Just like that, she reached her personal quarters on the highest level of the Ivory Tower, entered them, and closed the door behind her.
A moment later, Nephis let out a shaky breath, leaned on the door, and covered her face with both hands.
Her cheeks turned an alarming shade of red all of a sudden.
"Ah! What did I do?! I'm crazy! I've actually lost my mind!"
Her voice was full of torment.
She was in the middle of having a miniature breakdown when a soft hand patted her reassuringly on the shoulder.
Nephis flinched and looked up, finally noticing Cassie, who was standing there with a bright smile on the delicate face.
The smile slowly turned into a grin.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Neph. I think you did great!"
'Oh, gods... Cassie saw it all, didn't she?’
Nephis was suddenly mortified.
The blind seer remained mercifully quiet for a few moments, then added in a familiar deadpan tone:
"And that is just something for you to think about while you are counting days... ah, what a line! Even I was almost seduced, poor Master Sunless must have collapsed into a puddle as soon as you left... 1 didn't know you had it in you..."
A low groan escaped from Neph's mouth.
"It's... It's all your fault, you wicked woman! If you hadn't been whispering into my ear, I would not have... I would have... it wouldn't have happened this way!"
Cassie squeezed her shoulder one more time and laughed.
"What? What are you blaming me for? I think it all went well....
Nephis closed her eyes.
'Why am I reacting so strongly? There's a damn war approaching. There are more important things to worry about!’
She had been glad to be distracted from her burdensome responsibilities in the morning.
Who knew she would be a little bit too distracted by evening?
‘Ah... I'm in trouble…’
***
Unbeknownst to Sunny and Nephis, there were more repercussions to their actions that day.
Across the lake from the Brilliant Emporium, in the depths of the Castle, the elders of Clan Valor were having a strategic meeting. They, too, were preparing for war.
At some point, the door opened, and a short report was placed in front of a regal middle-aged woman. She read it briefly and sighed.
An old man with harsh eyes and a grey beard looked at her sternly.
"What is it?"
The woman pursed her lips.
"There is another report on Changing Star and that... Mongrel person. It appears that the girl is truly taken with him."
The rest of the elders all showed a reaction, most of them displaying some sign of displeasure.
The stern old man shook his head.
"That won't do, She doesn't have to offer herself for a strategic marriage, but spending time frivolously with some nobody... a princess of Valor can't be tied to a person with no background. This concerns the prestige of our great clan."
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"What do you suggest we do? Reprimand her? Or remove the man from the picture? These are delicate matters. Will you take responsibility?"
There was a long silence in the chamber, with no one daring to speak.
Eventually, the silence was broken by a frustrated sigh.
Everyone turned to look at a beautiful young woman with striking vermilion eyes who sat at the head of the table.
Morgan looked at the elders with a frown, then shook her head dejectedly and said:
"Why are you creating a problem out of nothing? Do you have a lot of time to waste?"
She glared at them for a few moments, then leaned back.
"I agree, Nephis can't be seen dating a nobody. So, what's the problem? Let's just knight that guy and be done with it. He won't be a nobody if we make him a Knight of Valor, will he? Hell, we can even put him in charge of some soldiers. There, problem solved."
The elders simply stared at her incredulously. Morgan smiled.
"I see there are no objections. Let's proceed with this plan, then. Now, about the issue with Saint Thane, he'll be arriving soon..."
And that...
Was how Sunny became an honorary Knight Commander of the Great Clan Valor.
Even if he did not know it yet.