Chapter 81: Best Mentor

Chapter 81: Best Mentor
As I stepped into the study, the faint scent of parchment and ink greeted me, along with Rosso's ever-composed figure by the desk. "Is Sir Kenji here?" I asked, scanning the room for any sign of him.
Without missing a beat, Rosso slipped a pocket watch from his breast pocket, the polished surface gleaming under the light. "He'll be here later," he said, meeting my gaze briefly before gesturing toward the cabinet. "For now, your next task is to rearrange the documents in the drawer." His attention returned to the stack of papers on the desk, the rustle of pages breaking the silence.
My eyes wandered to the empty chair behind the desk—a reminder of Kenji's absence these past few days. The chair seemed untouched, almost frozen in time, as if waiting for its owner. Whispers had recently spread about him filing for leave related to the clan matters, but seeing his space so lifeless made the reality of it sink in.
What did he do when he returned to his clan? Just by thinking about it, it made me feel like my skin was crawling. 
As I finished with my task, which was surprising that it didn't take me an hour or so, I informed Rosso about it. 
"Great. Now, make us some tea for Sir Kenji and me. Scoot."
I opened my mouth to say something, but his attention was on his work now. I had no choice but to leave the study room and go to the pantry to make some tea, the same job I always did, even before I was transferred to be Kenji's apprentice.
"You're up early, Kasumi."
The words, carried by a familiar feminine tone, made my hands falter mid-motion as I poured the steaming water over the delicate peach blossom tea leaves. The fragrant aroma from the Waevalon Kingdom filled the air, but it did little to calm the sudden unease knotting in my stomach.
Turning my head slowly, a silent hope flickered within me, wishing the voice didn't belong to her. But as my gaze landed on Luna Queen Rachelle, dressed incongruously in an apprentice uniform, a chill crept over me. My insides twisted, the sight of her here, setting every nerve on edge.
Luna Queen Rachelle's lips curved into a smile, waving her hand at me. "You look like you have seen a ghost, Kasumi. It's just me." She wriggled her eyebrows. "Rachelle."
A nervous chuckle slipped from my lips, my hand instinctively brushing the back of my neck. "I—uh—I wouldn't dream of calling you by just your name..." I trailed off, attempting to gather myself, though the awkward smile tugging at my face betrayed me. "Your Majesty, Luna Queen Rachelle."
I even bowed my head, feeling like I was buried to the ground from embarrassment. It had been a few days, but I wouldn't forget how she was the Luna Queen in disguise. I even tried to ask my comrades if they felt familiarity with her, but they said that it wasn't.
She let out a soft laugh, raising a finger to her lips. "Hush, hush!" she teased, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "I know it feels strange for you, but I promise—" She raised her hand in a mock oath, her expression playful yet sincere. "—my husband, Claudian, and your Alpha King Azarius are fully aware of this."
I looked at her as if she had grown another head. Luna Queen Rachelle laughed at my reaction as she clapped her hands to wake me up. I flinched and blinked twice, snapping back to reality.
"Let's catch up later, Kasumi." She winked before waving her hand at me. "Meet me at the back of the barracks later this 4 pm. There is something you need to know. See you."
With that, she disappeared from my sight. I was speechless, and it took me a long moment before I went back to myself.
Why would she want to meet me? What do I need to know? 
With each encounter, my suspicion deepened. Why was she singling me out? The question gnawed at me, restless and unanswered, like a shadow that refused to disappear.
My thoughts were jolted to clarity the moment I stepped into the study. There he was—Kenji himself—buried under a mountain of documents, his focus razor-sharp, though the exhaustion in his posture was hard to miss.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, studying him for a beat, before striding toward his desk with purpose.
Without looking up, he spoke, his voice laced with an unsettling calm. "I hear Cretheus wants you back as his apprentice." He finally glanced at me, a polite smile curving his lips. It was a smile that carried an unmistakable edge, sharp enough to make the room feel colder. "Did I miss something while I was away, Azai?" he asked meaningfully.
His question slightly caught me off guard, but I managed to think about what I should answer. "You missed the welcome party for the monarchs from the Waevalon Kingdom a few days ago," I replied, glancing at Rosso, wondering why Kenji was asking me about the previous agenda instead of his assistant.
Rosso merely shrugged, taking it upon himself to serve the tea to Kenji. "I'll deliver the reports to the higher generals," he said casually before making his exit.
Kenji gave a brief nod, his attention never straying from me. As the door closed behind Rosso, he picked up his teacup, taking an unhurried sip. His piercing gaze remained locked on mine. "I heard Cretheus was rather insistent on having you back," he said, pausing for another deliberate sip. "What do you make of that?" His voice carried a faint edge of amusement as his lips curved into a sly smirk. "
"I do not mind being taken back if that is his wish," I replied as calmly as possible. And he was one of my mates, I wanted to add. 
Kenji hummed, nodding. "Well, I was considering keeping you here. After all, he did abandon his apprentice once, didn't he?"
This was bad news. It was really a wrong move now that he didn't want to have me back with Cretheus.
Kenji's smirk deepened, his gaze unwavering as though he could peel away layers of my thoughts with just a glance. The room grew heavier, the quiet crackling with unspoken tension. I remained rooted, my fingers twitching by my sides, desperate to keep my composure.
"I'll take that silence as agreement," Kenji said finally, leaning back in his chair. He tapped the rim of his teacup with a finger, the soft clink echoing in the stillness. "You're far more useful here, after all. Wouldn't want to waste your talents, would we?"

I wanted to disagree about it. And I did open my mouth.
"To be honest, I consider Sir Cretheus as the best mentor I've ever had. And I wish to be returned as his apprentice." 
I must insist. If I didn't fight back, who knew what could have happened to me? 
Before he could say more, the distant sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, growing louder until a messenger appeared at the door. The young man's face was pale, beads of sweat dotting his brow as he saluted hastily. "Sir Kenji, urgent news from the western border."
Kenji's expression shifted in an instant, the smirk vanishing as he straightened in his chair. "Speak," he ordered, his tone clipped and commanding.
"The rogues have breached the outer defenses," the messenger reported, his voice shaking. "They've taken three posts. General Celestine requests immediate reinforcements."
Kenji's lips slightly drew out a smile before he became earnest, making me crease my forehead. "Rosso will handle the initial response," he said, rising from his chair. "I'll join shortly. Tell the other grand crosses. Dismissed."
The messenger saluted again and hurried out. Kenji turned to me, his expression unreadable. "Azai, there's something I need you to do at this moment." A smile appeared on his lips.
I creased my forehead. "What is it?"
Kenji fished out something from his breast pocket, and an envelope was in his hand. "Read this before joining your comrades." With that, he left with Rosso, and I was left alone.
My stomach somersaulted when I recognized that insignia imprinted on the envelope. It was from the Azai Clan. 
As I unfolded the letter, a fine, gray powder burst into the air, tickling my nostrils and clawing at my throat. 
The room spun as the fine dust danced in the air, infiltrating my senses and leaving a bitter tang at the back of my throat. My knees buckled, and I gripped the edge of the desk for support. Panic surged as a wave of dizziness swept over me. What was that? My chest tightened, the weight of suspicion settling heavily as my vision blurred and my strength drained rapidly.
The letter fell from my trembling fingers, fluttering to the floor like a mocking reminder of my vulnerability. I staggered back, my breaths shallow and erratic, until I collided with the bookshelf behind me. The world tilted violently, and I slid down to the floor, fighting to stay conscious.
"Poison...?" I managed to whisper to no one, my voice barely audible. My head lolled to the side as a ringing noise filled my ears, drowning out all other sounds.
The dim study began to dissolve into shadows, the faint outlines of furniture blending into obscurity. Through the haze, I thought I saw movement at the doorway—a figure stepping inside, their presence looming.
"You shouldn't have opened that, Kasumi," a familiar voice murmured, tinged with feigned regret. My heart lurched, recognizing the chilling calm of Rosso's tone. His silhouette came into focus, his posture unbothered, as though he had been expecting this moment all along.
"W-why...?" I gasped, struggling to speak, my voice fading as darkness threatened to engulf me entirely.
Rosso crouched down, his face now illuminated by the dim light of the study. His expression was neutral, devoid of remorse or pity. "Because sometimes loyalty is best earned through desperation," he said, his voice eerily calm. "And desperation makes people obedient."
I tried to move, to fight, but my body refused to respond. My limbs felt like lead, my vision narrowing to a pinprick. The last thing I saw was Rosso's cold smile before the world slipped away completely.