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The highest point of the Clock Tower headquarters. The main camp of the Barthomeloi family.
The ancient Clock Tower, built in AD 2, had been keeping time for the Clock Tower ever since.
And above the large clock at the top of the Clock Tower was an astronomical observatory. Lorelei currently stood on the observatory, overlooking the entire Clock Tower headquarters.
Her mood was currently very agitated.
Just now, when she went to the secret room to consult with her father, she was instructed to ensure the talks were achieved at all costs. However, she currently had no solution, so she came to this place she used to relax her mind.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Rhythmic footsteps slowly approached.
"Adjutant, just returned to the country. Not going to rest?" Lorelei gazed into the distance, speaking with a complex tone.
"Apologies. I heard Lady Barthomeloi encountered a difficult problem, so I boldly came forward," Adjutant Chad stood at the staircase entrance, speaking solemnly.
"Is that so? Do you have any suggestions?" Lorelei leaned against the railing, supporting her chin, speaking calmly.
Adjutant Chad had followed the Barthomeloi family for over forty years—he could be said to be an elder who watched her grow up. She still valued the advice of the older generation greatly.
After all, those were experiences that could become her foundation, enriching her knowledge.
"First, allow me to ask presumptuously, regarding that night with that True Magic user at the Le Grand Hôtel in Tours..." Chad watched Lorelei's expression, asking cautiously.
Slap—!
The stone railing, with 1800 years of history, cracked under Lorelei's elbow. After a long moment, an icy, bone-chilling voice slowly came. "How do you know!!!"
"At dawn, your subordinate was responsible for luring away that True Magic user's pursuit. In the end, I witnessed the clash between the True Magic user and the Burial Agency," Chad stated with relief.
"Is that so? Back then, you were the one who lured him away?" Lorelei recalled the scene at that time, speaking with a complex tone.
The observatory fell into silence.
"That fellow just played me. It's impossible to make him come here based on that," Lorelei stated indifferently.
She understood her adjutant's purpose in bringing this up.
After all, he had just said he came to address her difficult problem. Suddenly mentioning this matter—there could be no other purpose.
"Well then, what if we falsely claim you are pregnant? What are the chances?" Chad stated indifferently.
"Do you want to die?" Lorelei's pupils massively contracted. She slowly turned her head, looking at Chad with murderous intent.
"....." Chad still maintained that cold face.
"...I don't know." Lorelei glared at Chad for a long moment, then turned her head to look at the distant sky, speaking coldly.
Lorelei understood that Magi highly valued lineage inheritance.
But she truly didn't know if Haru, who had reached the level of True Magic, would come because of this trick involving offspring.
"Well then, what if it's made known to everyone? Using public opinion?" Chad stated indifferently.
Thump! Thump!
A howling gale instantly severed Chad's arms.
Lorelei turned around, indifferently passed Chad, and walked down the stairs.
Chad understood that Lorelei had tacitly approved his proposal.
After all, his making the news of Lorelei being 'played' by Haru and getting pregnant widely known was completely trampling on Lorelei's dignity. Not killing him directly almost equated to tacit approval.
"This way, the mission should be complete," Chad's cheeks showed tear stains. He picked up the severed arms from the ground, reattached them to his broken wrists.
The next instant, his arms were instantly as good as new.
——
Castle on the outskirts of Tours.
Haru, pillowed on Arcueid's lap, abruptly opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Got some good news!"
"SHOCKER! The Barthomeloi Family Acts Towards the Fifth True Magic User…"
"SCANDAL! The Clock Tower's Queen Secretly…"
Haru leaned back comfortably on the bedroom sofa, his right hand lazily reaching for the teacup on the glass table before him. He took a delightful sip of the black tea, his eyes devouring the [Clock Tower Headlines] clutched in his left hand.
"Finished with the paper? Any thoughts? Anything you want to say to yours truly?" Altrouge, draped in a black silk nightgown, lounged on the sofa opposite Haru. She offered a faint smile, yet her eyes held no trace of amusement—only a dark, profound depth.
"Aside from Barthomeloi Lorelei not being a willing party, the rest is pretty much spot on." Haru set down his teacup, looking directly at Altrouge, his expression perfectly calm as he spoke.
"Is that so…" Altrouge's deep crimson eyes stared intently at Haru's composed face, a dark, heavy aura beginning to emanate from her.
Ten minutes later.
"Tch. Can't even spook you." Altrouge clicked her tongue, her body slowly sinking back, pressing into the soft sofa, her face a mask of dissatisfaction.
"Because your jealous wife act is just too fake," Haru stated, his gaze steady on Altrouge.
Haru knew perfectly well that no jealous wife with off-the-charts fighting power would just glare at the cheating party.
They'd be more like Kotonoha Katsura—grabbing a damn cleaver and, without a second thought, going straight for the head, ready to roam the ends of the earth with it.
Thinking of that, Haru was immensely grateful Altrouge was a non-human with a warped sense of morality.
If she were a yandere like Kotonoha, he'd be lucky to escape with his skin intact, never mind his life.
Take a certain Kiyohime, for example, who made him use his spatial abilities to return and—report for duty every few days.
"My back is killing me~" Haru sighed, a look of utter helplessness on his face.
"Hmm?" Hearing him, Altrouge blinked, a puzzled expression on her face. Then, she scoffed lightly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Altrouge patted her cheeks, her delicate face hardening into a serious expression. Her tone grew grave.
"Enough of that. Let's get down to business. What's the Barthomeloi family's goal in spreading this kind of information? Has the Canticle Brigade sent back any intel?"
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