That night, Xio lay in the guest room, staring at the ceiling. "I must have gone mad."
Even now, the thought of how she had taken the initiative to hug Raphael that afternoon made her heart race.
But when she recalled his scent and his broad chest, a smile spread across her face.
Then she began to worry again. Would Raphael think she was too forward? And did the two of them have a future together?
Although Raphael seemed reliable, he was Mr. A of the Aurora Order, with a savage and cruel side to him. Could her mother and younger brother accept him-
Xio smiled helplessly, realizing she was getting far ahead of herself. Given Raphael's personality, he probably would never marry, have children, or start a family.
Xio knew she had to stop dwelling on it. During dinner, Raphael had said that he had agreed to Dewinter's request out of consideration for the Aurora Order. He had not given in solely for her sake.
Besides, Raphael's concern for her might simply stem from friendship, rather than what she imagined.
Xio forced herself to rest. She could think about this another time.
In the end, she had to use meditation to fall asleep. The next day, Raphael discussed the broad outlines of the assassination plan with Xio, then used "Traveler" to take her to the outskirts of Conston.
The moment they arrived, they both felt the atmosphere change. Not far away, they could hear Feysac soldiers shouting slogans. Pedestrians hurried along the streets with their heads lowered. Not a single person spoke or chatted, though faint sobbing drifted from the houses.
Along the streets, they could also see houses that had collapsed or burned down during the war. Their owners had probably died or fled. In any case, the