"No, no, don’t worry," Blake said quickly. "I was the one who rushed out so suddenly, sir."
He forced his lips into what he hoped passed for a natural smile.
Up close, Alfred Hicth looked even more imposing than he had from across the table. The corridor lighting was dim, the shadows sharpening the lines of his face. His posture was relaxed, one hand still holding his phone loosely at his side, but there was sothing watchful in the way his eyes settled on Blake.
"Don’t be so polite," the man said after a mont, the corner of his mouth lifting faintly. "You’re the little lady’s brother, after all."
The words sounded cordial enough, but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
If anything, it made him look dangerous.
Blake let out a small laugh.
"Haha, yes, of course." He shifted slightly, angling his body toward the hallway that led back to the dining room. "Now, if you’ll excuse —"
Alfred moved just a fraction.
It wasn’t much. Just a small adjustnt of his stance.
But suddenly the path past him felt a lot narrower.
The man glanced down the hallway behind Blake, his gaze sweeping the empty corridor slowly.
"Did you happen to see soone on your way here?"
Blake blinked.
"Um?"
He scratched the side of his head as if thinking hard about it.
"No... I don’t think so." He shrugged awkwardly. "Actually, I felt a bit nauseous, so I kind of ran here without really paying attention to my surroundings."
The man’s eyes returned to him.
The intensity of the stare didn’t fade.
If anything, it sharpened.
"Is that so?"
Blake swallowed.
Then Alfred tilted his head slightly.
"Now that I think of it," he said, voice mild, "your gaze was constantly on earlier."
Blake’s heartbeat jumped.
For a split second, his mind went completely blank.
’He noticed.’
Still, Blake forced out a small, sheepish chuckle.
"I must admit that’s true."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I even asked my parents about you, sir. You’re such an important figure, after all, so I was wondering why you were at Calliope’s birthday party."
The hallway fell quiet.
For a few seconds, he simply looked at him.
Then he said, "I’ve attended most of your father’s gatherings for years."
His tone was casual.
"We’ve t before, young boy."
Blake froze for half a heartbeat before quickly nodding.
"Right, right." He scratched his head again, forcing another awkward grin. "But even a year ago, I must admit I didn’t realize just how important you were."
The man studied him.
There was sothing almost clinical about the way his eyes moved across Blake’s face.
Like he was asuring sothing.
Weighing it.
Judging whether his words made sense or not.
The silence stretched just long enough to make Blake’s palms start sweating.
Alfred opened his mouth to speak, but he cut in quickly.
"Well, I should probably head back now," he said, stepping slightly to the side. "Have a nice evening, sir."
For a mont, Alfred didn’t move.
Then he shifted his weight just enough to clear the path.
"...You too."
Blake nodded politely and walked past him.
He kept his back straight and his pace steady, resisting the overwhelming urge to glance over his shoulder.
Not until he turned the corner at the end of the hallway did he finally exhale.
’Holy hell.’
His heart was still racing.
’Maybe my instincts about that guy weren’t wrong.’
Blake shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked back toward the main hall.
’If he had rushed to the mont he heard my phone... I would’ve been completely screwed.’
The thought made his stomach twist.
He was suspicious, that much was obvious.
Blake clicked his tongue quietly.
’Looks like spying on Myles gave the wrong idea. That ti it was pure luck. But today, I was almost caught in a matter of seconds. From now on... I need to do this better.’
The sounds of conversation and clinking silverware grew louder as he approached the dining room.
By the ti Blake stepped back into the hall, everything looked exactly as it had before.
The sa warm lighting.
The sa chatter.
The sa elegant atmosphere.
No one even glanced up.
Blake walked back to his seat and sat down.
Apparently, no one had noticed, or cared, that he’d been gone for nearly twenty minutes.
By the ti he settled in, dessert had already arrived.
Small glass cups filled with smooth caral pudding sat in front of each guest.
’Ah.’
Blake picked up his spoon.
’Looks like the cake will be coming soon.’
He scooped up a bite and slipped it into his mouth.
It was sweet, cold and comforting.
The sugar hit his bloodstream almost imdiately, easing so of the tension that had been clinging to his body.
Unfortunately, the mont didn’t last long.
The servants began clearing the dishes again almost imdiately.
Blake blinked.
"Hey, wait—"
But the pudding was already gone.
Then Calliope suddenly stood up from her seat.
Her chair scraped lightly against the floor as she straightened proudly.
"Dear guests," she announced brightly, "I’m happy to say that my cake is finally here!"
Blake followed her gaze toward the entrance.
And imdiately felt his face go pale.
’...That thing is massive.’
The cake being wheeled into the room was less of a cake and more of a monunt.
It towered over the cart carrying it, layer upon layer stacked high, decorated with glossy strawberries and thick swirls of pink frosting. Gold trim ran along the edges like ornate jewelry.
It looked less like a dessert and more like sothing that belonged in a royal wedding.
’I an, it’s supposed to be eaten by everyone, still...’
Blake stared at it, dumbfounded.
’But then again, she is a sheltered twelve year old girl.’
As the cart rolled forward, the guests began clapping politely.
Blake joined them half-heartedly.
But as he watched the enormous pink structure approach the table...
His vision started to blur slightly.
The clapping sounded distant.
Muted.
’I want to end it.’
Blake blinked.
Then blinked again.
"Huh?"
The candles were being placed on top of the cake now, their tiny flas flickering to life.
Blake lifted a hand to his mouth as a wave of nausea rolled through his stomach.
’What the hell was that thought?’
His chest felt strangely tight.
That cake.
This table.
These people laughing and clapping.
’I want to go back.’
His fingers curled against his lips.
’In this world... there isn’t a single person I truly care about.’
Almost imdiately, he almost felt regret thinking that.
Because that wasn’t entirely true.
Yes, he missed his real family.
Yes, he missed his real life.
More than anything.
But...
There was soone in this world he wanted to see again.
Blake let out a quiet sigh.
’Myles.’
A faint, self-mocking smile tugged at his lips.
’Seriously... I must be an idiot.’
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