Four days had passed since Octavia first noticed Jack's absence.

Four days of explaining away his disappearance to visiting dignitaries, of forging his signature on contracts that couldn't wait, of inventing increasingly elaborate excuses for why the heir of Sorne was unavailable.

She sat in her study, surrounded by paperwork that seemed to multiply whenever she looked away.

Trade agreements. Border dispute resolutions. A formal complaint from House Meridian about tariff adjustments that Jack should have handled personally.

The door opened without a knock, a liberty only one person in the household would take.

"You look like death warmed over," Celeste announced, sweeping into the room with a wine glass already in hand. "And it's not even a good look on you, which is saying something."

Octavia didn't bother looking up from the document she was reviewing. "Shouldn't you be recovering from yesterday's drinking bout with Bartram?"

"Recovering?" Celeste laughed, settling into the chair across from Octavia's desk with the grace of someone who'd never experienced a hangover.

"Please. That man thought he could match me glass for glass. I sent him home before dinner. He does this every time he wants to drink."

"His guards had to carry him," Octavia said flatly.

"Details." Celeste waved her hand dismissively. "The important thing is he's still sending gifts. I received a very thoughtful collection of imported wines this morning."

Octavia finally looked up, her expression somewhere between exhaustion and exasperation. "You're encouraging him."

"I'm being polite," Celeste corrected. "Besides, his taste in wine is impeccable. Why refuse quality just because the messenger is somewhat... enthusiastic?"

"He's courting you."

"He's entertaining me," Celeste said with a smile that suggested she knew exactly what she was doing. "There's a difference."

Octavia rubbed her temples, feeling a familiar headache building. "I don't have time for your romantic games right now."

"Then why are you playing them?" Celeste leaned forward, her tone shifting from playful to something more serious.

"The Meridian delegation was handled easily enough. So were the others. You're more than capable of managing House affairs without Jack hovering over your shoulder."

"It's been five days, Celeste." Octavia's voice carried an edge she hadn't intended. "Five days without any word, any sign, any explanation. Where is he?"

Celeste took a slow sip of her wine, studying her sister over the rim of her glass. "He's Jack. He'll turn up when he's ready."

"That's not good enough." Octavia stood, pacing toward the window. "If the delegations come back and find out the heir has simply vanished with no explanation, they'll start asking questions we can't answer. Questions about stability. About succession. About whether House Kaiser can be trusted to maintain order in our own holdings."

"Then we tell them he's on a diplomatic mission," Celeste said simply. "Or that he's visiting one of our vassal houses. Or that he's explorinf a dangerous dungeon, or…"

"Lying to them," Octavia interrupted. "We'd be lying to them, and eventually they'll discover it."

Celeste was quiet for a moment, then set her wine glass down with carefully. "You're stressed about more than just Jack's absence."

Octavia turned from the window, her arms crossed. "Father and Mother are being summoned to court. The timing is suspicious. And now Jack disappears right when there is a war coming here."

"Or," Celeste suggested, her tone gentler now, "Jack disappeared before Father received the summons, which means his absence has nothing to do with court politics."

"Unless someone knew about the summons before we did."

"You're seeing conspiracies everywhere." Celeste stood, moving to stand beside her sister. "Jack is probably fine. Knowing him, he's gotten himself into some adventure that he'll tell us about when he gets back, making all of us question why we let him leave the estate in the first place."

Despite herself, Octavia felt a small smile tug at her lips. "Mother said something similar."

"Mother is usually right." Celeste picked up her wine glass again. "Besides, if you're going to be stressed about anyone, worry about Annabelle."

Octavia blinked. "Annabelle? Why? What happened?"

"Nothing bad," Celeste assured her quickly. "Just... we may have another courtship situation developing."

"Oh no." Octavia's headache intensified. "Who?"

"Joseph Meredith."

House Meredith was respectable, wealthy, and strategically positioned between multiples noble houses without swearing to anyone. A marriage alliance would be valuable, but….

"House Meredith," Octavia repeated.

"Yes." Celeste's expression was unreadable. "Joseph has been very... persistent. He's been here every day for the past three days. Flowers. Conversation. Very proper behavior."

"And Annabelle?"

Celeste shrugged. "She seems to enjoy his company. Though with Annabelle, it's hard to tell if she's genuinely interested or just being polite."

Octavia moved past her sister, heading for the door. "I need to see this for myself."

"I thought you'd say that," Celeste said, following her out. "They're in the garden. Near Mother's rose collection."

They made their way through the estate's corridors, Celeste sipping her wine and offering commentary on various pieces of art they passed.

Octavia barely heard her, her mind already racing about Annabelle.

The east terrace came into view through tall windows, and Octavia slowed her pace as she spotted them.

Annabelle sat on a stone bench beneath a flowering trellis, her sketchbook open in her lap.

Joseph Meredith stood nearby, his posture relaxed but attentive.

He was younger than Octavia had expected, perhaps eighteen or nineteen with the kind of earnest face that made it seem like he was actually interested in Annabelle.

They were too far away to hear the conversation, but Octavia watched as Joseph gestured toward Annabelle's sketch, apparently asking about whatever she was drawing.

Annabelle's face lit up in the way it only did when someone showed genuine interest in her art. She turned the sketchbook toward him, explaining something with animated hand gestures.

Joseph laughed at something she said, not the polite chuckle of someone humoring a young lady, but genuine amusement.

Annabelle laughed too, a sound of pure delight that carried across the distance.

"He brings her flowers every morning," Celeste said quietly, appearing beside Octavia. "Always different colors. Yesterday it was white lilies. Today, pink roses. Tomorrow, who knows?"

"He's been here three days in a row?" Octavia asked.

"Every morning at precisely first snack. Stays until afternoon tea, then leaves with perfect courtesy. Doesn't overstay his welcome, doesn't push for more than Annabelle seems comfortable with." Celeste took another sip of wine. "It's actually rather sweet, in a traditional courtship sort of way."

Octavia watched as Joseph gestured toward the rose garden, apparently suggesting they walk.

Annabelle nodded, closing her sketchbook with care before standing. Joseph offered his arm, a formal gesture and Annabelle took it with what looked like excitement on her face.

"She seems happy," Octavia admitted.

"She does," Celeste agreed. "Though I should mention that Seraphina has already started a betting pool on how long before Father notices and has 'the conversation' with Joseph about proper intentions."

"Of course she has." Octavia rubbed her eyes. "How much has she won so far?"

"Four gold coins. She predicted the pink roses."

Despite everything, Octavia felt a laugh bubble up. "That woman is going to be wealthy enough to buy her own estate at this rate."

"She's earned it," Celeste said with a grin. "Managing this household while keeping track of all our various romantic entanglements? That's worth its weight in gold. Not to mention, shes in charge of Jack."

They watched in silence as Annabelle and Joseph disappeared around a corner of the garden path, their conversation apparently animated enough that Joseph had to lean closer to hear her over the fountain's gentle splash.

"She'll be alright," Celeste said softly. "Joseph seems like a good man. And Annabelle is smarter than people give her credit for."

"I know." Octavia's voice was quieter now. "I just... with Mother and Father leaving for court, and Jack missing, and now this..."

"You're trying to hold everything together by yourself," Celeste finished. "Which is very like you, but also very exhausting."

Octavia didn't respond immediately. Her gaze drifted back toward the garden, though Annabelle and Joseph were no longer visible.

'Where are you, Jack?' she thought, not for the first time that day. 'We need you. Even if you don't realize it, we need you here.'

---

Four days in the real world was ninety-six days in Tartarus Spire.

A 1:24 ratio.

The crimson sky of Floor 24 stretched endlessly overhead, unchanged from months before. Jack lay sprawled across Fluffy's back, the hellhound's steady gait having become as familiar as breathing over the past three months.

The crystal S had tossed him remained clutched in his hand, its surface warm against his palm. He'd been staring at it for the better part of couple months trying to understand what it was and why S had given it to him so casually.

The system had no information on the crystal, and S didn't explain why he gave it to Jack.

Corvin perched on his shoulder, occasionally pecking at Jack's hair as if checking whether his master was still conscious.

"You know," Jack said aloud, not particularly caring if S was listening, "it's been a peaceful few months. No attacks, no drama, no…"

[DING!]

Jack groaned. "I should learn to keep my mouth shut."

[New Quest Received]

The notification hung in his vision, glowing with that particular intensity that usually meant the system was about to make his life complicated.

Then another notification appeared beside it.

[New Quest Received]

And another.

[New Quest Received]

'So many quests at once, something big must be about to happen.' Jack thought as he opened up the notifications.

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