Perfect Timing

Kali is passing by the main entrance when Konrad and Theo walk in, all formally dressed up. Their backs are against her and she continues to look down from the second floor without a word.

"Master Kali, why don't you walk them to the carriage?"

Kali looks at Tami in disbelief silently asking 'Why should I do that?'

Tami was taken back at the cold response of Kali. She quickly apologized but Kali returned her gaze.

Konrad halted in his tracks before exiting the opened door. He slightly turned his head, making his side profile available to Kali.

Kali waited but the count didn't fully turn his head. He and Theo walk outside and Kali continues to her destination.

"I will eat dinner in my room." Kali instructed before she opened her door and went inside alone.

"Master?" Luna peek from above her bed.

Kali silently looked at Luna and her gaze went to another pair of staring eyes a foot distanced from Luna. The Fox.

"Luna. What do you want to do to those people who abducted you?"

"Ekk." Luna is stiff out. His eyes went down and his body started shaking.

This is the reason why until now, Kali doesn't have any clue on who abducted and sold Luna to the Auction House. The wolf is too scared to talk.

Kali approached the bed and carried Luna in her arms. She lay down and put Luna on the side.

Luna, who had been set aside, cuddled by her side in between her waist and arm, while the fox didn't move at all and closed its eyes.

'My body is stiff from sleeping on the couch.' Kali thought as she stretched her legs and closed her eyes.

'I remember. The reason why I killed them.' Kali's thoughts returned to that night. The way she stabs one in his eye and the missed knife throw she did and the most problematic one, the servant.

'What is wrong with killing those kinds of people?. . . . . besides I didn't gain much experience from them apart from the fake servant.'

The look the Alexanders gave her is bothering her since earlier.

'They are not even my people. Why look at me like I am so. . .me. . .' her thoughts trail as she opened her eyes again.

'Is it because I did a messy job? I should have hid the bodies better. . . but my dress will be dirty. . . Next time I'll just break their neck and hide them properly.' Kali gives a satisfied smile at her thoughts.

*Knock Knock

"Master Kali, Orland is here. " Rissa's soft voice interrupted her thoughts.

'Orland? Ah. The butler' Kali stood up and looked at the fox and Luna who was still trembling. She sighed a little and talked to the fox.

"Take Luna and hide, will you?"

The fox didn't move or respond and just continued to stare at her.

Kali reached for the door and opened it.

"The young master of the Delacorte family has visited and requested an audience with you, master Kali."

"Perfect timing. " Kali smiled.

'His visit is really perfect timing. Konrad and Theo were summoned to the Palace and Gio was called for some business related to resources. With everyone in her family gone, his timing is impeccable.'

"I will be down in a minute. Take care of our guests. Tami and Rissa will help me change into a more appropriate dress." Tami and Rissa were taken back and didn't manage to control their expression.

The young master Kali has always worn training clothes, if not, the simplest dress is what she always chooses but for the first time she voluntarily and willingly dresses up.

Francis Delacorte is waiting patiently with bouquet flowers at his side.

He smiled as he sipped his tea.

The door of the receiving area opened and Kali walked in. She is wearing a sky blue straight dress covering her whole body up to her neck down to her wrist and ankles. Her dress is obviously plain and light, contrasting her strong color blue eyes and pitch black hair is straight pinned to one side.

'Is that her?' He was disappointed. He remembers a confident and alluring woman last night at the debutante ball, but the girl in front of him is just a girl. A very simple, plain girl.

'That's why they say good dress and expensive jewelry makes a woman.' He internally clicked his tongue as he continued to stare.

"Sir Francis, I hope you didn't wait long."

"Not at all, Lady Kali." Francis moves towards her and bends his body and asks for her hand. Kali slightly twitches her eyes but maintains her posture.

Francis kisses the back of her hand. "You are as stunning as the first time I saw you." He guides her to her seat and they both sit down. Francis gives her a bouquet of rose flowers.

"You are good at flattery, Sir Francis."

"I only tell the truth."

"You truly are . . . good. What brings you here Sir Francis? '' Kali didn't blush like other women do at his words but instead met his eyes without reservation.

"Ah. that. . . It will be embarrassing to admit but after seeing these beautiful roses, I was instantly reminded of the Young Lady. That's why, I visit even without notice. I hope the Lady was not offended by my sudden visit."

Kali silently observes Francis. She stares at him like she is watching something amusing. She gives a faint smile while he continues to tell his story.

"My Lady?. . . Were you. . . perhaps offended?"

"Can I say what I've been thinking of?"

"Please do."

"To me, you are more beautiful."

"Excuse me?"

"People say beautiful are for women's compliment but I disagree. . ." she picked one of the roses and pulled it out. Its' thorns had been plucked out.

"I,I don't get it."

"You are not a woman but . . . in my eyes you are beautiful, more than these flowers and more than anyone I laid my eyes on. " She put the rose in his ear and the tips of her fingers brushed his neck.

Their faces are only a few inches apart as if he can almost feel her breathe. That moment something made Francis shiver and when he looked at her she was smiling helplessly lovingly to his eyes.

". . ."

"How can you not fall for someone so beautiful?" She said without batting an eye.

'Those same eyes. Yes, I remember seeing them.' Francis was dazed as he remembered those unwavering blue eyes as if she was piercing his thoughts and heart.

" Next time, Rather than flowers, please give me something that will remind me of you, something like your beautiful almond hair." She played the ends of his hair strands before letting it go but her stares continued to make Francis' heart beat loudly.

'What is this?' Francis held his breath as he was swept under his feet and fell for her lies.

It was already way past dinnertime when Konrad and Theo returned to the mansion.

"Where is Gio?" Konrad right away asked the moment he stepped inside.

"Master Gio, had been waiting for you in the office." Orland respectfully bowed and answered.

"And Kali?"

"Master Kali stayed in her room after the visit of the Young Master of Delacorte family"

"Francis was here?" Theo sounded confused.

"Yes, young master."

Konrad gives a little unpleasant reaction and so does Theo.

Konrad opened the door in his office and found Gio waiting in one of the chairs.

"Father. Brother" Gio gave a simple greeting.

"Gio, your report." Konrad loosened up his cravat and button as he passed by the bowing Gio.

"Yes, there were not many important events that happened. It was a normal day in the warehouses. What about the imperial palace?"

"The King requested father's presence until the investigation is over to help with the security and give his opinions but the only information they provided is that multiple unidentified dead bodies were found and their codes were long gone. "

"What is their goal? Are they suspecting us or not?" Gio frowned.

"Kali is their goal. . . They want us gone in the manor so they can sneak in while she is alone." Konrad sighed.

"They are going to such lengths. This is really suspicious." Theo frowned hard as he let his thoughts leak.

"Vico." Konrad also frowned and called Vico's name in the air.

A black smoke arises from one of the dark corners of the room. Vico emerged from it and immediately kneeled in front of them.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Report."

Vico had been watching Kali's activities and seen everything, especially the Delacorte Young Master visit unfold. He gave a detailed report to Konrad.

"She said that?" Konrad asked in deep frown

"Yes."

"Women nowadays talk like that?" Theo is seriously thinking about it.

"I don't think so." Gio answered.

In the end of the report Francis was totally smitten with Kali that he failed to make any move on checking her code but he promised to visit her again.

Normally, Gio will laugh at the ridiculous plot of Kali but after what happened earlier during noon, it was hard to be light hearted.

Konrad sighed and laid back in his chair.

"What do you think about her, Vico?"