Planning to follow Mael’s advice, after parting with him, Arte had the intention of heading for good rest, but before doing so, he chose to first, as per usual, head to Arisa’s chamber to bid her good night.

Upon reaching her door, aware that there could be a chance she was already asleep, Arte didn’t knock at the door but slowly and silently opened it. Venturing his head first into the room in reconnaissance, his gaze immediately met with that of Arisa’s, who apparently wasn’t yet asleep.

"Arte," the girl innocently rejoiced.

"Sigh, and here I thought you were asleep."

"I heard you were here today, so I waited," she said, apparently ready to get out of the bed she was already laying atop, but a motion from Arte prompted her to remain atop her bed.

"Is that so? Sorry for having made you wait so long then."

Closing the door behind him, Arte approached the girl to take a seat beside her bed.

"Did something happen," the girl asked with a heart-mellowing smile, to which Arte couldn’t help but respond with an awkward smile. "I heard everyone was summoned by Matronne today."

The girl was, out of all of Rose Blanche’s denizens, the only one that had not assisted in the earlier Matronne’s summoning, for despite being one of Rose Blanche's denizens, she was considered its most precious protégée.

"It was nothing. I don't think there's anything of interest for you," Arte reassured.

The girl nodded, then after a short pause ventured, "I heard Big Brother Mael was there this evening, is it true?"

There had been a time when Arte would’ve felt uncomfortable being asked anything concerning Mael by Arisa given what happened that night, but with how often he was asked news from her, he had come to terms with the fact that he was dear to Arisa’s heart.

"Yes, he was."

Glancing at the door, she asked, "Is he still here?"

"No. He already went home."

"I see." The girl said, obviously disappointed.

"He’s been a little occupied after all. But… I’m sure, on one of those days, maybe not tomorrow, perhaps the days after, but I’m sure he will come to visit you once he is done with whatever he is occupied with."

Cheered by Arte’s words, the girl assumed a smile.

"Which is why, for that day to come sooner, I will be going."

"Where to?"

"Where to? I do not know yet, but tomorrow, I will go help Mael with this unfinished business of his. Which is why I need to go home to get a good night's sleep, but first I had to come here to wish you good night," Arte said, standing up from his chair and leaning onto the girl to deposit a kiss on her forehead.

Just as he was about to take his leave, the girl's hand reached onto Arte’s wrist, murmuring with a tender smile, "Good night, Arte. See you tomorrow."

"See you."

***

After wishing Arisa good night, Arte immediately left the Rose Blanche, without a single detour, for home.

It was still very late at night, yet upon reaching his mansion’s entrance, Arte was met with a lit door, meaning that there was still someone in there awake despite the already late hours.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

When he opened the door, he was greeted by Uriel, Arte's younger brother, rather than the mansion's governess.

"Hi, Arte."

"Hi, Uriel."

Noticing his brother's wandering gaze, Uriel immediately answered the question Arte was wondering about, "I already sent Martha to sleep, telling her I would wait for you instead, while Xavier, never got out of his room since this morning. As for Ana, I don’t think I’ve seen her anywhere today. As she has been lately, she is undoubtedly out with whatever she is up to.

"... I see… Sorry for having made you wait so long," Arte mumbled, closing the door behind him, trying to avoid the latter part of what Uriel mentioned.

"Martha has made dinner ready for your return, in case you’re interested."

"I think I’m more in need of sleep than I am of dinner, so I’ll ski—"

"You’re sure?" Uriel insisted with an obstinate stare.

Pondering a short time over it, "Fine, I think I’ve changed my mind. I’ll take this dinner," Arte finally decided.

"Good, because I haven't had dinner yet either."

Uriel and his brother sat down to dinner, chatting and joking as they ate. Once they had finished, Uriel turned to his brother and hesitantly asked, "Are you okay, Arte?"

"Of course I am. Why would I not be okay?"

"Because you look like a decrepit corpse."

"Don't I always have a decrepit corpse's complexion? At least that's what I have been told."

"Yes, you do, but it is worse today."

Arte laughed at his brother's remark. "Do I really look that bad?"

"You do."

"Sigh… I’m sure I’ll look better after some rest. I just need a good night's sleep. Aside from that, I’m fine?"

"You’re sure?"

"Yes. "I'm sure," he assured, rising from his seat and reaching over to his brother's shoulder, "what is this now? You don’t trust me anymore, little brother?"

"It’s not that… It’s just that I wanted to say that if there is something, whether it is about the rose blanche or not, that you need help with, you could count on me."

Hearing these words from his brother, Arte was taken by the temptation to tell whatever was going on as of late, as, so far, he’d made it one of his policies to not get his brother involved in any of Rose Blanche’s business. A policy that his brother never questioned, up until today.

Reaching for his brother's head for a pat, Arte declared, "There was no need for you to remind me of this. I already know that I can always count on you, just as I expect you to know that you too can count on me. As of now, all I need you to know for the time being is that I need a good night's sleep; it's already late enough; you and I should be asleep by now, so... goodnight, Uriel."

"Goodnight Arte."

***

The next day arrived earlier than expected, much to Arte's inability to find slumber.

Arte, to not attract attention, woke up before anyone else in the manor and sneaked out of the manor to the place he agreed to meet up with Mael. It was with great surprise that when Arte arrived at the meet-up location, Mael was already there waiting.

It was still early before their scheduled time, so they both looked at each other, surprised to see each other so early.

"Hi."

"Hi. How was your sleep?"

"Bad. Yours?"

"Do I even need to say it?" Mael asked, motioning from his head to what Arte was carrying.

"Allée, my spear. A gift from master."

"I see…"

"Did I do something wrong by bringing it with me?"

"Not at all. If bringing it made you feel safe, you did well. Just look at me," he said, showing the gladstone bag he simply carried, which arose in Arte several questions that, in the end, after proper pondering, he decided not to ask.

"Since we both got here early, I believe we have no other reason to not head to the place straight away."

Mael was already on his stride, when Arte called him back, "Wait, Mael."

"What is it?"

"This might be the only opportunity to say it and ask, so I’ll do it today, now that we still have time. The other day, I told you that Ana got herself involved in all of this mess because she wanted to help me, but the truth was that it was merely half the truth. Her helping me with the abduction’s investigation was merely a secondary reason that took her to Rose Blanche."

"If that's the primary reason, what is the primary one?"

"You?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you. She wanted to know the truth about you—your involvement in the event that led to your three-month long detention. The events of that night."

"She… did."

"She wanted answers... Answer: I used to believe I already had. As of now, I cannot tell for sure. So I will ask you, Mael, in spite of all that I saw that night. What truly happened in that room that night?