“There we go.” Eleanore said with delight. “I’m glad we got to stay home all day today.”

Scarlett wiped the sweat off their brow. The five layer cake looked scrumptious. Blue frosting quilted the cake like the sky had been trapped in it. Eleanore leaned forward, fixing each column that looked even slightly out of place. Scarlett yawned. Even through their tear-blurred vision, the cake still glowed like the ocean under the moonlight.

“It looks beautiful, doesn’t it?” Eleanore asked lightheartedly.

She backed away from the cake and framed it with her fingers. A radiant grin decorated her face. She stared at the cake. Scarlett leaned over and looked through Eleanore’s frame. It looked picturesque. Scarlett smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I want you to stand beside it.” They said softly. Eleanore glanced over before her eyes glued back to the cake.

“—You do?” She asked in a rush.

“Indeed.” Scarlett happily said. “Because the cake is drop-dead gorgeous.. just like you.”

Eleanore laughed. Scarlett chuckled. “I love you lots, Scarlett.” She cooed, ruffling their hair. Scarlett smiled. “But.. we should probably get to bed.”

“Shall we finish the cake first?” Scarlett asked playfully, nudging her shoulder.

“We.. should invite everyone else over to help finish it.” Eleanore reassured. “Now come on.”

It all just ended.

Johann lurched forward. He shoved his hand into his hands. “I’m so lost..” He groaned, sounding as if sleep or any form of shut-eye was foreign to him. “The rumors just keep piling.”

“What rumors?” Scarlett asked, narrowing their eyes. They grasped the coaster and cup handle. The heat from the coffee inside burnt through their gloves.

Johann peeked at Scarlett through his splayed fingers. Dark circles caged his sunken eyes. He bit his lip as hard humanly possible. “People are starting to think I’m irresponsible.” He mumbled. Scarlett slammed the cup onto the table. They stood up. Rowan sighed deeply. Coffee burst over the edges, splashing onto the table.

“Please, don’t ruin my mahogany-”

“Johann, have you any idea why people believe you are irresponsible?” Scarlett firmly asked, talking right over Rowan. Their brows were furrowed slightly.

Johann dragged himself up. He stared up at Scarlett with half-shut eyes. His once flawlessly combed hair was strewn all over his face. He shook his head. “How long did you spend in Wales last time, Johann?” Scarlett said. Johann’s head sunk right back into his hands. “Months. Four, to be exact.” Scarlett continued. “During that time, you-”

“I don’t want to hear it..”

“-Had pushed away everyone from Durand to Sidorov.” They continued over him, their voice heated like iron over fire. “You failed to live up to your duties as a duke, Johann.”

“I know..” He moaned.

“You pushed it all onto your dear sister Maria Anna, letting her take all the fall for your misdeeds!” Scarlett sharply reprimanded. “Should I go on about the second time?! How about the third?-”

Scarlett blinked. Rowan pushed them back. Johann curled into a tight ball onto the floor. “Scarlett.” Rowan said sternly, clasping their shoulders. Their stare pierced Scarlett’s. Scarlett’s eyes were ungodly wide. “Your eyes are glowing green again.” Scarlett pulled away and stepped back. They narrowed their eyes and glared at their hands. Splattered coffee stained their gloves.

They looked back at Johann. Scarlett’s tension melted. Their shoulders sunk. “D-Did I hurt him?” They asked in a breath. Rowan furrowed their brows and took a long, deep breath.

“Not this time, but remember what I said about self control.” They said, their voice softening. “You don’t only need sleep, but you have to step back.”

Scarlett nodded.

“Just make sure he gets better.”

“I know. Things run slow around here.” Kafele said a bit lightheartedly. “But I can tell you for certain—when it gets fast, you’ll wish it was slow again.”

Scarlett heaved their foot up the last stair. Water poured off their umbrella like the Niagara falls. They took a deep breath. They could’ve hear themself or their thoughts, for that matter under the rain as it crashed. The way it hit the rooftop echoed, almost blocking out the thud it made as it threatened to pluck every leaf from the treetops.

But they came back stronger. Would Johann do the—Scarlett rubbed their face.

“Scarlett!”

Scarlett’s eyes shot wide. They whipped around. Nanè climbed over the porch railing. Sparkling water tricked down her face. She grinned awkwardly and tumbled onto the floor. Scarlett rushed over as quickly as their legs would let them. They knelt and held out their hand. Nanè took it and nodded thanks.

“That was a hassle.” She sighed as she plucked a leaf from her hair. “I’m.. sorry for startling you like that.”

“No worries.” Scarlett said simply. “Come inside.”

Later.

“So Eleanore’s out?” Nanè asked as she raised the glass of tea to her lips.

“She is.” Scarlett stated, taking their seat.

Scarlett and Nanè had both changed clothes and dried off as much as they could’ve. Nanè shivered. “Sip carefully.” Scarlett suggested. “It shall help you to refrain from catching cold.”

“Aw, thank you.” Nanè cooed. “I’ll.. do my best.” Scarlett chuckled. Nanè gave a sharp nasal exhale.

“Anyway, what was it you needed?”

“Well, the team has supposedly been assembled.” She explained. “We’ll all be sent out to an entirely new rallying point..”

Scarlett raised an eyebrow. “Why is this?” They asked doubtfully.

“The letter Jack left behind that portrait..” Nanè began to ramble. She cupped her jaw with her palm and stared at the floor. Her brows furrowed a smidge. “He… left a cryptic message about where to find the next.”

“I understand.-”

“I’m glad.” She said lightheartedly. “You’re taking this all a little too well.”

Scarlett sipped their coffee. Nanè broke out into chuckles. “I swear, you’re taking it so much better than I did something that happened just yesterday, actually.” She shrugged.

“Hm..?”

“Well, some girl came running up to me in the hall and said something about.. me... dating Peso.”

Her lighthearted tone had to have been infectious. Scarlett smiled. “Oh dear.” They chuckled. “Keep it more discreet, next time.” Nanè’s eyes widened. She threw a hand over her mouth.

“Oh god..” She said after gulping her tea. “Sure thing.” The two shared a laugh. “Anyway, rumors are a real pain in the ass.”

“I wholeheartedly agree.”

“They’re like ghosts.. ghosts that follow you.” She rambled, looking off to the side. “You know, like.. Uhm… Well, Kafele would know.”

“Would he, now?”