"Is everything okay?" Blanc asked, trying to guess what was happening.
"It is," Sophie nodded, her eyes fixed on his own.
The sensation of itchiness it created for Blanc was beyond uncomfortable, yet somehow, after hearing her answer, her presence here was somehow becoming even more uncomfortable. He had to be elsewhere, and if nothing was wrong, another question had to be asked.
"Then why are you here?" Blanc wondered, unable to do anything but stare back into her sharp yellow eyes.
"Just strolling around," Sophie shrugged, "I couldn't sleep for the life of me."
"All the way from the inner mansion?" Blanc narrowed his eyes, "A weird place to stroll to, especially late at night. Not to mention, you were hiding from me earlier."
"Where are you going then?" Sophie asked, trying to change the subject, "It is just as late for you to leave your wives behind, don't you think so?"
Blanc sighed, finally managing to break eye contact, "Is this the game we are playing now?"
"Game?" Sophie's eyes widened. "A game does not sound bad, especially to pass the time."
"I've been here a month now, and in all that time, you've barely said more than a few words to me. Yet now, well past midnight, in some random hallway that I've never seen you in, you suddenly feel like talking?" Blanc shook his head as he moved past her, descending the stairs. "You should go to sleep. Good night, Sophie."
"Brother Blanc," Sophie spoke out, not turning from the direction she faced, "Are you certain?"
"Certain of what?" Blanc asked, confused as he turned to look at her.
"Certain that it is wise of you to leave me here, all alone," Sophie muttered.
Blanc stared at the back of her head for a moment too long. Something was off. The location. The time. The person. Everything. But Celine never mentioned her sister having such tendencies.
Yet there was a pull, a hidden string that something pulled at lightly, making him doubt himself for a moment.
"You are right," Blanc sighed, walking back up, "I couldn't leave you alone."
"See? I knew you were up for some fun," Sophie giggled, turning to face Blanc, but as quick as a shadow, he passed her, walking towards his room, sending Sophie into a panic, "Hey, Blanc, where are you going?"
"Making sure you are not alone, of course," Blanc replied before gently pushing the door open and stepping inside.
A few moments later, he reached for the sleeping Celine and tapped lightly on her shoulder.
"Mmm," Celine muttered.
He lowered himself to her ear and, in order not to disturb Miyanna's sleep as well, quietly whispered, "I found Sophie hiding in the hallway, acting weird about playing some game and having fun."
Celine's eyes widened, her sapphire gaze locking onto Blanc's gray, like an ocean swallowing the moon whole.
She sat up straight, the blanket falling from her chest, revealing her naked upper body.
But it did not matter, as the pair of shining yellow eyes from outside the room met Celine's own.
"I was about to leave her behind because your father summoned me to have a chat, but she asked me if I'm certain that it's wise of me to leave her alone, which is the reason why I woke you up, my love," Blanc explained.
Celine said nothing, only signaling for Sophie to enter the room. Which she did, though she made her displeasure very clear by the pain and itchiness Blanc felt chewing at his skin.
"You can go," Celine said quietly, "I will have a talk with my sister, in the meantime."
With a quick nod, Blanc rushed out the door, not wanting to keep Lucien waiting for too long. Of course, he ignored anything and everything as he passed the staring Sophie, not looking back until the itchiness vanished.
By then, he was well beyond the hallway where he had met Sophie hiding earlier.
He did not want to linger on what was happening or why she was there in the first place, even though a weird thought appeared in his mind.
The possibility that she had been there for a while listening, or even worse, looking at them as they had their fun.
No way, Blanc told himself, I am getting too full of myself, that's what that is.
And so, taking this as the climax of all the weird things happening that day, he made his way to the inner mansion.
After a minute or two of steady climbing, up what felt like a never-ending flight of stairs, he reached a long corridor where only two doors stood in the dim hallway.
These were the private quarters of the most important man in this Domain, as well as one of the most important men in this Empire, his Father-in-Law, and ally, Lucien of Blood Maroux.
He headed straight for the largest of the two doors, as a sound of clinking glass came shortly after he arrived.
Even before Blanc knocked at the door, Lucien knew he had arrived.
"Come in, Blanc," Lucien said from behind the door.
With the invitation given, Blanc opened the door lightly, as if not to disturb anyone around.
"Nobody is sleeping nearby," Lucien chuckled, "Please, join the Daughter and me for a drink while we talk."
Blanc looked around the room, not even realizing that seated in the corner to his left, on a chair, with her back straight against the wall, stood the Daughter with her face just as emotionless as all the others were, quietly sipping at her drink.
"Good evening, Lucien, Daughter," Blanc bowed lightly before taking a seat in front of Lucien, "Apologies if I kept you waiting for long."
"We were just at our first drink, so you are right on time," Lucien grinned, the same grin that Celine was very good at showing, making it obvious that she was her father's daughter.
"May I ask, though?" Blanc muttered, turning towards the Daughter, "Should I make some room?"
"No need, Lord Blanc," the Daughter replied, "It is I who requested to stay here."
"You heard her," Lucien shrugged, "What should I get you to drink? Something strong?"
"Wine would suffice, thank you," Blanc nodded.