    Then there she was. Gazing into past. I could see that she was gazing into the past that was centuries ago. She had the eyes of someone who¡¯d seen it all. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Tha-, that¡¯s exactly it... Miss Roen, um, please try to do that."


    Luc did it so well that the Creative Director lady stuttered.


    As if I can do that...


    And at one point, they wheeled in a child.


    "A member of our employee daycare," said the overly creative woman. "Just for a few frames - to show that you are the future, and you will pass on even brighter future for the next generation. Continuity, Miss Roen."


    I was handed a toy to pass to the child.


    I froze.


    I completely froze.


    This.


    Just felt wrong.


    The lie was growing too big - or rather, too deep. I couldn¡¯t hand over a fake symbol of affection to a child. My heart tightened at the thought of myself being a child receiving something that had no heart in it.


    "Miss Roen?"


    Luc stepped in.


    "We¡¯ll pause for a moment."


    She led me gently out of the spotlight, behind a screen.


    "I... I can¡¯t do this," I said, my voice trembling.


    Luc looked into my eyes. Piercing. As if to study what finally broke me. Trying. Trying to mend my heart so I could go out there and act again.


    After a few seconds of intense searching, she drew in a silent deep breath and spoke.


    "I believe this is enough for today. We will pick a picture from the ones we¡¯d already taken."


    With that, were back to the limelight.


    They printed one of the shots on the spot and showed it to Luc. She didn¡¯t smile. But she nodded.


    And that was that.


    ¡ª


    Back in my office, I collapsed onto the couch. I looked at my feet and realized I was wearing a different pair of shoes now. Definitely something more fancy, but not extravagant. Classy. A sheen, not a glitter.


    I didn¡¯t even know where my old shoes had gone, but I wasn¡¯t worried. I figured they¡¯d somehow turn up again in my dressing room - like magic .


    Luc placed a tablet on the table beside me.


    On the screen was the draft poster.


    It showed me standing in profile, light brushing my cheekbones just enough to make me look ethereal, distant, cold but safe. The slogan in serif font below read:


    "Continuity. Strength. The Heiress We Deserve."


    I stared.


    "That¡¯s not me," I said.


    Luc sat across from me, calm and poised.


    "It is you," she said.


    "But it¡¯s a lie."


    "Then it¡¯s a beautiful one."


    My heart skipped a beat, and I felt all the tension from my body melt away.


    I was exhausted, but if Luc says this picture is acceptable, maybe it really was.


    Even if it was a lie.

 Chapter 8: The Chosen One

    Chapter 8: The Chosen OneI didn¡¯t get much rest after the photo shoot. Maybe fifteen minutes at most.


    I looked at the marvelous ancient clock that stood on one side of the wall, the suffocating craftsmanship of its mechanical workings on full display. It was definitely taller than me. I could tell even looking at it from distance. Although I was fascinated, I didn¡¯t dare to get any closer to it.


    Luc stood by the window with her usual quiet grace, looking outside - looking down at the cityscape; looking down because amongst all the gigantic towers of corporate beasts, my office was closest to the sky.


    I wondered what she was thinking, and remembered her ¡¯gaze into future¡¯ and ¡¯gaze into past¡¯. There was something impossible about her. My first impression of this enigmatic lady was that of a knight in a black suit. But that was something about her presence, and more impressively, the lack of presence that elevated her into something grander, but in a most understated fashion.


    "Miss Roen," she finally spoke, without tuning around.


    "The Council has requested your presence."


    If I had any strength left in my backbone that would have made me sit up. But I didn¡¯t.


    "Requested? Like - I can¡¯t say no?"


    Luc turned, tilting her head slightly.


    "It is customary. Not compulsory."


    That just added even more weight to the request.


    "I guess I can¡¯t say no then."


    Luc didn¡¯t correct me.


    My palms were already damp. I stood and wiped them on my trousers, and immediately regretted doing it in front of her, like a child who just wiped her snotty hands on her cloth. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She looked observant, but not judgmental.


    "Come in."


    Luc then suddenly spoke. It couldn¡¯t possibly have been loud enough for whoever was outside the door to hear, but the door clicked open anyway and two men walked in.


    They were both dressed in same elegant black suit as Luc.


    I stood up as a reflex, not to be impolite as I received the guests. To my surprise though, after walking toward me in dignified but distinctively heavy steps, they stopped about four steps away from me and knelt on one knee in a perfectly synchronized motion.


    "They are Cain and Abe."


    I bowed my head as deep as they could go down with my inflexible body, and greeted them a little too loudly with a broken voice at the sudden show of reverence that I knew I would never grow into.


    "Ni-, nice to meet you, too!"


    I didn¡¯t know which one was Cain and which one was Abe, but if I had to bet I¡¯d have picked the shorter one who just suppressed a giggle as Abe.


    "Abe." Luc called out authoritatively.


    "I apologize for my insolence."


    So I was right.


    "Rise."


    Luc commanded and both of them rose in an impossibly smooth motion, again, synchronized.


    I looked over at the only other lady in the room. She knew what I wanted to ask.


    "They are bodyguards. You can trust them. For now."


    It was a rather puzzling way to be introduced to bodyguards, but something clicked in my mind and set off an alarm.


    "Bo...bodyguards? Why?"


    Luc said nothing.


    "What is this ¡¯Council¡¯ that I am requested to attend? Isn¡¯t it... a corporate meeting? Why do I need bodyguards?"


    Adjusting her cuffs, she approached me with slow but purposeful strides.


    "In case there are some dogs that bark, or worse, try to bite."


    My imagination went wild and now I was visualizing a room full of Dobermanns dressed as cardinals.


    "Let us move on."


    Although Luc¡¯s voice was calm, the sudden appearance of two men unsettled me. I felt tense. I was scared. But led by the knight and flanked by the guards, I managed to make my way to the elevator.


    Luc pressed the button. The elevator doors slid open with a dully cheerful chime.


    "This is... just a welcome meeting, right?" I tried again. "No formal stuff. Just tea, maybe a danish?"


    Abe let out a little more successfully suppressed giggle again, which made Luc stop. I could only see the back of her head, but I imagined that she was frowning.


    I wished that I could see that face someday.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The corridor leading to the boardroom was longer than it should have been. My shoes tapped against the carpet that was soft yet firm. It felt like I was walking being led to a courtroom where the trial had already been decided.


    The double doors were impractically massive. Cain, the much bigger blacked haired man than diminutive Abe with blond hair - how can a bodyguard be so small and slim? - effortlessly opened the door.


    Luc paused before entering the room as if it was part of a ceremony, then walked in first. Missing a beat here felt like messing up a wedding march. I took a deep breath to hold my nervous heart in place, squeezed by my bloated lungs.


    The room was absurdly large - high ceiling, long table, chairs spaced out like something above the First Class on a luxurious airline. There were at least twenty people seated. All in gray suits. They all turned toward me in perfect, quiet unison.


    And then¡ªthey stood.


    All of them.


    Bowed. Deeply.


    I froze but Luc whispered without turning around to face me.


    "Please go ahead, Miss."


    So I walked.


    I shouldn¡¯t have expected anything else, but the empty seat, a seat that was distinctively larger and raised higher than other seats, was at the far end of the table.


    I sat slowly. The chair adjusted itself beneath me with a mechanical sigh. I glanced behind me. Luc didn¡¯t sit. She stood just behind my right shoulder, perhaps a little closer to me than she usually does.


    I tried to clear my throat and nearly swallowed it instead.


    The man nearest to me -a slender older gentleman with a sharp jaw - nodded once.


    "Miss Roen," he said. "Or do you prefer Chairwoman?"


    I panicked.


    "Erm... Lin is fine."


    He smiled.


    "We¡¯re honored to finally meet you, Miss Roen."


    So it was decided that I would be Miss Roen after all.


    Another executive nodded. "You wear the weight well."


    Weight?


    A woman with silver-blonde hair and eyes like glass marbles added, "We¡¯ve been waiting for this presence to return to the room."


    Oh no.


    Another leaned forward. "You remind me of the founder."


    "Do you still see them?" asked the old man with watery eyes in a brittle voice.


    "I-, what?" I was confused.


    Luc spoke smoothly behind me. "Only in her own reflection."


    The board nodded solemnly. I didn¡¯t understand a single thing that was happening.


    They weren¡¯t asking me about policy or visions, let alone asking me to introduce myself in anyway.


    Yet, they were... admiring me.


    But I knew it wasn¡¯t me. It was the image of me. The idea.


    "We hoped it would be you," someone whispered.


    "We were told it would be."


    Each compliment felt like a trap I didn¡¯t understand.


    "I - I¡¯m honored to be here." I tried my best to reciprocate.


    A woman on my left smiled. "The honor is ours, Miss Roen. We would all be lost without you."


    I sat there, heart pounding like it was trying to escape out of my body yet trying to hide from all these eyes at the same time.


    Then someone stood.


    He was younger than the others. Thirties, maybe. Sharp suit, impossibly sleek hair.


    He approached and placed a small box on the table in front of me.


    "This belongs to you."


    I opened it slowly.


    Inside was a silver brooch, a crest. Simple, elegant, polished like it had been treasured for centuries.


    I stared at it.


    "Please stand, Miss Roen." I was startled as Luc spoke from my right side.


    I duly obliged and turned to face her. She then picked up the brooch from the box, placed it on her palm and angled it toward the seated men and women so that everyone could have a look at it. I looked around nervously and found that everyone was smiling, and some of the older ones even had teary eyes, as if they were deeply touched in their heart to witness this moment.


    Without any further words, Luc carefully pinned the brooch on the left side of my suit jacket, and gently turned me to face the table again.


    "Rise."


    Everyone rose. It was as if Luc was the master of ceremony here.


    "The new leader of the Roen family has been chosen."


    With her announcement, a thunderous applause erupted.


    I smiled nervously, bowed, waved hand, and did everything I could to convey the gratitude for their welcome. I¡¯d never been so welcomed by anyone like this in my life.


    But as I looked around, I noticed that there was a younger - relatively speaking - woman and man who sat on the right side of me whose smiles didn¡¯t look as genuine. It was extremely subtle, but the entire life spent with social anxiety allowed me to spot such things.


    After the ¡¯ceremony¡¯ was over, Luc led the way again and I left the room with Cain and Abe following from behind.


    Once the door was shut behind us, Luc suddenly stopped and spoke without turning around.


    "Cain. Abe."


    "Yes, Ma¡¯am." The two men behind me responded.


    "Remove Kim and Joanna."


    "Yes, Ma¡¯am."


    With that, they no longer followed us and stood firmly by the door as Luc and I walked away.


    "Wha... what was that about?"


    "It is not for you to worry, Miss."


    "Remove? Who are Kim and Joanna? What did they do wrong? What do you mean remove?"


    I was starting to freak out.


    Luc then stopped again, turned around, and looked into my eyes. I saw both sympathy and rage at the same time.


    "They did not smile."


    All I could do after that was to follow her lead to the elevator to go back to my office.

 Chapter 9: The Mirror Room

    Chapter 9: The Mirror RoomTime.


    So slow.


    I felt like the drip of my dread had permeated from my core through my skin, then through the hourglass, to solidify its sand and make time grind to a halt. I felt like the centuries old mechanism of the giant clock in the office finally broke down and its hands refused to move. I felt like I was trapped in a novel where not even two days had passed at Chapter 9.


    Thankfully - or not - Luc was there to restart the flow of time.


    "Miss Roen, we will begin our training now," she said.


    I blinked up from the couch. I was holding a coffee cup that I hadn¡¯t even realized I was holding.


    "Training," I echoed.


    "Yes."


    "Yes." I echoed.


    "Miss?"


    "Miss?"


    "Please stop doing that."


    "Please stop - what the heck am I doing... I¡¯m sorry."


    Luc tilted her head and stared at me.


    "That was very interesting."


    ...What did she mean by that?


    "..." No answer from her.


    "...eh?"


    "My apologies. I didn¡¯t mean to say that out loud."


    That was odd. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So what is this training for?"


    "For the inevitable."


    "...A war?"


    "That¡¯s the right idea."


    She didn¡¯t laugh, but I sensed something like amusement emit from her shoulders.


    "You will follow me," she said, turning, heading toward my bedroom.


    "What...kind of training?"


    "I see you have not fully explored your suite yet."


    She was right.


    I followed her from behind and noticed that if I were a dog, she would have been the perfect owner who walked me at the exact pace that I was most comfortable with.


    Once we got into the bedroom, she headed to the dressing room, and ventured deeper into it than I had before. I saw that there was a full-length mirror, but only realized it was a sliding door when Luc opened it..


    "This is the mirror room."


    I heard a soft yet reassuringly solid click as Luc turned on the light and walked in, and once I stepped in too it became clear why this was called the mirror room. There were three mirrors on one side of the wall, their full length running from the floor to the ceiling. They were deliberately angled and spaced so that they did not reflect each other. When I followed Luc¡¯s lead and stood on the spot she pointed, there were three of me, visible from different angles.


    What really freaked me out for a second was that I could not see Luc in the mirror. I spun around to check if she was there, and yes, she was there, standing still as if this was no miracle.


    "How..."


    "This is the spot that does not reflect. It¡¯s specifically designed for that" She knew what I wanted to ask and I was trying to figure out the geometry of the whole thing, but quickly gave up. Luc just had that eery precision in everything she did. At this point I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it was her who designed this room.


    "So what should I do now?"


    "We will do image training. You will speak and see yourself speak. We will analyze your posture, gestures, expressions - every slight movement of your body, you will be able to see for yourself. And reflect."


    Reflect upon myself by looking at my reflection.


    This was an absolute torture.


    "We¡¯ll begin with the walk-in."


    "Walk in?"


    "Yes. Miss Roen, your presence must enter a room before you do. Please take a few steps away and walk toward the center spot"


    I took a few steps back, and shuffled awkwardly toward the spot.


    "Can¡¯t my shoes enter first?"


    "Was that a joke?"


    "I¡¯m sorry..."


    "Please try again, Miss."


    Following her command, I tried a few times, but I just couldn¡¯t make out how my ¡¯presence¡¯ should walk ahead of me. It was almost like that whole ¡¯gaze into future¡¯ thing. Then I remembered.


    "Luc, could you please demonstrate for me?"


    "I¡¯d rather not."


    "Please. Just so I can get an idea of how it should look. I¡¯m at a complete loss here."


    She stood still for a moment, seemingly hesitant.


    "Please...?"


    "Very well."


    As I stepped aside, Luc walked out of the room, and spoke on her way out.


    "I will walk in at random moment. See if you can feel me enter before I actually do."


    With that, I was left alone in the mirror room, my nervous eyes darting back and forth between the mirrors and the door.


    Then I felt it.


    There was something.


    Something that I had no way of explaining. An anxious anticipation, an excitement, an inexplicable feeling of looming destiny. The closest thing I could think of was when the stage light goes out before a concert and you can ¡¯feel¡¯ that the star of the show is going to walk into the stage any moment.


    And perhaps because of this anticipation, I could not see Luc¡¯s shoes first when she entered. My eyes were already fixed at the level where I¡¯d see her face, the first thing I saw was her pale face with those piercing eyes.


    With each step her presence grew as she approached the ¡¯mirror spot¡¯ I was in before. I didn¡¯t take the position that Luc was in before, so I could see all three reflections of her from where I stood - including myself just behind her.


    It felt like the mirrors were screaming. They were wilting under pressure, as if they couldn¡¯t keep up with the daunting task of reflecting Luc. The silver hair, the eyes, the infinitely black suit, the perfect knot of her tie.


    "S...stop," I involuntarily let out.


    As if nothing happened, Luc stepped aside, returning back to her invisible spot.


    "It will take time and practice, Miss. But you are young. Time is on your side."


    "How... how many years did it take you?"


    "Hah-"


    It was the first time I saw Luc laugh, albeit for less than a second, as a single syllable of laughter burst out.


    "I¡¯m sorry." She bowed her head slightly.


    I wasn¡¯t quite sure what was so funny, but I laughed too.

 Chapter 10: The Garden

    Chapter 10: The GardenI slept better than I did the first night.


    It was the morning of my third day. Days were long, and nights were short - even when I struggled to sleep, the comfort of unchecked solitary dread was more appealing than masked fear in public.


    The first thing I noticed after waking up was a scent - something flowery, but not overtly so. It wasn¡¯t perfume. There was something natural and genuine about it, as if I woke up on a bed of flowers.


    When I shook my head, stretched, and sat up, I knew why. A single, large white lily lay on the console table at the foot of the bed. White lilies being what they are, for a brief moment I thought of funerals, but rather than creepy, it felt like a tribute to a beautiful spirit that I could not see, almost like a charm to summon a kindred spirit to soothe and protect me during sleep.


    I got out of bed feeling better already. Curious, I walked to the console table and picked up the lily, took a deep breath to savor its scent. Then I noticed that there was a paper note on the table. As I picked it up, the sensation of its texture sent a pang in my heart. It felt ancient, stirring a quiet, inexplicable nostalgia.


    Today is a rest day. Mandatory. - Luc


    Her cursive handwriting was torturously beautiful, and unexpectedly feminine. It was romantic poetry in its form and style, with every stroke and curve telling a story, and each dot conveying finality and longing for more.


    I stared at it for a long time. Then I carefully placed it back down on the table and headed outside.


    Luc stood by the door, but it did not surprise me. It was as if she could change the air of her presence at will. Yesterday, her presence in the mirror room was oppressive. Today it felt calming and welcoming.


    Without saying a word, she presented me a cup of tea.


    I took a sip.


    Jasmine. With a hint of regret... and sympathy.


    "Good morning, Miss Roen."


    Luc finally spoke.


    "Thank you..."


    "As you may be aware now, today is a mandatory rest day."


    "Mandatory rest sounds suspiciously like corporate detention."


    "You are not being punished."


    "Then why does this feel like a trap?"


    "You are being decompressed."


    "That sounds worse."


    Luc gestured toward the outer corridor.


    "Come."


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Ten minutes later, I found myself in an elevator I hadn¡¯t seen before - private, old-fashioned, with brass rails and a floor lined in marble. It smelled like cedarwood.


    "Where are we going?" I asked.


    Luc didn¡¯t answer directly. "You¡¯ve had a difficult first two days."


    "Difficult is an understatement."


    "You have my sympathy."


    I wasn¡¯t fully convinced that Luc was someone capable of actually feeling sympathy, or any emotion at all for that matter, but I appreciated the gesture.


    "Right. So where do we go to recover in this building?"


    I could totally imagine this place having a panic room - the kind where you¡¯re seated in an overly comfortable chair while a ¡¯specialist¡¯ stares at you so intensely that your panic starts to panic and runs away on its own.


    "The Garden."


    I blinked. "I¡¯m sorry, what?"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The rooftop greenhouse was something out of a surreal dream. It had the atmosphere of a monastery on a corporate budget - serene and clinical, professionally soothing. It was natural and perfectly designed, the Garden of Eden recreated by human hands with the permission from God Himself. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sunlight filtered through domed glass, casting soft warmth on the walking paths and wooden benches. Flowers in unlikely colors bloomed in geometrically perfect beds. There was even a small waterfall.


    A round white table was already set for two beneath a tree that looked ancient ¡ª aged with wisdom, and something more. A Tree of Knowledge that had learned compassion. And thankfully, there were no snakes in sight.


    I could see two matching chairs. Silver cutlery. Bone-white porcelain. Something was steaming in a teapot that was tastefully undecorated. Its beauty was its weight.


    "This is... what is this place...?" I whispered.


    Luc said nothing. She simply pulled out a chair for me.


    "Please. Sit."


    I obeyed. This place felt like a trip to a fantasy land I did not want to wake up from. A place that I can never return again once banished from. I wanted to hold on to it.


    She poured the tea in a fluid motion and slid the cup toward me. It didn¡¯t clink. Nothing clinked in Luc¡¯s presence, except when she wanted them to.


    "This is jasmine and chamomile," she said. "For calming agitation."


    I lifted the cup and took a sip. It was divine. I felt my shoulders melt.


    "It almost feels like an illegal drug."


    "We could arrange that. But I do not recommend."


    "This is more than fine. Thank you."


    Luc sat down across from me and unfolded a napkin with surgical elegance.


    "There is fresh brioche. And melon. And something Abe described as ¡¯charming¡¯ is on its way."


    As if summoned, Abe suddenly materialized with a silver tray.


    "I brought cheesecake," he said brightly. "Because she looked like cheesecake."


    I saw it.


    There was a twitch.


    A slightest twitch under her right eye.


    Then Luc closed her eyes and spoke.


    "Abe."


    "Yes, Ma¡¯am."


    "Unalive yourself."


    Abe frantically flailed his arms, apologizing profusely as if he was really going to kill himself unless Luc forgave him. He was like a child making a plea to his Mom, just a hundred times more desperate.


    After another sip of tea, Luc opened her eyes again and waved him off. Abe sighed with a great relief and hastily disappeared.


    "Unalive?"


    I found it amusing that Luc used an Internet slang. This was so unlike her.


    "It is the best word that this new generation came up with. It captures something that humans hadn¡¯t been able to understand for a long time."


    "I never thought of it that deeply..."


    "I¡¯m sorry for saying unnecessary things."


    "No, it-, it¡¯s fine. I... I like it when you speak more."


    Luc then put her cup down on the table, and stared at me for just a split second too long to make me feel uncomfortable.


    But that discomfort evaporated instantly as Luc beamed a smile at me. There was a warm glow on her face, but it didn¡¯t feel like it was because of the sunlight that shone directly on her face. Rather, it felt like she brought the light herself from within.


    "You are very kind," she said.


    After having lost myself for a moment, I noticed that I had my lips parted like an idiot. I quickly took a sip of tea and closed my mouth.


    I must have looked like an idiot.


    To hide my embarrassment, I turned to the food on the table.


    The food was, of course, perfect. The brioche melted in my mouth. The melon was cold, sweet, and cut with such a fine expertise I felt guilty biting it. But it was Abe¡¯s cheesecake that shocked me. It tasted - perfectly normal, so normal that it felt like I had eaten this cheesecake a thousand times before in my life. Nothing about it stood out and it brought nothing but comfort.


    "I don¡¯t deserve this," I mumbled.


    "I would have agreed before," she said.


    "...eh?"


    "I think you deserve it now."


    "What... what made you change your mind? Or... when did you change your mind?"


    My wait for her answer was unfruitful as a soft-voiced nutritionist came to offer "a tray of cognitive supplements tailored to your biorhythms."


    Then there stream of visitors. A young intern - just like I was until last week - delivered a tiny bouquet of flowers in a trembling hand, whispering, "For hope and new beginnings." The receptionist I recognized from the lobby gave me a beautifully decorated ¡¯Thank you¡¯ card. A canteen staff - an old lady who looked like she¡¯d been serving in the company for decades - came with tear-swollen, glittering eyes asking for permission to hold my hands, the hands of the new heiress of the Roen family.


    I was overwhelmed. I didn¡¯t feel like a CEO. I felt like royalty. It was unreal. The ¡¯workers¡¯ here were not just employees of the company. They were like subjects to a monarchy, or followers of a fervent religion. This was the power and culture of the Roen Group - the foundation, the pillar, and the roof of this nation.


    Every person who approached did so with reverence - like I was a saint, as if both their body and soul would heal if they touched me.


    When we were finally alone again, I found Luc a few steps away, gazing toward the pond, standing perfectly still.


    "I¡¯m not who they think I am," I said.


    "It does not matter."


    That startled me.


    Luc then turned around and approached me slowly as if she was floating in the air.


    "I know you¡¯re not comfortable yet."


    "That¡¯s... one way of putting it."


    "But you are the one."


    "One big lie?"


    "The truth that everyone wants you to be."


    That left me cold.


    I sipped my tea again.

 Chapter 11: One of us

    Chapter 11: One of usI wasn¡¯t told it would be this big.


    The Ceremony Hall was massive. Extremely high ceilings, flags of the Roen Group¡¯s company logo and the Roen family crest draped on the walls, and the bright spotlights cast on the stage somehow managed to feel like natural sunlight. The place had the authority of a palace, the reverence of a cathedral, and the minimalistic vibe and tiered seating arrangement of a modern opera house.


    I knew I shouldn¡¯t have trusted Luc as I waited nervously backstage, my eyes fixed on the raised podium that was waiting for me to step on. To me, it felt like a sacrificial altar where I¡¯d be both the minister and the sacrifice.


    It all started an hour ago when Luc casually informed me that there would be ¡¯a small internal event.¡¯


    "Wha... what event?"


    The word ¡¯small¡¯ did not ease my alarm at the word ¡¯event¡¯.


    I dreaded any type of event. Even as an audience member, it made me nervous. An occasion with purpose, meaning, and conventions - all those things were landmines that I had to navigate through, making me question and doubt myself endlessly regarding what would be appropriate and what would get me glared at like a stain that ruined a clean sheet.


    "Nothing big, Miss. Now that you have been officially recognized as the heiress by the Council, it is time to make an appearance for your workers."


    "Make an appearance...?"


    "I¡¯m sorry to mention this again - but everyone is still grieving from the loss of the Roen family members. You are the last remaining, and the only new hope and light for these people. You just need to be there and live up to their expectations. No pressure."


    "Oh, God..."


    "The PR team prepared a speech script for you. You do not need to memorize."


    Luc handed me a slim leather folder. I opened it and found two typed pages.


    "I... just need to read this out loud?"


    "You can improvise if you wish."


    "Heck no."


    "Right. Script it is then. Please follow me."


    When we left the office, Cain and Abe were waiting for us by the door. They looked like twin marble statues. Cain was big, bulky, and stoic, while Abe was short, slim, and had a cheeky smile in his eyes. Abe gave me a thumbs up. I could only return a nervous and idiotic ¡¯Heh.¡¯


    Just as before, we walked in a formation with me trapped in the triangle headed by Luc. I wanted the elevator to drop and crash. While death isn¡¯t exactly what I craved for, I would have been happy to be injured and hospitalized for a few months if I could avoid all this.


    Once we got off, the walk to the Ceremony Hall felt like a parade to a slaughterhouse. Staff members I didn¡¯t recognize lined the hallway. Some bowed. Others whispered. One woman clasped her hands in prayer. I couldn¡¯t tell if she was praying for me or praying to me.


    When we arrived backstage, the production manager did a final examination and straightening of my jacket. Her hands were shaking.


    "She¡¯s more nervous than I am," I muttered after she walked off.


    "She¡¯s never touched a chosen before," Abe whispered, far too close to my ear. "You¡¯re basically a saint."


    "Abe," Luc¡¯s voice was icy cold.


    "Please forgive me," Abe¡¯s apology was instant.


    I turned to Luc.


    "I¡¯m not a saint. This is crazy."


    "Today is the day that you might become one. In their eyes."


    "I might vomit."


    "Do so before you walk onstage."


    "Luc."


    "Yes, Miss."


    "You are so mean."


    Without a response, Luc handed me the slim leather folder, tapped the small of my back, and I was pushed into the light.


    Applause erupted the moment I stepped onto the stage. It was the polite kind, but also reverent. I hadn¡¯t said a word, but they were already grateful.


    I reached the center, turned to face them¡ªand froze.


    Hundreds of eyes. Hundreds of people. Expectant. Hopeful. Faithful.


    I breathed in. Out. In again.


    My hands were shaking so badly that I had to set the folder down on the podium.


    I quickly opened it to find that the two sheets of paper that were supposed to be there were -


    NOT THERE.


    I tried to turn around to catch Luc with my eyes, to signal her that something went seriously wrong before I could even get started.


    But those eyes - the eyes of the audience wouldn¡¯t let me. I felt like I was standing in front of five hundred Medusa.


    I wasn¡¯t capable of doing this.


    I simply did not have the ability.


    And I had no right to be doing this - being the fake that I am.


    My right hand twitched. Then my left hand followed. I grabbed each side of the podium to steady myself. Then I looked up. I stood and faced the five hundred - or even a thousand - demons, because for them, I was the angel.


    "Something went wrong here."


    I groaned inside. Those were my first words to the public, as their supposed leader.


    But on the other hand, that was the most honest thing I could say.


    "I didn¡¯t plan to be here."


    Silence.


    "But I¡¯m here."


    That stirred the audience. Murmurs, whispers, gasps.


    "You all think I¡¯m someone important. But the truth is, I¡¯m not. I¡¯m just someone who... "


    I paused. A few people shifted uncomfortably.


    "Came to be here."


    The audience erupted into cheer. Deafening applause. Fervor, frenzy, fanatical faith - faces flushed with feverish fire.


    I triggered them in a way that I did not intend.


    I knew I had to dial it back. Somehow. Like right now.


    "I... I¡¯m just like any of you. All of you... I¡¯m no different."


    Then someone shouted.


    "She¡¯s one of us!"


    Wha-


    "One of us!"


    "One of us!"


    It turned into a full chanting. People were clapping their hands above their heads in sync. It echoed and resonated so loudly I was getting scared that the hall would collapse.


    I raised my hands to stop them, flailing my arms, but the chanting only got louder.


    They were totally misunderstanding me. They thought I was acknowledging them. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I did the only thing I could think to do. I stopped waving and just held my two hands high in the air, showing my palms.


    Then with terrifying precision, the hall went completely silent.


    "I... I can¡¯t promise I¡¯ll be a great leader. I can¡¯t even promise I¡¯ll be a good one. But... But..."


    Tears welled up in my eyes. My vision was blurry, but somehow I felt like I could see everyone.


    Those eyes were not scary anymore.


    They were loving, comforting, reassuring.


    "Thank you, everyone. I will never forget today."


    Tears rolled down my cheeks. I heard someone sob in the audience too.


    "I will remember this day... til the day that I die. And even after I die. I will remember this day."


    Without being able to say anything further, I stepped back.


    I bowed deeply, turned, and walked backstage.


    There was only silence in the hall now.


    Then came the applause.


    It started hesitantly, then surged. Standing. Thunderous. Applause that wasn¡¯t for the Roen family or the name.


    It was for me.

 Chapter 12: I like them

    Chapter 12: I like them"That was excellent, Miss Roen," Luc praised me when I met her again backstage.


    I was emotionally drained and physically exhausted, but as the high of overwhelming gratefulness I felt for the audience - my workers - slowly faded, another feeling started to emerge: a quiet anger.


    "Luc. It was you, wasn¡¯t it?"


    The missing script for my speech.


    I didn¡¯t know her for that long, but if there was one thing I had become absolutely certain of about this woman, it was that she was perfect.


    She couldn¡¯t possibly have made a mistake.


    "A king may be crowned in a palace, but heroes are born in the battlefield."


    "You forced me into a corner!"


    That was probably the highest I¡¯ve raised my voice at anyone in a long time.


    "And you¡¯ve shown your true color."


    "I... embarrassed myself out there."


    My anger diffused. I dropped my head and looked at the ground in shame. There was both shame and a sense of betrayal. I made a fool of myself in front of everyone. I cried. And Luc, whom I thought - foolishly - was there to help me through all this madness, tricked me.


    Where do I go from here? Who can I trust now?


    Then Luc startled me by taking a step forward, brought her pale lips close to my ear, and whispered.


    "Your true color - It was majestic."


    I blushed so hard that even my ears caught fever.


    "Come this way, Miss Roen," Luc commanded and started to lead the way again, ignoring my reaction. I was glad that she did, but I decided to stand my ground.


    "I¡¯m going back to my room."


    "Not yet," she turned and refused.


    "Why... why not?"


    "There is something I want to show you. A short walk. You¡¯ll be back within the hour."


    "I¡¯m not in the mood for a tour."


    "I think you are."


    "I¡¯m not!"


    But I still followed her.


    Cain and Abe were absent for once. No silent march of twin statues behind me - a gargoyle and a cherubim. It was just me and Luc, side by side this time, as she led me through a different path than we came from. We took yet another elevator I hadn¡¯t seen before. This one had buttons for only four floors and Luc pressed the one at the top.


    Judging by the time it took to travel, I noted that this floor was also somewhere very high up, possibly as high up as my office. But although my body felt we were traveling upward, there was this weird sensation that we were heading down, descending.


    This whole place was like a labyrinth. For a corporate building that was so modern and organized, there was something almost mystical about this place, like an unexplored cave that had countless paths that endlessly branched out to the unknown. Once the elevator stopped, we stepped out to a dimly lit hallway. Red carpet, silk wallpapers, warm glow of lights. It felt like part of a mansion from a few centuries ago.


    The walls were lined up with portraits. As we walked, the portraits were changing - from color photographs to black and white and sepia, and then to expansive oil paintings.


    "They¡¯re all from before the digital era," she said, as if sensing my curiosity.


    There were pictures other than portraits, too. They were the recorded memory - the legacy of the Roen Group. Formal galas, charity balls, ribbon-cuttings. I was intrigued, but the thought of the possibility that today¡¯s scene in the Ceremony Hall might also become immortalized and trapped in this hallway for eternity - it mortified me.


    "They look so... proud," I noticed that all the former heads of the Roen Group shared similar air about them.


    "They believed they were chosen," Luc said.


    "They were, weren¡¯t they?"


    "No more than you."


    Then we stopped at the end of the hallway. The largest portrait - an oil painting - dominated the wall.


    "The Founder," Luc announced.


    I wasn¡¯t sure how true to life this portrait was, but he was an impressive man. Perfectly chiseled face. Strong jaws. Proud nose. He looked like a medieval hero who conquered all.


    Then I saw it. I felt it.


    The eyes. They were gazing into the future.


    I remembered how Luc demonstrated this gaze, and how she also showed me ¡¯gazing into past¡¯ eyes. There was only future in this man¡¯s eyes.


    I was overwhelmed by the presence of this man even just from a painting.


    "It feels like he had every right to be proud."


    "Certainly."


    There was a brief pause, and she continued.


    "Every one of them was proud. Some deserved, some didn¡¯t. But they all thought they deserved it."


    "I suppose that comes with being the head of the Roen family."


    "But there is one exception."


    Luc turned to face me, and fixed her eyes on mine. I felt hazy, almost nauseous. My heart beat faster; my blood started to boil. Fingertips started to twitch.


    "Do you regret speaking from the heart?" she asked.


    I didn¡¯t answer. Not right away.


    "I don¡¯t regret what I said," I could only murmur after missing a beat.


    "And you did not lie. You did not pretend."


    "No way! I... I wouldn¡¯t dare."


    Things were getting intense. I could feel it. Her presence, it was probing, probing every inch of my skin with scrutiny. It was more daunting than facing the hundreds of Medusas as I did earlier. I wasn¡¯t getting petrified. I was disintegrating.


    "Honest," she observed.


    "Kind," she remarked.


    "Humble," she stated. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And good," she said, simply.


    "Please stop..."


    And finally she stopped.


    Nothing about her posture or expression changed. But her probing presence retracted. The grip on my heart was let go. Heat on my body dissipated. My mind was becoming clear, as if I realized something, although I couldn¡¯t pinpoint or understand what it was.


    "All these things about you, Miss Roen," Luc finally turned and started to walk away, toward the other end of the hallway.


    "I like them."


    That was all she said.

 Chapter 13: The Show

    Chapter 13: The ShowThere was clapping.


    Deafening and polite.


    When I opened my eyes, I found myself seated in a velvet armchair under a still storm of studio lighting. The lights were warm and golden, yet I felt cold. My breath steamed in the cold air beneath it as my skin glowed.


    The studio was clean, modern, tasteful. Like the set of a daytime talk show redesigned by an installation artist. Plants that looked too lush. Glass panels reflecting nothing. A live audience that laughed with their eyes and observed with their mouths. All dressed in a muted palette of pastels, clapping like their lives depended on it.


    Next to my armchair was a desk. A wooden desk that looked like a relic from the past. Behind the desk a man sat on an unexpectedly modern office chair with a smooth sheen of expensive leather.


    The Host.


    His suit was charcoal. His smile was infectious. His voice, when he spoke, oozed charm and flattery.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to the beacon of our generation, the miracle of the boardroom, the heiress of Roen herself - Lin!"


    More applause, spiked with laughter.


    I contorted my face into a smile. Involuntarily.


    The lights dimmed just a little. The host leaned in, elbows on his desk.


    "How does it feel, Lin?"


    "What... what do you mean?" I asked.


    "To be loved, of course," he said.


    Laughter.


    From the crowd. From somewhere overhead. From behind me.


    Or perhaps, even inside my head.


    "I - I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s... overwhelming."


    "Oh, but you must enjoy it," he pressed. "The way they look at you. The way they kneel."


    More laughter. A woman in the front row had tears in her eyes. An elderly man jerked his head back as the laughter exploded out of his mouth. I could see the back of his throat.


    "I never asked for any of this," I protested.


    "But you accepted it, didn¡¯t you?"


    I looked down. I was wearing pajamas. It wasn¡¯t what I went to bed with. It was pajamas that I used to wear when I was young. Soft cotton. Sky blue. Adorable baby bear patterns.


    Behind the host, a screen lit up.


    Clips played. Footage of me standing on the Ceremony Hall stage. Me smiling, waving, bowing. Me crying.


    They replayed it.


    The crying.


    Over and over.


    The camera zoomed into my wet cheeks, my trembling lips, my helpless sincerity.


    The audience exploded in laughter. Some couldn¡¯t help clapping their hands. Feet stomping involuntarily.


    "You love it, don¡¯t you?" the Host teased.


    "No! No! I-, I don¡¯t-"


    The audience - howling, cackling, convulsing.


    I started to cry.


    Again.


    "Doesn¡¯t she look so lovely when she cries? Isn¡¯t she so adorable?"


    Whistling and cheering.


    "Tell me, Lin," the host said, voice like sizzling butter.


    "What is your favorite childhood memory?"


    "I.. I..." I didn¡¯t know why I was even trying to answer, but I felt like I had to. Everyone - everyone demanded it.


    "Why don¡¯t you look into your pocket now?"


    And when I put my hand into my pajama pocket, there was an old photograph - like magic.


    My heart sank as I realized what it was.


    My most precious memory.


    Captured in a perfect Polaroid photo.


    "How did it get here...?"


    "Magic!" The man opened his arms wide, leaning his head back dramatically to make a gesture of looking up.


    There was eerie silence in the studio now.


    "So! It¡¯s time to decide, or - should I say... Time to take action...?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Rip it up."


    I felt like I got stabbed in my heart with a blunt, rusty kitchen knife.


    "Rip it up! Rip it up!" The crowd chanted, spiraling into a manic frenzy.


    "I-, no! This is... this is..."


    Then the man raised his hand to shush the audience and there was a complete silence in the studio.


    I looked around and all I could think was that there were too many eyes.


    Those eyes.


    All those eyes.


    Staring at me.


    I started to sob again, quietly.


    My hands were trembling as I held the photograph.


    In my blurred vision filled with tears, I saw my face.


    That was me.


    That was who I was.


    I ripped it apart.


    Over and over.


    Into a thousand pieces.


    The crowd went wild and the sound of their claps assaulted my every sense.


    A band began to play.


    Cheerful, happy music.


    As I was being torn apart.


    Then as I looked up, right before my eyes, I saw an invisible fabric shred, and Luc walked in through it.


    Now she was standing in front of me.


    She looked down at me. Our eyes met. Her eyes were full of cold pity.


    And then she turned. Turned to face the host.


    "Get out," Luc commanded.


    Suddenly I felt the air turn brittle. It was as if every minuscule drop of moisture froze.


    All reality was made of glass. And they were cracking. I saw the cracks appear on the faces of the audience. One man¡¯s arm broke off as if he was a stained glass. Another woman¡¯s face shattered into three pieces.


    Even the lights around me began to shatter. Cascades of broken slices of lights fell to the ground.


    I looked at the host. His face was fracturing. He was looking up at Luc. His lips began to part, as if to say his final word.


    "Lu-"


    But that was as far as he could get.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I woke up in my bed.


    Sheets damp with hot sweat. My cheeks stinging with dried tears.


    Luc stood beside the bed.


    Holding a cup of tea.


    Not smiling. Not frowning. Just watching me return from whatever place I had disappeared to.


    "I¡ª"


    "I heard you," she said.


    Without any further words, she placed the tea cup on the bedside table. She gave me a slight bow and walked out of the room, closing the door carefully so it wouldn¡¯t make a sound."


    I tried to remember.


    Not the dream. There was no need for it. It was still so vivid in my mind.


    But the photograph.


    I could no longer remember what it was.

 Chapter 14: Gifts

    Chapter 14: GiftsLuc did not explain where we were going, only that it was "customary."


    I was still recovering from the dream I had, but strangely, with Luc by my side I thought even if such things happened in real life she would come and save me.


    However, "customary" was never comforting.


    I dreaded breaking rules, but following the rules was no easier. There were always questions - What are the rules? Do I understand them correctly? What if there are some rules that I missed? What if rules have changed? What if I¡¯m with a group of people who actually hate these rules? Wouldn¡¯t acting ¡¯customary¡¯ make me look bad?


    Rules. They were all just suffocatingly scary whether they existed or not.


    Nevertheless, I followed now my trustworthy assistant through another hidden hallway that I wasn¡¯t sure I could find again by myself. This wing of the Roen Tower felt like a sanctum, untouched by footsteps, or if they did, any and all traces were erased. As if nothing happened.


    Velvet carpeting muted the sound of our movement. Dim lights hung on the walls.


    The deeper we walked, the older the air felt - not dusty, but heavy, like it had absorbed the silence of generations.


    2


    "This room is typically not visited by the heir," Luc said, her voice quiet, respecting the silence. "Traditionally, the items are curated. Delivered in selection."


    "What items?"


    "Gifts for the new heir."


    "Gifts?"


    "Offerings."


    That made me remember again that this place wasn¡¯t normal. I don¡¯t know what CEOs are normally supposed to be like, but I was pretty sure it wasn¡¯t like this in other companies. In this tower, I was royalty. A saint. An icon.


    So my ¡¯subjects¡¯ provide offerings as I ascended to the throne in my office...


    And it bothered me.


    "You mean you ¡¯typically¡¯ choose what the heir get to see?"


    "Heirs are not actually interested in the offerings. There is nothing they can¡¯t acquire themselves. It¡¯s more for amusement. I just pick things that the new heirs might find entertaining."


    "Why bring me here then...?"


    "Because you are different, Miss Roen. I thought you might prefer to look through them yourself."


    Her words made something stir in my chest. Gratitude, maybe. Or guilt.


    The door at the end of the corridor loomed. It wasn¡¯t ornate, but it stood taller than usual, framed in deep walnut and polished brass.


    Luc opened it without any grandeur.


    Inside was a gallery-like room. Dim, climate-controlled, pristine. Long tables covered in white cloths stretched out before me like banquet tables for the dead. Hundreds of gift boxes lined them. Some were extravagantly wrapped in velvet, silk, or gold foil. Others were plain, even humble.


    I stood frozen. Overwhelmed by the sign of affection that my so-called employees were showing me.


    Luc remained behind me. Silent, but watching. Waiting.


    I made myself walk.


    The gifts ranged widely. Some were inexpensive but adorable. Key rings, flower shaped brooch, even some cute cartoon character goods. On the other hand, some were luxury items. Designer bags, shoes, classy ink pen. There was a silk scarf the shade of midnight, and another one the shade of purest white. They shimmered, glittered, and shone - all of them all too brightly, all too sincerely.


    "Thank you for returning hope."


    "For our future."


    "For her grace." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It should have made me happy. And I was.


    But at the same time, it made me nauseous.


    I hadn¡¯t done anything. I hadn¡¯t earned any of this. I was just a frightened girl in a suit pretending not to drown.


    Still, I whispered "thank you" to each one. I felt them all. I rubbed each one of them with my thumb. Examined their color, felt the texture, and took its weight into my heart. It was for all of them, and also for me. Even if I couldn¡¯t return a smile to every single one of them, I wanted to take a moment to appreciate every single gift that I was showered with.


    I was halfway down the third table when I saw it.


    A small box wrapped in elegantly rough-textured paper - matte black.


    My fingers hovered over it. Something drew me in.


    I picked it up gently and unwrapped it, trying not to rip the paper.


    The box itself was also black and had the feel of a cardboard.


    I opened it.


    Inside was a high school name tag.


    My high school name tag.


    There was no way I couldn¡¯t recognize it. I wore this name tag for three years.


    It was the one clipped to my uniform blazer as I nervously walked to school. It was the one I fiddled with when I didn¡¯t know what to say to people.


    Lin Roen. Plain font. Plastic frame.


    It shouldn¡¯t be here.


    My throat tightened. My hands trembled. For a moment, I forgot to breathe.


    Luc appeared at my side, gently pulling my hand away from the box, which she put back on the table.


    "Step back," she said softly.


    I obeyed, still in shock.


    She knelt beside the table, not touching the box. Only studying it.


    Then she stood.


    "Nabir."


    I felt like the lights dimmed suddenly, but realized that it was because a shadow was cast over us. I turned to find an impossibly tall man dressed in black suit and trench coat. He was wearing a black mask, or more like - a muzzle, covering half of his face. It seemed to be made of leather.


    He knelt. Not to me, but to Luc.


    "Yes, Mistress."


    Luc picked up the name tag from the box, placed it on her palm, and brought it close to Nabir¡¯s face.


    "Find them."


    Nabir leaned in to bring his muzzled nose. His nostrils flared once, breathing deep, taking in the scent.


    I looked at Luc. Totally lost, confused at what was happening. But when my eyes turned to Nabir again, he was gone.


    Just gone.


    The silence that followed felt unnatural.


    Luc turned to me.


    "Someone wanted you to see this," she said.


    "What... what for...?"


    "This will be dealt with, Miss Roen. I¡¯m terribly sorry for bringing you here. "


    I was disorientated. My past was merging with the present, and I hadn¡¯t learned to gaze into future yet.


    "Is it dangerous?"


    Luc didn¡¯t answer. Not directly.


    She stepped closer to me.


    Close.


    Closer.


    Her gaze softened, just a little. Enough for me to see the shadow of something behind it.


    "You belong here more than they do," she said.


    My knees buckled.


    Luc caught me before I hit the floor.


    She didn¡¯t say anything else.


    She just held me - steady, unmoving, like a statue that outlived time itself - until I could stand again.

 Chapter 15: Lucky

    Chapter 15: LuckyMy knees were light and my feet were heavy. It was a struggle just to stay upright, let alone walk. Luc wrapped her arm around me to keep me moving as we headed toward the elevator. In this monstrous prison tower that some believe is a palace, I had no one to lean on except Luc.


    Then she abandoned me.


    "Excuse me, Miss. But you will need to return to your office on your own. I suggest you lay down and rest a bit."


    "You... are not coming with me?"


    "There are some things I need to check on."


    "OK..."


    "You will be fine, Miss Roen."


    I wasn¡¯t convinced, and I hated that Luc put on a fake smile to comfort me.


    Trust no one, I suppose.


    I still felt a little dizzy as Luc walked away, disappearing into shadow as she turned some random corner that leads to God knows where.


    I supported myself against the wall with my right hand, and finally reached the elevator by myself. I pressed the up-button and it didn¡¯t take long for it to arrive.


    ¡¯Hang in there... soon I will be back at my room...¡¯


    I leaned against the glass wall inside.


    Then I saw someone running toward the elevator as the door was closing.


    "Wait-, please!" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite my sluggish state, I instinctively reacted and pressed the button.


    The door slid again and a young woman - probably of my age, give or take a year - squeezed in.


    "Thank you."


    The girl politely bowed and pressed the close-button.


    I already pressed for my floor, and it took me a while to realize that something was off.


    "Miss... which floor are you going?"


    The top floor was reserved for me alone and I¡¯ve never seen her around before.


    "Miss Roen... I¡¯m scared. But I need to tell you something. "


    The girl was shivering in fear, as if she was seeing something that I couldn¡¯t. It was so eerie that I had to look around to check if there was anything behind me, but only thing outside the glass wall of this elevator was a dark vertical tunnel that entrapped us.


    "Please go ahead."


    "I-, I¡¯m in danger already... and I probably get into a big trouble for this, but-"


    Then the elevator suddenly stopped with a jolt. Light flickered once and dimmed.


    "Did you... press anything?"


    "No! Oh God... it¡¯s happening..."


    The light went off and on again, repeatedly, with no regular rhythm. Every time it flashed, I saw the girl¡¯s face contort even more with growing anguish.


    I was scared myself, but somehow I felt that I had to comfort this girl. She did really sound like she was in some sort of a danger, and if I could help her -


    "There are those who don¡¯t believe in you," the young lady spoke with a trembling voice.


    My heart started to beat faster.


    I was a genuine fraud after all.


    "But don¡¯t get me wrong. I believe in you, Miss Roen. You are our light and hope!"


    "Miss, actually I¡¯m-"


    "But there are people. I overheard them. They are different. They are not like us."


    "Not like... us?"


    "They work with us. They smile. But their hearts are hollow. They don¡¯t kneel like we do."


    The elevator shook one more time, this time with a loud clang. I was starting to get scared too. Partially freaked out by this strange girl who was breaking down in front of me, with tears running down her cheeks now, but now increasingly more concerned that the wires holding this coffin could break any time and we¡¯d fall to death.


    "Please calm down. We must find a way to get out of here."


    Although I was sweating fear myself, I felt a sense of duty. We were both stuck in this hopeless situation, but I was the one who comfort her, because she sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to comfort me.


    "I¡¯m scared, Miss Roen. I¡¯m scared."


    "Sh... it¡¯s going to be OK."


    I tried to reach out to her in darkness, but then light flickered once and I saw her face.


    She somehow didn¡¯t look like the girl who ran in to catch the elevator earlier. It was the same girl, of course, I was sure of that - how could she not be? - but she now looked a lot older, as if she had aged ten years since the light flashed last time.


    "And there are people that are with us... that aren¡¯t normal..."


    Just as she finished those words, the light came on abruptly.


    The elevator started to shoot up, accelerating, and I started to panic as it felt like it was going to shoot through the roof and launch us to the moon.


    Then it came to a sudden halt with ear piercing screech.


    Both the young woman and I fell to the floor.


    There was a cheerful ¡¯ding¡¯, and the door slid open as if nothing happened.


    I looked up and saw that Luc was standing just outside the door, light shining so brightly from behind her it was almost hard to see her face. But it was Luc. Unmistakable.


    The girl saw Luc too, but it was clear from her face that she wasn¡¯t feeling the relief that I was granted. Instead, she looked even more frightened than before.


    I looked out to the hallway again and noticed that there were Cain and Abe standing next to Luc now.


    "Help her."


    Luc commanded and Abe walked into the elevator, offering his hand to the helpless girl who didn¡¯t seem to want to take it. Abe didn¡¯t make much of it though. He gave a very charming and reassuring smile, and I couldn¡¯t imagine there would be many girls whose hearts won¡¯t melt by that.


    The girl reluctantly took Abe¡¯s hand, who helped her up and led her out. After she took a few steps away, she briefly turned to look at me. There were tears in her eyes and she looked like she wanted to say something, but no voice was coming out. Abe non-aggressively beckoned her to continue.


    Luc finally walked into the elevator, knelt before me and asked.


    "Are you alright, Miss Roen?"


    "Who... was that girl? Is she going to be OK?"


    "Ignorance is bliss. Unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t so lucky. "


    The door closed and the elevator started to move up again.


    Am I...


    The lucky one here?

 Chapter 16: The Light Above the City

    Chapter 16: The Light Above the CityI stood by the window watching the sky burn.


    The Roen Tower.


    It was the literal pinnacle of human ambition, in both architecture and engineering. The building fused a minimalist glass fa?ade with Gaud¨ª-inspired Catalan Modernism, accented by Gothic edges in unexpected places. The Tower was the molten core of cultural melting pot breaking out and reaching for the sky, a beast that outgrew the cage of human imagination.


    Some called it beautiful. Some called it an abomination. But the Tower didn¡¯t care.


    Built and expanded over the centuries, it embodied both the noble charm of something ancient and the precision of corporate machinery.


    And I was alone, watching the beautiful sky bleed to death and terror of the night creep up over the city.


    The city below looked like a sea of petrol with scattered fire sparkles that were too insignificant to ignite. It all looked futile and fragile, yet I felt the beauty.


    In every single vehicle in the traffic sat people of perseverance returning home after a hard day of labor. In every house with light on lived a family that laughed and cried together. In every curtained room slept a child born out of human flesh and love.


    No life was insignificant. No story was unworthy of telling. No memory deserved to be forgotten.


    And I was alone, floating high above everyone who had someone to cuddle up with.


    I didn¡¯t turn on the lights in my office. I allowed myself to wallow in loneliness and self-pity. I missed human touch that I was too shy to ask for. I missed a hug that I will push away in embarrassment.


    Why am I here?


    The chosen one?


    I never asked to be. I never wanted to be.


    I pressed my forehead against the window. For a moment I hoped that it would crack and I would fall to death.


    I¡¯m sure they would find someone else to stand here the very next day.


    Would the new heir feel the same way I did?


    Or would the new figurehead stand here and look down at the city, their face glowing with pride and satisfaction?


    I heard the door click open from behind.


    I did not turn to look. It could only be Luc.


    My assistant. Her cryptic words. Her enigmatic face. The silver hair - the gray eyes that could reflect darkness of the night.


    "Miss Roen."


    I was startled by the voice that I did not expect.


    I turned to find Abe standing two steps away from me, one hand in his pocket and another hand scratching the back of his head. He had fine blond hair and baby-blue eyes. A cheeky smile of a child and spongy marble cheeks. A man who never grew up. Did he refuse to grow up, or did he fail?


    I couldn¡¯t tell.


    "It¡¯s a beautiful view, isn¡¯t it?"


    He spoke nonchalantly. I wanted to ask him why he was here, but I didn¡¯t mind his company. I just needed someone. Maybe.


    "It is."


    "The boss told me to go check on you."


    "The boss?"


    "Er, I mean - Ma¡¯am, yeah. I meant the Ma¡¯am. You know who I¡¯m talking about. That scary lady."


    "You mean Luc."


    "Yes, yes."


    I see.


    I was relieved that I wasn¡¯t his boss, for a change. At the same time, I was disappointed that Luc didn¡¯t come here herself and sent someone else instead.


    What was she doing that was so important that she had to leave me alone...?


    "But I would have come anyway even if she didn¡¯t ask me to," Abe smiled.


    "...What for?"


    "I was worried about you."


    I then remembered how he kindly led the frightened girl out of the elevator.


    "Thank you..."


    "No biggie."


    We stood in silence for a few minutes. Side by side. Looking at the sea of glistening lights below. It didn¡¯t look so petrol-like anymore.


    "The boss was right. You are indeed different."


    "Did-, does she talk about me?"


    "Oh, yeah. She does."


    My heart started to beat harder. Normally it would have mortified me to learn that people were talking behind my back. But imagining Luc talking about me - that quiet woman of few words - was flattering.


    "What... did she say?"


    "Heh~, you know, earlier she was saying- ouch!"


    I got jump scared as Abe suddenly yelped, only to find Luc pulling him by the ear.


    "Don¡¯t say unnecessary things, you fool."


    That made me giggle.


    "Please excuse my stupid junior, Miss Roen."


    Luc bowed in apology while still holding onto Abe¡¯s ear.


    "Boss! Boss! Let go, please! Ouch, it hurts!"


    Luc then gave him a glare for a good three seconds and finally let go.


    "Go to your room and repent."


    "Thank you, bo-, I mean Ma¡¯am."


    Luc waved him off and Abe hurriedly left the room, inadvertently slamming the door shut in his rush.


    "I think he¡¯s funny, Luc."


    I was feeling much better now.


    "It¡¯s only funny until he gets funny ideas."


    "You do seem to treat him like a child."


    "He deserves to be disciplined like a child."


    The moonlight on Luc¡¯s face - her pale glow was soothingly radiant.


    "Do you feel better now, Miss Roen?"


    "Much better."


    "I¡¯m glad to hear. Please sleep early tonight. We have another event tomorrow."


    "Now I don¡¯t feel better anymore."


    "It is something you might enjoy. Another PR event, but I have a feeling it would be a good change of pace for you."


    "What is it?"


    "A visit to Children¡¯s Daycare Center for the employees. Everyone will be excited to see you."


    "I feel burdened."


    "Don¡¯t you like children?"


    "I do... but... I¡¯m scared."


    Luc stood still and looked into my eyes intently, trying to read my mind to make out why I was scared, the she spoke,


    "If you have a good dream tonight, maybe you will bring the good dreams to them tomorrow."


    "As if it¡¯s up to me, hah."


    "You will, Miss. I will have it arranged."


    Luc doesn¡¯t normally make a joke, but when she does, it makes me laugh.


    "Thank you."


    "Good night, Miss Roen."


    With that, she quietly slid out of the office.


    I didn¡¯t feel so alone anymore.


    S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 17: The Daycare Visit

    Chapter 17: The Daycare VisitThe room was warmly lit, soft lights on the ceiling blending with sunlight that shone through very faintly colored stained glass depicting some sort of a fairy tale I could not recognize. It seemed to tell a story of an ancient hero.


    There was a clean and playful scent in the air, heartwarming sounds of children¡¯s laughter and giggles floated and filled the space.


    The daycare center was located in a separate wing of the Roen Tower, reserved for employees with young children. There were many places in Roen Tower I hadn¡¯t set foot in and I wasn¡¯t sure if I wanted to explore them all, but this one was somewhere I didn¡¯t mind visiting.


    I was nervous before the visit. I liked children. I liked watching them play. I liked their sound. Interacting them was a different story though.


    "What if they cry?" I had asked earlier in the morning, half-joking, half-terrified.


    Luc had only tilted her head slightly. "Then they will have something in common with you."


    Now, standing in the center of a playroom with foam mats and plush toys scattered across the floor like artifacts of joy, I felt even more nervous than I had been at the Ceremony Hall.


    At first, a tiny girl with pigtails ran up to me and handed me a block painted to look like a slice of watermelon. "This is for you," she declared, then turned and ran away, giggling. Then a boy no older than five came around and stood in front of me, very close. He looked up at me, his eyes studying my face carefully. I met his eyes and tried to smile, but it only came out awkwardly. He didn¡¯t say anything and just kept the eye contact, and then suddenly broke into smile and ran back to his friends.


    A group of children approached me after that. Two boys and two girls. One of them suddenly shouted, "Catch me!" The children then scattered, each of them running in a different direction. I wanted to play together but I didn¡¯t know who to run after, until three more children joined and started to circle me, all of them asking me to catch them too.


    ¡¯I suppose I could catch one of them at least," I finally built up the courage and started to run toward a girl that was closest to me. I almost caught her - multiple times. But these kids were like cats. They would just stand and wait for me to get closer, only to spring away to an unexpected direction and start running again.


    It was fun. I hadn¡¯t really played with other kids like this when I was their age. I spent most of my time sitting in the sandbox. I was always concerned about someone coming and destroying what I was building, to the extent that very often, I didn¡¯t want to build something too nice because I knew I would be devastated if it was stomped into oblivion on the naughty whim of another child, who¡¯d laugh, turn, and run off. It had happened more than once, leading me to only build things that I can rebuild again easily.


    As I stopped chasing the little kids around for a moment to catch my breath, I noticed a girl seated at a corner, hunched over her desk.


    Something about her pulled me in. After promising the other children that I will get back to them and we will play again, I walked across the play room.


    The little girl was drawing on a sketchbook. She was drawing some sort of a fish. It had a very cute face.


    "What are you drawing?"


    "A seal," she answered without looking at me.


    "Huh, I thought it was a fish," I instantly regretted.


    "That¡¯s what everyone thinks," she said, unbothered.


    "Do you like sea animals?"


    "Very much."


    "That¡¯s great. They are really special, aren¡¯t they?"


    Then the girl stopped drawing, looked up from her sketchbook, and asked, blinking.


    "Did you know that sharks have over thirty thousand teeth in their lifetime? ?"


    "Oh, wow. I didn¡¯t know that."


    "And they have been around even before the dinosaurs."


    "I didn¡¯t know that either."


    "This is a picture I drew."


    She then flipped a few pages, and showed me a creature that looked like a seal but with just a lot of teeth.


    "That¡¯s really impressive!"


    "They are really cute, right?"


    "Yes, and with a lot of teeth."


    "Yes."


    "And who is this? Isn¡¯t it dangerous to be so close to the shark?" I pointed at a woman and a girl standing next to the fearsome creature.


    "That¡¯s me and my Mommy. And it¡¯s OK because this is an aquarium and there is a glass between us."


    "Oh, is that so? I didn¡¯t see the glass."


    The girl looked at me with the face that said ¡¯Are you stupid?¡¯


    "It¡¯s glass. Of course you can¡¯t see it," she taught me.


    "I¡¯m sorry."


    "You are funny."


    After that, the girl flipped through her sketchbook some more and showed me even more sea creatures she¡¯d drawn. I tried to guess what they were each time, and every time I was wrong.


    "You really like sea animals, don¡¯t you?"


    "Yeah."


    "What is your name?"


    "Bada."


    "Oh, Bada-, meaning the sea?"


    "Yeah."


    "What a pretty name! It suits you well, too."


    "Mommy said she named me Bada because I was conceived during a cruise trip."


    I had to suppress my laughter.


    "I really want to go to aquarium," the girl continued. Surprisingly conversational now.


    "I¡¯m sure you¡¯d love it."


    "Sigh... but I¡¯ve never been to aquarium. Not even once."


    "Oh? Why not?"


    "Because Mommy is always so busy."


    "I can take you there then."


    I shocked myself by saying this. It just came out of my mouth without any deliberation.


    "Really?!" Bada instantly jumped up from her seat, her hands in front of her chest in prayer pose, her eyes exploding with excitement. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not knowing what to do, I turned to find Luc, and as she always does, she was standing right behind me - did she hear the whole conversation?


    Both the girl and I looked up at Luc like two children asking for permission. Luc looked down at us with a very, very faint hint of a frown. .


    "Please...?" we asked Luc for her approval.


    But then, suddenly we were swarmed by all the other children from the daycare. Somehow, someone overheard us, and now they were all jumping up and down in excitement, cheering and chanting ¡¯Aquarium!¡¯


    "Um... Luc...?"


    She closed her eyes and placed her palm on her forehead. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d seen Luc so agitated before.


    "I don¡¯t think this is a good idea, Miss Roen."


    That deflated everyone, earning a collective sigh.


    "Please, Luc. Look at these children. They really want to go. Surely we could arrange that?"


    After rubbing her temples for a few seconds and seemingly grinding her teeth, she finally spoke.


    "Fine. Take Cain and Abe with you."


    The children erupted in joy, jumping up and down, flailing their arms in the air.


    "You are not coming?" I asked her.


    "Fishes don¡¯t like me."


    That was possibly the weirdest thing I heard from her yet.

 Chapter 18: The Girl and the Shark

    Chapter 18: The Girl and the SharkThe sun was still hiding behind soft clouds when we arrived at the popular aquarium in the city.


    To be honest, I haven¡¯t been to one since I was a child so I was probably as excited as the other kids that I brought.


    Luc arranged everything. Exclusive access. No other visitors. It must have cost a fortune, but I suppose the Roen Group could afford it. It was a perk that came with seemingly infinite amount of wealth, but at the same time I kind of felt bad about other kids who might have visited today only to be turned away at the door.


    Cain drove the transport vehicle. Abe handed out snacks like an overexcited elder brother. I sat sandwiched between an energetic boy who couldn¡¯t sit still and Bada. She sat quietly to my right, hugging a small stuffed shark, patting its head occasionally.


    The inside of the aquarium was serene. Water refracted through curved glass tunnels that arched above us. Blue shade cast on children¡¯s smiling faces as they marveled at the magnificent sight of ocean life transported to the city.


    Bada clung to my sleeve as we entered the main hall.


    "There are over two hundred species here," she whispered, eyes wide. "Some of them are endangered."


    "You sound like a tour guide," I smiled.


    "I watched the documentary five times."


    Of course she did.


    The first tank was filled with jellyfish. Ethereal, translucent, pulsing. The children ran from tank to tank, squealing at each new discovery, but Bada lingered. She pressed her palms to the glass and it followed the motion of the jellyfish as if she was trying to communicate with it. .


    "They¡¯re older than dinosaurs too," she said softly. "No brain. No heart. But they live. Isn¡¯t that amazing?"


    It indeed was amazing, and made me wonder what such a life would be like to live.


    Later, we reached the deep-sea tunnel. The children scattered again, running ahead through the transparent path that cut through a massive tank filled with rays, sharks, and massive fish that moved like ancient gods.


    Bada, who had been fascinated by everything but rather quiet so far, finally lit up as she saw a shark and shouted, squeezing my hand.


    "Shark! Shark!"


    I squeezed her hand tighter too and walked closer to the surface of glass tunnel to get a good look at it. Bada had springs in her steps, almost skipping rather than walking. When we got to as close as we could, she held up the shark toy she brought, trying to convince the fearsome creature that she was a big fan. The shark swam by, very close, and Bada was sure that it smiled. I nodded with a smile to confirm to her that the shark did indeed acknowledge her.


    After spending a long time standing there watching the shark pass us by a few more times, we returned to the center of the tunnel to look at other sea animals too.


    As other kids were moving on to the next section led by Abe, Bada resisted my gentle pull on her hand. A gliding manta ray cast a shadow across us.


    "I like watching them more," she shook her head.


    "Sure thing. Let¡¯s spend some more time then."


    Cain stood some distance away, keeping a keen eye yet giving us enough privacy for this shy girl to feel comfortable. He did look pretty scary after all.


    "You know a lot, Bada," I praised her.


    "I read a lot. But I don¡¯t talk much with others."


    "I was like that too."


    She turned to look at me. "But you talk now."


    "Sometimes."


    "And people listen to you?"


    I looked at her. She wasn¡¯t being mean. She wasn¡¯t even looking for a reaction. It hit a tender spot in my heart. She was fine being alone. She had her hobbies, interests, and she could find comfort in immersing herself in these activities with no interruption from others. Yet, there was this longing. I knew it well. The hypothetical question that always returned - What if I had a friend to talk to? What if I had someone who could understand?


    But I didn¡¯t answer. But I put my arms around her and gently hugged her. She squeezed me and hugged me tight.


    After that, we continued our tour. Exploring all corners of the expansive aquarium.


    At some point, uncharacteristically - and without any expression on his face, Cain went around to give everyone ice cream.


    Even me.


    Once we finished our adventure and entered the souvenir shop, Abe made every child erupt in cheer that they can all pick one item each and we will buy for them. I was immediately concerned because I did not bring my wallet, but it turned out Abe didn¡¯t bring it either. Eventually, Cain ended up paying for everything and I finally saw an unfiltered emotion cross his face as he glared at Abe.


    We stood outside the aquarium feeling fully satisfied. The sun was lowering now, casting soft gold on everything. It was peaceful. A pure bliss.


    As we gathered the children for the ride back, Bada tugged at my sleeve again. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Can I draw you later?" she asked.


    "Me?"


    "Yeah. You and the manta ray. I want to put you in the sea."


    I smiled. "I¡¯d like that."


    Cain counted the children one by one as they got into the vehicle. Abe took selfies with three of them, managing to photobomb his own photos somehow.


    Bada sat with me again on the bus. She was exhausted from all the joy she¡¯d experienced for the day. She leaned her head on my arm and fell asleep.


    I was exhausted too.


    But happy.


    Genuinely happy.


    I had found something real in the midst of the mad illusion I was living now. For a while I felt like I was living in a glass cage. A massive, expensive, and luxurious glass cage of lies.


    But maybe, if I could be the shark that could make Bada happy, if I could be the manta ray that could inspire drawings, and if I could be a jelly fish with no brain and heart but still bring joy to everyone, perhaps being in this glass cage wasn¡¯t too bad.


    Feeling Bada¡¯s soft and warm breath against my arm I told myself - maybe I can¡¯t change so easily. Even if I could, maybe it would never be enough. But how I felt now, the feeling of bringing something good to people, helping children make happy memories they can look back on - it gave me a motivation to do better, be better.


    I would remember this day.


    Forever.

 Chapter 19: The Picture I Was Promised

    Chapter 19: The Picture I Was PromisedWe returned to the Roen Tower as the sun almost set. Warm glow filled the lobby as we entered. Luc was standing in the middle of it as if she had been waiting for us the whole time since we left in the morning. Abe led the way as children followed him. They were visibly tired, but also looked like they¡¯d had the best day of their lives. Luc then approached me with her floaty strides and informed me.


    "There will be a short PR event. Just a quick photo session."


    That made me instantly groan.


    "Does it really have to be now?"


    "The parents have been waiting."


    Luc then turned her head, and as I followed her gaze I saw a large group of men and women being ushered to one side of the lobby by the staff. As children saw them, there were excited shouts of ¡¯Mommy¡¯ and ¡¯Daddy¡¯.


    "I... did not want this to be a PR event. "I just wanted to make them happy..."


    "Today is a special day for them. The parents are incredibly proud their children had been chosen. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to allow them something to keep as a memory."


    Luc¡¯s explanation won me over, so I agreed.


    "I see, let¡¯s do it then."


    We then walked over to where the parents were, but they were made to stand behind red velvet rope barriers. Some of them were waving to their children, while some stood with their hands clasped in front of their chest, as if this was as significant and proud moment for them as attending their children¡¯s graduation.


    Whether I deserved it or not, I knew I had to accept my significance for them. If I could play my part and make them happy, I should.


    I was still holding Bada¡¯s hand, who had been clinging to me even more than before. She had found her mother among the crowd and waved at her. Our eyes met and the grateful smile on her face and happiness she felt for her daughter made me feel that I did, and was doing the right thing.


    Cameras were already set up on tripods and there were multiple photographers ready to take photos. A stylist approached me with a makeup artist. Despite my initial protest, they managed to convince me by saying that they would absolutely make sure that I look as natural as possible.


    Cain and Abe stood some distance away, so I suggested to Luc.


    "Can they also be in the picture?"


    "No. Security reasons," Luc firmly refused.


    I thought it was a pity considering that they also deserved to be part of the memory for these children. But I did not insist.


    It wasn¡¯t an easy task to get children to line up neatly while they were buzzing around, but eventually we managed. All the kids wanted to stand next to me, but Bada was having none of it. She held onto my hand tightly to ensure that her place won¡¯t be taken. I felt proud to see that she was standing on her ground. In the end, we decided to take a photo with me surrounded by all the children like bees flocking to a flower. I accepted my position in the center for today. I, too, was standing my ground against my own shyness too.


    "Alright, just a few more shots!" the Creative Director I recognized from the PR photoshoot I did before announced.


    A perfect picture to mark a perfect ending for a perfect day.


    "Chee-"


    But before the word could finish, there was an extremely loud sound - bang.


    I suddenly found myself on the ground with Luc lurched over me, and heard more foot steps running toward me. Luc¡¯s body was now pressing down against me as Cain and Abe threw their bodies on top of Luc.


    I heard panicked screams. I tried to poke my head out to see what¡¯s going on but Luc instantly forced my head down to stop me from writhing around. From a very slight gap in the pile of bodies I was now buried under, I saw Bada laying on the ground with blood blooming across her small dress.


    "No!" I screamed.


    With the strength that I had never felt in my life before, I managed to wiggle my way out of Luc¡¯s embrace. Cain and Abe tried to catch me and hold me back, but I was quick to run to Bada and kneel next to her. From the corner of my eye I saw Bada¡¯s Mom run toward us too, but she was quickly stopped by Cain who forcibly held her back.


    "Bada-. Oh my God. No. No!"


    I pressed on her chest where the blood was flowing out. She was still alive. Her eyes were searching for help. Her hands were twitching and legs spasmed. She coughed out of blood, and the thick crimson liquid was forming a pool underneath.


    "Hang in there!"


    I looked up and looked around, my eyes were also desperately searching for help - a miracle.


    "Somebody! Somebody help!"


    My heart was pounding inside my head. My eyes were pulsating. Tears exploded as I looked down at Bada again. It felt like her life was escaping through her eyes.


    "Luc! Please-! Do something!"


    There were still people screaming and running, the lobby was filled with panic. Amdist this chaos, Luc stood still. She was just a few steps away from me, but her eyes were fixed on me, not on the dying child.


    "Please, Luc. Please-. We can¡¯t... we can¡¯t let her..."


    I couldn¡¯t force myself to say the word.


    "Stay awake, Bada. I¡¯ll save you. I¡¯ll find a way-. No! Don¡¯t-, don¡¯t close your eyes!"


    But there was nothing I could do. I looked around again. Cain stood with a solemn face while holding Bada¡¯s mother back. Abe was close to me with his eyes full of pity and sympathy. Luc stood still. Motionless. Still looking at me.


    I let out a primal scream.


    I never wanted a miracle this badly in my life.


    I was willing to give.


    I was willing to give anything and everything to save this girl. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bada couldn¡¯t say a word as blood kept on flowing out of her mouth. Her hands were twitching less. Her body spasmed less. I could feel it. She was dying. The little girl who loved sea animals. The little girl who drew a shark like a seal. The one who promised to draw me next to a manta ray.


    "Luc! Please... I can¡¯t... I can¡¯t..."


    I could no longer bear to look at the dying girl. There was nothing anyone can do now. My eyes were now only fixed on Luc as if she was some kind of a savior who could bring a miracle. It was irrational, futile. But I was breaking down. I felt like Bada would die the moment I lost hope and gave up. I owed it to her. I owed it to her to not give up and pray for a miracle even if such a thing couldn¡¯t happen in this world.


    I saw that Luc¡¯s fingers twitched once, then stilled.


    Then she took in a slow, deep breath, closing her eyes.


    "Bo-, Boss...?" Abe stuttered.


    Luc said nothing. She kept her eyes closed like that for a moment. I felt like all the screaming sound in the lobby were vanishing. There was only Luc, standing a few steps away from Bada and I.


    "Luc... please..."


    Then she opened her eyes.


    Her eyes reflected nothing.


    They contained nothing.


    They were infinite.


    Then Luc said the word.


    Just one word.


    A word that commanded the world.


    "Darkness."

 Chapter 20: Darkness

    Chapter 20: DarknessThe entire world turned dark.


    Not the kind of dark after lights go out. Not the kind of dark on a moonless night. It was kind of darkness where light had never existed in the first place.


    Yet, I could see Luc. Clearly.


    I looked down and there was Bada, still bleeding to death - and I could see my own hands too. They looked pale, and covered in the little girl¡¯s blood.


    Scanning around, I saw that Cain and Abe were still there too.


    But nothing and no one else was around anymore.


    It was as if we were in galactic space with no stars or planets. It felt like the time before the universe existed, or the time after the universe vanished.


    Our bodies did not float, but rested on the invisible floor of gravity that spread out from Luc¡¯s feet.


    "How-, what is this?"


    I asked but Luc did not answer.


    Her eyes contained - and emitted - suffocating darkness, yet somehow, I could sense infinite sadness in them as she looked down at me.


    "Velin," Luc spoke, addressing the nothingness.


    Something stirred in front of her. It was invisible, intangible, but its presence could be felt. Every vein in my body filled with dread. Every cell in my body was rejecting it.


    "I need a confirmation."


    As Luc requested, the ominous presence moved closer to where Bada laid, hovering over her dying body.


    "One minute forty two second," the presence spoke. It was a genderless voice that could equally be a child or the oldest person in history.


    "Deal," Luc stated. Firmly.


    "Deal." The voice confirmed. With finality.


    The presence then drifted away slightly, and Luc commanded again.


    "Nabir."


    Out of the invisible ground that Luc sustained, Nabir - the man with a muzzle whom I saw in the Offering Room, emerged.


    "Yes, Mistress," the tall man, whom I wasn¡¯t even sure anymore if he was a human, responded once he finalized his manifestation.


    "You have one minute."


    With that, the muzzle over his mouth dropped off. An irrepressible jolt rippled through his body. His fingers extended, nails sharpening into beastly claws. His ears grew pointed, his eyes burned with fire. After one deep flare of his nostrils, Nabir dropped to all fours¡ªthen galloped forward with such ferocity he vanished from sight within seconds


    "What¡¯s... happening, Luc?"


    But her lips were sealed tight. She said nothing.


    "One minute twenty second," the presence - the one that Luc called Velin - announced.


    I looked down at Bada and she was completely motionless now. Her eyes closed.


    I brought my head down and checked for her breath. I could hear none. But when I desperately searched for her heartbeat, I could feel it. It was very faint, but it was there.


    Luc still said nothing and I was at a complete loss. Utter confusion and fear. Fear like I¡¯d never felt before. I knew - I just knew that I wasn¡¯t in what could be called a normal world anymore. I felt like I was in a place that wasn¡¯t meant for humans to see.


    "Fifty four seconds," the voice again.


    I searched for clues.


    There were none.


    I looked at Abe. His eyes were closed. He didn¡¯t move. It was as if time had been suspended for him. There was absolutely no hint of the permanent smile he normally wore.


    Cain was the same. He stood motionless. But he no longer looked like a strong stone statue in this space. He looked fragile. As if his great body could disappear into nothingness any time.


    "Forty two seconds."


    I didn¡¯t know what was going on and I didn¡¯t know where Nabir had gone - and what he was asked to do - but I prayed that he¡¯d return. It seemed there was nothing anybody could do at this moment except to wait for Nabir to come back.


    "Thirty seconds."


    I studied Luc¡¯s face. She hadn¡¯t blinked once.


    She looked calm. Unaffected. Cold even.


    And she was in control.


    There was something majestic about her presence. She didn¡¯t only belong here. She didn¡¯t only fill up this place.


    She owned this space.


    "Twenty four seconds."


    Then Nabir came running back. I was relieved and horrified at once.


    His coat was covered in blood. His hands, his body - he was dripping blood from everywhere.


    And he was holding a bleeding human heart in his mouth.


    And this heart was still beating. It was impossible, but it was unmistakable.


    "Proceed," Luc commanded.


    With that, Nabir crawled over to me. My body flinched. Every hair on my skin was standing up. Yet, the blood in my veins didn¡¯t feel cold. There was something warm about Nabir¡¯s presence, like a fierce beast that learned to curb its aggression when near a friendly creature. As my body trembled, Nabir placed the bleeding heart just above Bada¡¯s head. The heart was still beating. Inexplicable, but that was the fact.


    "Done," Luc announced, his eyes locked onto the presence called Velin that I couldn¡¯t see but feel.


    "Done," the voice announced the confirmation.


    I then heard a loud gasp from below. I instantly looked down at Bada. She was still covered in blood, but now her eyes were open. My hand on her chest could feel that her heartbeat was restored. It was beating fast, but steady.


    "Bada! Are you OK?!"


    Before she could answer, the darkness around us started to fade, as if lights were now allowed to enter. I could see the floor now that was sticky with Bada¡¯s blood. I saw the last of sun beam before it sets grace the little girl¡¯s face. Tears of joy ran down my face. The relief, the joy - and the crushing guilt.


    I had let something terrible happen here.


    A miracle saved this girl . A miracle that I prayed for her.


    But in return, something catastrophic had happened.


    Just as the last remaining shade of darkness was disappearing, I heard the voice of Velin.


    "So unlike you, Luc." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luc did not answer.


    In her eyes, all I could see was eternal sadness.

 Chapter 21: The Council and the Heart

    Chapter 21: The Council and the HeartThe silver platter was set down with a soft, deliberate clink.


    I hadn¡¯t even seen Luc carry it in. One moment I was helping Bada cling to life in the blood-slicked lobby and the next, I was seated here - at the far end of a long, polished obsidian table that stretched like a blade through the chamber.


    The Senior Council Room.


    If I was told before that I would be coming here, or attending any sort of meeting that had the word ¡¯senior¡¯ in it, I would have freaked out. But at this point I just felt numb. My mind wasn¡¯t even trying to process what happened earlier. It all felt like a surreal dream, but the fear that lingered deep inside me told me that it was as real as anything can be - or worse, even more real than anything can pretend to be.


    In the chamber, everything was dark stone, glass, and old gold trim. High ceilings. No windows. Just a central candlelit chandelier, and shadows that flickered like creatures that were once alive.


    Shadows and darkness will never be the same for me again.


    Luc stood right next to me. Just one step to the left. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her eyes scanned the room, fixed on everyone - and on no one - all at once. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She hadn¡¯t said a word since we entered. Neither had the nine others seated before us. All dressed in ceremonial black with silver pins shaped like the Roen sigil. Seven men and two women. They had the air of people who¡¯d witnessed too much, and dreaded yet another sighting.


    Then she lifted the silver lid.


    It was the heart that Nabir brought earlier.


    But it was no longer red or pulsing with the impossible beat I¡¯d seen in the darkness. It was blackened, shriveled, its veins hard as charred roots. It looked like it had burned from the inside out until all its life was consumed. The heart didn¡¯t look like it will ever rot and wither. Instead, it seemed that this dead heart will remain in its form for eternity, fossilized.


    For a moment, no one breathed.


    Then one Councilman spoke. The one that was sitting closest to me, on my right.


    "You¡¯ve brought something unfitting into this room."


    His voice was crisp, clipped, and unimpressed. There was a hint of protest at what Luc had done. He looked up at Luc and their eyes met. But it didn¡¯t last long for him to avert his gaze apologetically.


    The air was oppressive. This place would have been an intimidating place to me under any circumstances, but I knew it was because of Luc that the air in this room pressed everyone else down with unbearable weight too.


    She said nothing for another full minute. Her eyes found each council member one by one. Intense stare. But she wasn¡¯t probing. She wasn¡¯t trying to read anyone. She was judging. And warning.


    "There was an attack on the heiress."


    Luc announced what everyone must have already known.


    She gave the Senior Council another full minute. This time not making eye contact with anyone, but just staring at the cold, blackened heart.


    The silence was finally broken as a Councilwoman cleared her throat. An elderly lady. Her hand, clad in a velvet glove, trembling slightly.


    "Who could it have been?" she inquired. There was a genuine intrigue in her voice.


    "Or more importantly... how could it have happened?" Another Councilman, sitting on my left side, posed a question.


    "Inside the Roen Tower?" yet another Councilman, now from the far end of my right side.


    "How could it happen, Luc?" a relatively young one asked, leaning forward a little.


    My gaze flicked across the table. A few looked up at Luc, while others seem to do their best to look away. The eyes of the councilwoman in the velvet gloves widened


    "Could you repeat the question again?" Luc asked the younger man again, somewhat casually.


    "How-"


    Suddenly, the man couldn¡¯t continue. It looked like he wanted to say something, but no words were coming out of his mouth. He began to sweat and his face started to turn pale. His hands on the table were twitching, and for a brief moment I felt like his eyes were going to turn black.


    "Stop this!" the eldest Councilman demanded.


    The younger one gasped, panting, finally catching his breath.


    "Luc, we will find them," the Councilwoman declared.


    "We will find this rat," another one pledged.


    "Leave it to us," the place was now becoming an echo chamber.


    Luc raised her hand to shush them all.


    "I leave this matter in your hands. I trust it will be dealt with."


    With that, she nodded to me once, signaling that we were leaving.


    I stood and looked around the table awkwardly. Everyone got up and politely bowed.


    After we left the room, we were walking down the long stone-walled hallway.


    "Luc... what is going on?"


    She said nothing.


    "Could you please explain? What was all that about... earlier?"


    She kept on walking, leading the way, without turning back.


    Her hands were clasped behind her back, but then I saw it.


    A very slight tremble, and a twitch on her finger. It was only for a split second and perhaps my eyes were deceiving me in this dimly lit place, but I felt it.


    "Are you OK?" I asked her.


    She took a few more steps, ignoring me, then stopped.


    Luc then turned, walked back to me again, and asked me in return.


    "Do I look not OK to you?"


    I studied her face carefully.


    "You look bothered. And... tired."


    She let out a quiet sigh, then spoke.


    "You sure are perceptive."


    "Is that a good thing?"


    "It makes you special."


    Special.


    That wasn¡¯t a word I was used to hearing.


    "And I wouldn¡¯t want to lose you."


    She turned again and we walked in silence.


    I had a million questions for her.


    But I was afraid of her answers.

 Chapter 22: The Fall of an Angel

    Chapter 22: The Fall of an AngelLuc didn¡¯t return to my office with me.


    As we reached my floor and the elevator door opened, I could see Cain standing by himself. He was statuesque as always, but tonight, he did not look like a warrior who could take on a horde of enemies all by himself. Instead, this statue looked heavy and worn out, a painful memory of brutal battle rather than a celebration of might.


    Luc simply excused herself, saying there was something urgent she needed to take care of. She stayed in the elevator and went straight back down as I was left with Cain.


    Cain was a man of few words. He hardly spoke, and when he did, he spoke in short and direct sentences. A polar opposite of Abe.


    With a simple gesture to signal that I should follow him, he started to walk.


    His steps were heavy, his bulky body tense. He positioned himself one step forward and one step left from me, keeping his pace steady.


    "Cain..." I was never good at chit-chat, but as the haze of today¡¯s confusion began to clear, my curiosity started to overcome my inhibitions.


    The man did not stop, but turned his head to face me while continuing to walk.


    "What was all that about today?"


    Cain did not respond. He turned to face forward again and simply progressed.


    "I can¡¯t make any sense of what I saw."


    He ignored me.


    "I need answers," I was growing insistent. Bold.


    But to no avail.


    "The darkness - you saw that too, didn¡¯t you? Bada was saved - thank God, but that wasn¡¯t normal. And Na-, Nabir. And then there was that voice. Luc called it-"


    I realized I couldn¡¯t recall its name.


    Cain finally stopped. Somewhat suddenly. He turned to face me again and spoke in his deep rumbling voice.


    "I saw nothing. And I suggest you saw nothing too."


    "That¡¯s a lie! You saw it. I saw it!"


    "I saw nothing."


    "I need to talk to Luc. Where did she go?"


    "She¡¯s busy."


    With that, I was facing his back again as he walked off, but this time with faster strides, our distance growing.


    There was a slight pain in my heart.


    Luc was busy.


    So busy that she couldn¡¯t even accompany me back to my room.


    After all that had happened today-


    She left me alone.


    I felt like if I couldn¡¯t talk to anyone about what happened today, if nobody would acknowledge my questions - let alone answer them - then even I would doubt myself and start to dismiss what I saw with my own eyes. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And maybe that was precisely what everyone was trying to do to me.


    Mustering up the courage, I jogged past Cain and blocked his path, standing in front of him. He was at least two heads taller than me, and double my body width. I felt incredibly small.


    "Cain. I want answers. What did really happen today?"


    Cain didn¡¯t move. But I felt that an answer was coming. He wasn¡¯t hesitating. He was trying to formulate his answer. Although he made a blatant denial just a moment ago, he came across as someone who couldn¡¯t lie very well. He was probably trying to answer me in a way that omits the truth but at least is not a lie.


    "Ma¡¯am is tired. She needs rest. I think you do too."


    This wasn¡¯t an answer I expected, but there was sincerity in his voice.


    He cared.


    He cared for Luc and he cared for me.


    "I understand," I gave up and I gave in. For now.


    After we arrived at the door of my office, Cain bowed, saw that I entered my room, and closed the doors.


    He was right after all.


    I was incredibly tired. I still needed to know what exactly had happened on this cursed day, but my body was telling me that it will have to wait.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I woke up on the office couch still in yesterday¡¯s clothes. There was a knock on the door. Before I could say ¡¯come in¡¯, the door opened and Luc walked in. She looked immaculate as ever, carrying a tray of tea.


    "Good morning, Miss Roen."


    For some reason, I was in no mood to greet her.


    It didn¡¯t feel like a good morning for me at all.


    Luc didn¡¯t seem to mind. She simply walked over and laid the tea tray on the table.


    Standing straight up again, Luc announced.


    "You will be receiving additional support from today."


    Before I could ask what she meant, she stepped aside, and a girl entered through the door.


    She was beautiful. Delicate, angelic. Her pale blond hair was smooth like silk, her light blue eyes glistening with charm. She had a button nose with a subtle upward tilt, porcelain cheeks with warm glow, and lips of a child. It was difficult to guess her age as she looked youthful but carried an elegance of a refined lady. She wore a fine white blouse with a black ribbon tie, cute and classy at the same time. Long black skirt flowed down from her waist to just below her knees.


    Luc gave her a nod and she took a step forward.


    Then she miraculously managed to trip herself somehow, landing hard on the carpet.


    It was so out of blue and startling I missed a beat, and Luc cut in to speak before I could ask the girl if she was OK.


    "This is Elune. She¡¯ll be looking after you."


    The girl blushed hard, but she bravely looked up, sought my eyes and introduced herself while she was still on all fours on the floor.


    "My name is Elune. I¡¯ll be looking after you! "


    I tried. I really tried not to laugh, but there was something really endearing about her and comical about the situation that I couldn¡¯t help but let out a short burst.


    "Thank you. I really appreciate it."


    Elune was still blushing, but her face bloomed with a genuine happiness.


    She had an angelic smile.

 Chapter 23: A Spoonful of Heaven

    Chapter 23: A Spoonful of HeavenElune moved like a spring breeze with occasional and unexpected flurry of wind in short bursts. At times, it seemed she had mechanical limbs with screws loose; at other times, she moved like the hands of a clock that didn¡¯t tick, but glided in one smooth, continuous motion. As she oscillated between floating grace and clumsy fawn, I was amazed how someone could have the equal amount of dexterity to be a total klutz and pull off reflex recovery at the same time. She¡¯d drop something for no reason at all but manage to catch it before they hit the ground, and she looked like she was going to trip and fall only to balance herself again like a ballerina.


    All in all, there was something charming about the way she moved from task to task, humming faintly as she wiped surfaces that were already spotless and preparing my breakfast.


    Luc had left immediately after introducing her, with a simple "She will report to me directly." It was a puzzling statement that left a lingering question whether Elune was assisting me or assisting Luc.


    Regardless, it became clear that Elune was fully dedicated - and eagerly so - in serving my every needs, going far beyond what was reasonable.


    I sat on the couch while Elune prepared breakfast on a silver tray. Porridge with delicate flower-shaped garnishes, freshly peeled fruit, and tea in a white ceramic cup with a black rim. A porcelain spoon rested beside it asking me to pick it up just to feel its smooth surface. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You don¡¯t have to go this far," I said, starting to feel a little uncomfortable with all the pampering.


    "I must," she replied with a proud smile - proud to be serving royalty.


    The breakfast was good. I only touched the porridge - which I normally hated - out of obligation as I didn¡¯t want to undermine Elune¡¯s effort, but once I started I could not stop.


    After I set the spoon down and looked up, I saw that Elune was buttering my croissant for me.


    "Seriously, I can do it myself."


    "Unacceptable. Miss Roen shouldn¡¯t have to endanger her fingers with crispy bread crumbs."


    "It¡¯s not like croissant is going to cut my skin..."


    "Oh, they could. What¡¯s worse, they might even bite you."


    With that, Elune pointed the buttered side of croissant to me and gave it a few squeezes, making it look like a sandworm from Dune opening and closing its mouth.


    It was a little too much butter for me, but again, I couldn¡¯t possibly disappoint this dedicated girl who was pulling out all stops to cater to my every needs.


    "Please say ah- Miss Roen."


    "Right, now that¡¯s going too far. Please, I¡¯ll eat it myself."


    But when I saw her pout, a face that she hadn¡¯t show all morning despite all the workload she put on herself, I could only obey and open my mouth and be fed like a child.


    "How is it?" Elune asked, not really to hear my honest feedback, but to hear my praise.


    It was a perfection though and I did not need to lie. I was completely wrong about the butter too. It was just the right amount to make me smile.


    "It¡¯s perfect. Really perfect."


    "Thank you, Miss Roen."


    She seemed genuinely delighted.


    The charming girl then scooped a spoonful of strawberry jam as she held the other half of the croissant that wasn¡¯t melting in my mouth yet.


    "Would you like to try with some jam too?"


    It wasn¡¯t a question, but a command.


    "I¡¯d love to. But that is a bit too much..."


    "Please, trust me, Miss Roen. This is the perfect amount."


    There was no resisting her. I opened my mouth again then immediately regretted - what am I doing? I¡¯m getting too comfortable with it too quickly!


    Elune seemed to have read my mind, giving me an invisible head-pat with her smile.


    Again, the jam was good. Too good to be true. If this was a forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden, I would have eaten it knowingly and just accept the banishment.


    "Where do you get all this stuff? The food is just amazing... the croissant, butter, jam..."


    "I made them myself."


    "You did?!"


    "Yes, Miss Roen. I hope it is to your liking."


    I thought it was such a waste. She must be the nation¡¯s most treasured patissier instead of making food for someone like me.


    "Have you ever considered career change?"


    "Oh, no! I¡¯m sorry. Is it that bad?"


    Her expression instantly changed, her eyes glistening, as if tears could drop from those beautiful eyes any second.


    "No, no! That¡¯s not what I meant!"


    I frantically waved my hands.


    "Worse than bad?" Even her voice seemed to be trembling now as she clasped her hands in front of her chest.


    "Not at all! I just thought..."


    Expectant eyes - hoping for words of forgiveness from someone who undeservedly sat on a divine throne.


    "If you opened a shop selling these things... people would queue for hours to buy them. I know for certain that I would."


    Then her eyes lit up with joy.


    She bowed her head - and her entire upper body - multiple times in a flurry of gratitude.


    "Thank you, Miss Roen. Thank you so much! I¡¯ve never received such a praise before!"


    "Im- impossible... didn¡¯t Luc ever tell you?"


    Elune straightened her body, her eyes gazing somewhere distant - wistful.


    "She did say once... that they were acceptable."


    "Wha-? How cruel..."


    "Yes! She is very cruel sometimes!"


    Then, suddenly, the air around us froze, and an icy voice pierced the room.


    "Who are you calling ¡¯cruel¡¯?"


    In a typical Luc¡¯s fashion, she stood just behind Elune, her eyes slightly narrowed.


    "Eeek!" poor Elune turned to find Luc, jumped back, and landed on my lap.


    Then as if she was a bouncy gym ball, she immediately jumped up again, turned to my side this time, panicking, her head crashing down in an apologetic bow-


    "Ouch..."


    The clumsy girl ended up headbutting me with full force and we made a loud thud. I felt like my head was spinning and I was seeing the stars before my eyes.


    "Are you OK, Miss Roen?!"


    Elune yelped, and although my head really hurt, I could only comfort her.


    "I... I¡¯m fine... are you OK?"


    "Ye... yes."


    "Elune."


    We both froze as Luc called her name.


    "Come with me," she commanded and turned to walk away.


    Elune looked at me once, then at Luc¡¯s back, and me once again, sighed, and started to follow Luc.


    "S- stop."


    I also commanded, but with a fraction of authority in my voice compared to Luc.


    "She... she just made a simple mistake. It¡¯s fine... She¡¯s doing a great job here."


    I felt obliged to defend her, but also, I meant everything I said.


    Luc stood still for a moment, not turning back, and simply said.


    "Very well, Miss Roen. I¡¯m glad Elune is of use to you."


    With that, she walked off, and Elune looked at me with the eyes of a puppy that had just been rescued.

 Chapter 24: The Velvet Invitation

    Chapter 24: The Velvet InvitationIt was perhaps half an hour after Luc left. Just as Elune was tidying up after I finished the heavenly breakfast, we heard a knock at the door.


    "I will get it, Miss Roen."


    Elune was quick to respond, and hurried to the door and opened it. Curious who it might be- since I rarely received visitors to my office other than Cain, Abe, and Luc, I followed her with cautious but keen steps. But immediately after she opened the door, Elune gasped and closed it again.


    "Who is it?" I asked her. More curious than alarmed.


    "We need to contact the Mistress."


    She probably meant Luc.


    People addressed her in many different ways¡ª¡¯Luc,¡¯ ¡¯the Mistress,¡¯ ¡¯Ma¡¯am,¡¯ and, as Abe occasionally slips, ¡¯the Boss.¡¯ But whatever title was she was addressed with, she commanded respect, authority, and sometimes - it seemed - fear.


    There was a knock on the door again. It wasn¡¯t aggressive, but it definitely sounded a little firmer.


    "It¡¯s kind of rude to shut the door on them like that... isn¡¯t it?" I asked Elune. Nervously.


    "But I don¡¯t think the Mistress would approve," her voice mirrored my own nervousness.


    "Am I in danger?" my heart started to beat faster.


    "I will call Cain and Abe."


    Elune¡¯s answer wasn¡¯t particularly reassuring - why would I need Cain and Abe if these visitors were not dangerous? And why - and how - would I be receiving guests that are potentially dangerous in my own office - at the top floor of the Roen Tower? Wasn¡¯t I supposed to be... safe here? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We came to deliver a message from Councilor Zhen," a man spoke just outside the door. His voice was stern and commanding. It signaled that they weren¡¯t going to leave until the message was delivered, as if their life depended on it.


    The ever-cheerful girl was now visibly nervous - more than before. She had just called in Cain and Abe to come.


    The men outside - however many there were - didn¡¯t exactly bang on the door, but there were several more knocks, each time growing slightly louder.


    Then it stopped.


    Elune placed her ear against the door to check what was happening outside, looked over at me, and mouthed ¡¯Abe is here.¡¯


    After another thirty seconds or so, we heard the knock again.


    "Elune, this is Abe. Open the door."


    It was unmistakably Abe¡¯s voice, although it sounded uncharacteristically tense.


    Hearing the familiar voice though, Elune finally opened the door again.


    Abe put on a friendly smile that I could tell wasn¡¯t so genuine.


    "Miss Roen, these gentlemen are sent by Councilor Zhen," he introduced.


    "Ni... nice to meet you," I greeted.


    Two men said nothing, just silently bowing their head, bending their body ninety degrees to show the deepest respect. After that, one of them presented me with an envelope that had a wax seal. I hadn¡¯t seen anything like this before except in the movies.


    "Miss Roen, you have been invited for a tea with Councilor Zhen," the man spoke.


    Elune came close and whispered in my ear, "It¡¯s the lady with velvet gloves."


    That helped me remember the lady I saw in the Senior Council the day before.


    In the absence of Luc for guidance, I looked at Abe for guidance.


    "I recommend you attend, Miss Roen."


    "Where is Luc?" I inquired.


    "She is not in the tower now," Elune answered instead.


    I felt anxious. Although this ¡¯lady with velvet gloves¡¯ looked relatively less scary than others I saw at the Senior Council, she still carried an aura of high status, like someone who lived on a different plane compared to before I joined the Roen Group - but now, I reminded myself, I was Lin Roen the Heiress.


    I didn¡¯t do a very good job at hiding the tremble in my hand, but nevertheless, I accepted the envelope with two hands and brought it back to my desk, remembering there was a letter opener in the drawer. It wouldn¡¯t have been appropriate to rip this envelope open.


    Although there was only a single sheet of paper inside, it felt heavy. The paper was thick with rich texture, almost feeling like it was woven with a thousand threads. The hand writing was very elegant, the words simple and polite.


    Miss Roen,


    Please grace the Zhen Tea Room with your presence at your convenient time.


    Councilor Lian Zhen


    It wasn¡¯t as if I could actually choose a convenient time when her two men were waiting outside my door with Elune and Abe looking nervous - I couldn¡¯t possibly decline. Also, my gut feeling told me that Councilor Zhen was the kind of woman who didn¡¯t send invitations - she sent summons.


    I quietly resented Luc in my heart for leaving me alone at a time like this.


    First, she sent me back to my room alone last night, then brought Elune to look after me this morning - although she was great - and now she¡¯s away when I¡¯m requested for a one-on-one meeting with a Councilor.


    I placed the letter in my drawer and headed out of the door. The two messengers from Councilor Zhen began to escort me, and I was surprised that Abe wasn¡¯t following me.


    "Abe... you are... not coming with me?"


    "Coucilor¡¯s staff will guide you, Miss Roen. I will contact the Boss immediately,"


    Abe gave me a smile, but I saw it - something clenched behind his easy expression. He didn¡¯t like letting me go alone.


    Of course.


    Everyone in this Roen Tower had their place in the hierarchy. As close as Abe was to Luc and seemed to work under her direct command, it wasn¡¯t his place to challenge the messengers sent by a Senior Councilor. I was genuinely scared of what might happen to me.


    But surely - I told myself - a member of Senior Council won¡¯t do anything harmful to me... right?


    I tried my best to steady my heart, and not look at the floor as I followed the two men in oriental collar suit sent by this Councilor Lian Zhen.


    I brought my hand to my chest and felt the brooch I was ceremonially awarded and pinned on by Luc during the first Council meeting. Its silvery surface felt smooth to the touch, and I felt it reciprocated the heat of my shaky hand.

 Chapter 25: The Zhen Tea Room

    Chapter 25: The Zhen Tea RoomThe Zhen Tea Room was old - exquisitely maintained, like a beauty preserved by a meticulous taxidermist centuries ago. It was a curious blend of cultures, although it leaned more toward Eastern Asian style than European. The velvet walls of dark jade-green had embroideries of lotus flowers. The chandelier was adorned with faint red rice papers. The subtly flowery scent in the air had undertones of burning incense sticks.


    As I walked in, escorted by the two messengers that came to ¡¯invite¡¯ me over here earlier, Councilor Zhen came and greeted me with a perfectly angled polite bow. It was a bow that showed great respect, but not deep enough to signal submission.


    "Thank you very much for coming, Miss Roen," the lady had a gentle, whispering voice that carried cryptic wisdom.


    "Thank you for the invitation, Councilor,"


    "It is an honor to receive you here. I do apologize that I did not reach out sooner"


    "It-, it is fine."


    After the suitable pleasantries were exchanged, she gestured for the two messengers to leave the room and led me to the table at the center.


    The wooden table was simple yet expertly polished. Its surface was natural and smooth, just like the chairs and other items around the room. It was as if they had a tree that grows to become furniture.


    The Councilor lifted a porcelain teapot and poured me a cup. It had no handles, but the thickness of it meant it didn¡¯t feel too hot to touch.


    "Please try the tea. This is a proud product of my family."


    I took a sip. It had a kind of bitterness that made you want to drink more. At least as good as the tea I had in the Garden that Luc took me for a break before.


    "It¡¯s great."


    "Thank you, Miss Roen."


    The lady sat on her chair giving an impression of leaning forward, like a keen and attentive listener. Her dark olive-green velvet glove covered hands floated in mid-air, clasped just at the point where poise ended and discomfort began.


    her hands floated in mid-air, clasped just at the point where poise ended and discomfort began.


    I wasn¡¯t quite sure what to say next. I wanted to ask her about why she asked me to come, but felt that might come across as offensive and give an impression that I didn¡¯t want to socialize with her - ¡¯why do I need to be here if it¡¯s not for a specific purpose?¡¯ type of attitude.


    "How do you like the Roen Tower so far?" she led the conversation, thankfully.


    "I... think this place is great," the greatest prison in the world - for me.


    "Have your people been serving you well?"


    "Everybody has been very helpful."


    "I see."


    The short pause was a cue to take another sip of this addictive drink.


    "My family - the Zhen family - has been serving the Roen family, and consequently the Roen Group, for over three hundred years now," she declared proudly.


    "That is great. And, um, thank you for your service," I didn¡¯t like saying the second part. It sounded too patronizing in my mind, but that seemed to be the right thing to say as the heiress.


    "Thank you for your acknowledgment, Miss Roen."


    Another sip.


    Am I drinking too fast?


    There was a little concern, but the tea soothed it away.


    A minute passed without either of us saying anything. With each second my nervousness grew. I felt that as the ¡¯leader¡¯ acknowledged by the Council and wearing this brooch on my blazers, I should be the one who lead the conversation. Wasn¡¯t that expected of the leaders?


    Not that I ever embraced that role though... not even now.


    "You may be wondering why I brought you the inconvenience to visit this place."


    Thankfully, Councilor Zhen broke the silence.


    "Oh, it¡¯s not inconvenient at all! Please don¡¯t worry," Only inconvenient to my heart.


    "The incident on the other day - that was quite tragic."


    "It certainly was..."


    "I am so grateful that you haven¡¯t been harmed."


    "Indeed..."


    "But I heard a little girl was hurt during the chaos?"


    My heart sank. I knew she was ¡¯saved¡¯. Somehow. She was well enough to run to her mother, crying - as if she¡¯d never been hurt.


    How all of that happened was still a mystery to me that I had to confront Luc about.


    "And she was miraculously saved," the Councilor continued.


    "Thank God she was."


    "Did you see anything - strange?"


    My chest tightened. Blood rushed through the veins in my forearms. The images of the scene were replaying in my mind.


    "No," I lied.


    "It was truly a miracle then," the lady accepted and took a sip. I did the same.


    "Had... anybody been attacked like this before?"


    "Not for a very long time."


    "When was the last time? What happened?"


    She then put her cup down, clasped her velvet gloved hands, and looked into my eyes.


    "But never inside the Rowen Tower."


    Something felt off. The young Councilor at the Senior Council meeting said the same thing. It was almost as if an attack taking place in the Rowen Tower was more shocking than a dying girl suddenly getting healed, a heart removed from human body still beating, and the darkness...


    "However- I don¡¯t think it¡¯s something you need to worry about now," Councilor Zhen suddenly broke into a comforting smile.


    "There are many things I do not understand..." I confessed.


    "You have arrived and ascended to your position at a turbulent time. After an unprecedented tragedy."


    I could only respond with silence.


    "But please be assured. That the Senior Council is here to assist you in any way we can. If there is anything you need - anything you need at all, please do not hesitate to contact me."


    "I will... thank you. Councilor."


    "Especially when you cannot find an answer to the truth you seek - if you feel that having a chat over tea could comfort you, and provide you with a... different perspective - then the Zhen Tea Room is always open for you."


    "I really appreciate it." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The cryptically reassuring smile of Councilor Zhen and her tea left me with both comfort and unease in my heart.

 Chapter 26: So this is good bye

    Chapter 26: So this is good byeI was escorted back to my office by two helpful - and intimidating - guards from the Zhen Tea House. Neither of them spoke, but that was fine by me because I wasn¡¯t sure what to say either.


    The cryptic words of Councilor Zhen played over and over in my mind. She knew - she knew that something strange had happened at the lobby of the Roen Tower when Bada got shot and was miraculously saved.


    ¡¯Darkness¡¯ was all Luc said and the world got engulfed as she commanded. Nabir turned into a cross between human and some mythical beast. Cain and Abe were simply ¡¯paused.¡¯ And then... there was that whole weird ¡¯presence¡¯ whose name I couldn¡¯t remember, except the incredible weight of dread it brought to me, some sort of primal fear.


    Just as if she read my mind from many, many floors away, I saw Luc standing by the window as soon as I returned to my office. She stood there looking outside with her hands clasped behind her back. Upon hearing the door close behind me, she slowly turned.


    "Welcome back, Miss Roen."


    "Welcome back, Luc."


    "I apologize for my absence at the most inopportune moment."


    "Or rather, it seems your absence brings inopportune moments," I hadn¡¯t completely gotten over the mild but nagging annoyance at how she had been seemingly avoiding me since the incident.


    Luc simply smiled, and walked toward me, stopping a few steps away as she usually does.


    "How was the tea?" she asked.


    "Bitter."


    She then studied my face, probing my thoughts with her eyes. Out of spite, I tried to hold a poker face, but it didn¡¯t work.


    "I see that Councilor Zhen said some unnecessary things."


    Damn. Can I not hide anything from this woman? It was as if my thoughts were written all over my face and she simply head to read them to figure out what was in my mind.


    But perhaps I could use this opportunity to probe into the mysteries.


    "She knew something ¡¯strange¡¯ happened the other day."


    "Did it?"


    That made me snap.


    "You know what I¡¯m talking about! Could you please explain everything to me now?!"


    Luc startled me by gently taking my hand. She felt very cold, almost like ice.


    Without a word, she led me to the window and we stood side by side. The city underneath was calm.


    "How does it feel to have the world at your feet?" she asked. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s funny - actually, not funny at all - how the world below me is crushing me."


    "Doesn¡¯t it make you feel powerful? To have everyone bow to you, to have everyone eager to cater to your every need, to have your entire future secured?"


    Her eyes fixed on mine felt like lie detectors. I had nothing to hide, but it made me nervous nevertheless.


    "I..."


    Luc granted me a moment of hesitation, as if she understood I wanted to confess something I wasn¡¯t able to say since I came here. Out of obligation.


    But I decided to face it. This circus couldn¡¯t continue like this forever. Even if it could, it wasn¡¯t right for me to be here.


    "I just want to go home."


    "Would you-" Luc turned to face me, "really leave if you could?"


    I turned to her as well. There was a shade of melancholy in her eyes. This wasn¡¯t like Luc that I¡¯d become used to seeing.


    It made me hesitate for a moment.


    It hasn¡¯t been long since I was thrust into this office, and it was all just a catastrophic error and misunderstanding, but-


    It saddened me to think that I¡¯d never see Luc again if I left.


    And why would I?


    There was nothing that binds us together. As helpful and supportive she had been, we were not friends in any shape or form.


    I meant nothing to her. And she meant nothing to me. I was just a stray dog who was taken in by a kind host for a while, who mistook me as the puppy he had lost a long time ago. With each day the burden in my heart grew. The more people pampered me the greater unease I felt. There were highlights for sure - visiting the aquarium with kids definitely stood out as a memory I would treasure. But even that... led to a disaster where Bada almost died. All because of me.


    The longer I stayed here, the more I would end up hurting people around me.


    What I had to do now was clear.


    It was time for me to leave.


    "Thank you for everything..."


    That was all I could say.


    "The pleasure was mine," Luc responded, not missing a beat. It was as if she expected this from the start all along.


    I felt a pang in my heart.


    I couldn¡¯t explain it.


    "You may leave tomorrow. I will have Elune pack your bags."


    My heart sank.


    Why am I feeling this way...?


    I said I wanted to go home, didn¡¯t I?


    Why do I feel so surprised - or worse, hurt - that my wish was granted and I get to leave this suffocating place? Shouldn¡¯t I feel relieved?


    There was no turning back, and I had no good reason to change my mind. But something inside me was stirring.


    My brain was telling my heart that we can only find comfort once we get out of this place and go where we really belong - the comfort of solitude in a cramped one-room studio littered with junk food packages and crumpled clothes.


    Yet, my heart grew heavy. I felt like I had a stubborn child inside me who planted her feet and refused to budge no matter how hard I pulled. Against all logic, this child wanted to stay.


    "So... this is... good bye?" I asked, just one last time - waiting for the nail in the coffin.


    "It is. Indeed. I wish you well, Miss Roen."


    Those were her last words. She just gave me a polite bow, turned, and walked away.


    You are so cruel, Luc. Why couldn¡¯t you try to persuade me to stay, at least just once - out of formality?

 Chapter 27: Elune鈥檚 Room

    Chapter 27: Elune¡¯s RoomElune was in tears.


    While she didn¡¯t fully break down and wail, she had been shedding tears for an hour since she started to pack ¡¯my¡¯ things.


    But none of them were actually mine. Luc had given the instruction that I could - and should - take anything I need. I insisted that I would leave just with the old suit and shoes that I wore to come here, taking nothing with me, but Elune was irresistibly insistent that I take away with me the ¡¯best of the best¡¯ from my wardrobe.


    She pleaded with me to stay. Just for another month. Just for a fortnight. Just for a week. Just for another day.


    I firmly refused every time, but seeing her so sad like that made it harder each time.


    I couldn¡¯t quite understand. It was easy to see that she was a very gentle person and soft in the heart. And she was extremely nice to me earlier in the day before I had to go to the Zhen Tea Room. But it was incomprehensible that she could be so genuinely heartbroken over me leaving - someone she hardly knew.


    On one hand this made me feel extremely guilty, bringing such distress to an angelic girl. On the other hand, it started to strengthen my resolve, ironically. It was a clear sign that I was needed - and wanted - as Lin Roen the CEO of the Roen Group. It did not matter who I was or what people knew about me. My position made me someone to be adored so unconditionally. It wasn¡¯t about me at all. It had nothing to do with me.


    "Miss Roen, could you please reconsider...?"


    She asked me again for the umpteenth time. It was hard for me to say yet another ¡¯no.¡¯


    I just shook my head to reject once again.


    Then she finally broke down. Her hands trembling, eyes closed yet tears pouring down uncontrollably. I wasn¡¯t good with such things, but I couldn¡¯t just stand and watch her suffer like that.


    I put my arm around her shoulder and tried to console her.


    "Elune... thank you for everything. But I¡¯m sure the next one that comes in will do much better than I could ever dream of. And I¡¯m sure they will be more deserving of your work too."


    That didn¡¯t seem to comfort her.


    "But then the Mistress will..." she muttered in between her sobs.


    "...Luc?"


    Then Elune gasped, covering her mouth with her palm as if she said something she shouldn¡¯t have.


    Something was really off.


    "Tell me. What about Luc?"


    She hesitated as if she was making a life changing decision. Her eyes darted around everywhere except meeting mine. Her hands fidgety.


    "It¡¯s OK. I won¡¯t tell anyone. Tell me what¡¯s wrong with Luc."


    She uncovered her mouth, brought her hands together in front of her chest in a prayer position. Her eyes were now full of determination.


    "The Mistress needs your help."


    My mind went blank for a second.


    "Need my... help? What could I possibly do for her? Is she unwell? Is there any problem?"


    "You not being around will be a problem. Yes, a BIG problem." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I don¡¯t understand."


    "The Mistress will become very ill if you went away - she may not even recover."


    "That doesn¡¯t make any sense at all..."


    Elune then looked around the room as if she was checking if there were any ears listening in.


    "Your presence is what holds her together," she whispered into my ear.


    The girl then brought her face very close to mine, staring right into my eyes, eyes full of expectation and excitement - that somehow she felt she convinced me to change my mind and stay.


    Surely, Elune was seriously misunderstanding something here.


    "Elune, Luc doesn¡¯t need me in any shape or form. I am just nobody..."


    "You are not! And you are absolutely needed here!"


    "Please explain..."


    Now completely sure of herself, having crossed some invisible line of her inhibitions I couldn¡¯t understand, Elune grabbed my hand and spoke.


    "Can I invite you to my room?"


    "...eh?"


    "Please, come!"


    With that, she literally dragged me across the room to exit the office.


    She was walking fast and her grip was impossibly strong. It felt like she could pick me up, carry me and run if she wanted.


    How could this girl slender girl be so strong?


    Just another abnormality that made no sense in this place...


    She led me through a corridor on my floor that I hadn¡¯t seen before. It was a complete dead end and only a plain gray wall stood before us.


    "Where are we going?"


    She just placed her palm on the wall, whispered something, and walked straight through it - dragging me along as if the wall were just a projection of an image.


    For a split second, my skin tingled all over. It was like walking through cold mist. The world bent. I felt my heartbeat stutter.


    And then¡ª


    We were on the other side.


    The new corridor that stretched in front of me seemed endless. It was lined with countless number of doors on each side. The place was very dark. Candles on the wall burnt in gray flame. I¡¯d never seen anything like that before.


    "Please close your eyes," Elune asked and I followed.


    We walked for what felt like a quite long time and then stopped. I heard a door creak open and it seemed Elune led me into the room now.


    "You can open your eyes now, Miss Roen."


    When I opened my eyes, I was surprised by how big the room actually was. It seemed impossibly big considering how close the doors were to each other in the hallway.


    I looked around and what caught my eye - or rather, what was impossible to miss was that all walls were covered with paintings and photographs of various sizes, much like the hallway that Luc showed me which had all the previous head of the Roen family on display.


    I walked closer to the nearest picture - an oil painting. It seemed very old, like centuries old. There were two people in the painting that I could recognize instantly. One of them was the First Roen - the Founder.


    And the other one was Luc.

 Chapter 28: Purge

    Chapter 28: PurgeI looked over to Elune. I knew it was just a painting so it was possible that somehow - someone like Elune, that wouldn¡¯t have been too unlikely for her - this painting of the Founder and Luc together was made recently. But that didn¡¯t make sense. Why would someone - even Elune - paint a picture like this now?


    I then moved on to the second painting, and again, there was Luc in it. It was yet another painting with the Founder. This time they were sitting at a table together, discussing something. They both carried rather serious expression, but their body gesture seemed animated. The looked like they were having some super interesting conversation and were excited about it.


    The next picture was also with Luc and the founder. They were standing but lurched over a table looking at some sort of a drawing made on a big paper. It seemed to be a blue print. They seemed to be planning something, and it was clear they were rather pleased with themselves for having come up with the plan.


    Then the story went on and on. At some point Luc was hunting with the founder. There wasa faint smile on her face. On another picture they were enjoying a glass of wine each, Luc leaning back on her chair casually, her legs crossed, her perfectly shaped nose taking in the scent of wine.


    After some more pictures, there was one where Luc was looking over the Founder laying on the bed. The Founder had aged a lot by then, and it seemed to be his last moment on his death bed. He was saying something, something very important. Surprisingly, there was no one else in the picture. Just Luc and the Founder.


    Luc stood there listening, attentively, and with great sadness in her eyes. She seemed genuinely sad at the passing of the Founder.


    But she didn¡¯t seem to have aged at all.


    In the next picture Luc was with a new young man that was not the Founder. But judging by the similarity of their facial features, it seemed he was the son of the Founder - the heir.


    Similar pictures followed. Luc with the new heir discussing, debating, and deliberating. There were now more pictures of the Roen Family and various events. The house was becoming bigger, the dinner tables were topped with more lavish food, the ceremonial events were getting grander.


    Yet, throughout all these pictures. Luc wasn¡¯t aging.


    Another death bed, another sadness in Luc¡¯s eyes.


    A new heir, a new excitement, a new enthusiasm.


    The Roen Family was growing prosperous, successful - powerful.


    And then -


    "Purge."


    A voice boomed inside the room. It was unmistakably Luc¡¯s voice.


    Elune shrieked and I felt a great force strike my body as well. I also yelped out in pain.


    And with a blink of eye, I found myself laying in the corridor just outside the ¡¯magical wall¡¯ that Elune took me through before.


    First thing I saw were the immaculately polished black leather shoes. I didn¡¯t even have to look up to confirm that it was Luc.


    "You¡¯ve done something unforgivable, Elune."


    Her voice was emotionless, but it carried fearsome tone of anger that made my body shiver.


    "I¡¯m sorry, Mistress!"


    "Go back to your room." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luc commanded and Elune hurriedly got up, threw a nervous and apologetic smile at me, and ran through the wall again, presumably to return to her room.


    "Luc... how... what was that?"


    "Miss Roen. I thought you were leaving the company."


    "I- I was."


    "You had no business in that room."


    "I¡¯m sorry."


    I then quickly got up on my feet, and bowed my head deeply to apologize.


    Luc did not respond. Instead, she took a step closer to me. I was scared. Very scared.


    It made me take a step back.


    With each step I moved away from her, she followed me with another step.


    Until my back was pressed against the wall and she held her face inches away from me.


    Her stare was intense. Impossibly oppressive. Overbearing. Foreboding.


    I felt like she could kill someone just by staring at them, and she probably would do that to me now.


    "Luc... I¡¯m really sorry."


    No answer.


    "Luc...?"


    Still no answer.


    "I..."


    But then I saw something flicker in her eyes.


    A hint of emotion, but not anger, not annoyance, not frustration.


    It was the same sort of amusement and joy I saw on her face in those old paintings earlier.


    The subtle smile she carried on her face as she was discussing things with the Founder.


    The quiet satisfaction at the corner of her lips as she witnessed an opening ceremony of some event.


    The faintest twinkle in her eyes as she was listening to a new heir.


    It was there. Unmistakable.


    And utterly incomprehensible.


    "What... is it?"


    She took a step back and her face broke into an innocent smile of a child.


    "Well, I suppose there¡¯s no choice now," she declared.


    My heart was at my throat. Was I going to be... punished?


    "Miss Roen."


    "Yes...?"


    "You will just have to stay with me now."


    "...eh?"


    "For a while. Just for a while."


    "Aren¡¯t.... Aren¡¯t you mad at me?"


    Then Luc reached out, dusted off my blazers, straightened the hems, took a step back to examine that everything was in order - and now satisfied, she turned to walk toward the ¡¯magic wall.¡¯


    "I am mad."


    So she WAS mad at me after all.


    "And..."


    I hated that she always made these dramatic pauses that made my heart beat faster for no reason.


    "A little happy."


    With that, she walked through the wall.


    I ran after her only to crash hard on the solid wall that wouldn¡¯t let me through.


    You are so cruel, Luc.


    How can you just leave after saying something like that...


    My mind was all over the place now.


    My knees were weak, my hands trembling, and my heart about to burst out of my chest.


    But I had to admit-


    I was happy.


    Just a little bit.

 Chapter 29: Let鈥檚 Go

    Chapter 29: Let¡¯s GoBack in my office, I sat on the couch completely spaced out.


    I was now completely certain that Luc - and Elune for that matter - were not normal in any sense of the word. What I experienced at the lobby after Bada got shot was not a mere illusion either. It was impossible to comprehend how things worked, but there was something definitely otherworldly about what was happening in the Roen Group.


    Elune showed me the past. In that past, Luc was always present. Right from the very start of the Roen Group¡¯s history. She was there by the Founder¡¯s side, and she stood with the heir after him, and every single subsequent heir after that - all the way down the generations to me now.


    How old is Luc? At least centuries old. And throughout these centuries, she hadn¡¯t aged at all.


    Luc was simply not human.


    Once I accepted that - as hard as it was - everything started to fall into place. Her impossible perfection in everything she did. How she seemed to know anything and everything. How she seemed to match, or even surpass, the authority of the Senior Council.


    Wait... does that mean - everyone in the Senior Council also knows what Luc is...?


    The cryptic words that Councilor Lian Zhen said were also starting to make sense. It seemed quite clear that she knew of Luc¡¯s nature. She knew that I was surrounded by ¡¯something strange¡¯.


    But why wasn¡¯t she open about it? Why did she specifically invite me to have a chat with her when Luc wasn¡¯t around?


    It was hard to believe that was a coincidence.


    She wanted to talk to me without Luc.


    After seeing all that had happened, and learning that Luc is beyond human - could I still trust her?


    "Miss Roen, the Boss asked me to check on you."


    Abe snapped me out of my thoughts. I didn¡¯t notice when he came in - all these people surrounding Luc seemed to do that - but he was now standing across the coffee table in front of the couch.


    "Abe..."


    "Yes, Miss?"


    "I¡¯m... scared."


    "You have no reason to be, Miss Roen." He seemed as relaxed as ever, or even - relieved.


    "Just who exactly is Luc?"


    "I¡¯m sorry, but it is not my place to say. I¡¯m sure the Boss will tell you someday."


    "How long have you been working with Luc?"


    "Far too long, hehe."


    "So you knew all this?"


    "I didn¡¯t mean to deceive you. I do apologize."


    Abe theatrically placed his palms in front of his chest in a prayer pose.


    "I don¡¯t know if I can trust you anymore." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Please don¡¯t take it too bad. The Boss doesn¡¯t talk much, but she means no harm."


    "Are you... allowed to tell me all this?"


    "The Boss knows how much I talk, hehe. She would have asked Cain to come if she didn¡¯t want someone chatty to come to you."


    That ticked me off.


    "I¡¯m not too happy with that... Luc should - if she has been hiding something from me... I want her to tell me directly."


    "Indeed, she should. But - I¡¯ve never seen her act like this before either."


    "What exactly is going on?"


    Then Abe looked around the room, unnecessarily checking that nobody was around.


    "The Boss won¡¯t admit it - and this is probably beyond what she wanted me to say, but Miss Roen, we really need you."


    "Need me?"


    "You are the one who holds everything together here."


    "Can¡¯t someone just talk straight for once?" My frustration was starting to boil over.


    Right at that moment, someone knocked on the door, and without waiting for an answer, the door opened and Cain walked in.


    "Ma¡¯am is ready," He announced.


    "I suppose we get going now then," Abe answered and looked at me.


    I got up from my seat, my heart starting to pick up speed in the anticipation of getting closer to the truth.


    "Am I going to see Luc now?"


    "Yes, Miss Roen," Abe beamed a smile.


    Suddenly doubts filled my head and I felt hesitant. If I followed them now, I¡¯d be let in on a secret that I probably wasn¡¯t meant to be a part of. Just yesterday I was ready to leave this place - return to my normal life, return to where I belonged.


    That place I belonged before was a place with no meaning. Just a solitary existence filled with no meaning. Wasting my time every day, doing nothing productive. The only productive thing I did was prepare job applications and feeling scared for hours on end before clicking on the send button on email - going over my resume over and over again, to check if I made any mistakes.


    And every time I did, it felt like my life was a mistake. I seemed to have fumbled all the chances I had been given. I never excelled at anything, and I never made anything substantial out of anything I tried.


    I learned to play piano. I never got good at it and eventually gave up. I tried to join some after school activities since I¡¯d entered middle school, but never managed to hand in the applications. I tried to make friends, but never worked up the courage to approach anyone.


    Years and years slowly flew by before my eyes.


    My only noteworthy achievement was getting hired by the Roen Group, but it became apparent that this was also just some mistake.


    But...


    Right now - although I was just an imposter here - strangely, I was surrounded by people who were committed to looking after me.


    I knew they didn¡¯t mean it. They didn¡¯t genuinely care for me. I was only being treated specially because of this title I had - the CEO of the Roen Group, the head of the Roen Family.


    Now was my chance to walk away from it. I was ready for it.


    If I followed Cain and Abe now, I would become part of something.


    Something bigger, something darker, something mysterious.


    And I may never be able to get out of it.


    But - I didn¡¯t want to run away again. Not this time.


    Perhaps living wasn¡¯t about making the right decisions through careful deliberation.


    So I decided. I decided to just empty my mind and do it.


    I clenched my fists to stop my hands from trembling. I drew a deep breath to steady my voice. Then I answered.


    "Let¡¯s go then."

 Chapter 30: The Answer

    Chapter 30: The AnswerI was led to the Garden that Luc brought me to before on my first - and so far only - real day off.


    The place didn¡¯t lose any charm for me on my second visit. It was just as tranquil and captivating as the first time - if not more, because now I could see and appreciate smaller details that I had missed before.


    Luc was waiting for me in the middle of the garden, under the old tree where we had tea before and Abe brought me that cheesecake. She seemed relaxed on her seat, casually - yet gracefully, as ever - sipping on tea while Elune stood behind her. I was glad to see that Elune wasn¡¯t punished too harshly for bringing me to the place that I shouldn¡¯t have been, showing me the things that I shouldn¡¯t have seen.


    I noticed that Cain was also standing behind Luc.


    "Thank you for coming, Miss Roen," Luc rose as I approached and greeted.


    "Thank you for inviting. Again."


    Luc responded with a faint smile and nodded to Elune, who pulled out a seat for me.


    Once we were both seated, Abe took a position behind Luc too, just next to Cain, while Elune stood by myself to tend to me.


    "I believe I owe you some answers," Luc opened the conversation.


    "I would appreciate it."


    "I will answer as much as I can - within limits."


    I didn¡¯t like that it came with a condition, but beggars can¡¯t be choosers.


    I took in a deep breath and fired away.


    "So what really happened at the lobby when Bada got hurt?" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Someone tried to take your life. Luckily you were saved. The little child was an unfortunate casualty."


    It hurt to hear that what happened to Bada was my fault.


    "But she was saved too."


    "Yes, she was."


    "How...? She was bleeding so much and even stopped breathing."


    "Are you unhappy she was saved?" Luc took another sip.


    "Of course not! But... it was unreal. I mean - how was that even possible, physically?"


    "A miracle, Miss Roen," Elune cut in. Luc glared at Elune, which made her hide behind me.


    "A miracle?"


    "I guess you could call it that," Luc sighed.


    "Was... everything I saw - was that all real?"


    "Memories can be deceptive, Miss Roen. People shouldn¡¯t believe everything they remember to be true." Elune didn¡¯t dare to interrupt this time so Luc answered.


    "I am VERY sure of what I saw. I won¡¯t be gaslit here."


    "Then tell me, what did you see?" Luc put the cup on the table, leaned forward, and clasped her hands on the table.


    "You said ¡¯darkness¡¯, and everything... really turned dark. Darker than pitch black, but I could still see you - Cain, Abe, Bada, Nabir, and - "


    "And?"


    For the life of me, I couldn¡¯t remember the name of that mysterious being.


    "There was... some sort of ¡¯presence¡¯. I can¡¯t clearly recall. But Nabir brought a heart - a beating heart... and Bada was saved."


    "I see."


    "So...?"


    "What you saw is what happened."


    This wasn¡¯t kind of an answer I expected. I wanted explanation.


    "Just like that? That doesn¡¯t explain anything."


    "Must everything be explained? What you saw is what happened. What more can I say?"


    I shook my head. This was a dead end. There were other things I could ask her, perhaps more important things.


    "I saw your pictures in Elune¡¯s room. You were there in every single picture. It was as if you¡¯ve existed for centuries," even without turning back, I could sense Elune fidgeting behind me.


    "I¡¯m sorry you had to see all that. It wasn¡¯t meant to be shown to you. Elune has foolishly kept unnecessary things, and even dared to show them to you. She will be suitably punished."


    "No, no! That¡¯s not what I meant! I want explanations - how?"


    "How? Is that the right question?"


    There was a twinkle of cheekiness in Luc¡¯s eyes. She was clearly amused.


    "OK, let me put it this way. Just who - or what - are you, Luc?"


    Luc then leaned back, closed her eyes for a moment, and opened them again to look at the leaves of the tree we were sitting under.


    "Is the answer to that question that important for you?"


    "Yes, it is-" I then built up the courage to continue, "and I won¡¯t leave this place without getting a proper answer."


    "Very well," Luc nodded her head and called out, "Elune."


    "Yes, Mistress!"


    "I¡¯m sorry, Miss Roen. But I am bound to secrecy and cannot answer your question directly. Elune will explain the situation to you. Within limits."


    I didn¡¯t like the bit about ¡¯limits¡¯ but that was better than nothing.


    "Please go ahead," I spoke to Elune, and she came out from behind my seat to position herself between me and Luc.


    "Miss Roen, the Mistress is not human."


    "Right. That explains everything - wait. What?!"


    Luc smiled. That was definitely a smile.


    "It is as you heard, and as you¡¯ve seen. The Mistress is not a mere mortal. She¡¯s something far grander than that, something more majestic, fantastic, more amazing than any human language can dare to describe-"


    "Elune, just stop," Luc frowned and shushed her with a wave of her hand.


    "Ahem-, so... Miss Roen, in short, the Mistress is an immortal."


    "No... no way..."


    "I believe that is sufficient for now," Luc announced. Satisfied.


    "No, no-, wait... you are not human... you have supernatural powers - you saved a dying girl... you brought her back to life... it can¡¯t be..."


    Now all eyes were on me. Elune and Abe exchanged knowing glances and nodded.


    My mind just blew off, but there was no denying the truth now. From what I¡¯d seen - things that Luc could do, just how perfect she was... it all clicked. No matter how unbelievable it was, there could only be one conclusion that made sense.


    "So... You are an angel...?"


    Luc spat out the tea. Elune covered her mouth. Both Cain and Abe flinched.


    "I- I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m not supposed to say that out loud, right?"


    Luc closed her eyes. A frown formed between her brows. She rubbed her temples.


    Cain and Abe turned around to face the other way. Elune rushed to clean the table.


    "That... that¡¯s not exactly..."


    Luc seemed rather shy in admitting it.


    "Right, right... I¡¯ll keep quiet about it... but it all makes sense now."


    Nobody said anything anymore and I figured it was the right time for me to shut up too.


    My head felt hazy and mind was jumping all over the place to process and accept something so unreal, but at the same time, I felt great warmth in my heart.


    So there are angels in this world after all...


    And I was being looked after by one.

 Chapter 31: The Promise

    Chapter 31: The PromiseMy feet felt light. My heart floated. If I had been alone, I might have even skipped on my way back to the office. But it was okay that I wasn¡¯t alone. An angel led the way, and I was surrounded by her entourage. It wasn¡¯t that I had suddenly come to embrace the position I was in, but I felt that if an angel - a real angel! - said I belonged here, then maybe I really did.


    Cain and Abe left at the door after escorting us to my office, and Luc, Elune, and I entered the place I could perhaps start to call home. I sat on the couch while Luc took a seat across from me, and Elune stood just behind. It was late afternoon. I¡¯d always loved the shade of sunlight at this time of day.


    "Nabir."


    Not so long after we settled down, Luc summoned the beast-man. Remembering the last time I saw him, I was still a little frightened, but I thought that if he was working for an angel like Luc, then he couldn¡¯t be a bad man - although I still wasn¡¯t quite sure what to make of the fact that he brought a living human heart to save Bada...


    Nabir emerged naturally from the ground at Luc¡¯s command, now that there was nothing left to hide from me. I liked that.


    The massive man knelt in front of Luc and handed her an envelope. Luc acknowledged with an appreciative nod and opened it, taking out a photograph. She studied it carefully, put it back into the envelope, and handed it over to Elune, who returned to the table - almost tripping on the way - and put it in one of the many cabinets that lined the wall.


    "Well done, Nabir. Wait for my command."


    With that, Nabir slowly sank back into the ground and disappeared.


    "Wow... so you really have... magical powers."


    "I¡¯m not too fond of showing them to others."


    "But you let me see them."


    "I suppose there is no reason to hide things from you anymore."


    But just as Luc was beaming an uncharacteristically warm smile at me, Elune returned to the table and exclaimed with excitement.


    "Does that mean Miss Roen will sign-"


    Elune¡¯s words were cut short as Luc glared at her. She fell to her knees, clutching her throat -as if she were choking herself.


    "Elune!"


    I jumped up from my seat and tried to support her, trying my best to force her hands off her throat, but I simply couldn¡¯t pull them away. Her face was turning beet red; she couldn¡¯t breathe.


    "Luc! What is this? Are you doing this to Elune?!"


    "Tsk."


    As soon as Luc ¡¯let go,¡¯ Elune stopped choking herself and gasped for air.


    "Don¡¯t ever mention that again, Elune," Luc ordered.


    "I... I¡¯m sorry... Mistress..."


    "Why did you do that to Elune?!"


    Perhaps it wasn¡¯t my place to question the actions of an angel, but this seemed overly cruel to me. Elune was an extremely nice girl, and I couldn¡¯t understand how what she was about to say offended Luc so much as to earn such wrath.


    Wait -aren¡¯t angels supposed to be nice and forgiving?


    "Please do not interfere in the affairs of myself and my... workers, Miss Roen."


    Gone was the warm smile on her face. Now Luc was back to her usual icy cold composure.


    "No. I can¡¯t let this happen," I decided to stand my ground on this one.


    "Excuse me?" My immediate rebuttal clearly caught Luc off guard.


    "Please do not do this to Elune again."


    It was the first time I had ever given Luc an ¡¯order.¡¯ I never thought I was capable of doing such things. Although technically I was her ¡¯boss,¡¯ I never felt that way about myself or in the short relationship since I came here. But if there ever was a time for me to exercise my ¡¯authority,¡¯ I felt now was it.


    "Is that an order?" Luc seemed amused.


    "Miss Roen, you don¡¯t have to -" Elune tried to cut in.


    "No, Elune. It doesn¡¯t matter if Luc is your boss or Mistress or whatever. This isn¡¯t right. You can¡¯t just accept being treated like this."


    I couldn¡¯t believe what I was saying.


    I never really got bullied or anything. I was too unnoticeable and insignificant to be bullied during my school days. I was simply not a fun or interesting target. But of course, I¡¯d witnessed plenty of such horrible acts in classes - I never even thought about standing up for anyone though.


    "Interesting." Luc tilted her head and blinked. There was no smile left on her face -only intrigue.


    "I know you are... special, Luc. But you can¡¯t be using your ¡¯power¡¯ like this."


    But the angel¡¯s only response was a look of "Go on."


    "So from now on, please don¡¯t do this to Elune again - or anyone, for that matter. Please don¡¯t hurt people."


    "What if I don¡¯t comply?" she asked, without missing a beat.


    "I... I don¡¯t know..."


    "Do you feel sad seeing people get hurt?"


    "Of course! Anybody would feel that way!"


    "Not everybody. At least not any Roen that I worked with before."


    "Then maybe it¡¯s time to change that." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luc slowly got up from her seat. She seemed to grow taller. She took a few steps toward me and leaned forward a little. I was still kneeling on the ground with Elune in my arms, still gasping for air.


    "Are you sure you don¡¯t want me to hurt people?" she asked again.


    "Yes, I am VERY sure. Please don¡¯t do it again. You must promise."


    Then a sly grin appeared on Luc¡¯s face.


    "A promise?"


    "Yes. Promise."


    Luc then let out a short laugh.


    "Haha. Very well, then, Miss Roen. I shall not hurt anyone. I promise."


    "Tha -thank you. I appreciate it."


    "But be aware. I do not break promises. Someday, when needed, you¡¯ll have to order me to hurt someone."


    "I would never order such a thing."


    Luc then placed her cold hand on my shoulder and said,


    "I really hope you stay that way, Miss

 Chapter 32: Meet the Directors

    Chapter 32: Meet the Directors"Miss Roen, the time has come."


    I was sweating so much on my palms and back of my neck that Elune was constantly wiping them off, looking worried.


    Elune dabbed my wrists with lavender oil. "For confidence," she said. Abe nodded solemnly, as if perfume could summon a CEO.


    "I... still don¡¯t feel ready for it."


    "It¡¯s fine to make them wait. In your position. But the longer you put it off, the grander your entrance will be."


    That¡¯s exactly how it was. I knew it too well. Hesitating outside the door, growing dread as each second ticked by, pressure mounting exponentially. This just felt like the first day of school.


    "Could you tell me again what I need to do, please...?"


    It was the sixth time I asked her, but Luc had infinite patience. Thankfully.


    "I do not believe anybody is expecting you to make any form of decision today. This meeting is more for you to get to know the key directors and what¡¯s going on in the company. People are there to report to you, not the other way around."


    "What if- what if I don¡¯t understand what they say?"


    "That¡¯s expected."


    "Mistress! Don¡¯t be so cruel!" Elune stood up for me.


    Thanks, Elune...


    "Couldn¡¯t I like... just read the reports or something?"


    Luc answered my question with a disapproving look and a slight shake of head.


    I was doomed.


    "Miss Roen, you will be fine! You are the great CEO of the Roen Group now!"


    That doesn¡¯t help me at all, Elune...


    "So, shall we proceed?" Luc asked one last time.


    I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes. My eyes were pulsating. I was seeing flashing green and red inside my eyelids. Heart beating on my finger tips.


    "Let¡¯s do it."


    With that, Abe opened the door and I walked into the meeting room with Luc following closely behind me. Another figure entered with us too - a tall, well-groomed man I hadn¡¯t seen before, dressed in a black tailored suit that that had the subtlest hint of elegant sheen. His voice was calm, composed, and slightly too steady - like someone who had rehearsed this moment many times before. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I don¡¯t think my presence entered the room first. People probably saw my toes first. All I could manage to do here was just gaze into nothingness.


    Not like a Roen at all.


    "Rise."


    A man I hadn¡¯t seen before, who was waiting inside the room standing near the seat at the head of the table where I was to plop myself on to, gave an order and everyone followed.


    "Welcome home, Miss Roen!"


    The booming voice filled the intimidatingly big meeting room. All in sync.


    "Tha- Thank you..."


    I probably sounded like a mosquito.


    Nevertheless, as was the case wherever I went in this Roen Tower, I was greeted with a warm smile of affection and respect by everyone.


    That calmed my heart a little. Just a bit.


    "Please be seated," the man announced and everyone obliged.


    I walked over - doing my best to not trip - and took my seat too.


    Elune did not accompany me to the room but now Luc and the man I hadn¡¯t seen before stood by my each side. The man stood unnervingly still, hands clasped behind his back, posture like a sentinel¡¯s. His eyes scanned the table not with suspicion, but with... comprehension. As if he knew exactly what would be said before it happened.


    Once everyone settled down, the elderly gentle man sitting nearest to me on the left rose, bowed deeply and spoke.


    "Thank you for coming, Miss Roen. We have been looking forward to this meeting. It is such a great honor to be part of this first meeting."


    "The ho- honor is mine."


    He gave a reassuring smile and continued.


    "We are the Managing Directors and Directors of the Roen Group. All Departments are represented. Strategy, Development, Project Management, Procurement, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Finance-"


    The man continued for a very long time.


    "-and the Security," he finally concluded.


    "Thank you..."


    "It is customary for us to each Director to provide the new Chief Executive Officer with summary report presentation. Now, if you¡¯d be so kind-" the man turned to a surprisingly young man at the end of the table and gave him a nod. He promptly got up and pressed a few buttons on a remote control. The lights in the room dimmed, a massive projector screen rolled down from the ceiling, and before long, the logo of the Roen Group lit up.


    The presentation started. The young man had a pleasant voice. Very composed and confident, refined and relaxed. The first slides showed a brief overview of the history of the Roen Group, which was kept impressively concise yet informative considering its long and illustrious history. Next slides went over the main business fields, which pretty much covered every conceivable industry from food to finance, agriculture to aerospace.


    It would have been a great understatement to say that I was overwhelmed.


    Me? ¡¯Leading¡¯ all this?


    It wasn¡¯t just impossible. It was laughable to even hope that I could make any contribution to this organization at all. Any confidence and comfort I had been building up for past few days quickly disappeared.


    Once the overview was over, each director gave me a brief overview of the current status and major activity from their department. By the third report, my brain was already overloaded and I wasn¡¯t taking in any information at all.


    The knowing nods of acknowledgment with friendly smiles around the table felt like a mocking gesture. I started to sweat again but Elune was around to wipe them away now. All I could do was do my share of nodding, trying to stagger them so that I don¡¯t look like some mechanical toy gone broke.


    "-and that will wrap up everything for now," the presenter concluded. I wanted to check the time but I was pretty sure this ¡¯overview¡¯ lasted for at least an hour.


    "Any questions, Miss Roen?"


    The Managing Director on my left inquired.


    That was my cue to say what I had prepared with Luc and call it a day.


    "Thank... you. Everyone. It was all very infor...mative. I would like to review everything in more detail in due course. I would- would appreciate written reports from each department."


    "Wise decision, Miss Roen. We shall prepare as you wish," the one on my right nodded.


    As soon as I responded with a forced smile, the man standing by my side - the still one - announced with a tone that felt practiced, polished, and faintly theatrical.


    "Meeting adjourned."


    With that, I rose. Bowed. Turned. And walked out of the meeting room. All I could do was focusing on not trembling, but I was pretty sure I did.

 Chapter 33: Warning

    Chapter 33: WarningWhen I left the meeting room, the man who had stood beside me during the proceedings followed closely behind Luc and me. I wanted to ask who he was, but didn¡¯t have the courage to ask him directly, and it felt too awkward to ask Luc while he was right there.


    He accompanied us all the way to the private elevator - one that only Luc, her team, and I ever used - which only deepened my curiosity and unease.


    He even followed us all the way back to my office. That was unusual. Apart from the Transition Team¡¯s visit on my first day, no one besides Luc and her closest aides had ever stepped foot in this room.


    "Miss Roen," Luc finally broke the silence once we were inside and the door was shut, "allow me to introduce a new colleague."


    "Yes... please do."


    "This is Cassian Vale. Your Executive Advisor."


    "Nice to meet you, Miss Roen," the man said, bowing his head respectfully.


    "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Vale."


    "Please - just Cassian is fine."


    I considered insisting on formality but decided against it. After all, I already called Cain, Abe, Elune, and even Luc by their first names - though mostly because none of them had ever given me a last name. So, calling him Cassian didn¡¯t feel too strange.


    "Okay... thank you, Cassian." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I look forward to assisting you in any way I can," he said with a professional smile.


    "Cassian will be handling most of the internal and external business affairs," Luc explained. "As you saw today, he¡¯ll assist you during meetings with directors and will be in charge of briefings, executive summaries, and related matters."


    So... did that mean Luc would no longer be by my side as much?


    "As for me," Luc continued dryly, "I¡¯m just your personal assistant. I take care of more... personal errands."


    What an understatement. She basically ran the entire show during the Senior Council meetings, not to mention the fact that she was an immortal.


    I was still somewhat confused about how this new arrangement was going to work.


    "Cassian, that will be all for now. Miss Roen will request your assistance as needed," Luc added, her tone curt but not unkind. It was clear she still outranked him, despite her supposedly humble title.


    Cassian gave me another small bow and left.


    Once the door clicked shut behind him, Luc turned to me.


    "Miss Roen, Cassian is the son of Senior Councilor Vale."


    I blinked. I had no idea which of the nine council members that was.


    "He sat to your left, in the third seat."


    As if I could remember... Still, I nodded politely.


    I hesitated, then asked, "Is there a reason you¡¯re telling me this?"


    Luc paused, gave me a sly smile, and replied, "Some Senior Councilors are more... loyal than others. You can trust the Vale family. They¡¯ve been with us for a very long time."


    To me, it seemed like everyone in that room had been with the Roen Group forever.


    "I see."


    She offered a small nod as if to say the conversation was over and turned to leave.


    But something about all this left me uneasy.


    Cassian had seemed polite, competent, even reassuring. Objectively, there was nothing wrong with him. If anything, he felt trustworthy - especially with Luc vouching for him. And yet, I couldn¡¯t shake the discomfort.


    I was just starting to feel stable around the people I¡¯d been working with. Luc no longer really qualified as "people," but still - bringing someone new into the fold made me anxious.


    As if reading my mind again, Luc said, "Don¡¯t worry, Miss Roen. I will be around whenever you need me."


    I wasn¡¯t sure anymore if she was just incredibly intuitive or if this was one of her supernatural talents.


    Regardless, I was relieved to hear it.


    "Thank you."


    But then, I noticed something strange.


    Luc¡¯s left hand twitched.


    Her stride faltered slightly. Her shoulders lifted as though she were struggling to breathe deeply.


    "Luc...?"


    Just as I called out to her, she fell to one knee with a short, sharp groan.


    "Mistress!"


    Elune- who must have been hiding somewhere - rushed in and wrapped her arms around Luc. I hurried to her side too, my heart pounding.


    Her face was even paler than usual, her breath shallow and uneven.


    "Are you okay?!"


    "I¡¯m... perfectly fine," she snapped, as if offended I would ask such a thing.


    "Mistress, you are not fine!" Elune cried, visibly distraught.


    It was understandable for Elune to be concerned. I was too. But her reaction felt unusually intense, like watching someone helplessly grieve.


    "We need to bring you to a doctor," I said - instinctively, stupidly. Only then did it hit me. Luc wasn¡¯t someone a normal doctor could treat.


    "I said I¡¯m fine."


    She took a long, deliberate breath and then rose to her feet as if nothing had happened.


    "Please excuse me, Miss Roen."


    Her voice sounded calm again, but her movements betrayed her. She walked slowly, heavily.


    When she finally left the room, I turned to Elune.


    "Elune... is she really okay? I¡¯m worried."


    Elune looked away, and for a moment, the normally cheerful girl seemed subdued and heavy with sadness.


    "Please. If there¡¯s something wrong, tell me. I know it may sound silly, but... does she have some kind of health problem?"


    To my surprise, Elune turned her back to me without answering.


    "Elune?"


    I moved to face her, but she kept shifting to avoid eye contact.


    "Elune, please. I need to know," I said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.


    She hesitated, then whispered, "Miss Roen..."


    Her eyes shimmered with tears, and I tried to reassure her with a calm gaze.


    "The Mistress is..."


    But before she could finish, a thick shadow spread across the floor between us.


    Nabir emerged from it, tall and monstrous.


    Elune shrieked, and I jumped back instinctively. His towering form blocked my view of her completely.


    He growled.


    "This is your second warning, Elune. The Mistress will not forgive another."

 Chapter 34: The Envelope and the Light

    Chapter 34: The Envelope and the LightThe surface of my desk shimmered quietly as the afternoon light angled through the glass walls. I sat still in the chair - though it still didn¡¯t feel like mine - staring at the folder in front of me.


    Executive briefing. Quarterly review. Board expectations. Performance index of sectors I didn¡¯t even know existed.


    Cassian stood nearby, speaking calmly as he flipped through summaries. His voice was low and precise, a perfect blend of reassuring and authoritative, like an AI that has become sentient and was now superior to human, yet remained loyal and obedient.


    "Here, you¡¯ll want to open with a short statement of appreciation to the board. After that, let people report to you. If you are unsure about anything, you can ask questions."


    He then continued, telling me what I should expect - and what people would expect me to do in the upcoming series of meetings. He gave me background information. Current status. Anything that would help me look less clueless once I really start attending these things and sit at the head of the table.


    I nodded, trying to take notes, though I was never sure how much of it was actually entering my brain. What I could understand were easily forgotten. What I couldn¡¯t understand were written down, only for me to later look back and ask ¡¯why did I write that?¡¯


    "Are you following so far?" he asked gently.


    I looked up. "Kind of..."


    To his credit, Cassian didn¡¯t sigh or frown.


    "Would it help if I broke the categories into metaphors? Luc mentioned you might like to visualize things more narratively."


    Luc.


    I turned my head instinctively toward the spot nearby where she usually stood. Where she would be, silent and unreadable and constant. But she wasn¡¯t there.


    She hadn¡¯t been there all day.


    And even yesterday, she¡¯d drifted in only to drop off a file and say a few clipped words before disappearing again.


    "She¡¯s busy," I had told myself. "She¡¯s always busy."


    But now I wasn¡¯t so sure.


    Cassian, meanwhile, was still explaining.


    I tried to focus on his words, but my eyes kept flickering to the closed office door, expecting her to enter. Even if just to silently correct something Cassian said. Even if only to give me that ever-so-slight glance that said, I¡¯m watching. You¡¯re not alone.


    "Miss Roen?"


    I startled a little. "Sorry. Yes. You were saying... something about sector nine?"


    His smile was kind. "We can run it again from the top if you¡¯d like. This isn¡¯t urgent, and you¡¯ve had a long week."


    I nodded gratefully.


    Cassian gathered the documents neatly, tidying up the desk with mechanical efficiency. As he did, something slid across the desk - an unmarked envelope that must¡¯ve been buried beneath the stack. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I frowned. "Wait... what¡¯s this?"


    He looked over. "I¡¯m not sure. I didn¡¯t bring it."


    I picked it up and turned it over in my hands. Plain. Thin. Unsealed.


    Inside was a photograph.


    It was a picture that made it to my high school graduation album. Taken during a field trip. Everyone laughing, smiling - including me. But to my eyes I always stood out in this photo. Why did I always look so awkward even when I made - or tried to, at least - the same expressions as everyone else?


    Was it just me or did everyone else see it the same way?


    My breath caught in my throat.


    I hadn¡¯t seen this in years. It didn¡¯t look like the photo was cut out from the graduation album. It looked like it was newly printed from the original digital file.


    Someone had it, printed it, and now It was here.


    Here. On this desk. In this building.


    "Where did this come from?" I asked, my voice quieter than I expected. Somehow, this time it felt different from seeing my old name tag in the Offering Room. I was still confused but calmer, as if part of me that I didn¡¯t understand was expecting something like this again.


    Cassian shook his head slowly. "I truly don¡¯t know. Perhaps Luc?"


    But even he sounded uncertain. Even he knew Luc would never leave something like this without a word.


    I swallowed hard.


    "I see," I whispered, slipping the photo back into the envelope and put it inside the desk drawer.


    Cassian said nothing further. He simply bowed slightly and stepped back toward the door.


    "If you need me," he said, "I¡¯ll be downstairs preparing the minutes from this morning¡¯s meeting. Call for me anytime."


    Oh yeah, we did have a meeting this morning. The first one without Luc. The first one with Cassian alone.


    He was as helpful as Luc assured he would be. His presence offered me comfort even when all eyes were on me. Every time I felt like my brain was getting overloaded and I was about to embarrass myself by not understanding something or blurt out something stupid, he expertly intervened - without making it appear to be an interference at all.


    Luc was right. I should trust this man.


    I nodded again with nothing much to say. As the door clicked softly shut behind him, I let out a slow, uneven breath.


    Once I was alone, I took opened the drawer again and saw the envelope. I did not pick it up. I just stared at it for a moment.


    Then I looked around. Elune wasn¡¯t here. She was probably preparing for dinner. She¡¯d bring something amazing again and it would be great. She had such a soothing effect on me that I was slowly starting to accept.


    But for now, sitting alone here...


    The room was too quiet.


    Too still.


    Luc wasn¡¯t here.


    But someone else had been.


    And they knew who I used to be.


    I closed the drawer again and looked at the surface of the desk. It shimmered quietly as the late afternoon light angled through the glass walls. I sat still in the chair - feeling a little more comfortable in it than I was before.


    But the loneliness was growing.


    Where are you, Luc...

 Chapter 35: Where the Black Petals Bloom

    Chapter 35: Where the Black Petals BloomThe photograph hadn¡¯t left my mind.


    Elune¡¯s dinner was as sublime as ever. Pure indulgence. Her pampering made the whole evening feel almost decadent.


    But the photo - how it ended up on my desk - sat beneath every thought like a stone. Cold. Silent. Immovable.


    I hadn¡¯t told anyone about it.


    Elune sensed something was weighing on me, but she didn¡¯t ask. Instead, she tried to bury it with sweetness - warm food, warm smiles, warm hands. For a time, maybe it worked. But as soon as I returned to my solitude, the image returned. Again and again.


    Luc hadn¡¯t appeared all day. And this time, her absence didn¡¯t feel like "too busy." It felt intentional.


    Around midnight, though I knew I shouldn¡¯t, I reached for the phone beside my bed and quick-dialed Elune.


    She picked up before the first ring finished.


    "Yes, Miss Roen. How may I help you?" She sounded almost happy I called.


    "I¡¯m really sorry to bother you... were you sleeping?"


    "Not at all. You can call me any time you need anything!"


    I felt sorry and relieved at the same time. I really was starting to get too used to being spoiled by Elune.


    But since I came this far anyway, I figured I might as well just ask her directly.


    "Where is Luc?"


    There was a pause. A sigh.


    "The Mistress is resting at the moment," she eventually answered.


    "So she¡¯s in the tower? Sleeping?"


    What a stupid question to ask - at this hour, no less.


    "Yes, Miss Roen."


    "Could you ask her to come see me tomorrow morning?"


    "No," she said without hesitation. "I¡¯m sorry."


    "Something¡¯s wrong with her, isn¡¯t it?" My voice dropped. "I feel like everyone¡¯s hiding something from me."


    "I do apologize again... but there¡¯s nothing I can say. Please understand. I¡¯m really sorry."


    She did sound genuinely sorry. She clearly knew more. She just... couldn¡¯t say it.


    "Are you in danger? Is someone threatening you? Is there anything I can do?"


    "Miss Roen, please..."


    I knew I wouldn¡¯t get more out of her.


    Maybe it was foolish of me to push at this hour.


    "Right. I¡¯m sorry I asked. Maybe... we can talk tomorrow."


    "Thank you for your understanding."


    "Good night, Elune."


    "Good night, Miss Roen. And... sweet dreams."


    I set the phone down and stared at the ceiling.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    "Miss Roen."


    I woke to a whisper, gentle as wind slipping through the seams of a dream.


    When I opened my eyes, I saw Elune¡¯s face not far from mine.


    "Elune...?"


    She pressed a finger to my lips, signaling for silence, and helped me sit up.


    Only then did I realize - I wasn¡¯t in my bed anymore.


    "Where... where am I?"


    I was lying on a bed of flowers. White and pink, soft as down. Flowers I didn¡¯t recognize. The petals shimmered faintly under a sky that was perfectly blue but contained no sun. No clouds.


    "You¡¯re in a dream, Miss Roen," Elune said, smiling as if she¡¯d plucked the thought right from my mind.


    "So... this is a dream?"


    "Yes. Just a dream."


    What a strange reassurance.


    "So... you¡¯re not real?"


    "That¡¯s right. I¡¯m just part of your dream."


    And what a strange dream...


    "Please follow me."


    We walked in silence. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Actually, for quite a while. It felt like half an hour, though time moved strangely here.


    Eventually, we climbed a small hill. At the top, Elune paused and raised her finger again for silence. She opened her palm and gently directed my gaze.


    Down in a dark clearing was a patch of land so black it seemed to absorb light. Yet something silver shimmered within it, like moonlight.


    Elune took my hand, and we began descending the hill. Our footsteps made no sound, cushioned by the flowerbeds beneath us. I felt bad crushing them, but they didn¡¯t bend. They didn¡¯t break. They simply accepted our passing.


    As we neared the clearing, I saw that the darkness wasn¡¯t empty.


    It was made of shadows in layers - velvety shades of black, impossibly deep.


    At the center stood a great black tree, its trunk, branches, and fluttering leaves all the color of midnight. And beneath it, among the black petals, she rested.


    Luc.


    Elune gently held me back, and we stood at a distance - twenty, maybe thirty meters. Watching.


    Luc lay there as if asleep. Her body rested in serene stillness atop the flowers, her face illuminated by the strange, silvery glow.


    She looked peaceful.


    She looked... beautiful.


    For several long minutes, I couldn¡¯t move. I only watched.


    Eventually, Elune squeezed my hand, and we turned to walk back the way we came. I didn¡¯t want to leave her, but somehow I knew I had to.


    We crested the hill again, the black petals fading from view.


    Then Elune turned to me and wrapped her arms around me in a soft, warm hug.


    "I hope you feel better now, Miss Roen," she whispered.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    When I opened my eyes again, I was in my own bed.


    "Elune...?"


    She stood over me, smiling brightly.


    "Good morning, Miss Roen. Did you sleep well?"


    I looked around - my room, just as I¡¯d left it. No endless flowers, no cloudless sky.


    Only Elune remained, and she bloomed like a flower and shone like the sun.


    "I... I¡¯m really confused right now."


    Yet, I felt rested. My head clear. My body refreshed.


    "Oh? Did you have a good dream?"


    She grinned mischievously.


    "You were in it."


    "Wow, I¡¯m honored."


    "And Luc too."


    She pouted playfully. "Now I¡¯m jealous. How was the Mistress?"


    "She... she seemed fine."


    "I¡¯m glad to hear that." She smiled sweetly. "Then I suppose you have nothing to worry about, right?"


    "...I suppose."


    I thought about the dream again. Everything was still so vivid in my mind. And I strangely felt that it was OK not to see Luc again for now.


    "Today¡¯s going to be another great day, Miss Roen. I¡¯ll bring your breakfast now."


    And with that, she turned and left the room, humming softly to herself.

 Chapter 36: The Archive

    Chapter 36: The ArchiveCassian¡¯s voice was already waiting when I entered the office.


    "Good morning, Miss Roen," he said, setting a neatly stacked folder on my desk. "Today¡¯s itinerary is lighter. A few review sessions in the morning, but nothing you should feel pressured about. Until you are fully ready, you are not expected to make big decisions. It¡¯s not a bad thing. If anything, it paints you as someone mature and cautious."


    Cautious I was, for sure. Mature? I wasn¡¯t so sure.


    "Thanks," I replied, feeling much better after the dream I had. "Did you sleep at all?"


    His smile was automatic. "Rest is allocated as needed."


    I sighed and opened the folder. Numbers, summaries, names I didn¡¯t recognize. A familiar fog settled in. I stared, not reading.


    "Cassian," I said suddenly, closing the folder. "Can I ask you something?"


    "Of course."


    "Where do the records go? Not the reports I see every morning. I mean - older things."


    "Such as?"


    "I want to gain a deeper understanding of the history - the history of the Roen Group."


    I was literally planted at the top with no background knowledge or understanding at all. There were just far too many mysteries in this place. I felt if I learned about things like how Senior Council came to be, background history of each ¡¯families¡¯ that made up the council and served the Roen Group for centuries... perhaps I would feel a little less lost here.


    His posture shifted almost imperceptibly. "Are you referring to the private archive?"


    My heartbeat ticked up. "So there is one."


    He considered me for a moment. "There is. It¡¯s below. Restricted access. Not many people know it exists."


    "Can I go?"


    Cassian raised an eyebrow, but quickly recomposed himself.


    "Of course, Miss Roen. There is no place in this tower that is off limits for you."


    A pause. Then he continued, "If you¡¯re looking for context - history, decisions that shaped this place - yes, you are right. The archive may help. A wise choice actually."


    He turned, pulling a secondary keycard from his inner jacket.


    "Councilor Zhen oversees the archive. I¡¯ll inform her of your visit. Her men will accompany you - it¡¯s protocol."


    "Councilor Zhen?"


    "Yes, she is in charge of the archives."


    A memory of their silent, imposing presence during the tea house visit returned to me. Still, Zhen had offered her help. I couldn¡¯t turn back now.


    "Cain and Abe won¡¯t be allowed, Miss Roen," It felt like almost everyone around here could read my mind. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Right, I suppose that¡¯s how it will be then."


    ¨C¨C¨C


    Councilor Zhen¡¯s men - the same two men who brought the invitation card over last time, said nothing as we descended.


    We left behind the halls I¡¯d come to know, entering a part of the building that felt like an entirely different place. Colder. Older.


    The elevator we entered bore no floor number. Just the faint symbol of three interlocking circles etched above the doorframe - familiar, but not from anywhere I could name.


    As we descended, my ears popped. The ride felt too long.


    "How deep are we traveling?" I asked, hoping that either one of them would answer.


    "Very deep, Miss Roen," the one on my left answered.


    "Does anybody ever come down here?"


    "Only a member of the Roen family and Councilor Zhen¡¯s approved personnel can enter."


    "How about Luc?"


    My question was only met with silence.


    ¨C¨C¨C


    When the doors opened, cold air rushed in.


    The hallway was long, dimly lit by recessed lights flickering in tired sync. The walls were brushed steel. No signs, no people. Just silence.


    After we walked down the long hallway, there was a small reception behind which an old lady sat. She stood slowly as she saw me and her wrinkled face gradually bloomed into a full smile.


    "How nice for you to visit the archive, Miss Roen. I am the Archivist."


    "Thank you. Nice to meet you too," I bowed politely, which the old lady reciprocated with a deeper bow.


    "A worthy heiress - a wise one. There is no future for those who forget the past," the lady spoke softly.


    The two men who brought me down and the lady nodded to each other, and the Archivist waved them off and led me past the reception.


    "We will wait here, Miss Roen," was what the two men said.


    ¨C¨C¨C


    We walked in silence down the corridor. Rows of sealed doors lined the walls, each marked with a numeric code. I stopped in front of one. No window. Just a keypad.


    "What is this place?" I asked. This wasn¡¯t what I expected. I was expecting a library like place, but to me this place seemed more like a prison of knowledge.


    "Records. Experiments. Projects Luc sealed. The archive keeps the Roen Group¡¯s most inconvenient truths," the Archivist had a smile on her face that I found somewhat unsettling.


    "Why... bring me here?"


    "Because you¡¯re seeking questions that won¡¯t be answered in daylight."


    I was starting to wonder if it was a wise choice for me to come down here in the first place, but her mention of Luc intrigued me. There was no turning back now.


    We stopped in front of a plain metal door. The Archivist tapped the keypad and it slid open.


    Beyond it, a narrow spiral staircase curved down into darkness.


    "There¡¯s more?" I asked, unable to hide the nervousness in my voice.


    "There¡¯s always more," she said.


    I swallowed and descended.


    ¨C¨C¨C


    The stairwell was tight. Cold. With each turn, the light grew dimmer. When I finally reached the bottom, I found myself in another corridor¡ªbut this one was lined with mirrored glass. Not transparent. Reflective.


    Every footstep echoed back, unnaturally loud against the glass.


    "What is this?" I asked.


    The old lady¡¯s voice echoed softly beside me. "A passage to the truth."


    "Why show me this part of it?" My heart started to beat louder.


    "Truth isn¡¯t always written on paper, Miss Roen. The Archive is a library of knowledge, not books."


    We stopped at the far end. A door was cracked slightly open. Pale blue light glowed from within.


    "I¡¯ll let you walk the last step alone," she said.


    I turned to her, suddenly unsure. "What happens after I open it?"


    "That depends on what you see - or what sees you."

 Chapter 37: The Room of the Forgotten Truth

    Chapter 37: The Room of the Forgotten TruthThe door was heavy, but it opened soundlessly.


    For a moment, I thought I was stepping into water. The light in the room shimmered like the bottom of a pool, slow and fluid, bending the world in gentle waves. But it was only the mirrors - every surface coated in them, curved and warped, casting an impossible number of versions of me back at myself.


    I stepped in.


    Then I saw her.


    She was sitting cross-legged in the center of the room, barefoot, her back to me. Hair like tangled silk, so dark it almost looked blue in the flickering light. Her dress - plain, loose - looked like something stitched from moonlight and dust.


    She didn¡¯t turn around. Not right away.


    I took a hesitant step closer. The mirrored floor beneath my feet felt almost soft, like walking on sea of memory.


    And then, she spoke.


    "You¡¯re late."


    Her voice was calm, young, but not childish. It had a weight to it. Like she¡¯d been waiting longer than time could measure.


    I froze. "Do I... know you?"


    She turned then, slowly, and looked up at me.


    She looked familiar. Very familiar.


    But I could not quite recall where I saw this face.


    "You¡¯re the fake one," she said.


    The words hung in the air, then it flew and stung me right in the heart.


    I tried to speak, but my throat tightened. I had to force the words out.


    "What do you mean?"


    She tilted her head. "Eh? You should know what I mean. Or - have you started to believe in your own lies?"


    "No," I said, though my voice trembled. "I didn¡¯t mean to. Why am I here?"


    "You brought yourself," she said. "You wanted to know why you were at the top of this tower, so you came seeking for answers at the bottom."


    I swallowed. "Who are you?"


    "I don¡¯t remember," she said, almost cheerfully. "I think I used to be someone."


    My pulse thundered in my ears.


    "Or - I think I was supposed to be someone."


    "Where are your parents?"


    "Parents?" She glanced at one of the mirrors. "They were supposed to come get me. Eventually. It seems they had forgotten."


    "How long have you been here?"


    "I don¡¯t know. A long time, I believe."


    As eerie this girl and the room was, I pitied the girl


    "One thing I can tell though. You are not from the family."


    It was then that I realized.


    Her eyes, her nose, her lips. The cheeks, the chin, the jawline.


    She was a Roen - a true Roen.


    The mirrors around us pulsed once, my reflections on them liquefied.


    "Let¡¯s get out."


    Then the girl blinked. A few times. And tilted her head. A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.


    "You are very kind."


    I took another step forward. "I will get you out of here. This room is no place to be for a young girl."


    She chuckled. "And quite silly."


    I sat down across from her.


    "I know someone that could get you out of here." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then the girl sighed, "You still don¡¯t get it, do you?"


    "Trust me."


    She looked at me with sudden intensity, and reached out to pressed her finger to the center of my forehead.


    The room went still.


    Everything froze - my breath, my thoughts, even the air in my lungs. I couldn¡¯t move. Couldn¡¯t speak.


    In the mirror behind her, my reflection blinked.


    But I hadn¡¯t.


    "You can ask one question. I will tell you the answer. Ask it," she said as she kept her finger on me.


    I gasped, breath returning like a flood. "Why am I here?"


    She smiled faintly. "I will tell you now. You won¡¯t remember it. But at least you¡¯d have heard the truth for once."


    With that, she leaned close, and whispered into my ear.


    My eyes widened, blood flow reversed in my body - my heart ached. Broken.


    Utterly broken.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I was standing outside the door, which was tightly shut now.


    I didn¡¯t remember leaving the room.


    The Archivist stood before me. A smile on her face.


    "Did you learn anything interesting?"


    I had a faint memory of the girl. I knew she was a Roen. I knew she was abandoned in that room for a long time. And I remembered she was going to tell me the truth.


    Everything after that was blur.


    But the feeling I had - the heartbreak, felt so real.


    "I want to go back in. There¡¯s this girl I need to get out."


    "Is that so?" the Archivist¡¯s eyes glistened.


    "Yes, please open the door again."


    "As you wish, Miss Roen."


    The old lady walked past me, keyed in the numbers on the door lock again, and it opened.


    I hurried into the room - only to find that the room was completely empty. There were no mirrors, no infinite reflections. Just old wooden floor and plain white wall papers that had gone beige with age.


    The room was rather small, perhaps only four meters by four.


    In the middle of the room was a desk and a chair. I instantly recognized it as a school desk - the ones you find in a classroom.


    I approached it and looked at it. It seemed familiar.


    I felt the surface of the desk with my hand. The touch started to bring me memories.


    My hands trembled. I think I knew what I was going to find. I put my hands into the desk drawer and took out what felt like a notebook.


    It was my high school diary with my name written on the cover.


    "I... I don¡¯t understand," I murmured involuntarily.


    "You may not take anything out from the archive, I¡¯m afraid - not even a Roen is exempt from the rules of the archive," the lady behind me announced, her voice still gentle yet firm.


    "Ma¡¯am-" I turned to face her with my diary still in my hand, "I believe someone has been taking things out of the archive."


    "Impossible, Miss Roen. Impossible."


    The Archivist shook her head.

 Chapter 38: String

    Chapter 38: StringThe elevator doors closed with a hush, but the silence that followed was not the same as before.


    As we rose, I expected the long, drawn-out ascent from the depths of the archive. But instead, the elevator jolted once, and probably before I could even count five - it opened.


    We were already back.


    I blinked, disoriented. Had we really gone that deep? The descent had taken so long. Now the return felt almost unreal.


    Cain and Abe were waiting in the corridor, their postures taut. They didn¡¯t say anything. Abe looked at me with a concern, while Cain stood like a tomb-guarding statue, grave regret carved into his silence. The Zhen staff promptly left as soon as I was ¡¯handed over¡¯.


    Cassian was already outside my office. When he saw me, he stood straighter, smile forming like clockwork. But there was a pause - barely a beat - where his eyes studied my face too closely.


    "Miss Roen," he said, voice smooth as ever. "Welcome back. Was the archive enlightening?"


    "I don¡¯t know yet," I said, brushing past him. I couldn¡¯t tell if I was shaking from cold or from something else entirely.


    Inside my office, the lighting felt harsh. The windows too clean. Even the walls looked sterile.


    It was always an intimidating place, a place where I didn¡¯t quite fit - an imposter, but I had grown into gradually. Right now though, I felt as if I was new to this place - or rather, the place was new to me.


    Cassian followed me in. "Would you like something warm? Tea? Ginger tonic?"


    "There was a girl," I said.


    He tilted his head slightly. "A girl?"


    "In the archive. In a room full of mirrors. She looked like... she belonged here."


    Cassian folded his hands in front of him. His face betrayed nothing, but something about the way he blinked told me what I told him wasn¡¯t out of his expectation.


    "There¡¯s no one else in the archive, Miss Roen. Only the Archivist and the records. I believe Councilor Zhen¡¯s men would confirm that."


    "No," I insisted. "She was there. A young girl."


    Cassian¡¯s expression softened, like he was speaking to a child. "The archive is a strange place. Even for the Roens it is unusual to make a visit there."


    "Why did you send her there?" Cain¡¯s voice boomed from behind me. It was out of ordinary that he spoke without being asked to.


    "Miss Roen wanted to go. The CEO of the Roen Group, the Head of the Roen family, the leader acknowledged by the Council - she has every right to go there any time she wants to."


    "I wonder what the Boss would have to say about that?" Abe chimed in. He sounded clearly irritated too.


    I turned and held up a palm, asking them to give me a moment to speak for myself.


    I stared back at Cassian. "I remember what she said. She touched me. She whispered something, and then¡ª" I faltered. "And then I don¡¯t remember."


    Cassian was quiet for a beat. "I¡¯m afraid we cannot make much out of what you cannot remember."


    His answers were too smooth. Too clean. I felt a coil of unease tighten in my chest.


    "You knew that room existed," I said quietly.


    "Miss Roen, I¡¯m a Vale. Those floors are sealed to us. I¡¯ve never been in one personally - only heard of them."


    "But you sent me there."


    "You asked to know the truth," Cassian said, seemingly stepping closer without moving an inch. "I merely assisted you with directions."


    I walked over to the window and stared outside. It was raining. The whole city looked gray. My reflection on the glass was faint, and distorted. It reminded me of the mirror room. I could almost - almost remember what the girl said.


    But all I could recall was the heartache.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    After the day was over, I sat on my chair with Elune gently massaging my head from behind. She was humming a tune that I could almost recognize, but couldn¡¯t quite remember where I heard it from. It felt like a song from a long time ago. Possibly from the time before I was even born.


    Despite Elune¡¯s best efforts, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the girl. Her voice. Her face. The mirrored room.


    What did she whisper?


    Elune rubbed my temples. Light pressure to soothe my thoughts. My attempt to force the memory back wasn¡¯t working.


    "Elune," I whispered, my eyes closed as I felt her touch.


    "Yes, Miss Roen."


    "How long have you been working here?"


    "For a long time, Miss Roen."


    "Have you ever served-" then I stopped myself for a bit. I hated myself for using the word ¡¯served¡¯. What was I becoming?


    "I¡¯m sorry." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Please do not worry over small things."


    "Have you ever... worked with the previous CEOs? Anyone from the Roen family?"


    "To be honest, Miss Roen, I¡¯ve always worked for the Mistress. You are the first one that the Mistress asked me to serve."


    That surprised a little.


    "The first one...?"


    "Yes."


    "Why?"


    "The Mistress works in mysterious ways," Elune giggled.


    I gave up for the moment and let myself sink deeper into the chair, listening to Elune¡¯s humming.


    As Elune¡¯s humming continued I was suddenly gripped by a thought I couldn¡¯t ignore. I pulled open the drawer and took out the envelope. Elune stopped massaging, seemingly startled.


    Inside was the envelope of my old school field trip photo. The one that was mysteriously delivered to me.


    "Please give me some time alone, Elune," I requested.


    A hint of hesitation - "Certainly, Miss Roen."


    With that, she quietly left the office.


    Once the door clicked shut, I took out the photograph and looked at it intently. Everything seemed normal - just as how I remembered them.


    Then something caught my eye.


    The girl on the far right. Her face looked familiar, but not because she was my classmate. It seemed I had seen her very recently.


    I brought the photograph closer to my eyes and studied her face.


    The round eyes, small nose, puffy cheeks.


    And then it hit me.


    It was the strange girl who rushed into the elevator on my way back from the Offering Room.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    A quiet knock interrupted my spiraling thoughts. It was Abe, holding a small tray.


    "Late tea," he said. "You didn¡¯t eat today."


    "Come in."


    He set the tray down gently on the desk, then turned to leave.


    "Abe," I said suddenly. "Have you ever... heard of someone else being kept in the archive?"


    He didn¡¯t answer.


    "Surely, Luc would know about it?"


    His hands froze.


    I didn¡¯t miss that it took him a little longer than natural to turn to face me again.


    "The Mistress knows everything she wishes to know"


    He looked me into eye, took a step closer, and smiled.


    "And if she would like you to know about something, I¡¯m certain she would tell you herself."


    I stood. "So you have heard of it."


    "I¡¯m sorry, Miss Roen. I do not know what you are talking about," Abe halted in place.


    "Abe-"


    "I believe these things are best discussed when the Mistress is back. If I said a word now, I¡¯d get unalived - if not outright killed by Cain before the Mistress even comes back."


    Without waiting for my answer, Abe bowed slightly and left before I could continue


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Alone again, I stared at the teacup, untouched.


    Abe was hiding something. Unlike Cain or Luc, his face could not lie. Maybe he did not know the full details of anything, but he knew there was something in the basement that I shouldn¡¯t have seen.


    It could only be her - the girl wasn¡¯t just a hallucination.


    Luc knew. Cassian knew. The Archivist knew.


    Everyone knew but me.


    And now I didn¡¯t even know what she¡¯d told me.


    My hands curled into fists.


    My name school desk and chair, field trip photograph, the girl - my former classmate - who came to warn me, and now the eerie girl in the archive.


    It was all connected.


    And someone was putting a string through these beads.

 Chapter 39: Beware

    Chapter 39: BewareI slept a dreamless night, or perhaps - darkness was all I saw in my dreams. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When morning arrived, Cassian was already there - silent, composed, pretending not to notice the dark crescents under my eyes. As helpful as he was, I was disappointed every time I saw him. For the sheer unfair fact that he wasn¡¯t Luc.


    "Morning, Miss Roen," he said, either not noticing or ignoring my less than delighted morning face at the sight of him. He placed another folder by my breakfast that Elune must have prepared.


    "You have a finance review at ten. Afterwards, a one-on-one with Councilor Vale."


    "Isn¡¯t he your father?"


    "Luc approved the meeting," Cassian added without answering my question.


    "Luc approved it?" I was a little surprised.


    Was she even around? How could she approve anything?


    "She left the note last night."


    That surprised, and disappointed me.


    So she could get Cassian to deliver the note, yet couldn¡¯t find time to come see me.


    "Can I reschedule?"


    "You can," he said gently. "But I recommend attending. Councilor Vale has been a long serving member of the Senior Council. He requested to speak to you personally. Privately."


    A slight tremor ran down my spine. "Alright."


    Cassian gave a practiced nod, then paused. "Forgive me for asking, but... are you feeling alright?"


    I wanted to say no.


    But the words wouldn¡¯t form. So I smiled instead. "Just tired."


    He nodded once and left without another word.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The finance review went as expected - tedious graphs, unfamiliar names, too many people using too many acronyms. I nodded when I was supposed to. Smiled once or twice. I doubt anyone noticed how numb I felt.


    Then came the meeting with Councilor Vale.


    He was waiting in a quiet chamber on the twenty-second floor. Not the usual boardroom. This one was smaller. Warmer. Fewer glass walls. Fewer eyes.


    "Miss Roen," he stood as I entered, tall and graying, his suit immaculately pressed. His voice was calm, respectful¡ªmeasured in the way a politician¡¯s was, yet not unkind. I saw the face that Cassian inherited.


    "Councilor Vale," I replied, offering a small bow.


    He smiled. "Your presence here... it¡¯s good for us. Symbolically, I mean. The Roens always knew how to stand tall in troubled times. I see that in you."


    Symbolically - he said.


    He motioned for me to sit, then poured me tea with his own hands.


    "I served the Roen family for a long time," he began. "It was tragic what happened, but we do not speak of such matters here. The glorious legacy remains, and will continue with you, Miss Roen."


    Although his eyes were fixed on the tea cup that was filling up, I felt like he was eyeing my reaction.


    "I hear you¡¯ve been asking questions," he continued.


    That caught me off guard. "About the archive?"


    "Yes. Among other things. A good sign. Curiosity is the mark of a Roen."


    "Then why does it feel like everyone is hiding something?" I asked before I could stop myself.


    Vale didn¡¯t flinch. "Because we are. That¡¯s our function."


    The air stilled between us.


    He sat. He smiled. He took a sip of tea, unhurried.


    "This company runs on silence, Miss Roen. On omissions. On the art of saying nothing at the perfect time. Luc understands it - better than anyone."


    "Where is Luc?" I felt a little silly asking him when I had others who worked directly with Luc around me, but now that nobody was giving me straight answers all I could do was shoot in the dark.


    "She is very... occupied with something, I hear."


    "That¡¯s what everyone tells me."


    The man took another sip.


    "Has Cassian been of any use to you?"


    "He has been immensely helpful."


    "I¡¯m glad to hear."


    I sat back slightly. "Is there something you wanted to tell me, Councilor?"


    "It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve claimed the top of the Rowen Tower, Miss Roen," he said, leaning forward just a fraction. "I believe now the time is right."


    I blinked, expecting him to continue.


    "The tragedy for your family... left too many seats empty. We must consolidate to ensure that the company will not stumble in its progress."


    That kind of made sense. Although I wasn¡¯t exactly sure what detailed plan was in his mind, it was easy to understand it in literal sense.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    That night, I returned to the office late.


    Cassian waited by the door with his usual restraint. "Councilor Zhen has sent word. She says the Archivist left you something."


    I stiffened. "Left me something?"


    He handed me a sealed envelope. Plain. Cream-colored. My name written on it in delicate, old-fashioned script.


    I opened the envelope slowly. Inside was a photo. Black and white. Faded at the edges.


    I gasped as I saw two girls.


    On the right side was the girl I saw in that room on the archive floor. On the left side stood Luc. Expressionless and timeless.


    On the back of the photo, a single sentence was written:


    "Beware of the devil."


    I dropped the photo.


    My breath caught in my throat, panic blooming in my chest like fire.


    The room felt colder than before. Too quiet.


    Cassian had already stepped out, giving me privacy I hadn¡¯t asked for.


    My head was thumping - heart pounding.


    I felt the hair on my arms stand. My blood turned cold. A chill ran down my spine.


    I looked at my hands. They were still - way too still.


    Although my legs have completely lost all strengths, I didn¡¯t fall.


    Something that I never felt before was happening to me.


    The heartache. The stinging pain in my chest. My heart was in my throat, choking me.


    I gasped for air. Cold air flooded into my lungs.


    "Elune!"


    There was no answer.


    Where did she go?


    She was always around. Not this time.


    "Abe! Cain!"


    Neither of them came.


    "Luc!"


    I cried out, desperately. There was no answer.


    "Luc!"


    Any time I needed her, she was there. Even in the darkest night, even in my dreams, she used to come rescue me - bringing me the light.


    Now I was truly alone.

 Chapter 40: The Whisper Room

    Chapter 40: The Whisper RoomElune didn¡¯t come that night.


    I stood in the middle of my office for hours, rooted to the spot like a tree in a drought.


    The air had turned thin, the walls pushed outward, and the clock stopped ticking at some point - I wasn¡¯t sure when.


    Once I managed to break free, my mind was blank. I slept another night with no dreams.


    Nothing sweet, nothing bitter. Just vast emptiness.


    I woke up naturally before the alarm. There was no knock on the door by Elune. No intrusion by cheerful Abe. No Cain standing outside the door like a guardian statue.


    I put on my shirt, trousers, and blazer. . The fabric felt stiffer than usual, though it was the same suit. The air in the room had changed, or maybe I had.


    And my shoes were polished even without Luc.


    I stood in the mirror room and stared at myself for a few minutes.


    Luc taught me to let my presence enter the room before I do, but I succeeded in something else entirely.


    I managed to erase my presence.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Cassian waited for me outside my office, a calm fixture of poise and polish. He was sitting on my couch sipping tea as if he had always belonged there.


    "We¡¯re late," he said gently.


    I followed his gaze toward a pair of velvet gloves laid out on the coffee table.


    "The Whisper Room doesn¡¯t enjoy being kept waiting," he added.


    "The what?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His smile didn¡¯t waver. "A Roen rite. Zhen insisted. It¡¯s ceremonial. Empowering, even. You¡¯ll see."


    Empowering.


    Yes, I wanted that.


    I needed that.


    So I nodded and followed.


    The hallway bore the Zhen crest woven into the wallpaper - muted florals, barely perceptible unless you were looking. The patterns moved subtly when I walked past, as though the walls were breathing. The air smelled of sandalwood, like the Tea Room. We passed two guards in Councilor Zhen¡¯s colors, who opened the door with bowed heads.


    The door itself was covered in thick black velvet. Heavy. Absolute.


    When it closed behind us, it sealed with a hiss.


    And then-


    Sound vanished.


    Not dampened. Not softened.


    Gone.


    The Whisper Room was no whisper at all. The walls were built from jagged foam wedges like a silenced scream - dense, soundless, and black. The texture was geometric and unnatural, almost painful to look at. I could hear neither breath nor fabric nor thought. My footsteps didn¡¯t return to me. There was no echo. No answer. No presence to bounce off of. Only absorption.


    Only erasure.


    In the middle of this absolute silence stood a pedestal. Councilor Vale and Zhen were waiting for me there, dressed in ceremonial robes. They smiled at me while somehow managing to maintain solemn faces.


    Upon the pedestal, there was a folded sash of ink-black silk, threaded with silver lines that looked like veins under skin.


    Cassian¡¯s voice sliced through the silence like a wire. I flinched before I even heard it.


    "This is where Roen matriarchs made their decrees. Decisions made here are solely yours. And absolute. No dissenting voices, no echoing doubts."


    His tone then softened.


    "Miss Roen, in the great vacuum of responsibilities within the organization that suffered the recent tragic loss, we - Vale and Zhen families - pledge our allegiance to you. We shall be bound to nobody but you. The only thing we request is your acceptance of our loyalty."


    I stepped forward.


    Councilor Vale and Zhen went down on one knee. Their robes brushed the floor without sound, their heads bowed low as if in prayer.


    The gesture should have made me nervous, but it didn¡¯t. It made me feel tall. Stable. Real.


    I touched the silk sash with my finger tips. It felt impossibly smooth - and deep.


    I unfolded the silk and there was a scroll. The paper¡¯s grain was thick, fibrous. The texture reminded me of the past that stretched back to the time I wasn¡¯t born.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    By the Authority of Lin Roen, Chair Recognized by Council Mandate


    Let it be known: With the unanimous recognition of the Central Council, and under the lawful sight of those entrusted with the preservation of our legacy, I, Lin Roen, duly seated and endowed with the authority of presence, do formally acknowledge the independent and exclusive allegiance of the Vale and Zhen houses to my name and station.


    This affirmation, rendered freely by the Vale and Zhen lines, is not inherited by blood, but entrusted by confidence; not assumed by lineage, but endowed by voice. I receive their declaration not as a matter of dominion, but as a solemn gesture of unity.


    In so doing, the historic bonds that once tethered these great houses solely to the direct line of Roen are, from this moment forward, renewed through shared vision, and rededicated to the pursuit of enduring prosperity and the forging of a legacy yet unwritten. Let no obligation henceforth be inferred by birthright, but only by continued accord.


    Signed and sealed in the Whisper Room, in silence and in clarity,


    Lin Roen


    Chair of the Council


    Bearer of the Brooch


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I liked it.


    I liked it a lot.


    To be honest, I would have been uncomfortable with receiving such words of commitment and pledge of loyalty by the Vales and the Zhens, given the fact that I was not a ¡¯real¡¯ Roen.


    However, the decree clearly established that I had every right to make decision and accept their support - not for the virtue of being a Roen by blood, but by being in my position through recognition.


    "It is as you read, Miss Lin Roen. We see you - and we recognize you. You are the Chair of the Council, the Bearer of the Brooch - by recognition. You have been bestowed with power," Cassian reassured me.


    Councilor Vale and Zhen looked up at me, still with one knee on the ground. Their eyes dripped of respect and adoration. And sincerity.


    "I shall sign it."


    I was a failure. Unwanted. Incapable.


    I was a mistake. An imposter. A liar.


    Luc, you told me - you told me that there is no lie in this world.


    So I became.


    I became the truth.


    Look at me now.