Pet

"A miscarriage?" Neph's expression grew considerably more serious. "In other words-?"

She looked at Klein for confirmation, and he nodded. "Unless something unexpected happened, that child should be gone."

Neph felt a sense of relief. Although this meant temporarily losing track of a Snake of Mercury characteristic, it did put her at ease. Clearly, Will Auceptin had chosen to retreat and avoid her, so she could set aside her worries about him attacking her for now.

As for Ouroboros? Neph raised a hand and traced an inverted cross before her chest, her tone devout. "I believe fate will make the most appropriate judgment."

In other words, it was none of her business.

Klein glanced at her, struck by the contrast between her words and her demeanor, then quickly returned his attention to the food before him. After watching him for a while, Neph could no longer bear it. She stood and headed for the door, startling Klein into hastily calling out, "What are you doing?"

"Reminding your servants to prepare a late-night snack for a lady who very nearly became your stepdaughter," Neph answered as she turned the doorknob.

Klein's face twitched, and he decided to ignore her for the time being.

Only when he saw dessert for two did Klein realize that this had been a mistake. He looked up at Neph, who seemed perfectly unperturbed, and reminded her, "Hey, I have to point out that being a Faceless doesn't stop me from gaining weight. At most, it lets me move the fat somewhere inconspicuous."

"That's fine," Neph said calmly. "I'm sure Dwayne Dantès wouldn't mind having a springy backside and a generous bust."

"-?" Klein stared at the desserts before him as though he had discovered some new kind of devil.

Neph ignored him. Amid the sounds of