Chapter 238: Sniffing Around!

For a while, the three of them simply stayed like that. There wasn’t any urgency or plans they had, and no intense pressure pressing on them from distant thrones or unseen enemies looking to ruthlessly take them down.

All that was going on was the quiet rhythm of breathing, the soft creak of the house settling, and the warmth of familiar presence anchoring Albedo more firmly than any ward ever could.

Gwen leaned against his side, legs tucked beneath her, fingers idly fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve. Seraphyne sat across from them in a high-backed chair, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, watching with an expression that balanced amusement and something closer to contentment.

Eventually, Albedo exhaled slowly and shifted.

“Alright,” he said gently. “As much as I’d like to freeze time like this, ”

Gwen groaned dramatically and looked at Albedo.

“I promised myself I’d actually do something normal today.” Albedo explained.

She perked up instantly, “Normal like what?”

Albedo smiled down at her, “Like going out. Together, let’s celebrate me coming back now can we,”

Gwen’s eyes widened as she heard that, and she immediately responded, “Outside outside? Are you sure?”

“Yes,”

“Food?”

“Yes.”

“Desserts?”

“…Yes.”

She launched herself off the couch in a burst of excitement.

“I’M READY!”

“Go get ready,” Albedo interrupted calmly.

She skidded to a stop, turning back slowly, “Ready-ready?”

“We’re going out, so get your best shoes, coat and fix your god-damn hair,” Albedo said.

Gwen gasped as if deeply wounded when she heard that last part, “My hair is expressive, watch your mouth,”

“It’s staging a coup,” he replied dryly.

She stuck her tongue out at him, then bolted upstairs and down the hallway to her room, her footsteps echoing as doors opened and closed in rapid succession.

“Ten minutes!” she called back. “No, five! I’ll be out asap,”

Albedo chuckled softly, then leaned back into the couch, the sound fading into a more thoughtful quiet as Gwen’s presence moved further away.

Seraphyne observed him for a moment longer before speaking.

“She’s been counting the days, excited for your eventual return,” she said lightly, “Not that she would ever admit it. She’s quite shy around me y’know. It took a while for her to open up around me,”

Albedo didn’t look away from the hallway, “I figured.”

The silence stretched, comfortable, but weighted. Finally, he turned his head and met Seraphyne’s gaze directly.

“How has she really been?” he asked.

The question carried no accusation or any form of doubt. Just responsibility as an Elder brother looking out for his younger sister,”

Seraphyne uncrossed her legs and set her hands neatly in her lap.

“Gwen is resilient,” she said. “More than most children her age should have to be. She studies when asked, practices when reminded, and asks questions that are… inconveniently sharp.”

Albedo smirked faintly. “That sounds familiar.”

“She worries less than she used to,” Seraphyne continued. “But she notices everything. Especially absences.”

That landed quietly.

Albedo nodded once.

“And… outside of that?” he asked. “Anything I should know?”

Seraphyne’s crimson eyes narrowed just a fraction.

“Ah,” she said softly. “We are arriving at the part of the conversation you truly wish to have.”

He didn’t deny it.

“Did anyone come sniffing around,” Albedo asked calmly, “where they shouldn’t have, while I was gone?”

Seraphyne smiled as she heard that, but it wasn’t a pleasant expression at all.

“A few,” she admitted. “There were some curious nobles, looking to connect themselves to you while you were gone through her. Overconfident intermediaries and there was one particularly foolish information broker who thought proximity to the Neverwinter residence might grant him leverage.”

Albedo’s posture didn’t change, but the air around him did, reaching a freezing cold temperature as he heard that, a mix of emotions running through him.

“And?” Albedo asked, trying to remain calm as he heard that.

Seraphyne waved a dismissive hand, “Don’t worry mon cher, I handled it all,” she said. “Quite easily, if I do say so myself,”

“Define easily.” Albedo immediately asked.

Her lips curved, “No permanent damage. Mostly.”

Albedo exhaled slowly through his nose.

“Good,” he said. “I didn’t want Gwen exposed to unnecessary… lessons.”

“She wasn’t,” Seraphyne replied smoothly. “None of them made it past the outer threshold. And those who lingered too long left with a very healthy understanding of boundaries.”

Albedo studied her for a long moment.

“You didn’t kill anyone,” he said.

Seraphyne placed a hand over her chest, mock-offended, “Of course not. I am a lady.”

He snorted.

“That said,” she continued, tone sharpening just slightly, “word has spread. The house is known now. As protected.”

“By you,” Albedo said.

“And by reputation,” Seraphyne corrected. “Yours.”

He considered that.

“Nocturna didn’t stay quiet,” he murmured.

“No,” she agreed. “It rarely does.”

Another pause followed, heavier this time.

Seraphyne tilted her head, studying him with renewed interest.

“You came back different,” she said. “Not stronger, though you are that, but… steadier.”

Albedo leaned back, gaze drifting to the ceiling.

“I learned a few things,” he said. “Mostly about what matters.”

Her smile softened, just a touch.

“Good,” she said. “Then perhaps you will finally allow yourself to rest when you are home.”

“Don’t push it.”

She laughed.

Footsteps thundered down the hallway.

Gwen reappeared moments later, coat half-buttoned, hair brushed aggressively into submission, boots on the wrong feet.

“I’m ready!”

Albedo blinked. “You’re absolutely not.”

She looked down. “Oh.”

Seraphyne rose gracefully. “Allow me.”

Two swift adjustments later, boots corrected, buttons fixed, hair smoothed with a flick of mana, and Gwen beamed.

“Thank you, Big Sis Seraphyne!”

“Anytime, petit flocon.”

Albedo stood, reaching for his coat.

“Alright,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Gwen grabbed his hand without hesitation.

As they headed for the door, Albedo paused and glanced back at Seraphyne.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “For watching over her.”

Seraphyne met his gaze evenly.

“It is my pleasure,” she replied. “And my duty.”

He nodded once.

Then the door closed behind them, sunlight spilling in as they stepped back into the world, together as they went to take a relaxing day off.

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