Sin Rouge had settled into a rhythm these last few days.
Not peace.
Not quiet.
Just… pressure.
A constant, creeping pressure from nobles, merchants, gangs, every coin-bought hand in the Lust Ring.
Then something pulsed in the air.
Not a threat.
Not subtle.
Just completely out of place.
Malerion felt it before he even closed Donnie's report.
Like a clean note echoing in a filthy hallway.
Alastor's amused whisper slid through his mind:
"Ooooh, guess who's back. Your personal feathery catastrophe."
And then the door slammed open.
MALERION! I'm here again!
Vael strode inside exactly like someone who didn't know what danger was or didn't believe it applied to him.
The room froze:
Quill dropped his wrench, which clattered loudly across the floor.
Dreg forgot to breathe for two seconds.
Donnie blinked twice.
Skit and Bit vanished behind a crate as if they'd been training for this their whole lives.
Liza evaporated from sight faster than sound could track her.
Vael looked around, delighted.
Why does everyone look like they've seen ghosts? Isn't this… a normal hour for visits?
Malerion slowly closed his eyes.
Vael. This is the worst possible moment.
Why? the prince asked innocently.
Nothing's happening. Well… except for the tension in the air, but I felt that the moment I entered the slums.
Donnie groaned.
Quill muttered something deeply unholy.
Malerion took one step forward.
Vael… your last "walk" caused panic.
Mine?
Your presence. Malerion didn't sugar-coat it.
The Lesser Goetia houses think that if you come here, it means we have some connection.
And in their world, "possible connection" equals "terrifying risk."
So they're attacking us from the shadows.
Vael blinked.
So… they think we're allies?
They think it's possible.
And for them, "possible" means "dangerous."
Vael looked at his own hands, as if he was only now realizing his shadow was bigger than he'd thought.
I didn't know I was causing problems he murmured.
I just wanted to explore.
Bit's head peeked from behind the crate:
Explore anything you want just not HERE!
Skit immediately yanked him back down.
Vael sighed.
Alright then… how can I help?
Donnie cut in instantly:
Don't. Please. Don't do anything that looks like interference.
Malerion added:
The best thing you can do… is come exactly like you did now.
No secrecy.
No panic.
No diplomacy.
Just… normal.
Vael raised a brow.
Normal?
Rafe explained calmly:
If they see you're not acting politically just wandering like a bored young aristocrat they can't tell how far they can push.
If they can't predict you… they won't risk overstepping.
Vael processed this… and brightened.
So… I should keep doing exactly what I'm doing?
Everyone, at once:
YES.
Vael clapped his hands.
Wonderful! I brought cookies!
Groans filled the room.
Bit immediately sprinted out from hiding to steal the first one.
Malerion watched the prince examine Quill's coffee machine like it was an ancient artifact.
Completely unaware that his mere existence had just stopped another escalation.
Alastor whispered inside him cold, analytical:
"Use him. Carefully."
Malerion stared at Vael and answered in thought:
"I already am."