Chapter 158: Getting ready for the mission.

Ester was so focused she seemed to have forgotten her own breathing.

Her fingers ran along Demon’s suit collar with almost military precision, pulling, aligning, checking each seam as if she were preparing not just a soldier, but a sacred artifact that needed to be flawless so as not to crack in the middle of the ceremony.

She said nothing.

Her brow was slightly furrowed, her gaze fixed on the dark tie she was trying to straighten for the third time. The proximity was inevitable: her face was just inches from his chest, and Ester’s soft perfume—always clean, always cool, and always with a hint of magic—enveloped the narrow space between them.

Demon remained still like a statue.

Not that it was uncomfortable for him. In fact, Ester’s precision was… reassuring. He knew he wouldn’t leave there with a single button out of place.

But the silence was heavy.

Not Ester’s usual silence—the one she carried naturally. This one was different. This one had sharp edges. It seemed to contain unspoken words, squeezed-out thoughts, a pent-up pressure that revealed itself in the way her fingers gripped the fabric too tightly.

Aria, who was sitting on the arm of the sofa with her legs dangling like a bored child, finally let out a laugh.

“Wow, Ester, you’re going to tear the suit if you keep tightening like that.”

Ester didn’t blink. She didn’t even look at her.

She continued adjusting the shirt cuff, smoothing the sleeve, fastening the lapel buttons with meticulous slowness.

Demon took a deep breath.

“I’m perfectly capable of putting on a suit by myself, you know.”

“You’re not,” Ester replied immediately, still without looking up. “And even if you were, it would be crooked.”

Aria chuckled.

“Oh, what a low blow.”

Demon raised an eyebrow, but didn’t argue. He knew that resisting was useless. Ester had that dry way of speaking that turned the simplest phrase into an irrefutable sentence.

She finally adjusted her tie, running the fabric between her fingers, pulling it until it was perfectly centered. Her hand trembled only once—almost imperceptibly—but Demon noticed.

Ester realized he noticed.

And that only made her work faster.

Aria, of course, wouldn’t let it go unnoticed.

“Hmm?” she tilted her head, observing Ester with feline eyes. “Are you nervous, princess?”

Ester paused for exactly half a second.

Then she returned to work as if Aria hadn’t said anything.

But Demon saw. He saw the muscle in her jaw tense. He saw her breathing change. He saw her gaze harden. And, curiously, he also saw a trace of… worry?

Before he could ask, Aria jumped off the couch and walked over to them, positioning herself beside Ester as if she were the most meddlesome assistant in the world.

She touched Demon’s shoulder and gave him three dramatic pats.

“You better come back alive, you hear?”

Demon sighed.

“Aria…”

“I’m not kidding!” she replied, pointing a finger at his chest. “If you disappear again for weeks, months, I don’t know how long, because ’the mission got complicated,’ I swear I’ll come after you.”

“You’re not leaving town,” Demon retorted calmly. “Your orders are clear.”

Aria snorted theatrically.

“Your orders suck.”

Ester finally looked up. First at Aria, then at Demon. There was something on her face—a mixture of discipline and delicately controlled irritation.

But she said nothing.

It was her silence that spoke volumes.

Aria crossed her arms, moving even closer.

“And another thing,” she continued. “No wasting time with any other woman out there.”

Demon stared back at her with that almost tired, almost patient look—but not quite.

“I’m going on a mission,” he said, his voice firm. “Not on vacation. And definitely not to get involved with anyone.”

“Hmph,” Aria grumbled, turning her face away. “I’ve heard that one before.”

Ester tugged at the hem of Demon’s jacket, giving the fabric a light pat to straighten it.

“There,” she said, finally taking a step back.

It was true: he looked impeccable. Perfect. Elegant and dangerous at the same time—as if the suit were just another layer to disguise the predator underneath.

Aria rested her chin on her hand and observed him with a feline smile.

“You even look good when you’re not covered in blood.”

“Thank you,” Demon replied with a frustrated sigh.

Ester tilted her head, assessing the work with the eyes of a professional evaluator. She took a deep breath and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“The naming ceremony is important,” she explained, her voice low and precise. “You will be surrounded by nobles, veteran knights, court mages… and the Duke’s personal guard.” She lifted her chin, looking Demon in the eye. “So, please, steal whatever you need to steal… without making a fuss.”

Aria laughed loudly.

“Steal what you need,” she repeated, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. “Sometimes I forget how completely complacent you are with illegal activities, Ester.”

“It’s not illegal,” Ester retorted automatically, adjusting his sleeve. “It’s… unofficial.”

Aria laughed even harder.

“That’s just a polite way of saying he’s going to break into the Duke’s vault!”

Ester pressed her lips together, but didn’t deny it. There was no way to deny it—and Aria knew it.

Demon gave a slight smile, that soft, predatory smile at the same time, as if he were listening but also enjoying the discussion.

“No fuss,” he repeated slowly. “It depends less on me… and more on whoever’s in the way.”

Ester narrowed her eyes.

“No. It depends entirely on you.” She pointed a finger firmly at his chest. “The more discreet you are, the fewer problems we’ll have with the Council. And…” she hesitated, “…the fewer enemies you’ll accumulate.”

That pause didn’t go unnoticed.

Demon noticed.

Aria noticed.

Ester noticed that they noticed.

She immediately looked away, returning to adjusting her suit pocket just to occupy her hands.

Demon tilted his head slightly.

“Worried about me?”

Ester froze for half a second. Just half. But it was enough.

Aria grinned like a satisfied cat.

“Oh, I want to see this.”

“I’m not worried,” Ester replied, perhaps too quickly. “I’m… being rational. You have an irritating tendency to underestimate situations that could kill other people.”

“I’m not other people.”

“Exactly,” she retorted. “And that’s why you need to be careful.” “Because when you get into trouble…” she paused, pressing her lips together slightly more tightly, “…Elizabeth panics, Aria despairs, and I…”

She didn’t finish the sentence.

Aria raised her eyebrows as if she’d heard something explosive.

“You… what?” she nudged with her elbow, mischievously.

Ester took a full step back, retracting her hands, her posture rigid as if she’d just remembered her own composure.

“I need to ensure the mission is completed. That’s all,” she said, too cold to be sincere.

Demon smiled slightly.

A small, dangerous, and satisfied smile.

“I understand.”

Ester turned her face away, clearly irritated at having been read so easily.

“You didn’t understand anything,” she retorted.

Aria crossed her arms, leaning against the table with a victorious smile.

“I did understand.” “She’ll be biting her nails until you get back.”

Ester turned toward her with a fierce look.

“I don’t bite my nails.”

“It’ll start today,” Aria teased.

“Aria.” Ester’s voice dropped to that dry, moralistic tone. “Get out before I make you swallow that tongue.”

Aria laughed as if it were the best compliment she’d ever received.

Demon watched the two of them without interfering. There was something in his gaze—a mixture of indulgence, calm, and a certain fascination with that chaotic dynamic that only happened when the two of them were together.

“Are you going to fight now or are you going to wish me good luck?” Demon asked, adjusting his glove.

Aria straightened up immediately and walked over to him, placing her hands on his waist as if checking something.

“Good luck, no,” she said. “Me being here should be lucky enough.”

“And modesty too,” Demon commented calmly. Aria ignored him.

She rose on tiptoe, bringing her face close to his—not close enough to kiss him, but close enough for him to feel her warm breath.

“Come back alive,” she whispered. “Or I’ll drag you out of that stinking little Duke’s castle, even if I have to drag you by your hair.”

Esther looked away, which only gave her away more.

A strange emotion filled the room.

Aria stepped down from her toes, patted his chest, and stepped back.

Esther then took a deep breath—the kind of sigh she took when she needed to calm her heart—and moved closer again, less close than before, but still close enough to adjust his lapel.

“Do what Elizabeth asked,” she said, in a lower tone. “No improvising. No heroics. No provoking anyone.”

She looked into his eyes.

And there was something more there.

Something kept hidden.

Something she wouldn’t say.

“And…come back,” she finished, almost in a whisper.

Demon raised one corner of his mouth.

“I’ll come back.”

“Are you sure?” Aria teased from behind them. “Because you have this awful habit of leaving and not coming back the same week…”

“I’ll come back,” Demon repeated, firmly enough to silence her.

Ester finally stepped back, her arms crossed rigidly, as if trying to hide that she had become too vulnerable.

Aria gave a wide smile.

“There you go. You’re ready for the ceremony… and to rob a Duke at the same time. Congratulations.”

Demon walked to the door.

And, before leaving, he glanced at the two over his shoulder, with that calm, calculated look that made it seem like he already knew exactly what would happen.

“I’ll be back before dinner,” he said.

Aria smiled.

Ester looked away, but a corner of her mouth betrayed a near-smile.

And Demon left.

In an impeccable suit.

Mission accomplished.

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