''Ugh, what kind of position am I in?''

    Earlier, the Grand Duke of Blackwell was gracious enough to keep the mess in the room, freezing the debris— even the speck of dust in the room included— into a ball of frost, dropping to the ground with a clink for  han to dispose of easily into the trash.

    To Athan, he pondered that the situation had gone worse, now that they were all seated on the spare couch.

    Arnold and Athan were on the same couch while Nathalie sat across them.

    She had the quilt wrapped around her, and she held onto it while she was still trembling. While her head hung low, leering on the floor

    More than anything, Jonathan and Daisy were worried about her the most.

    Even if at this point, there were so many things to talk about, only one person had mustered the courage, more so what he uttered out of all of it.

    Unexpectedly so, Arnold took the initiative to break the silence with a clear throat.

    "How are you feeling?"

    "I— I''m… good..."

    "You can still call me father if you''d like."

    Nathalie''s head sprung with eyes almost popped out of the sockets from his words. Even at a distance, he couldn''t help but notice the subtle glisten in her eyes, coating her beautiful amber eyes as she nibbled her lips.

    From there, Athan also noticed that never had he seen this much vulnerability and myriad of reactions from the usual stone-cold beauty.

    "But, you know... I''m not..."

    "You still are, trust and believe in that." He responded with a lopsided grin. "I somehow knew back then but I could never pinpoint the exact situation."

    While it did remind him that the two had a conversation that he already had a gut instinct, he remained positive and still made up for everything he did.

    The Grand Duke was supportive of her onwards, even if it meant moving away from him or not seeing each other for a long time was considered a small price to pay. Whatever came his way, he pondered with an open mind and positive outlook of it all.

    Still, he acted like he already accepted reality, which caught him by surprise.

    ''While I did think he''d change, I never thought he''d mature to this extent.''

    Perhaps having second chances in life comes rarely; having it first-hand was a blessing in disguise, which he also related to him, even on a deep, personal level.

    Nathalie nodded, trying her best to hold on to her tears but then Arnold stood upright, trudging close to him, and hugged her after bending his knees.

    "Looks like the first time in forever you''ve ever been this warm..." His hand now caressed on the cozy quilt.

    Unbeknownst to him, she also reached out her hand to his back, giving him the same thing.

    Athan couldn''t see Arnold''s expression, but his already warm, fuzzy heart also broke down when she began to snuggle with her shoulders hunching and shaking out of control.

    ''I''ve never seen her break down this much…''

    After a while now, Arnold let go of her as he clasped her hands to a tender rub before he went back to his seat.

    Jonathan and Nathalie had eye contact and the once grave visage they had now vanished into thin air, like a heavy burden lifted off them. She then asked him, "How''s everything back there?"

    "The enemies were now held captive, and more reinforcements came to transport them to the Dysnomia Catacombs."

    Athan somehow got caught off guard whenever he heard of that name of the dungeon.

    The only dungeon located near the region of Imperial Capital, heavily guarded as the infamous beings and criminals restrained for as long as they lived, and died a silent death if possible.

    Though the implications of silent death weren''t subtle as it was bound with eternal tortures in there that he didn''t want to imagine.

    Only the Emperor had the decision to control it; upon hearing such news, he already sent an imperial decree to throw them in there without thinking twice.

    But then, a foreboding chill crept to his heart when he realized the outcome of that decision.

    Athan snapped his head at Jonathan. "No! That can''t be!"

    "I understand your concern, Your Highness. Before we came here, His Majesty sent the message, alongside the reinforcements, that you had planned on how to deal with this matter."

    "A plan—?" Athan then took a grave nod to what were the implications of it. A new task was given to him after a golden opportunity opened to him, giving him the upper hand. "Does that mean His Majesty sent diplomats to every one of them?"

    "Indeed."

    Athan hummed deep as he propped his elbow on his thighs in deep thought. ''This would work in my favor then. I shall make it count.''

    On the flip side, his lips drew thin when he remembered someone else. "Does that include everyone in Desertpeak Town?"

    "Certainly."

    He kneaded his furrowed forehead from what he expected and was unsure if he could still salvage the situation. In the bleak future that awaited him, he needed more allies than he could grasp.

    ''Did His Majesty speak to them as well? Anyway, It''s still not too late…''

    Arnold then chimed in with them, "I suppose none of this would''ve happened that worse if fever dreams never came from her amplified curse." His eyes were then drawn towards Ashtra in disdain. "Guessing that you''re all still here; must''ve been some unfinished business."

    A part of him thought that Jonathan lied before coming here for she was never safe with the curse still going on. Seeing him now, he thought about one of his agendas, one of which was the way he looked at Daisy.

    Though it wasn''t his concern and his place to say for Arnold thought of something else.

    This time, Nathalie responded, "After coming here, I''ve already kept in touch with Daisy and she acted fast on my behalf. Though most of our efforts were futile as the culprit was now missing in action."

    "Oh? You''ve searched for her far and wide?"

    Athan scrunched his face while he glared at Arnold like he had some idea who they were talking about.

    "No, she''s hidden for so long now," Nathalie said.

    ''Who is he referring to?'' he wondered.

    "Perhaps she''s used all of her powers. It''s not easy after all..."

    It was a crackle of lightning struck to his core the moment Nathalie hinted to him who they were talking about.