In Search of Kasena (ONC 2024) | ✓

Interlude 3

Kardin pulled the string next to his bookshelf and sat back down in his chair. He had no time to lose. A pile of documents sat in front of him—most of them accounts of recent transactions and trade deals that desperately needed to be sorted. After carefully examining each one, he set it aside in his usual meticulous manner.

The door of his study opened. Without looking up, he said, "Abiril, please bring me those documents you left in Father's study this morning."

"As you wish, my lord," a voice replied, but it wasn't that of his butler. Instead of Abiril, he saw someone he hadn't expected to see today—Sybille. A smile slowly crept up on his face.

"Why didn't Abiril inform me you arrived?" he asked as he rose from his chair.

His fiancée approached him and set a cloth-covered plate on his desk. "That's what a surprise is," she said as she leaned over, brushing her lips against his cheek.

"You could've warned me in advance, at least."

Sybille shot him a glare. "Why? So you could complain about being too busy to see me again?"

Kardin sat back down, heat rushing to his cheeks. He didn't want to neglect her—in fact, he tried his best to meet her whenever he could—but the ever-growing amount of work didn't leave him with much choice. The past month made him even more expectant of the time they would finally live together and be next to each other every day.

"I-I could've arranged for us to meet at a better time than now," he explained, putting all of the documents in one big, messy pile. He would just have to reassemble them later.

She quickly shushed him. "No, you're taking a break now." Without another word, she uncovered the plate she brought and nestled herself on his armrest.

"What are you going to feed me this time?" he asked, looking at the little rolls on the plate. Sybille has taken an interest in cooking recently, and she's been very persistent in improving her skills. She would often bring him the food she made to try, and today was not an exception.

"Just try it." Seeing the hesitant look on his face, she pouted. "Listen, if you're going to continue working like this all day long after we get married, you'll need to eat some homemade food," she said, as if their cooks weren't already doing just that.

"You'll just keep feeding me sweets, then," he teased. Although she tried her hand at various recipes, she mostly made desserts. Not that he complained, of course.

"It may be sweet, but it's still cooked!" she retorted.

He caved in and let her feed him one of her newest creations. It was a small, bite-sized pastry, and—just as he expected—sweet, with a hint of something he couldn't quite recognize—cinnamon, maybe. Whatever it was, the taste was delectable, and he ate another one before giving his final verdict. "It's amazing."

She beamed at his compliment, gracing him with that lovely smile he always adored. Perhaps a diet of desserts wouldn't be so bad if he could see her face light up like that every day.

"Are there any news of Kasena yet?" Sybille asked, and just like that, the moment of peace was gone.

Kardin wasn't sure if he should share any of his theories with her yet—or anyone else, for that matter. That was the one thing he would keep to himself until he was proven wrong. Or right. "Not yet. But it seems that the bounty hunter will make a breakthrough soon."

Despite Sarfort's progress, something still bothered him, and Sybille noticed it too. "You're still suspicious of that girl, aren't you?" He gave her a look. "Come on, don't you think you're being too suspicious? Maybe she really has good intentions."

"It's perfectly reasonable for me to be suspicious of anyone I haven't personally hired," Kardin explained. "Whatever her intentions are, sooner or later, she will show her true face."

He was still lost deep within his thoughts when Sybille's arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a hug. "We're going to find her soon," she whispered.

"I know," he said, resting his head on her shoulder.

They remained embraced like that for a little while—yet another rare moment of peace for him—until someone knocked on the door. Much to his dismay, she pulled away, breaking their hug, but didn't move from his side. He instructed the person on the other side to come in, and his butler soon entered the room.

"My lord, we've received the news from Villart." Abiril waited under his master's intense gaze, but Kardin remained silent. "It seems that Miss Alarie has won the tournament."

"Is that so?" Through gritted teeth, he said, "That is certainly the most amazing news," but his tone didn't quite match his words.

Both of them watched as he searched his drawer for a clean piece of paper, and from the corner of his eye, he noticed Sybille's concerned look. He grabbed the quill—perhaps a little too tightly—and quickly scribbled something on it. After the ink dried, he neatly folded the note and passed it to Abiril.

Confused, Abiril took the note. With a serious look on his face, Kardin said, "Find Sarfort and deliver that to him immediately. It's urgent."