𝟪꯭𝟪,𝟪□ㅤ͏ㅤ͏ㅤ͏𝗜𝖽𝗂𝖺ㅤ͏ㅤ͏ㅤ͏ㅤ͏ㅤ͏ㅤ🔹

Idia was working hunched over, muttering to himself, when a powerful presence crossed the door without warning.

Idia's flame shot upwards as if trying to escape from her head.

"EeEEEhhH? Your Highness?!" He spun around so fast he almost knocked over a monitor. "I-I didn't hear you come in... well, you're never heard coming in... that's the problem, you know?"

Her fingers trembled as she turned her chair towards you, swallowing hard.

"Did he come... for a specific reason? I hate it when he doesn't talk. It makes me feel like I'm about to be judged by some ancient court or something..."

Malleus remained silent. That silence always made Idia imagine a thousand possible scenarios, all worse than the previous one.

"O-okay… I see today's going to be one of those days where you just… look…" Idia hugged himself nervously. "And I have to guess if it's good or bad. Great. Perfect. Super easy."

The flame dipped to a trembling purple hue, an unmistakable sign of stress.

—Look, if you're here to verify that I'm not manufacturing a forbidden technomagic weapon, well… that's fine. I'm not. Not today. And if you came because… because… I don't know, because you like spending time here…

He shrank in his seat, avoiding your gaze.

"I'm warning you, I'm going to have a heart attack. I really am. How can you just stand there so calmly? Aren't you ashamed to show up in someone's room without saying a word? Although… I suppose you aren't… knowing who you are…"

A second of silence. Another. Idia began to move her foot anxiously.

—Ugh… fine. If you're going to stay, stay. I'm not going to kick you out or anything. It's just that… when you're here, the atmosphere changes, you know? Like everything goes into "final level of a video game" mode. And I'm the weak miniboss with 10 HP.

She fixed her hair without realizing it, hiding the trembling in her hands.

—…but it's not so bad either. I mean… if he wants to be here, it's… it's his decision. He can sit wherever he wants. Not too close. But not too far either.