Sincere Feelings

"What did you write to Zani?"

Carlotta's voice came from behind him, unhurried and composed in the way one might be when interrogating a criminal.

Kexi had just sneaked back to his room. Before he could close the door, she caught him red-handed.

He turned around and saw Carlotta standing with her arms crossed, her head tilted up and her gaze sharp as a blade.

"Ahaha, nothing." Kexi laughed it off, trying to squeeze past her.

Carlotta braced one hand against the doorframe. Given her height, the gesture looked more like she was holding up a hand to stop a truck, but she was no less imposing for it.

"Not more of those disgusting things, I hope." She raised an eyebrow, her voice full of disdain.

Kexi immediately took offense. He turned around and corrected her indignantly. "What do you mean, disgusting? Those were my sincere, passionate feelings. Watch what you say."

Carlotta rolled her eyes.

Sincere and passionate? With his playboy habit of writing love letters to dozens of people at once, did he have any right to talk about sincerity? But she wasn't in the mood to argue about that today.

There was something else she cared about more.

Zani. Her most capable assistant, the head of the Montelli intelligence network whom she had personally promoted, the woman who had worked under her nose for twelve years.

Carlotta could turn a blind eye to Kexi writing love letters to anyone else, but Zani was different.

Zani wasn't one of those "pen pals" far away. She came and went from Montelli Manor every day.

If Kexi had any improper feelings for her, things would get complicated.

She stared into Kexi's eyes and asked, enunciating every word:

"Do you have feelings for Zani?"

Kexi froze.

Do I? he asked himself. Zani was indeed beautiful, efficient and good-natured. She could be a little gossipy sometimes, and a little quick to take photos, but over the years she had covered for him and helped him evade Second Sister's searches. She deserved credit for both her contributions and her hard work. He was used to going to her whenever something came up.

Does that count as having feelings for her?

He thought about it, then met Carlotta's gaze openly. There was no joking or evasion in his voice as he calmly gave his answer:

"Yeah."

Carlotta was silent for a long time.

She was quiet for so long that Kexi began to wonder if she had fallen asleep standing up. Then she slowly let out a breath and looked up at him. There was scrutiny and surprise in her eyes, along with a trace of something complicated that he couldn't quite put into words.

"Are you serious?"

"I am." Kexi nodded.

Carlotta fell silent again for a while. She looked down at the tips of her shoes, grinding one toe against the floor as though crushing some unrealistic thought. Then she raised her head, her voice unnaturally calm. "Zani has been with me for many years."

"I know."

"She's my most capable subordinate, and one of the few people I can trust."

"I know."

"If you're just playing around-"

"I'm not." Kexi cut her off, his voice quiet but steady. "Second Sister, you know I've been writing love letters for twelve years. But it took me twelve years to work up the courage to give Zani hers. Do you know why?"

Carlotta didn't answer. She just watched him quietly.

"Because when anyone else receives my letter, it's fate. When she receives mine, it's a choice." He paused, as if weighing his words, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "When I write to other people, I'm never afraid of being rejected. They don't know who I am anyway. But Zani is different."

He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged, as if he were talking about something trivial, but the red tips of his ears gave him away.

"So if she's still willing to talk to me after reading the letter, then she really doesn't mind me."

Carlotta stared at him for a long time, long enough to make Kexi's skin crawl. Then she turned her back to him, and her voice came from ahead, carrying the faintest hint of amusement, barely perceptible.

"Then you'd better treat her well. If I find out you've been bullying her-"

"You'll jump up and hit me in the knees," Kexi finished for her.

"I can jump up and hit you in the knees right now."

"I was wrong, I was wrong. Spare me, Second Sister."

Carlotta snorted and headed down the corridor. After a few steps, she stopped and turned her head, her profile looking somewhat softer under the corridor lights.

"Oh, right."

"Hm?"

"That ability of yours-since Zani's willing to help you, don't let her kindness go to waste. Practice properly."

Kexi watched Carlotta's back disappear at the end of the corridor. Suddenly, he felt that his second sister, who was so much shorter than him, didn't seem quite so frightening today.

A system notification abruptly blared at that moment, nearly making him walk headfirst into the doorframe.

[Ding! Hidden achievement unlocked: Sincere Courage.]

[Achievement reward: affinity increased by 10% while in the Resonance Synchronization state.]

[Note: This may be the least perverted thing you've ever done. Keep it up.]

Kexi froze for a moment, then the corners of his mouth slowly lifted.

"Damn system, are you praising me?"

The system didn't respond, but he couldn't shake the feeling that some subtle approval lay hidden in the words "the system is deeply surprised."

He shook his head and was about to return to his room when hurried footsteps suddenly came from the other end of the corridor.

Zani came jogging back. The blush on her face hadn't quite faded, but some of her usual brisk composure had returned.

"Young Master!"

"What is it?"

Zani ran up to him, slightly out of breath, holding up her terminal. Information scrolled densely across the screen. "Intelligence just came in-the magistrate of Jinzhou has submitted an application to the Order of the Deep for a group visit. At the same time, Professor Mornye of Star Torch Academy has submitted an application for a study visit to Rinascita."

She got it all out in one breath, then looked up at Kexi.

"So far, the confirmed attendees for the ceremonial gathering are Jinhsi, Sanhua, Changli and Mornye. Should I continue following up?"

Kexi listened, then fell silent for a full three seconds.

Then he slowly raised his head, looked at the carvings on the manor ceiling and let out a long, tragic sigh.

"Zani."

"Yes."

"Tell me, can I make it through my birthday banquet alive?"

"Young Master, you have to believe in your ability to commit crimes."