Spying Artifacts

As the Saintess's carriage disappeared beyond the wrought iron gates of Steele Manor, Alaric turned back towards the mansion, a thoughtful expression clouding his ruby eyes. He had played the gracious host, the dutiful artifact creator, but beneath the surface of polite smiles and measured words, a sense of unease lingered. Saintess Ceanna Paxton, despite her serene façade, radiated an undercurrent of… something. Antagonism? Distrust? He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the subtle tension had not escaped his notice.

 

'She's watching me,' Alaric mused, his thoughts echoing in the opulent hallway as he strode towards his workshop. 'I can feel it. Her gaze… it's more than just polite interest. There's something else there. Something… assessing. Judging.' He dismissed the princes as mere pawns, easily manipulated and predictable in their desires and ambitions. But the Saintess… she was different. More complex, more enigmatic, and potentially, more dangerous.