The mansion had fallen silent by midnight.
Outside, rainwater still clung to the marble balconies, dripping steadily into the dark gardens below. The storm had long passed, yet the air remained cold — heavy with the scent of wet earth and gunpowder that still lingered on Orion's coat discarded across the chair.
James adjusted the curtains before glancing back toward the bed.
Orion lay against the pillows, eyes half shut, fever burning beneath pale skin. Strands of damp black hair clung to his forehead while exhaustion carved sharp shadows beneath his eyes.
"You should eat something before sleeping," James muttered quietly.
"No."
"At least the medicine—"
"I took it."
James hesitated. "Do you want me to call the doctor again?"
Orion finally opened his eyes, irritation flashing through them despite the weakness in his body.
"I said leave."
The old butler sighed softly. "Fine. But if the fever rises—"
"James."
That single warning was enough.
James raised both hands in surrender before walking toward the door. Just before leaving, he paused.
"You look terrible, young master."
Orion let out a dry scoff. "Thank you."
"And frighteningly emotional today."
"Get out."
A faint smile touched James' lips.
Then the door clicked shut.
Silence returned.
The grandfather clock downstairs ticked steadily through the mansion. Somewhere far away thunder rumbled weakly across the sleeping city.
Orion closed his eyes.
For the first time in days, his body finally began surrendering to exhaustion.
Minutes passed.
Then—
A metallic click echoed softly through the darkness.
Cold steel pressed against his forehead.
The room instantly filled with tension sharp enough to cut skin.
Orion's eyes opened slowly.
Not startled.
Not afraid.
Instead—
He smiled.
A dangerous smile.
From the shadows beyond the balcony curtains, several red laser dots appeared at once.
His men.
Hidden across the room.
Waiting.
Within seconds the intruder was surrounded.
Safety locks clicked.
Guns aimed.
One of Orion's guards stepped forward from the darkness.
"Drop your weapon," he ordered coldly. "State your identity and surrender immediately or we shoot."
The hooded figure stood completely still.
Gun unwavering.
The silence stretched.
Then suddenly Orion's voice tore through the room like thunder.
"I'll kill every single one of you if anyone dares to shoot."
The guards froze.
Shock flashed across their faces.
"Boss—?"
"Did I stutter?"
The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
Slowly, Orion pushed the gun away from his forehead himself before sitting up despite the fever burning through his body.
His eyes never left the assassin.
Amusement flickered inside them.
"Seriously?" he murmured hoarsely. "You broke into my mansion wearing that?"
The figure stiffened.
One guard frowned in confusion. "Sir… you know this person?"
Orion leaned back lazily against the headboard, though his pale face revealed how drained he truly was.
"Unfortunately."
The assassin finally reached up.
Black gloves disappeared first.
Then the hood fell back.
And every man in the room went still.
Golden-brown hair slipped free over slender shoulders.
Sharp eyes burned beneath the dim light.
Elina.
Even with half her face hidden beneath the disguise mask, Orion would have recognized her anywhere.
One of the guards nearly lowered his weapon in disbelief.
"A woman…?"
Elina ignored all of them.
Her furious gaze remained locked entirely on Orion.
Meanwhile Orion simply stared at her for a long moment before laughing softly under his breath.
Weak.
Tired.
But genuinely laughing.
Orion looked at the gun pressed near his chest before lifting his eyes back to her, amusement flickering dangerously through the fever in them.
"Well," he drawled slowly, "this is embarrassing for my security team."
His gaze swept over her disguise.
"A five-foot menace with anger issues just walked into the most guarded mansion in the city."
A few of his men visibly stiffened.
Elina's expression didn't change.
"You should fire them," she said coldly. "Though in their defense, even they probably didn't expect their boss to be stupid enough to protect the person trying to kill him."
Instead of getting angry, Orion laughed quietly.
"There it is," he murmured. "That terrifying superiority complex again."
His dark eyes locked onto hers with unsettling intensity.
"I almost missed it."
Elina cocked the gun slightly.
"Keep talking," she said flatly. "The fever might kill you before I do."
For a second, silence filled the room.
Then Orion slowly leaned closer to the gun himself.
"Then do it."
The room froze.
One of the guards instinctively stepped forward. "Boss—"
"Stay back."
Orion never took his eyes off Elina.
A strange calm settled over his face.
"No threats. No games." His voice dropped softer. "You came here to kill me, didn't you?"
He tilted his head slightly toward her gun.
"So pull the trigger, Elina."
The mocking smile on his lips faded into something far more dangerous.
"Or was all that hatred just for show?"
Elina's fingers tightened instantly around the weapon.
But she didn't shoot.
And Orion noticed.
Of course he noticed.
A faint smirk returned to his face despite the exhaustion dragging at him.
"There," he whispered hoarsely. "That hesitation."
His eyes darkened with quiet triumph.
"That's exactly why you'll never survive in my world."