"Where did you go last night?" Questioned our mother as we ate breakfast.
"Around to enjoy the night scenery." I gave a vague answer with a smile.
She nodded without further questioning, indicating that she trusted us. "Did you have fun?" Lilia asked, a loving smile on her face.
Charlotte gave me a look as she took advantage of the situation and spoke up. "Yes! I want to go out today too, can I mom?"
"Why not? I don't have much to do tonight, so I could even accompany you." Lilia said this with a happy smile on her face, as if she was already to go.
My little sister and I froze for a moment, looking at each other for brief moments, not making conversation, because we needed to talk quickly or the idea of joining us would settle.
"Are you sure, mom? I know you're very busy, and we're just stargazing; there's nothing special about it." I reasoned as I observed our mother's reaction.
Her shoulders slumped, a wounded smile spread across her face, and she laughed uncomfortably as her crimson eyes traveled to the plate of food, where the clink of the silver fork playing with the food echoed.
"Right..."
"I don't want you to get sick from overwork, so come with us on your next day off." I spoke with a firm tone and a worried expression on my face.
She looked up and sighed when she saw my sincere expression. "Sure."
Before I could change the subject to lighten the mood, a darkness appeared beside our mother in the floor. I looked around curiously, waiting for the shadow servant to appear. To my surprise, a man appeared from the shadows instead of a woman. He had dark skin and a solemn expression. He handed our mother a letter and gave us a quick glance before disappearing.
"Who was he?"
"He was just a shadow servant sent by Duke Sideheart to deliver a message. You don't heed him," She explained, and we nodded in agreement.
"Okay"
We continue talking with our mother for a while, attempting to lighten her mood by diverting the conversation to other topics, such as our lessons. She inquired about my sword training as well as Charlotte's archery training. She had only recently awakened her magic, but her proficiency with the bow, thanks to the system's skill, was exceptional for her age. Of course, she was at a much lower power level than me because I was two years her experienced, and on top of that, I had a melee skill that, when combined with light weapons like daggers, would put me at a level where I could fight someone of the same purity level as me and win.
That didn't change the fact that Charlotte had more potential than I did. She was the main villain, so she should have had enough power to challenge the protagonist. When she caught up with me, I'd have to work extra hard to keep up. However, I had a skill that I gained when Aria reached 50% that would help me with that. We stood up and thanked the maids and chefs for the food, gaining a few points in the process. We walked through the mansion, heading for Charlotte's room, which served as our headquarters at this point.
(***)
3rd person POV:
A man in the shadows overheard Nathaniel, Charlotte, and Lilia's conversation without any of the servants in this dimension noticing. Due to the disparity in power, the shadow servants were unable to detect him. He walked out of the mansion, his gaze fixed on the colorless world. When he came out, instead of going to the city center, where the teleportation gate to different cities is located, he went to the city's southern part, looking for a specific establishment.
It was early morning, and the red-light district was deserted. The only things left on those crowded streets were drunk men and garbage. He ignored everything and continued towards a specific establishment with a solemn expression. When he arrived at the location, which was a closed building, he passed through the walls and found his target in the establishment's management office. A few luminous stones illuminated the room as a chubby man scribbled something on a yellowish sheet of paper with a pen. He materialized near the man without even the slightest delicacy, causing him to jump and almost fall off his chair.
"Belora." The man said monotonously. Ignoring the smell of black ink that had spilled throughout the room.
What do I owe the honor of your visit, Mr. Ludwin?" Belora sighed and pulled himself together as he confirmed the person's identity.
"Did you get anything?" Ludwin inquired, allowing the meaning of the words to float in the air.
"I'm afraid not, sir." Belora respectfully shook his head and smoothed out his shirt, but only smudged his hand with the ink that had fallen on it. He spoke again, this time coughing awkwardly. "However, I have my sights set on a target that may meet our organization's requirements."
"Good. Lord Sideheart is awaiting the result." As Ludiwin spoke, the shadows began to gather.
"Wait a minute, Mr. Ludiwin!" Belora yelled, causing the man to tilt his head and stare at him, awaiting his response. Belora swallowed and cleared his throat. "Why don't you stay a little longer? Let's talk." With a smile, he said.
"I have important news to bring to Lord Sideheart, and I don't have time for stupid things." Ludwin said coldly, sending a pulse of magic out that made Belora tremble. As he looked at the chubby man in front of him with daggers, Ludwin's eyes seemed to hold back the abyss. "Be clear, Belora."
"I-I was wondering if there was anything I could do to assist Lord Sideheart. The bodyguards I hired in the triad are extremely useful for espionage." Belora spoke slowly.
Ludwin sighed, "Keep an eye on the Edevane house, watch their movements and the places their young masters visit." He gave the order.
"Is that all?" Belora asked, smiling. With this, he could gain Lord Sideheart's trust and possibly move up the ranks of the organization.
"Is that all?" Repeated Ludwin, squinting his eyes. He vanished and reappeared in front of him, his hand tightening and closing around Belora's greasy throat. "Take it seriously, Belora. If you are ever discovered, I will personally ensure that all evidence of your existence is erased." Ludwin issued a warning before finally releasing Belora.
Belora clenched his teeth and coughed a few times before pulling himself together. "Don't worry, Mr. Ludwin, my possessions are legitimate; expect results..." Belora waited.
"In three days." Ludwin finished and faded into the shadows.
"Ha~ It's certainly scary." A new voice in the room spoke up.
A man with white hair appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He patted Belora's shoulder and smiled carefreely, as if he hadn't just felt the pressure of an elite. His blue eyes darted to a nearby corner, where he smiled.
"Isn't that right, brother?" He said, and again a man appeared, as if an invisibility cloak had been removed. But this time, instead of white, he had black hair.
"After all, it is a purity level 4." The other man said this while combing his hair back. He looked over at Belora, who was wiping his sweat away with a handkerchief. "So, should we put our search for orphan girls on hold for the time being?" He inquired.
Belora nodded, swallowing accumulated saliva. "Yes... its more important to fulfill Lord Ludwin's request."
"I was intrigued by that merchant." The white-haired man pouted. "We couldn't investigate him right away because we were too busy."
"Forget it, this is our chance to win the favor of a duke, who cares about a humble merchant."
"Well, shall we start from tomorrow?" Asked the black-haired man.
"No, go at once, keep an eye on they frequent visits and let me know of anything relevant."
"Understood." They both said, one seriously and one nonchalantly. After that, they both disappeared as if they had never existed.
"All these bloodlines about disappearing give me a headache." Belora grumbled as he leaned back in his chair.
(***)
Nathaniel POV:
"Nice to see you, Adam!" Belora, the short man, greeted. As I approach his private table, he pats me on the back. "Do you want to play?"
"An acquaintance of yours?" Asked a young man with blond hair sitting between two women.
"Yes, yes, a very dear friend," Belora said, smiling.
I mentally scoffed a little. 'Dear friend eh.'
[Name: Belora Lockwood.
Love: 0% Neutral].
The blond boy simply nodded in answer to Belora's response and resumed flirting with the girls who were clearly there for his money. It was clear to see how they discreetly tried to put their hand in his clothes in a disguised attempt to steal from him, but the only one who didn't notice or deliberately ignored it was him. I shook my head and took a seat at the table in my seat, which was right next to Belora on the corner. Under the curious gaze of the men and the hungry gaze of the women, I pulled out another pile of gold coins. Belora just gave me a curious look.
Although Belora's confidence in me was only nule, I wanted to speed up the process by looking for something that would help me in the system. Unfortunately, there was nothing comparable to what I had in mind, only a sleeping pill, aphrodisiacs, and an illusion spell that might work but wasn't certain and wasn't worth the points it cost.
"You said you were a merchant, right?" Belora asked in hushed tones so the others wouldn't hear, probably curious where I got so much money.
"Yes, but if you're wondering where I got the money, it was from the savings we had set aside for our next child." I responded, and he nodded, as if my response had satisfied him.
He was probably still looking into me, but the information would be slow to come because there wasn't many men named Adam who were successful traders, so by the time they discovered he didn't exist, it would be too late. I knew that providing unnecessary information in an answer indicated a lie, but I needed to know where my money came from.
We played some more, and the man hadn't asked me any questions, probably because he was waiting for the opportunity. I didn't lose too much money this time. These were my funds. I didn't want to completely destroy my wallet to give the impression of someone wasteful with a broken heart. My mother only gave us 10 gold coins as an allowance each month. It may appear to be a lot, but I spent half of my two-year savings in just a few days. My bored and angry expression did not fade as I played and pretend drink. Belora took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about my personal life.
"Have you resolved your issue with your wife?"
"I honestly don't know what to do; I'd like to torture her, but I also don't want to go to the dungeon, you know?" I huffed, feigning a slip of the tongue.
Before I could say anything else, a man approached us and whispered something into his ears. Belora stood up right away. "I'm sorry, the important one came up." He only said that and quickly got up and left the table.
I clenched my fist beneath the table. Why doesn't anything go as planned? Could it be destiny? Is the universe telling me I don't have to save Lena? I didn't know; all I knew was that I was frustrated, and Charlotte noticed.
"(Let's go big brother, tomorrow there will be another chance)"
"(We don't have much time Charlotte)" I said as I rose from my seat, giving myself a critical smile. "(I must arrive in time to save her)"
"(In time)" Charlotte repeated.
"(Let's go home)" I sighed.
(***)
Left behind the Red-light district "(Did you find out anything?)" I questioned my little sister.
"(No, sorry)" My Little sister responded
"(Shall we simply torture him? I'm getting tired, and his confidence doesn't appear to be growing.)" Looking over my shoulder at Novem, who was watching the surroundings with vigilance but also curiosity, I suggested.
Day two, and despite the fact that Belora appeared to be a cheerful and somewhat astute friend, his trust in me was still at a nil. I knew it was only one day, but we didn't have all day; we needed to know if he was the one we were looking for quickly.
"(I don't think it's plausible; if Belora is a part of the black market, he's a minor player; I doubt he has such important information; surely they tell him the location a little before the auction)." She exhaled a sigh.
"(Right, so, what are you suggesting?)" I questioned.
" (We should wait one more day and if it doesn't reveal anything important we will move on to the next suspect.)"
"(Still, we should assign him a shadow servant)" I suggested and my sister nodded.
I couldn't help but sigh as I turned to face the woman who was following us from behind. "Have you seen anything suspicious, Novem?" I inquired, slowing my stride to match hers.
She shook her head and maintained her bored expression. "I'm sorry, young master; I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary."
"Do you think we should stop going to that place?" I questioned.
"I believe it is for the best." She said it sincerely, looking me in the eyes as if to express her concern.
I embraced her without warning, her body stiffening as I pulled her into my adult body in an embrace. Her slender waist felt firm to the touch, and her breasts pressed against my chest was a pleasant sensation, but I knew it wasn't her real body because she was in disguise, so I stroked her hair and waited for her to relax.
"Thank you for always looking after us." I whisper in her ear, causing her to shiver slightly.
"I-It's my job young master" She replied, her ears were red, but she tried to look calm.
+1000 affection points.
+200 fate points.
'Done.' I had decided to take a slightly more aggressive approach with Novem to make up for the points I had lost while looking for Lena.
I smiled and let her go, giving her a smile as she looked at me with a slight blush and confusion in her eyes. I could tell she wasn't upset because her love meter was enough for hugs and such; she was just confused because it was my first time doing it to her. However, I did not respond to her perplexed expression, which demanded an explanation, and instead let her draw her own conclusions.
"(Kya~ big brother is a playboy)" Charlotte teased me with a smile as we watched Novem regain her composure.
I waved my hand and resumed my walk. "(It's just to stitch get her used to more intimate physical contact)"
"(Are you sure that's all there is to it?)" She inquired, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
I put a hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair. "(Of course)"
(***)
3rd person POV:
[The skill 'like an open book' cannot be fully utilized]
[The skill 'like an open book' cannot be fully utilized]
[The skill 'like an open book' cannot be fully utilized]
Charlotte observed the system notifications in front of her as she observed her brother, who radiated a relaxed aura despite his frustration. She had attempted to use her ability on her brother, but it had failed, as it had all previous attempts. She only wanted to see a glimpse of his feelings, not his thoughts, and she had no intention of invading her older brother's privacy. She was only concerned about him. He was becoming increasingly impulsive, as if his usual calm had vanished... Besides, she felt some of his emotions when she hugged Novem, and what she felt scared her. Nathaniel felt a slight attachment to Novem.
'Impossible,' Charlotte thought as she searched the system for any option that confirmed Nathaniel's feelings.
"Where did you go last night?" Questioned our mother as we ate breakfast.
"Around to enjoy the night scenery." I gave a vague answer with a smile.
She nodded without further questioning, indicating that she trusted us. "Did you have fun?" Lilia asked, a loving smile on her face.
Charlotte gave me a look as she took advantage of the situation and spoke up. "Yes! I want to go out today too, can I mom?"
"Why not? I don't have much to do tonight, so I could even accompany you." Lilia said this with a happy smile on her face, as if she was already to go.
My little sister and I froze for a moment, looking at each other for brief moments, not making conversation, because we needed to talk quickly or the idea of joining us would settle.
"Are you sure, mom? I know you're very busy, and we're just stargazing; there's nothing special about it." I reasoned as I observed our mother's reaction.
Her shoulders slumped, a wounded smile spread across her face, and she laughed uncomfortably as her crimson eyes traveled to the plate of food, where the clink of the silver fork playing with the food echoed.
"Right..."
"I don't want you to get sick from overwork, so come with us on your next day off." I spoke with a firm tone and a worried expression on my face.
She looked up and sighed when she saw my sincere expression. "Sure."
Before I could change the subject to lighten the mood, a darkness appeared beside our mother in the floor. I looked around curiously, waiting for the shadow servant to appear. To my surprise, a man appeared from the shadows instead of a woman. He had dark skin and a solemn expression. He handed our mother a letter and gave us a quick glance before disappearing.
"Who was he?"
"He was just a shadow servant sent by Duke Sideheart to deliver a message. You don't heed him," She explained, and we nodded in agreement.
"Okay"
We continue talking with our mother for a while, attempting to lighten her mood by diverting the conversation to other topics, such as our lessons. She inquired about my sword training as well as Charlotte's archery training. She had only recently awakened her magic, but her proficiency with the bow, thanks to the system's skill, was exceptional for her age. Of course, she was at a much lower power level than me because I was two years her experienced, and on top of that, I had a melee skill that, when combined with light weapons like daggers, would put me at a level where I could fight someone of the same purity level as me and win.
That didn't change the fact that Charlotte had more potential than I did. She was the main villain, so she should have had enough power to challenge the protagonist. When she caught up with me, I'd have to work extra hard to keep up. However, I had a skill that I gained when Aria reached 50% that would help me with that. We stood up and thanked the maids and chefs for the food, gaining a few points in the process. We walked through the mansion, heading for Charlotte's room, which served as our headquarters at this point.
(***)
3rd person POV:
A man in the shadows overheard Nathaniel, Charlotte, and Lilia's conversation without any of the servants in this dimension noticing. Due to the disparity in power, the shadow servants were unable to detect him. He walked out of the mansion, his gaze fixed on the colorless world. When he came out, instead of going to the city center, where the teleportation gate to different cities is located, he went to the city's southern part, looking for a specific establishment.
It was early morning, and the red-light district was deserted. The only things left on those crowded streets were drunk men and garbage. He ignored everything and continued towards a specific establishment with a solemn expression. When he arrived at the location, which was a closed building, he passed through the walls and found his target in the establishment's management office. A few luminous stones illuminated the room as a chubby man scribbled something on a yellowish sheet of paper with a pen. He materialized near the man without even the slightest delicacy, causing him to jump and almost fall off his chair.
"Belora." The man said monotonously. Ignoring the smell of black ink that had spilled throughout the room.
What do I owe the honor of your visit, Mr. Ludwin?" Belora sighed and pulled himself together as he confirmed the person's identity.
"Did you get anything?" Ludwin inquired, allowing the meaning of the words to float in the air.
"I'm afraid not, sir." Belora respectfully shook his head and smoothed out his shirt, but only smudged his hand with the ink that had fallen on it. He spoke again, this time coughing awkwardly. "However, I have my sights set on a target that may meet our organization's requirements."
"Good. Lord Sideheart is awaiting the result." As Ludiwin spoke, the shadows began to gather.
"Wait a minute, Mr. Ludiwin!" Belora yelled, causing the man to tilt his head and stare at him, awaiting his response. Belora swallowed and cleared his throat. "Why don't you stay a little longer? Let's talk." With a smile, he said.
"I have important news to bring to Lord Sideheart, and I don't have time for stupid things." Ludwin said coldly, sending a pulse of magic out that made Belora tremble. As he looked at the chubby man in front of him with daggers, Ludwin's eyes seemed to hold back the abyss. "Be clear, Belora."
"I-I was wondering if there was anything I could do to assist Lord Sideheart. The bodyguards I hired in the triad are extremely useful for espionage." Belora spoke slowly.
Ludwin sighed, "Keep an eye on the Edevane house, watch their movements and the places their young masters visit." He gave the order.
"Is that all?" Belora asked, smiling. With this, he could gain Lord Sideheart's trust and possibly move up the ranks of the organization.
"Is that all?" Repeated Ludwin, squinting his eyes. He vanished and reappeared in front of him, his hand tightening and closing around Belora's greasy throat. "Take it seriously, Belora. If you are ever discovered, I will personally ensure that all evidence of your existence is erased." Ludwin issued a warning before finally releasing Belora.
Belora clenched his teeth and coughed a few times before pulling himself together. "Don't worry, Mr. Ludwin, my possessions are legitimate; expect results..." Belora waited.
"In three days." Ludwin finished and faded into the shadows.
"Ha~ It's certainly scary." A new voice in the room spoke up.
A man with white hair appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He patted Belora's shoulder and smiled carefreely, as if he hadn't just felt the pressure of an elite. His blue eyes darted to a nearby corner, where he smiled.
"Isn't that right, brother?" He said, and again a man appeared, as if an invisibility cloak had been removed. But this time, instead of white, he had black hair.
"After all, it is a purity level 4." The other man said this while combing his hair back. He looked over at Belora, who was wiping his sweat away with a handkerchief. "So, should we put our search for orphan girls on hold for the time being?" He inquired.
Belora nodded, swallowing accumulated saliva. "Yes... its more important to fulfill Lord Ludwin's request."
"I was intrigued by that merchant." The white-haired man pouted. "We couldn't investigate him right away because we were too busy."
"Forget it, this is our chance to win the favor of a duke, who cares about a humble merchant."
"Well, shall we start from tomorrow?" Asked the black-haired man.
"No, go at once, keep an eye on they frequent visits and let me know of anything relevant."
"Understood." They both said, one seriously and one nonchalantly. After that, they both disappeared as if they had never existed.
"All these bloodlines about disappearing give me a headache." Belora grumbled as he leaned back in his chair.
(***)
Nathaniel POV:
"Nice to see you, Adam!" Belora, the short man, greeted. As I approach his private table, he pats me on the back. "Do you want to play?"
"An acquaintance of yours?" Asked a young man with blond hair sitting between two women.
"Yes, yes, a very dear friend," Belora said, smiling.
I mentally scoffed a little. 'Dear friend eh.'
[Name: Belora Lockwood.
Love: 0% Neutral].
The blond boy simply nodded in answer to Belora's response and resumed flirting with the girls who were clearly there for his money. It was clear to see how they discreetly tried to put their hand in his clothes in a disguised attempt to steal from him, but the only one who didn't notice or deliberately ignored it was him. I shook my head and took a seat at the table in my seat, which was right next to Belora on the corner. Under the curious gaze of the men and the hungry gaze of the women, I pulled out another pile of gold coins. Belora just gave me a curious look.
Although Belora's confidence in me was only nule, I wanted to speed up the process by looking for something that would help me in the system. Unfortunately, there was nothing comparable to what I had in mind, only a sleeping pill, aphrodisiacs, and an illusion spell that might work but wasn't certain and wasn't worth the points it cost.
"You said you were a merchant, right?" Belora asked in hushed tones so the others wouldn't hear, probably curious where I got so much money.
"Yes, but if you're wondering where I got the money, it was from the savings we had set aside for our next child." I responded, and he nodded, as if my response had satisfied him.
He was probably still looking into me, but the information would be slow to come because there wasn't many men named Adam who were successful traders, so by the time they discovered he didn't exist, it would be too late. I knew that providing unnecessary information in an answer indicated a lie, but I needed to know where my money came from.
We played some more, and the man hadn't asked me any questions, probably because he was waiting for the opportunity. I didn't lose too much money this time. These were my funds. I didn't want to completely destroy my wallet to give the impression of someone wasteful with a broken heart. My mother only gave us 10 gold coins as an allowance each month. It may appear to be a lot, but I spent half of my two-year savings in just a few days. My bored and angry expression did not fade as I played and pretend drink. Belora took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about my personal life.
"Have you resolved your issue with your wife?"
"I honestly don't know what to do; I'd like to torture her, but I also don't want to go to the dungeon, you know?" I huffed, feigning a slip of the tongue.
Before I could say anything else, a man approached us and whispered something into his ears. Belora stood up right away. "I'm sorry, the important one came up." He only said that and quickly got up and left the table.
I clenched my fist beneath the table. Why doesn't anything go as planned? Could it be destiny? Is the universe telling me I don't have to save Lena? I didn't know; all I knew was that I was frustrated, and Charlotte noticed.
"(Let's go big brother, tomorrow there will be another chance)"
"(We don't have much time Charlotte)" I said as I rose from my seat, giving myself a critical smile. "(I must arrive in time to save her)"
"(In time)" Charlotte repeated.
"(Let's go home)" I sighed.
(***)
Left behind the Red-light district "(Did you find out anything?)" I questioned my little sister.
"(No, sorry)" My Little sister responded
"(Shall we simply torture him? I'm getting tired, and his confidence doesn't appear to be growing.)" Looking over my shoulder at Novem, who was watching the surroundings with vigilance but also curiosity, I suggested.
Day two, and despite the fact that Belora appeared to be a cheerful and somewhat astute friend, his trust in me was still at a nil. I knew it was only one day, but we didn't have all day; we needed to know if he was the one we were looking for quickly.
"(I don't think it's plausible; if Belora is a part of the black market, he's a minor player; I doubt he has such important information; surely they tell him the location a little before the auction)." She exhaled a sigh.
"(Right, so, what are you suggesting?)" I questioned.
" (We should wait one more day and if it doesn't reveal anything important we will move on to the next suspect.)"
"(Still, we should assign him a shadow servant)" I suggested and my sister nodded.
I couldn't help but sigh as I turned to face the woman who was following us from behind. "Have you seen anything suspicious, Novem?" I inquired, slowing my stride to match hers.
She shook her head and maintained her bored expression. "I'm sorry, young master; I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary."
"Do you think we should stop going to that place?" I questioned.
"I believe it is for the best." She said it sincerely, looking me in the eyes as if to express her concern.
I embraced her without warning, her body stiffening as I pulled her into my adult body in an embrace. Her slender waist felt firm to the touch, and her breasts pressed against my chest was a pleasant sensation, but I knew it wasn't her real body because she was in disguise, so I stroked her hair and waited for her to relax.
"Thank you for always looking after us." I whisper in her ear, causing her to shiver slightly.
"I-It's my job young master" She replied, her ears were red, but she tried to look calm.
+1000 affection points.
+200 fate points.
'Done.' I had decided to take a slightly more aggressive approach with Novem to make up for the points I had lost while looking for Lena.
I smiled and let her go, giving her a smile as she looked at me with a slight blush and confusion in her eyes. I could tell she wasn't upset because her love meter was enough for hugs and such; she was just confused because it was my first time doing it to her. However, I did not respond to her perplexed expression, which demanded an explanation, and instead let her draw her own conclusions.
"(Kya~ big brother is a playboy)" Charlotte teased me with a smile as we watched Novem regain her composure.
I waved my hand and resumed my walk. "(It's just to stitch get her used to more intimate physical contact)"
"(Are you sure that's all there is to it?)" She inquired, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
I put a hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair. "(Of course)"
(***)
3rd person POV:
[The skill 'like an open book' cannot be fully utilized]
[The skill 'like an open book' cannot be fully utilized]
[The skill 'like an open book' cannot be fully utilized]
Charlotte observed the system notifications in front of her as she observed her brother, who radiated a relaxed aura despite his frustration. She had attempted to use her ability on her brother, but it had failed, as it had all previous attempts. She only wanted to see a glimpse of his feelings, not his thoughts, and she had no intention of invading her older brother's privacy. She was only concerned about him. He was becoming increasingly impulsive, as if his usual calm had vanished... Besides, she felt some of his emotions when she hugged Novem, and what she felt scared her. Nathaniel felt a slight attachment to Novem.
'Impossible,' Charlotte thought as she searched the system for any option that confirmed Nathaniel's feelings.
