"Holy... The lassie is pure burnin' up! Master! We should notify Doctor Harold! Now! How come ye'r still here?"

Albert's voice was the last thing Luc expected or welcomed on a quiet morning. He couldn't tell if Albert was shouting or not, but it didn't matter. He had just gotten out of a long trance. One that had taken almost all night. Luc never had the luxury of sleeping, so these trances were his lifesaver. Either them or dying of boredom when there was little else to do.

The weight on his body reeled Luc back to reality. He looked down. The girl was lying on his chest in the same manner he had put her the night before. Her face turned to the window while her skinny arms spread out on two sides of his body. Luc's left hand was in the girl's long hair.

They were on the chaise lounge together, under her thick blanket. The girl felt piping hot. Her complexion had taken on a darker shade of pink.

She looked peaceful if not for her abnormal breathing. The girl inhaled and exhaled rapidly, like a small, wounded animal. Occasionally, she wheezed. Gigantic beads of sweat formed under her hairline, soaking a spot on Luc's shirt.

Luc had thought he'd known everything about human physiology, wounds and diseases, but in that moment, he realized that his knowledge didn't help one bit.

Her sickness, as common as it was, threw him into perturbation. There was nothing he could do.

Mortality was still a foreign concept. Luc didn't think he could ever get used to it, but he had witnessed enough. Its power and perfect design. Everything must turn to ash in the end.

Luc turned carefully so the girl could roll off of him. "Call Doctor Harold now," he said. "But I have to go. You stay here."

"Go where, Master?" Albert's eyes were as wide as two pewter pots. The man knew his master's schedule. There was no appointment or errand this early.

Luc redid his tie while checking his reflection on a cabinet's glass door. "To the hotel. It's been a few days since I checked on it. I want to make sure we're still on schedule for the grand opening. It has to be done one week before the Election—"

"Ye'r joking, right? Master, ye can go there anytime! How come now? They will bring ye the reports! At least see what the doctor says first!" Albert's voice was thick with worry.

Luc always found his humanity entertaining, but today, he was just not in the mood. Whatever had happened here, in this room and inside him, should never have happened.

He needed to get out.

"Albert, am I the master, or are you the master?" Luc winked at Albert, whose mouth still gaped open, and turned the door handle.



It was a beautiful Monday morning. After Sunday Mass, life had gotten back to its normal pace.

Luc's cane tapped rhythmically on the cobblestones. Normally, he would whistle.

However, a deep frown took over his face today. Luc had passed many acquaintances without even realizing it. His ancient mind swirled. There were many dark corners of it he would rather not visit.

By this time, the doctor should have already finished his diagnosis and left. The girl should have received her medicines and been on her way to recovery. Everything should be fine. Unless...

No, there would be no "unless". Luc had seen many slaves who suffered much worse survive.

There would be no "unless".

Checking his pocket watch, Luc walked faster. His company was not far from Earlington Palace. He should stop by and see them. The Gang of Fly Rinks should all be there, in their fanciest outfits to discuss "important national matters".

As usual.

'Fly Rinks' they were, with their polished bald heads, trimmed mustaches, and gold-plated monocles. Most of them were hereditary peers, who inherited their titles from their fathers and fathers' fathers without doing much. These old farts were a force of nature. Luc knew he didn't want to get involved deeply with them. It would be a huge waste of time.

Since when had human politics been fun? However, on a day like this, they turned out to be exactly what he needed. A distraction.

The heavy sapele door slid inward before closing after Luc, blocking all the noises outside. The expansive round lobby was quiet. Besides two soldiers standing guard, there was no one else. Countless candles from the chandelier and holders on the walls generously gave out their warm light, bathing Luc in a glamorous glow.

The tapping of his cane echoed through the empty corridor like a ripple effect. Luc stared at his reflection on the flawless marble floor while he passed all the doors straight to the last one on the left.

Faint arguments inside put an ironic smirk on Luc's face. Same old things they had discussed a million times.

Luc was certain most of the men inside would rather be here than stay home and listen to their wives. They would prove their worth to the Empire while dreaming of their mistresses because no respectable man would put his pleasure before the prosperity of his nation.

No, absolutely not.

"My Lords," Luc announced his arrival with a decisive push on the door.

He touched the brim of his hat but didn't care to remove it. Walking to a vacant seat in the corner, Luc sat down while gesturing to the speechless men to continue. The argument quickly turned into a sales pitch when their golden goose unexpectedly showed up.

"As you gentlemen know, our country is in the middle of the most important chapter of human history. If we succeed, our position on the globe will be significantly improved. Our nation will be replenished with resources from the colonies, things we desperately need for production and our God-given mission. We, a civilized race, have the responsibility to enlighten every dark corner of Earth and its savage inhabitants. To make all that happen, we need sacrifices. We need to invest—"

"Even more than now?" Luc mused.

The man stopped mid-speech and looked around in confusion. The room was a land of silence.

"Master Luc... You...You have something to say?" His nervous laughter rolled out like chickens' clucking.

"Oh, no. I'm just talking to myself. Please carry on!" Luc smiled charmingly.

From time to time, the nobles were useful. It never hurt to act as if he cared about their causes.

The man was beyond happy and went on with his speech for another half an hour before the meeting was in recess.

Luc shook his head. The men were just a bunch of dreamers. Money was never the issue to him. Luc could sponsor their senseless conquests for eternity if he liked it, but the problem was that he didn't.

Humans never learned. Each generation was worse than the last. They always needed something to justify the atrocities they committed. It was a never-ending cycle. Luc would be damned, more than he had been if he let them waste his money on such a boring pursuit. "Enlighten every dark corner of Earth," right.

Viscount Wilson, the Fly Rinks gang's leader, surprisingly, was not here today. He was the one Luc had dreaded seeing the most. A formidable male in his sixties with a big beard and an even bigger ego, Viscount Wilson had led several wars on behalf of the monarch, rightfully earning the respect of the country and his peers. He was very opinionated when it came to military matters and had aggressively sought out funds for the current campaign. The Viscount had tirelessly hounded Luc and his assets for months.

Luc had to admit. The man was determined.

Luc knew he should not be here in this room full of aging humans with their problems. He had his to worry about. His mind violently scrubbed away the mental image of a little pair of hands gripping his vest. Luc was surprised he had not checked his pocket watch once.

The meeting then resumed. Luc had not been to the construction site yet, and there was a lengthy list of things that needed to be taken care of by the end of the day. Impatience simmering, Luc readjusted his tie and tapped his shoes on the floor repeatedly.

"... Must not underrate the scale of the rebellions in the colonies. We must expect many obstacles and unpleasant surprises now that they have joined forces with the disgruntled workers and, even some of the soldiers."

"Oh, no, those are not soldiers of the Empire anymore! They are thugs! Criminals! They must be punished to the full extent of the laws!"

"Must I remind you, sir, that Bagorak is halfway across the globe? They hardly know our King. Even less, our laws!"

"My Lords," Luc stood up and yawned with his hands raised. "it's been a nice discussion, but I'm afraid I have to go. There are things that require my attention. Have a blessed day!"

He exited the room like the wind before anyone could stop him. Two o'clock. He might have just enough time before going to the construction site.

Luc walked while chastising himself for walking too fast. In the last few yards, he picked up the pace even more and crashed through the gate. He hopped up all five steps in front of the door at once while cursing his mortal shell and its limitations. As he opened the door, Albert's massive back greeted him.

"Holy...Master!" The human had his hat and horsewhip in one hand, looking fresh from a trip. "How come ye running in like a mad jimmy? Where have ye been all morning? I've gone everywhere looking for ye..."

"Please, Albert... I've just had the longest morning with the old crows at Earlington Palace. What was I even thinking...." Luc threw his hat and coat in the corner without caring where they would land.

He knew Albert was rolling his eyes and muttering some curse words behind his back, but Luc couldn't care less at this point. Something had been let loose, and he ran upstairs, taking two steps at once until he reached the very top.

Luc stopped right outside the office. The doorknob was gleaming under the chandelier's light, mocking him.

"What are ye waiting for?" Albert's whispered over Luc's shoulder like a damned spirit.

"Can you not do that?" Luc gritted his teeth.

"Hah, ye'v never gotten scared so easily before." Albert's olive eyes twinkled as he opened the door. The big man poked his head into the dark room. "She's fine, ye ken? Doctor Harold said it was just exhaustion, maybe a cold and lack of nutrition. We can take care of her. Make her better."

Albert looked back at his master and shook his head at Luc's lack of reaction. He gave Luc's shoulder a proper squeeze before going back downstairs.

Luc frowned at the man's action but didn't make any comment. He also didn't miss a look of sympathy in Albert's eyes as the man departed. He watched until Albert disappeared around the stairs landing's corner before bumping his head on the doorframe. Repeatedly.

Luc eventually convinced himself that he was already here. What difference did it make with a few more steps?

The mountain of blankets that went up and down was the first thing he saw. Anyone could have missed those subtle movements, but not Luc. He didn't come any closer. His feet were rooted to the threshold. His eyes burned holes in the tiny forehead that peeked out from under the comforter.

She seemed better, at least. The empty bowl on the table was a promising sight.

Luc stepped over and craned his neck. The girl's cheeks, from the little he could see, had returned to their normal color. Her skin looked soft. Warm. Inviting. Luc had fully known how human skin felt, but he couldn't resist.

The girl's long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings as he touched her. Luc wondered what she was dreaming about. He hoped she wouldn't open her eyes, but at the same time, part of him wished that she would.

What a dilemma. And just like the calm before a storm. It wouldn't last forever.

Luc pulled out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed the sweat on her forehead as lightly as he could. All hell would break loose if she woke up now and saw him this close. He knew Hell. He had been to that place briefly. It wasn't pleasant. Luc chuckled. She was no Mouse at all, but the nickname stuck.

Before Luc could fully understand what he was doing, he leaned forward. His breathing slowed down to a complete stop. Her lips tasted like whatever medicine she had taken, sweet with a tint of bitterness. Luc drank it all in, along with the sight of her.

What if she woke up?

They'd had this dance before. She would try her best to hurt him, and he would let her.

The blood pumping in both of their veins and the sleepy mumbling under his lips sharpened Luc's mind. Everything else dulled away. The world was reduced to one room, one chaise lounge, and one person.

So what? If she woke up.