CHAPTER 42: THE THIRD DAY

The third morning arrived without a word from Lin.

Cain stood outside her office, staring at the shut double doors as if waiting for them to dissolve. They did not.

Abe had already tried to get inside in many ways. He knocked. He smooth talked. He charmed. Yet, the guards stationed there, wearing the insignia of House Zhen, merely bowed and offered the same phrase they’d repeated since Lin’s return,

"Miss Roen is very occupied at the moment."

Occupied.

That was the word they kept using.

"She hasn’t sent for me even once," Elune muttered now, in a worried voice that was edging toward total resignation, and her hands clutched the hem of her skirt with more force than she probably realized.

"She’ll call when she needs us," Abe said automatically, but his smile was thin, almost tight. Even Abe’s optimism had worn thin. "Maybe she just needs space."

Elune looked at him sharply. "Space? That’s not space. That’s exile."

Cain didn’t speak. He was still thinking about the night Lin returned.

No one had known where she’d gone. One day she had left with Cassian Vale. No explanation. No trail.

When she came back, she was different.

Not dramatic. Not shattered.

Her silence was no longer sign of timidness. It carried weight of authority. Her slow steps were no longer soft and gentle. They demanded patience - a deliberate statement that told the world to stand alert and wait for her command.

And even when she passed by Elune, Cain, and Abe - or anyone else for that matter - she did not make eye contact. It was as if everybody was beneath her. Insignificant. Not worthy of her acknowledgment.

Inside her office, unseen by anyone but the guards and the appointed secretaries, Lin was said to be reviewing documents, authorizing restructures, and even setting dates for more Council appearances.

Ever since her appearance at the Hall of Order, she had been working like a machine. She was no longer just a figurehead, but was actively making corporate decisions - supposedly. She was quick, efficient, and bold.

Every morning, a new file was delivered under her name. Cain had seen the cover pages on passing aides’ desks. Lin Roen’s signature scrawled at the bottom in crisp ink.

It was obvious that something was off. A person simply cannot change so dramatically overnight - especially when that said person was Lin.

"How long is this going to last?" Abe questioned aloud, mostly to himself.

"And she hadn’t been asking for her favorite croissants. I don’t even know what she’s been eating the past days," Elune added.

"You don’t think this is like, super weird, Cain?" Abe inquired.

But Cain stood still. His lips tightly sealed.

Silence hung between them for a moment. Nobody had the answer.

Then finally, Elune straightened. "I’m going to ask."

"Elune-" Abe reached out, but she was already gone, heading down the corridor with the kind of determined wobble only she could manage. A minute later, she reappeared beside a young man in gray-green livery - one of Zhen’s secretaries.

She leaned toward him with a warm smile. "Hi. Sorry to bother. It’s just... we’ve been wondering if Miss Roen might need anything today? I have baked this cake that she really likes and-"

The secretary smiled with professional politeness. "Thank you, Miss. But she’s quite occupied. If she requires anything, she will relay instructions through House Zhen and Vale channels"

Elune’s smile froze a little. "Oh... of course."

She returned looking even more concerned.

"They built an impenetrable wall around her - and we are completely shut out."

None of them said it. But all three were thinking the same thing.

This morning, Lin had walked through the upper hallway escorted by two Zhen guards. She passed Abe and Cain without a glance. When she reached the end of the corridor, she had paused - for a moment - and her gaze had flicked sideways.

Luc had a way of appearing out of nowhere to surprise Lin from behind. But she also had a habit of standing at the same spot where Lin would find her at a quick glance.

Lin’s eyes, for a brief moment, searched for Luc.

Just once. No expression. No words. Just that silent, invisible echo.

Then she kept walking.

"Why did the Mistress tell us to leave Miss Roen alone," Elune half-questioned and half-complained, "the Mistress said she’d be fine. That we shouldn’t interfere. That this was... necessary."

"She also said it wouldn’t last long," Abe muttered. "It’s been three days."

Cain didn’t speak. He just watched the hallway - still, polished, too clean.

A storm had passed through it. But somehow, all the dust had been cleared away too quickly.

Behind those doors, Lin Roen was working.

"et they all felt it - this was no longer the girl they knew.

"Right, that’s it. We can’t let this continue anymore. I’m going to talk to the Boss," Abe clapped his hands and stretched his arms above his head.

"But the Mistress’ order was..." Elune was unsure.

"So are we going to just stand around here doing nothing? For how long? Where is the Boss, Elune- you can bring me there," Abe was insistent.

"I... I can’t."

"Come on, I will take the blame. She will forgive you," Abe’s reassurance wasn’t so convincing to Elune who received her ’final warning’ last time she tried to go against Luc’s order.

As Elune was struggling with deliberating over a decision she couldn’t afford to get wrong, Cain broke his silence and spoke,

"I will talk to Nabir."

Abe and Elune turned to face Cain. Their eyes widened and mouths opened.

"Cain, Nabir only listens to the Boss," Abe pointed out.

"Oh my- don’t do that. I’m so scared of him," Elune shivered.

"He owes me a favor," Cain stated calmly.

"Since when?" Abe questioned.

"It’s a business between Nabir and me. We will settle it."

Abe and Elune didn’t know what to say anymore. But if Cain was right, then a promise between him and Nabir was binding - even Luc wouldn’t interfere and void it.

"Elune, bring me to Nabir."

Elune sighed, nodded her head, then they headed to the dead end of the corridor.

As the three sought for the path to bring her back - behind the sealed doors, Lin signed another decree.

The pen did not hesitate. But her hand trembled.

Just once.

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