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(1st POV)
I stepped inside her apartment. Lavinia sat at the dining table, a thick book resting in her pale hands, eyes fixed on the pages. She appeared so focused that it felt like nothing could interupt her.
I took the seat across from her, grabbing her attention. Reze settled beside me, tense.
"I'm Aleks," I said, my tone neutral. "It's nice to meet you, Lavinia. Can I call you that?"
She looked up slowly. A soft, almost radiant smile curved her lips.
"It seems Reze-san already told you about me. It's a pleasure, Aleks-kun."
What a sweet talker. Her voice and demeanor were so…practiced. Either she was genuinely that gentle, or she'd mastered the art of pretending.
"Are you Reze-san's partner?" Lavinia tilted her head slightly, her sapphire eyes studying me with curiosity.
"Yes. Miss Makima assigned us together." I said, my tone normal. "We just completed our first mission…and you know how that ended."
Lavinia closed her book. She rose without a sound and leaned across the table, her hood partially covering her forehead.
I didn't move. I meet my eyes with her.
"So you're the one who saved Reze-san," she murmured, her breath warm against my face. "You fought against Crom Cruach yourself?"
A flicker of something crossed her expression, maybe fascination, or something else.
"I'm glad you survived. Facing an Evil Dragon that strong would have been a fatal mistake for anyone. It's not your fault you failed." She gave a small, apologetic smile. "We were told Miss Makima saved you."
Makima saved me? So that's the story she told them huh? Of course.
It made sense. If word got out that a human with no official background had killed the strongest Evil Dragon, the factions would dig deeper until they uncovered everything about me.
That was the last thing I wanted.
I didn't crave recognition. Not yet. My objectives were simpler: survival and strength. They hadn't changed.
"She is…incredible." My voice didn't waver as I lied. "If it wasn't for Makima, I'd be dead."
Out of the corner of my eye, Reze's expression darkened. She glanced at me with an intention to object. I flicked my hand just enough to tell her: Stay silent.
I needed to understand Lavinia. Whether she was simply a good-natured operative—or another of Makima's pets.
I would be an idiot to associate myself with just anyone from Public Safety that easily. Makima had her palm over the entire organization,so I had to be extra vigilant.
I was still watching her when something caught my eye at the edge of the room.
A hamster sat in a small cage near the window, playing with its tiny paws. Its eyes glinted under the overhead light, fixed on me.
I felt uneasy just from that gaze. It reminded me of her.
Makima preferred rats. But living creature could be just as effective if she wanted to listen.
I stood up without a word, making both women startle. I crossed the room and unlatched the cage. The hamster didn't resist when I lifted it, only twitched its nose against my palm as if it had been expecting me.
Nice try, Makima. You really can't leave me alone for even a day, can you?
"Lavinia," I called over my shoulder, turning to face her. "Would you mind putting this little one to sleep for a while? It's…too alert for a nocturnal animal. Probably hasn't slept yet."
She approached me cautiously. Her expression was curious.
"He seems healthy," she said softly, pressing her fingertip to the hamster's side. "Warm, but that's normal. How can you tell he needs sleep?"
I looked her in the eye and lied without blinking.
"I had a pet hamster when I was younger. He used to act like this—restless throughout the day, staring at nothing for hours. He sadly died of exhaustion."
Her gaze softened instantly, pity overtaking her suspicion.
"I'm so sorry." Her voice was low, her tone carried the same sincerity she carried herself with.
I almost laughed again.
I felt bad suspecting her for being Makima's pet but I knew better.
Looks can be deceiving, never trust anyone more than yourself when dealing with strangers.
"It's fine," I said quietly. "It was a long time ago. Can you do it?"
She nodded, her hand brushing mine as she took the little creature in her hands.
Closing her eyes, she exhaled slowly. A soft green glow flared in her palm, and the hamster's body relaxed until it curled into sleep.
This must be her magic.
I watched it until I was sure the little guy was asleep.. Only then did I return to my seat.
Now it was time to talk.
***
We sat back. Reze didn't say anything, but the glint in her eye told me she knew I was planning something. She only watched, curious even.
"So…Lavinia," I began, my tone deliberately casual. "How did you end up working for Public Safety? From the looks of it, you're a magician. No offense, but most magicians are too self-centered, too obsessed with pursuing pinnacle of Magic to concern themselves with…other things."
Lavinia flinched. Just a small twitch of her fingers against the table, but I caught it.
"I…I'm sorry," she whispered, her gaze falling to her lap. "I'm not comfortable talking about it."
Reze tilted her head toward me, her lips curved with a smile. She didn't bother to reassure Lavinia—or to tell me to back off. She just watched, wanting to know what I was taking this to.
Sigh.
Prying into someone's past wasn't my style. But if it involved learning more about Makima..
I don't give a fuck.
I exhaled slowly.
Something changed inside me.
My voice was no longer like my usual self, it carried a hint of authority and manipulation.
"Lavinia," I said softly, but there was nothing gentle in the way I said her name.
She looked up, startled. Her sapphire eyes locked onto mine—and locking there.
"Look at me."
She was confused by my change, but she didn't blink.
"Tell me," I continued, my tone quiet, "how you ended up in Public Safety… and working for Makima."
I leaned forward, letting my gaze swallow her whole.
"Don't skip a single detail."
Silence stretched between us.
I could feel Reze watching, her expression unreadable.
I drew in one final breath—and finished my command.
"That's an order." As soon as this words left my mouth, Lavinia's demanor changed.
"I would be honored to tell you everything your highness." She said, her voice unnaturally enthusiastic.
She took a slow breath and began.
"About three years ago, when I was sent on a mission by the Governor of Grigori, Azazel, with my team, Slash Dog, we encountered…an unexpected ambush."
Her tone was perfectly normal, her sapphire eyes fixed, unblinking on mine.
"Our target had allied himself with a god from Greek mythology. Possibly a minor deity related to magic. They set a trap—one I had never seen before. It required the sacrifice of three human souls, or else the spell would activate within two minutes, killing us…and every civilian in the city. I was unable to use any Magic while we were trapped."
She paused, her hands folded neatly on her lap, her voice utterly calm as she spoke of death.
"In the end, Natsume-chan, Kouki-kun, and Shigune-san chose to sacrifice themselves so that Tobi-kun and I could escape. We were devastated by their deaths. Consumed by guilt and the aftermath of that night, we resigned from Grigori to…recover."
Another pause. Her eyes didn't flicker.
"It was then that Miss Makima approached us. She offered us a place under her protection—under her command. In exchange, she promised that nothing like that would ever happen again. That we would live better lives."
Her lips curved into a faint, reverent smile.
"We…accepted."
She lifted her chin just slightly.
"Since then, Miss Makima has been nothing but supportive of us. She has guided us protected us. I am grateful for her looking after us."
Her eyes closed, and her voice dropped almost to a whisper, and then she confessed.
"I want nothing more than to be by her side. That is my duty."
And then she fell silent.
The room felt even colder than before.
I was speechless. Lost for words.
I was hoping to make her my ally. After all, the wielder of Absolute Demise, a Longinus, would be surprisingly handy.
And she was kind and fun to be around…but now, that thought had been shattered.
My fist tightened.
She was Makima's pet.
I was almost certain Makima had controlled her to form a contract, and this forced loyalty was a result of that.
I had just used Lelouch's template to give her a command. She was human, so Lelouch's Geass was perfect for this situation.
Plus, she would forget this moment after confessing, due to the Geass's effect.
I got up, my expression darkened. This shit had just ruined my mood. I needed to cool off.
"I will be back," I said as I walked out. Reze quickly followed behind me, her steps close. She probably wanted to know what the hell just happened.
"Aleks, wait up."She called me.
I stopped right inside the lift. She stepped in after me and met my eyes.
"What happened? Was what Lavy said true?" Reze asked, her tone calm but it had a hint of frustration.
She had spent considerable time with Lavinia, so it made sense why she would react this way.
"She is…" I looked around, not wanting to take any risks. I leaned in and whispered in her ear, my voice low.
"She is Makima's pet. Don't act or say anything you wouldn't want Makima to know."
When she heard me, her eyes widened. It probably made sense to her—she'd noticed how Lavinia always acted loyal to Makima's every command.
I took a step back. I remembered that I had never officially verified if she was Makima's pet as well.
I didn't want this to turn into some cheap Netflix plot twist moment.
"Reze…can I really trust you?" I said from the heart, my voice low.
As I finished speaking, I heard the soft clink of the elevator, letting me know we had arrived at the ground level.
We didn't move. We didn't say anything.
I didn't know who I could trust anymore.
Everyone I met felt like an imposter—someone wearing a mask, hiding their true self just beneath the surface.
I had become soft, I let Makima's affection influence me.
No more.
"Sigh. Here we go again." Reze crossed her arms. "Do you wanna get my memories checked or what? I'm telling you—I am not her pet."
"If anything, I'm only here because she has me cornered."
"She forced this Public Safety crap onto me. I never wanted any of it. I came to Japan, mustering up enough power to finally run from those bastards… only to end up under the paws of a bigger monster."
She laughed bitterly.
This was the first time she decided to confess. She never opened up—but why was she doing it now?
I sighed and put my hand on her shoulder.
"…I apologize. I let my paranoia take over me. Is there anything I can do to make up for it?"
"…You haven't taken me to that restaurant I told you to take me yet…" Reze muttered, her eyes sliding away.
A faint flush touched her cheeks.
Damn. This girl really is too prone to blush.
I smiled. "Sure thing. Let's go, then, shall we?" I offered her my hand.
***
Meanwhile, in the Public Safety headquarters, inside Makima's private quarters.
Tobio Ikuse bowed in front of Makima.
"Miss Makima, you called for me?"
She looked at him while absently petting a small puppy resting in her lap, a sword embedded in its forehead.
"There's a situation developing in Kyoto. I believe there will be a summit taking place there. I want you to discreetly blend in with one of the teams. Do not reveal your identity."
Tobio gave a small nod.
"Understood. Is there a specific target?"
Makima turned to the window, her gaze fixed on the distant skyline—on a particular apartment far across the city.
"Observe your target for now," she said calmly. "She is useful…but it seems she's begun to forget her place."
Her voice grew softer, almost pleasant.
"If necessary…remove her."
***
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