OVERLOOKED ㅤkotlc

012. Being An Empath

oops almost forgot to update :0 but here you go!! happy thanksgiving, hehe <3

The weapon's done.

The sleeping potion's injected, the handprint system's set up, and I'm bored.

Rosaleen is sitting at the other side of the table, her head on her arms. She's awake, though; just quiet this whole hour.

It's only been two days since she was officially let into the mission. She gets quiet like this, sometimes, and I'm not sure what she's thinking about.

These past days, we've hung out a lot; apparently an alternative to trust exercises, which both me and her felt awkward doing. I like being in her company much more than I like probing through her secrets and insecurities.

Rosaleen startles when she realizes I'm not working on the knife anymore; she sits up, tilting her head at me, curious. "You're done?" she asks.

"Yup," I say, popping the p. "Are you ready for Lord Cassius?" He's coming here today for Rosaleen's first lesson. They're going to go in a different room as I stay here, as Keefe requested, "just in case he hurts her somehow."

Rosaleen leans back in the chair, stretching. "Yeah. It might be weird, but I don't think it'll be too bad. And I think it'll be awkward for him, too, not just me."

I raise my eyebrows. "Really?"

"Mhm. Especially since they came over when his family was still... y'know. No rebellion stuff back then. So I might remind him of how much he's lost."

Oh. "Well..." I don't know how to finish that. "Try not to worry too much, m'kay? It's not your fault, and if he makes you feel bad in any way—"

"Then I call you over and we'll end the session early, then hail Sophie about it together." She smiles (nervous, but almost as if she's reassuring me).

I smile back. "Exactly."

There's a beep, and I break eye contact to check the wristband Tinker lent me.

Lord Cassius is here.

I inhale a breath and look up. "He's gonna get here in, like, thirty seconds."

She takes a deep breath. "Okay. I'll, um—" There's a knock, and she stands, almost as if on instinct. We share a look, and then she crosses the room to open the door.

Lord Cassius stands outside, as cold and unmoving as ever. But then it's almost as if he's taken aback by Rosaleen, and this bittersweet look flashes over him.

"Good afternoon, Lord Cassius," Rosaleen says, dipping her head.

"Good afternoon... Rosaleen." He glances past her, at me, and he wears his ice blue eyes like weapons, a sharp contrast from Keefe. "Good afternoon, Dexter."

Rosaleen steps aside, and Lord Cassius comes in, his eyes sweeping across the messy space, like he's some kind of inspector. I refrain from rolling my eyes.

"Um—we're gonna... you can teach me in that room," Rosaleen says, pointing behind her. "Do you want any..." She sends a desperate glance my way.

"Any water, or lushberry juice?" I finish.

"No, thank you." He doesn't even look at me. "Let's start the lesson then, Rosaleen."

She nods, and they disappear inside the room. But not before I catch the way she's spinning her bracelet around her wrist, and not before I keep thinking of all the times this man hurt Keefe. Please, please, please let this whole thing turn out alright.