Kirine was undeniably obsessed with money. She’d do anything for a profit, especially if it was quick and substantial. Growing up without parental care, she’d clung to money as a lifeline. “Let’s see if there’s any left,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration. She had no idea where it could be.
A series of deep sighs escaped her lips when a knock sounded at the door. Cecil quickly checked who it was and announced, “Captain Ares Arensis of the Imperial Knights is here.”
Kirine’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? The Captain?”
“Yes, the Captain of the Imperial Knights,” Cecil confirmed.
Kirine’s expression turned enigmatic. Cecil, sensing her confusion, gave her a questioning look. She dismissed it with a wave of her hand.
Ares entered the room, his gaze briefly meeting Cecil’s before settling on Kirine. “I need to speak with her alone,” he stated quietly.
Cecil, seemingly relieved by the dismissal, quickly exited the study. Her hasty departure hinted at the tension that had arisen earlier.
Kirine appraised Ares with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. The gods, it seemed, possessed a perverse sense of humor, bestowing such a cold, meticulous man with striking looks and formidable skill.
Indicating a seat, she waited for him to speak. “I’m returning to my family estate,” Ares began.
“Why inform me?” Kirine replied bluntly.
“I’m going to tell my mother I want a divorce. Thought you should know,” he explained.
A simple, “Understood,” was her response.
He stood to leave but paused, a curious glint in his eyes. “Want to hear something interesting?”
Before she could decline, he continued, “I volunteered. For six whole years.”
“What?”
“Mostly for underprivileged children,” he added.
A shared chuckle escaped them both. The image of Ares, the seemingly heartless aristocrat, dedicated to helping others was almost comical. Even Ares seemed to find it absurd.
“Don’t worry,” Kirine replied. “I spent six years giving back. Isn’t that amusing?”
Ares chuckled. “Yeah, it is. You and I, really… Life’s a funny thing.”
“Hang in there,” she said.
“Sure,” he replied.
***
For the first time in ages, Kirine was immersed in her lab, juggling experiments and spellbooks. Her primary focus was a memory restoration potion, a seemingly mythical concoction.
“Looks like I’ll have to create one from scratch,” she muttered. The challenge wasn’t just the formula, but finding a willing test subject.
Exhaustion finally caught up with her. Dragging her weary body towards the mansion, she was startled by a rustling sound from the kitchen. Suspicion prickled her senses as she crept closer, fearing a potential intruder. But the reality was far more surprising.
“Weren’t you supposed to go to your family estate?” Kirine demanded, surprised to see him there. Ares ignored her question, taking a swig of his drink.
She rushed to intervene. “Hey, there’s a kid in the house. How can you drink?”
“Don’t worry, I put him to bed,” he replied nonchalantly.
Something was off. “Is something wrong?” she asked, her concern growing.
Ares, with his flashy exterior, didn’t fit the profile of a heavy drinker. Gambling and alcohol were foreign to him. Seeing him consume liquor with such ease was unsettling.
Just as he reached for another drink, Kirine snatched it away.
“I didn’t even need to convince my mother,” he said, his voice flat.
“Huh?” Kirine was confused.
Before she could question him further, he continued, his blue eyes darkening with sorrow, “She passed away.”
Ares’s father died tragically before he turned seven. His world was centered on his mother and older sister, Riley, just a year his senior. His mother had been his constant, especially during his childhood illnesses. Now, she was gone, buried in a time he couldn’t fathom.
The weight of his grief was overwhelming.