A few days had passed since Ulrich's encounter in the forest, and to his mild surprise, things had proceeded with quite satisfaction.
He had half-expected the woman who acted as Ceres's benefactor in the novel to appear out of the shadows, demanding answers. But she had not appeared. In some ways, it was reassuring; it strongly suggested that she had not yet discovered Ceres's existence. Yet, paradoxically, the silence put Ulrich on edge.
Would it truly be this simple? He was a man who preferred all his enemies and variables laid bare on the table. The faster he dealt with the woman, the sooner he could permanently have that looming threat removed from the back of his mind.
