Meanwhile, at Kieran's side…
"This chamber's air is stagnant," the Master said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. He turned to Kieran, his ancient eyes sharp, unnervingly clear. "Why not go outside for a walk? Perhaps in the light, we might find the root of this… disquiet you speak of."
Kieran, though more at home in shadows, bowed slightly. He would never refuse his Master.
They emerged into the moonlit courtyard, the cool night air brushing past them like a whisper. The transition from the suffocating underground chamber to the openness of night made everything feel momentarily… weightless.
The Second Lady was already there, waiting, her silhouette poised in graceful obedience. She bowed deeply to the Master.
But the Master barely glanced at her. His gaze moved past her, sharp and searching then stopped.
Across the courtyard, a lone figure emerged from Lord Wei's chambers. Liana. Calm. Measured. Unaware of the storm her presence had just stirred.
"Who is she?" the Master asked, his voice a mere murmur but laced with command.
Kieran followed his gaze. "Just a maid, Master. Assigned to serve Lord Wei."
The Master's eyes narrowed. His lips curled into a curious, unsettling smile. "You better not try to play with her," he said, soft but cutting. "Nor do anything wrong to her. From her aura… she holds a strange kind of usefulness. Dangerous, if mishandled."
A pause.
"Best not step on a venomous snake just because it seems small."
Kieran stiffened but only for a breath. His mind was already racing. Venomous. Useful. Hmm… perhaps it's better to leash the snake than avoid it. A spark lit in his gaze dark, possessive. She could be a threat. Or… an asset.
The Second Lady stood behind them, quiet and still but her clenched fists trembled beneath her long sleeves. She had seen the way the Master's gaze lingered. She had seen Kieran's expression shift. It was Liana.
With a final wave of his hand, the Master turned and walked away, vanishing into the night like mist. Kieran followed slowly, and behind him, the Second Lady moved in silence, her eyes burning holes into Liana's retreating form.