Xieaniel leaned back on his chair, gazing into the fire. His laboratory was silent. He strained his ears, trying to hear through the walls, listening for sound from outside. There was nothing save a gentle scraping of the rose tree at the window which faced the forest. Where was Olive? He sighed deeply.
“You’re not even that talkative but it felt so silent now.” He whispered in the air and removed his glasses. He pressed his eyes down, reminiscing his memories with Olive. It’s been almost a month since Olive and Ashriel left. Xieaniel then remembered the first time Olive dashed inside his office eight years ago.
Xieaniel was busy tightening the system of Austere and he flinched when the door burst open, revealing a woman with short brown hair and tired-looking brown eyes. She did not even bat an eye at Xieaniel and quickly slammed herself on the small bed, good for two people, then slept without saying a word. Xieaniel blinked a couple of times in disbelief. He then shook his head and continued doing his job but stopped when Olive murmured something.
“Huh? What did you say, Ruby?” He asked gently and walked towards her. “Ruby – Woah!” He quickly knelt, wrapped his arms around Olive who rolled around and almost fell off the bed. “Hey, you’re going to fall if you do that again.” He whispered but Olive did not respond. She was totally asleep. Xieaniel sighed. “I can’t do my job for now then.” He said and gently carried Olive back to her position.
Olive was about to roll again so Xieaniel lay beside her and wrapped his arms around her waist, then pulled her. “You have a bad habit of rolling around while sleeping huh? Do I need to catch you most of the time?” He stopped when Olive curled her body and buried her face to Xieaniel’s chest like a little kid. Seeing her childish side, Xieaniel chuckled. “You’re so cute.”
After an hour, Olive finally woke up and found Xieaniel sitting beside her, leaning on the bed's headboard with a mug of coffee in his hand. “Feeling better now?” He asked with a smile. Olive yawn and nodded.
“Give me some.” She said and held Xieaniel’s mug with her two hands, without knowing that she was also holding Xieaniel’s hand. “Thanks. My break time is done, but I’m still sleepy.” She blurted out and quickly left Xieaniel’s laboratory.
Every time she does that, Xieaniel would stop whatever he was doing and observe her sleeping, catch her whenever she fall, sit beside her when she was about to wake up, and prepare one mug of coffee for both of them. Xieaniel is not a stingy person, of course, but he likes it when Olive drinks on his mug.
“Hey, dude!” Xieaniel flinched and sat up straight. “What’s with you? I’ve been calling you ‘Sir’ for fifteen times now and you’re not responding.” Raith grumbled with his two hands crossed above his chest. Xieaniel cleared his throat and wore his glasses.
“Just remembering some pieces of history. Where are you up to?” Xieaniel asked, trying to change the topic. Raith placed two folders on Xieaniel’s table and pushed his hair back.
“Lady Octavia invited me for dinner with Phoebe tonight. I finished everything that you told me to do. Can I take a night break?” He said with a huge grin plastered on his lips. Xieaniel hissed and Raith laughed. “Hey, hey, don’t be jealous of me. Move swiftly when Lady Olive comes back, dude.” He said between him laughed and tapped Xieaniel’s shoulders.
“Shut up and go now. Don’t make ladies wait.” He said and checked the files but stopped when Raith laughed again.
“Tell that to yourself, dude! Don’t make Lady Olive wait!” He said and swiftly ran towards the door so that Xieaniel cannot grab something to throw at him. “Thanks! Bye!” Raith shouted cheerfully and closed the door. Xieaniel sighed.
As soon as Raith closed the door, his phone rang. “I’m coming.” He said and turned off the phone. He reached the Hirutsugi Villa after fifteen minutes of travel from the Head Quarters.
“What took you so long?” Phoebe asked as soon as Raith reached the dining room, greeted by various delicacies.
“Raith, you’re here!” Lady Octavia exclaimed and greeted Raith with a hug. “It’s nice to eat with you again.” She added and Raith took her hand.
“It’s my honor as well, Lady Octavia.” He said with a smile and swiftly kissed her hand as a sign of greeting. Kate sulked and shook her head.
Lady Octavia and Raith’s mother were best friends and Lady Octavia promised Raith’s mother that she will treat him like her son before Raith’s mother died during the Great Bloodshed. Therefore from time to time, when James – Raith's father, was not around, Lady Octavia invites Raith for a dinner.
“Tell me, do you have a woman in your mind, Raith?” Raith almost spits out his orange juice with Lady Octavia’s sudden question. “I bet you have?” She smiled playfully. Kate remained silent, and Raith threw her a look before smiling and nodding his head.
“Yes, Lady. I do have a woman in mind.”
Kate felt her heart sink upon hearing Raith’s words. Who among every woman he entertains in the Empire is the woman he is pertaining to? Kate slightly shook her head and continued eating without throwing Raith a glance.
“Oh my! Who might that lucky woman be?” Lady Octavia exclaimed and elbowed Kate when she saw her daughter not paying attention. “I hope it’s someone loyal. Someone who will not betray the Ruler and her own family. Unlike what Kate chose before.”
Kate stopped with Lady Octavia’s words and so did Raith. A hint of pain can be seen in Kate’s eyes as she takes a few deep breaths.

“Lady, I beg your pardon but isn’t that inappropriate?” Raith asked, faking a laugh. “What happened with Phoebe before is already in the past that need not be remembered anymore.” He added.
“It’s okay. I’m happy now that she did not end up with a traitor-“
“Mom,” Kate called firmly. “Please eat now. The food is getting cold and it won't taste the same after.” She said, trying to make her voice calm. After everything, Kate believed that Elias was not a traitor. It is just, he was tied in a place where he has no other option to choose but to follow his elder brother.
“Why, my daughter? Raith said it is already in the past, so don’t be embarrassed about it.” Lady Octavia retorted. “Tell me, what is your preference with women, Raith? I know plenty of noblewomen who are not yet married.” She said and winked, but Raith only smiled and shook his head.
“I’m sorry, Lady. But I only have one woman in my mind."
Kate's lips quivered. "One woman? Stop kidding me." She whispered to herself.
"She is someone who fights until the end and won’t even ask for help even though she is stuck.” Kate stopped and looked at Raith who was looking directly at her mother. “She’s reckless and gets angry almost every day but deep inside, she is a warm and strong woman. I always call her weak and ugly, but the truth is, she’s a cool, beautiful woman.” Raith explained fully of sincerity. Lady Octavia stopped for a moment and chuckled with Raith’s words. She then turned to face her daughter whose expression cannot be drawn.
“Who is the woman he is pertaining to?” Kate asked herself again but then shook her head. “Why do I even want to know?”
“What’s your ideal type?” Lady Octavia asked Kate.
~ Don’t wait for something to lose before you start to value it. ~