Cybil finally broke her gaze, a sigh escaping her lips. Levi stirred, turning to meet her eyes, a flicker of something unreadable there.

Cybil’s gaze drifted to me. "And you, Raphael," she said, her voice raspy. "What do you make of all this... family history?" It was the first time she'd addressed me directly without disdain. Levi watched, curious.

"Okay," I began, my voice still rough. "When Levi admitted to some of the... things he did to me, I started puking from sheer terror. You just cried. I've puked twice in the council room. Fainted multiple times just from seeing him. It took three months to be less scared."

"But," I continued, "he is who he is. He's not some monster murdering for kicks. He's... surprisingly fair, in his own twisted way. Also, I'm friends with Julia now. She owns a bakery, and she's genuinely happy. Lady Isolde practically begged Levi to end her marriage. It's clear why those women helped him.

"And he's a master manipulator. Fucking powerful. He could've burned everyone to the ground. But he didn't. He chose this other way. Not morality, I think. I think... he also knew, on some level, what you went through. And in a way you didn't want, he helped you. You're not a duchess anymore, Cybil. You're just Cybil. I know it's not easy to lose everything, but... you're actually free now. Why not try to accept that?"

"See," I added, exasperation creeping in, "it doesn't have to be that way anymore. You clearly shaped Levi into who he is. He's a complete asshole, sure. But I also think you'd be a formidable ally to him. You had everything he needed in an ally. It's time to move on now. Also, you bitch, you shot me. I have a nasty scar on my shoulder because of you."

Cybil's gaze flickered to the faint dawn light. "Freedom," she echoed, the word sounding foreign. "It is... an unfamiliar concept." Her eyes darted to my shoulder. "The scar... yes. A regrettable necessity."

No apology, but an acknowledgment.

Levi turned to me, a complex mix of amusement and respect in his eyes. "Well, dearest, you certainly have a way with words. 'Complete' – I believe that's the most succinct and accurate description. As for my mother," he turned back to Cybil, his expression softening, "she has always been... spectacularly resistant to change. Perhaps Raphael's blunt assessment will finally penetrate that formidable exterior. Though I wouldn't hold my breath." He gently took my hand. "Thank you, dearest. For your... unflinching honesty."

"Ah, Levi. Let's shatter the duchess once more," I said and pressed a deliberate kiss to his lips.

Her lips tightened. "Must you indulge in such... displays?"

"Come on..." I said softly, pulling slightly away from Levi but keeping his hand. "What did I just say? You are free now. Be happy for your son."

A long silence stretched. "Happiness," she murmured, the word tasting foreign. "It is... a state I am unfamiliar with." Her eyes flickered to Levi. "He has chosen his path. And I... I have chosen mine."

It was quiet resignation, a surprising, unsettling acceptance.

"Well, Levi basically crushed your path to dust, not specifically for you, but you were also included," I gently pointed out. "So, stop being so stubborn and try being happy now. If you're good enough, maybe he might even hire a helper for you, right?" I looked at Levi.

He raised a dark eyebrow. "A helper, you say?" He paused. "Perhaps a small token of... appreciation for her newfound freedom wouldn't go amiss. Though I imagine her standards for assistance would be rather... exacting." He looked at Cybil.

A flicker of pride crossed her face. "Assistance," she said, measured. "While I value my independence, I am not so foolish as to dismiss practicalities in this... altered landscape. If my son deems it... expedient, I will endeavor to make the most of it. Efficiency benefits all parties."

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"You do need someone, though. That tea was disgusting, Cybil," I interjected, a small smile playing on my lips.

"Every tea is disgusting," Levi clipped.

I chuckled.

"My son's pronouncements on matters of taste have always been... singular," she said, regarding Levi coolly.

"Yeah, he has his poetic mouth," I agreed, a fond smile gracing my lips as I cupped Levi's face. "It is so easy to be swayed by him. Oh! Yeah. We got him drunk one time, and he suddenly started talking about... What was that... Mizar and Alcor." I looked at Levi, teasing him.

Levi leaned into my touch. "Ah, yes," he murmured, his gaze softening. "The celestial companions. Even in my cups, I appreciate the beauty of a binary star system. Though I suspect my companions that evening were far more interested in earthly libations." He glanced at Cybil, a hint of mischief. "It was rather... enlightening."

...

The first birds began to sing outside the crumbling walls of the mansion. The pale sunlight continued to strengthen, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air like tiny, restless spirits. Cybil finally broke the silence, her voice softer than I had ever heard it. "Perhaps," she said, her gaze drifting towards the brightening windows, "perhaps it is time for tea. Though," she glanced at me, a hint of a wry smile touching her lips, "perhaps someone with more... discerning tastes should oversee its preparation."

"Yeah, yeah. Your son's pet will fetch you tea, Mother," I said with a playful roll of my eyes, pushing myself up from the worn couch. "You two sit and... talk. I may even be persuaded to prepare breakfast for you both. Though," I glanced at Levi with a teasing smile, "don't expect anything too elaborate. My culinary skills are still a work in progress."

The clatter of dishes and the gentle hiss of the kettle filled the mansion in the early hours of the morning. The aroma of brewing tea mingled with the slightly less refined scent of my attempt at breakfast – probably something simple like scrambled eggs and whatever bread I could find. From the kitchen, or rather, the mansion's functional pantry, I could hear the murmur of Cybil's and Levi's voices, their conversation low and indistinct. It was a strange scene: the architect of a fallen dynasty and his once-formidable mother, tentatively finding their footing in a world he had reshaped, while I, the outsider who had stumbled into their midst, played the role of domestic caretaker.

The simple breakfast was laid out on a dusty table in the tea room of the mansion, the pale sunlight illuminating the chipped china and the slightly unevenly cooked eggs. Cybil and Levi sat opposite each other, a hesitant space between them, their conversation from the other room having fallen silent. They both regarded the food with quiet contemplation.

“Having breakfast in the tea room... What has become of this family?”

A wry smile touched Levi's lips as he glanced at the humble breakfast spread. "Indeed, Mother. From grand banquets and elaborate courtly meals to... this. One might almost call it progress."

Cybil picked delicately at her scrambled eggs with a silver fork that looked incongruous against the plate. "Progress," she echoed, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "A curious term for the utter dismantling of generations of tradition." She glanced at Levi, a flicker of something akin to amusement in her eyes. "Though I must admit, Raphael's tea is surprisingly palatable. Far better than your usual concoctions, Levi."

Levi chuckled softly, reaching for a piece of slightly burnt toast. "My culinary talents, Mother, lie in other, more... explosive areas. I will leave the brewing of acceptable beverages to our resident artist." He glanced at me, a warm smile gracing his lips. "Though I might offer some constructive criticism on the egg preparation next time."

I grinned, pouring myself another cup of tea. "Hey, I'm working with limited resources here. And after the night we've had, the fact that there's any breakfast at all is a minor miracle."

The casual banter felt strangely normal.

Cybil, surprisingly, took a second small bite of the scrambled eggs. Levi buttered his slightly charred toast with an air of casual contentment. I sipped my tea, the warmth spreading through me.

"So," I began, breaking the comfortable silence, "what's the plan for today? More family secrets? A tour of the crumbling battlements? Perhaps a stroll through the noble cemetery?" I couldn't resist a touch of levity, testing the waters of this newfound, fragile dynamic.

Levi chuckled, setting down his toast. "Perhaps a gentle exploration of the island? It has a certain... rugged charm, wouldn't you agree, Mother?"

***

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