"What are you doing, Mother? If you have some insidious plan, please, don't do it."

"Do you really see your Mother as insidious? I am hurt, Risa, dear." Faerith pouted.

"Watching you stalk Older Brother and Mina like this, I do believe my words have substance."

Risa looked at her Mother, acting so suspiciously and needing to straighten her out. In the Edgeworth family, everyone possesses unique temperaments.

The Countess was known as someone calm and collected, always observing her surrounding before acting upon anything.

But right now, she acted no different than a bored child.

Against her daughter's snide remarks, Faerith simply flashed her a smile.

"Didn't you say before you wanted Colt to become more mature and independent? What if I tell you what I am doing is just that." Faerith argued.

"I don't think stalking him would change anything, mother." Risa remarked, "If you want him to change, there are better ways than just watching him."

"Tsk, tsk, my dear daughter. Did you not notice your brother acting more subdued these the past few days? This change must be the effects of the Young Lady." Faerith pointed at Mina.

"Mother, I didn't want to tell you this, but this morning, older brother was trying to escape through the window. I don't think he's in love with Mina," argued Risa, remembering the headache this morning.

"Bah, he's probably just shy. Look at him right now. He's acting as if he'd never hurt a fly. Come on, look at him."

Sighing, Risa got up from the bed and peeked over the window. Below, she saw Colt peacefully sipping tea in peace. Risa remembered a distant memory, reminding her of when Colt was more tolerable.

'Is he really?'

The thought of him returning to being the proud noble he used to give rise to many possibilities. What if it happens?

"Think about it, Risa. Didn't you say you didn't want to go to the capital for the Academy visit? Usually, it would be Colt we'd send. But because of your brother straying from the right path, you took it upon yourself to carry our name. Think about it, if he's to be changed by the Young Lady, you'll be free from that fate, and you will be able to laze around more."

Laze around; it sounded like a drug that intoxicated Risa's mind. The Edgeworths were known as noble warriors. But, against the public's expectation, the Edgeworth lineage typically leaned on doing what's easiest.

Although they trained hard, they were a lazy bunch. The Edgeworths also made sure not to do things more than tending to their hobbies.

Why did the Count reject the position of Marquis and General? It was because Shickly thought it would be too bothersome. Their descendants inherited such beliefs without even knowing it.

Laziness through blood, that's what this was. Despite Risa's fight against the devil's whisper -her Mother- she couldn't help but envision a future where she sat on her courtyard terrace, sipping tea and reading a book.

Or, Gods forbid - Sleeping in broad daylight.

"My bliss will return." Risa then turned to Faerith, who was observing her expressions. She smiled just like Faerith, "I'll assist you, Mother, but it must not be a detriment to Mina, or I will stop your plans."

"Hohoho, trust you Mother's eyes, dear. I can see that your brother is showing signs of change, and Mina is showing interest; I shall succeed!"

After a few exchanges of words, the mother and daughter pair locked eyes and shook on their terms; that day, at 2459 N.E continental calendar, the alliance between Mother and daughter was born.

Colt did not know a shady business deal was going on somewhere in the mansion. The thought of Risa and Faerith joining hands to match him with Mina never crossed his mind.

Colt took a casual sip of his tea, and because he didn't wish to eat the cake that sat in front of him, he looked at Lyra, eyeing his cake.

"Lyra, do you want it?"

"Really, older brother? Ah..." She shrunk away as she still found it hard to deal with Colt, a wastrel.

Colt ignored her reaction and handed her the slice without much thought. That simple action caused Lyra to get a better view of him.

'Nobody is bad if they give you delicious sweets. Such self-sacrifice! Very admirable!' was what the lass thought while repeatedly nodding her head. She raised the plate like her treasure and ate it with a wide smile.

'That's adorable.' Colt softly smiled.

"How kind of you, Young Master Colt."

"I don't like sweets to begin with. It's nothing worthy of a praise."

"Is that so?" Mina was surprised.

"...if it's not too sweet, it's not a problem." he just wanted to be clear.

Silence prevailed. Only Lyra's fork hitting the plate could be heard. Colt just continued watching Lyra with a soft smile. In such a tense atmosphere, Lyra was his only solace of comfort.

"... I've been meaning to ask Young Master Colt." Mina suddenly spoke.

Colt's heart shuddered but still kept a straight face.

'Those eyes of her felt piercing.' noted Colt, but he gathered his courage, "What is it?"

"You have been trying to get away from all this, right? Is my presence unwanted, Young Master Colt?"

Colt's heart was already in trepidation, 'This is not good for my heart.'

Colt looked her in the eyes. It felt like it would stab him if he decided to leave, 'Is she testing me? For what?'

Colt unknowingly chortled.

"I am the family's wastrel, and I think it is only fitting for me to try and create trouble for this family of mine. Your presence has nothing to do with it. I find your presence acceptable, Young Lady Mina. I am merely myself."

His words carried different meanings, but it boiled down to him not minding her presence while still being genuine. This caused Mina to smile at him even more.

"Your usual self? Do you mean to say that this is not how you usually are?"

"Pretty much, I enjoy wine rather than tea, and I enjoy the company of beautiful girls...like yourself, so you do not have to worry about me."

"Is that so?"

Colt's heart was about to burst.

If previously it skipped a single beat, now, it was skipping who knows how many. By the rate he's going, Colt did not need Mina to stab him because he'd die if this continued. His stupid choice of words was catching on.

'Goddammit, I almost slipped.' Colt knows that he was not her man, but the concept of "what if" still existed. What if she detests people who like hanging out with prostitutes and courtesan? A Yandere has a thin frame of mind.

He didn't know how her mind worked, so it'd be better to tread carefully. But he also knows one thing.

'I may just be digging my own grave.'

Colt does not know how things got to this point, but he was sure that after a week or so of getting used to living in this place, it would be best to learn precautionary measures to keep his life.

Time passed as swiftly as Colt's pulse. In all truthfulness, he was acting like a scared dog that angered its owner.

As night arrived and the moon replaced the sun, the time for Mina to return to their land came.

The Core Lighting Lanterns were turned on and granted light. Colt then stood up.

"Lyra, come here; let's go back inside. It's getting late."

"Okay, big brother." Lyra gladly grabbed onto Colt's hand.

"Young Miss Mina, please follow me; mother and the rest should be at the front garden."

He spoke with passiveness while holding Lyra's hand.

Mina watched his back as she followed slowly, closely behind.

'Weird, this is the first time I felt something like this. A bitter emotion of separation, is this what it is? Hmm, this is weird.' Mina felt the need to say something.

"Young Master Colt, can I ask you something?"

Colt stopped and then turned around and locked eyes with Mina. His eyes were pure, devoid of any agendas that wished to get anywhere near her. He didn't see her for the daughter of a Marquis. He was looking at her as Mina.

"Is something the matter?" Colt asked.

"It... it is nothing. I am sorry for bothering you about my nonsense."

"Do not worry, no harm done, please, follow me." He said that with a smile, a rare smile for Colt. That was the first smile he showed her catching Mina's attention.

'Freedom is at hand!' Colt celebrated in his head.

Mina obediently followed Colt without saying anything. And as Colt felt his freedom was about to be achieved, a bomb was dropped on him as he heard the Countess speak five words.

"Please stay for the night. The Marquis is still drinking with my husband...."

"Mother, I don't think that..." Colt tried to intervene. He tried plugging the dam to halt the burst of water, but Mina smashed it, rendering his efforts useless.

"I would love to, Countess."

"Great..."

After that, Colt's mind went blank, and he failed to hear the rest of the Countess' words. He went and excused himself after agreeing to have dinner later that night.

In his room, he sat there with his blanked mind, and by the time he regained himself, a glass of water was already in his hand.

He drank that glass of water, stood up, looked at the window, and admired the full moon's beauty.

'The world is pulling me towards death, huh.'

Melancholy struck him while the women of the Edgeworth family masterfully worked their magic.