Vespera propped her chin on her knuckles as she stared teasingly at her brother. "Now that I think about it, where's Genevieve?"
Gallows' expression didn't change. "I sent her on paid leave for a few months."
Vespera whistled, causing Gallows to frown. "Don't do anything stupid."
"Wooow," she teased in a sing-song voice. "You're so protective! Anyone would think you're in love with her!"
Gallows grabbed a jade-inlaid inkstone and hurled it at her. She caught it effortlessly, narrowing her eyes.
"What are you doing with an inkstone? We're in 2060!"
Gallows scoffed. "So? Can I not have it? With all the money I have, can I not buy a simple inkstone?"
Vespera's mouth twitched. She set the inkstone onto the ornate glass table and leaned back leisurely. "Make sure you don't do anything with her. If you do, I'll cut it short."
Gallows glared at his sister.
"You act like I don't kn—"
"You're mistaken."
Gallows looked at her, puzzled.
"I'm not saying this because you're Ben Ha'Ohr..." Vespera sighed, waving her hand dismissively. "Ah, forget it. It's better to not talk about such things today."
Gallows glanced at his sister, then looked back down at his documents. "Anyways, shall I have Luo Yue prepare something for you? Aren't you hungry?"
Vespera shook her head. "Today is a special day for me, y'know."
Gallows didn't say anything further, returning to his work.
Vespera looked up at the ceiling, closed her eyes, and then frowned. "Does your air conditioner not work? It's hot in here."
Gallows didn't say a word. He picked up a tablet and tapped it a few times. Within moments, the temperature in the room plummeted below sixteen degrees. The frown on Vespera's face eased, and slowly, she drifted off to sleep.
Gallows glanced at her, then back at his desk. Finally, this nuisance is quiet. That's good.
As he thought this, he picked up a new report and froze as he read through the contents. The progress with Alpha-100 Prime is going well. The statistics are pretty good. I think in six years, it should be completed. He glanced at his sister, who was sleeping peacefully. A few stray hairs framed her face; her breathing was even and calm. He paused, then set the document aside. Forget it. I'll tell her when she wakes up.
With that, the only sound left in the room was the low hum of the air conditioner and the scratching of his pen on paper.
An hour later, a sharp knock broke the silence.
*Knock!, Knock!, Knock!*
Vespera shifted, indicating she was already awake. Gallows picked up his tablet and tapped the screen to view the security feed. Displayed was Luo Yue standing in the entryway. It was only then he realized the door itself had been removed—his previous actions had been purely out of instinct.
He looked toward the open doorway and nodded. Luo Yue walked in, clad in a striking, sharply tailored ensemble that exuded a sense of calculated elegance and authority. She wore a fitted, deep burgundy waistcoat crafted from a structured, matte material. The vest featured a sharp V-neckline that tapered down to a clean, pointed hem, fastened by a neat vertical row of polished gold buttons. Pinned to the lapel was an intricate brooch shaped like a coiled dragon, with yellow diamonds inlaid into its eyes.
Beneath the waistcoat was a silk-like black button-down blouse with a soft, liquid sheen that caught the light as she moved. The shirt featured a crisp, pointed collar and dramatic bishop sleeves that billowed loosely down her arms before gathering tightly at long, structured cuffs. The silhouette was anchored by a pair of immaculate, high-waisted black wide-leg trousers, cinched at the waist by a sleek black leather belt with a minimalist square gold buckle. On her feet were glossy, deep burgundy slingback stiletto heels. A delicate gold chain rested under her collar, suspending a single teardrop-shaped garnet pendant that perfectly matched the garnet drop earrings framing her face.
Her ink-black hair was pulled up into a sharp ponytail, and a pair of silver-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of her nose. Holding a stack of documents in her hands, she first bowed deeply to the resting Vespera before proceeding toward Gallows' desk.
"Master, here are the reports from the subsidiaries in Urhok on Vrynshire," Luo Yue said, her voice calm. "I've already filtered them. So far, there haven't been any irregularities."
Gallows took the documents and hummed in acknowledgment.
A low chuckle vibrated from the couch. Gallows didn't look up, but he lifted a single hand threateningly. "I WILL use an Authority."
The chuckling stopped right then and there. "Tsk... Can't I even laugh now?!"
Without looking up, Gallows replied, "No."
Vespera tsked but said nothing more. In the corner of the room, her silent attendant priests shifted slightly, their heavy robes rustling before they went still again. Luo Yue stood patiently to the side of the desk, her head lowered as she waited.
"... Oh right, you'll be needed on the 1st of Sovereign for the Day of Embers," Vespera added. "Don't forget."
Gallows hummed. Vespera stood up and stretched. As she rose, the silent priests suddenly became animated, stepping forward to lift the heavy, black, cross-shaped box.
"I'm going for today," Vespera said, walking toward the exit.
"I'll return to the house maybe a month from now. Try to sleep, okay?"
Gallows rolled his eyes. Vespera chuckled, turning and walking away with the priests following diligently behind her. She waved over her shoulder as she moved, her voice just loud enough for the duo to hear: "Do what you'll do, I'll protect you. We're family, after all.
Gallows looked up to watch her retreating back. She looked like an unmovable, yet deeply weary mountain.
He muttered quietly to the empty doorway,
"... Yeah. We're family."