I hadn’t told Rose anything about this yet. I knew her well enough to be sure she’d act impulsively and hunt Philip down. But if she did, something would definitely happen to Grace. What Grace needed right now was someone she trusted. If I left her to her own devices, she’d probably try something reckless. That’s exactly why I hadn’t said anything. Yet, anyway.
For now, all I could do was wait.
The night came and went, but Philip still hadn’t returned home. I’d been talking to Sandra over the phone, asking her to dig into Philip’s whereabouts. She told me he wasn’t spotted anywhere near Rakkan, which only meant one thing—he was probably out of Rakkan. Most likely at the cult’s base.
“Morning, Leon,” Grace said softly as she stepped out onto the balcony and spotted me sitting there. Her warm smile did little to hide the exhaustion beneath it. “Did you sleep okay? Sorry if the bed wasn’t comfortable. We’re not exactly rolling in cash to afford softer beds,” she added, her chuckle tinged with a hint of embarrassment.
“It’s fine,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile. “Honestly, I slept like a baby.”
“Thank goodness,” she breathed out, the tension in her shoulders melting away. Her gaze shifted toward the front yard, landing on Rose, who was chopping wood logs with ease.
Rose’s body was a sight to behold—muscular, but not in a way that was too much. She had that perfect balance between strength and femininity—sexy and lean. The way her muscles flexed as she swung the axe, sweat glistening on her skin under the morning sun, was near hypnotizing. She was only wearing a tight black sleeveless shirt, and it clung to her body in all the right places. Watching her like that was almost enough to make my mind wander, but I had to be careful. If I stared too long, she’d catch me—and that glare of hers could cut deeper than any blade.
“When did you meet Rose?” Grace’s voice broke through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present.
“At the academy,” I said simply.
“Heh~” Grace looked at me with a sly grin, like she found something amusing. “You know, I never thought Rose would go for someone younger,” she teased. “I always figured she’d be into someone her age or maybe even older. She was all about Prince Charming back when she was a kid, after all,” she added with a nostalgic smile.
“We’re not exactly in a relationship, Miss Grace,” I replied.
“I know,” she replied with a nonchalant shrug, but the grin didn’t leave her face. “Still, it’s not exactly hard to see there’s something going on between you two.”
Well, there was something there, but it wasn’t something I was ready to admit out loud.
“Anyway, are you two heading out today?” Grace asked, changing the subject, though the playful glint in her eyes remained.
“Yeah,” I told her.
Rose and I had planned to leave today, but I couldn’t risk leaving Grace here alone. She might try to do something drastic, like attempt suicide if we left her behind. I couldn’t exactly tell Rose that I wanted to stick around until Philip came back, because I knew she’d get suspicious. So, instead of explaining anything, I figured the best option was to ask Morthea to stay here until Philip returned.
“You can stay a little while longer,” Grace said, her voice soft.
“I don’t want to impose,” I replied. It was all I could think to say in that moment.
***
Breakfast was… well, underwhelming. The food was plain, like something thrown together last minute, and I didn’t have to ask to know Rose was the one who cooked it. Her whole vibe didn’t exactly scream “domestic goddess.” She had that tough, brass exterior, and the mess in the kitchen just confirmed it. She wasn’t the type of woman to worry about stuff like cooking, and honestly, her food showed it. Still, there was something endearing about it—about her. Seeing someone as strong and no-nonsense as Rose fumble through something as basic as making breakfast was kind of a turn-on in a weird way. It was rare to see someone so rough around the edges be this clumsy, and I couldn’t help but find it a little sexy.
After breakfast, I figured I should handle the dishes. As I stood at the sink, washing the plates, Rose came up beside me. She didn’t look at me, just stayed close enough to speak in a low whisper.
“Her husband’s a member, isn’t he?” she asked, her voice barely above a murmur. The tension in her words was hard to miss.
“We don’t know that for sure yet,” I replied, keeping my eyes on the plates. “Grace said she wasn’t sure if the phrase she heard him say was the same one the Eclipse members use. It’s just a possibility right now.”
“But the probability’s high, though,” she added, her tone firm.
“Yeah, I mean… it is,” I admitted, letting out a small sigh.
The odds that Philip was tied to the Eclipse were high. His strange behavior alone raised enough red flags. But I couldn’t confirm anything yet. I hadn’t even met the guy in person, so I had no real way of knowing for sure.
I mean, those friends of Philip that Grace mentioned might just be part of a completely different group. But the way Philip disturbingly offered his wife to so many men was a clear, unsettling clue.
“Is it okay to just leave her here?” Rose asked.
“Probably not,” I admitted, scrubbing a plate with more force than necessary. “But we can’t make progress on the investigation if we stay put. We’ve got only a month of winter vacation, and given the time we need for the investigation, sticking around here won’t get us anywhere.”
“Yeah, it’s tough to stay here when we’re racing against time to dig up something on Eclipse,” Rose said. “So what’s our move?”
This seemed like the perfect moment for me to ensure Grace’s safety. If I suggested Rose stay behind, it would guarantee Grace wasn’t alone.
“How about I head to the next village by myself?” I suggested, trying to sound casual. “And you stay here to keep an eye on Grace?”
