The argument inside the room had grown louder.
Aari stood just outside the half-closed door, leaning casually against the wall.
He wasn't deliberately trying to listen.
At least, that was what he told himself.
But Wenjia's voice carried clearly through the gap.
"Why are you protecting that monster?!"
Aari remained still.
Inside, the Elder's voice followed, low and restrained.
"Wenjia, enough."
"You know what happened! You were there!"
"I said enough."
"You keep telling everyone to forget her!"
"Because she is gone!"
Aari's eyes lowered slightly.
Then-
"Listening at doors is a bad habit."
Aari slowly turned his head.
Astha stood a few steps away.
One hand was tucked casually into his pocket. His damp black hair fell loosely across his forehead, and despite the tense atmosphere, he looked completely at ease.
Yug stood beside him, arms loosely crossed, quietly watching.
Astha glanced at the door, then back at Aari.
A faint, mischievous smile appeared.
Aari's expression remained blank.
"They're talking loudly."
Astha nodded.
"True."
Aari waited.
Astha tilted his head slightly.
"Still suspicious."
Yug's lips twitched.
Aari narrowed his eyes.
"You're annoying."
"I know."
Astha leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."
Aari looked at him suspiciously.
"Really?"
"Unless someone offers me something delicious."
Yug snorted.
Aari stared at Astha.
Astha smiled innocently.
"I'm easily bribed."
"You're shameless."
"I've been told."
Aari sighed and pushed himself away from the wall.
"I wasn't doing anything."
"Of course."
Astha stepped aside, giving him room.
"Go before they notice you."
Aari gave him one last suspicious look before walking away.
His footsteps gradually disappeared down the corridor.
Astha watched him go.
Then his gaze shifted toward the half-open door.
The playful smile remained for another second.
"...Anyway."
He leaned casually against the wall.
Yug looked at him.
Astha glanced sideways.
"What?"
Yug shook his head.
"Nothing."
Inside, Wenjia's voice rose again.
"How long are you going to keep hiding this?"
The Elder answered coldly.
"You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly."
"You don't."
"You erased her!"
Silence.
Astha's expression slowly changed.
The amusement disappeared.
His attention sharpened.
Wenjia spoke again.
"Then tell me why you refuse to speak about Mia!"
The Elder didn't answer immediately.
That pause caught Astha's attention.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then came the Elder's voice.
"Stop asking questions you shouldn't ask."
Astha's lips curved faintly.
There it was.
Something was being concealed.
Beside him, Yug glanced over.
He remembered what had happened moments earlier.
Astha had just sent Aari away with a perfectly straight face.
And now he was standing here, listening just as carefully himself.
Yug slowly shook his head.
Astha noticed.
He raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Yug looked away, though the faint amusement remained in his eyes.
Astha shrugged and continued listening.
Inside, Wenjia's voice suddenly sharpened.
"You're protecting him!"
Silence.
The Elder didn't answer.
Astha's gaze became colder.
Not denial.
Not surprise.
Silence.
That was interesting.
Then-
CRACK!
The Elder's cane struck the floor.
"Enough!"
Wenjia's voice broke.
"I won't keep pretending!"
"Stay quiet!"
"No!"
A chair scraped sharply across the floor.
Astha straightened slightly.
Yug's expression became serious.
They waited.
Footsteps approached from inside.
The Elder was coming out.
Astha immediately pushed himself away from the wall.
Yug followed without a word.
They walked down the corridor at an unhurried pace.
By the time the sitting-room door opened, they were already out of sight.
The Elder stepped into the corridor.
His face was dark with anger.
He looked left.
Then right.
Nothing.
His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
After a moment, he turned back and locked the door.
Click.
From inside came Wenjia's muffled voice.
"Open this door!"
The Elder ignored her and walked away.
Farther down the corridor, Astha finally slowed.
Yug caught up beside him.
For several seconds, he simply stared at Astha.
Then he shook his head.
Astha glanced at him.
"What?"
"You're unbelievable."
A lazy smile appeared on Astha's face.
"I'll take that as praise."
"It wasn't."
"Still taking it."
Yug sighed.
Astha slipped both hands into his pockets and continued walking.
His posture remained relaxed.
His expression calm.
But beneath that careless exterior, his thoughts were already connecting the pieces.
Mia.
The Elder's reaction.
Wenjia's accusations.
The unexplained disappearances.
And now-
someone the Elder was desperately trying to protect.
Astha's eyes narrowed slightly.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Interesting."