Louis' smile vanished the moment the door closed. He glared down at Eleanor.
"You waved at one of the mages earlier. Don't do anything unnecessary."
"Huh?"
So this was how their private meeting started.
"The mages here are starved for distraction after days buried in research. Don't go charming them carelessly."
"But ignoring them when we made eye contact felt rude!"
The chief magician's office, pristine as always, offered no distractions. Mahogany desk gleaming, documents neatly stacked, not a speck of dust on the shelves. Eleanor drifted to the window, cracking it open. Fresh air tousled her silver hair.
"What if they misunderstand your friendliness?" Louis pressed.
"They've never confessed before. They just… watch from afar, like I'm a stray cat. Besides, you're the one always smiling like a saint. Why can't I ?"
"I smile to avoid looking unapproachable. You don't need to."
"Smiling smooths relationships!"
Louis pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just… never mind."
Eleanor flopped onto the butter-soft leather sofa—her favorite. "My little boy's all grown up with his fancy title. Mom's so proud. Can I take this sofa home?"
"You're not my mother."
"Housekeeper, then."
"The house has no space for it."
Their familiar dance continued—Louis' icy glares met Eleanor's practiced indifference.
---
Transaction
"Eat quickly. I need the lunchbox back."
Louis sat beside her, unpacking the wooden bento. In a world without plastics, even containers felt archaic.
"May I have a few strands of your hair?"
"Again? You just made a new wand. Brewing potions now?"
"Rank A fairy materials are priceless."
Fairy hair—amplifier of spells, binder of volatile ingredients. The higher the fairy's rank, the more potent. Eleanor turned her back. "Take what you want."
Louis wound a lock around his finger, tugging playfully.
"Just cut it already," she muttered, cheeks warming.
"...Right." His voice held false reluctance.
---
Shadows Gather
"Monster activity's rising," Louis noted, scissors glinting. "I need stronger light magic. Any ideas? "
"Take ten more strands. Mix with 'Dew of Laurel' and 'Moonlight Crystal'. My hair should harmonize them. "
"Tried the dew. Didn't click."
"Then keep trying. That's your job."
Louis chuckled. "You always sound so detached."
"Human affairs are detached from me. "
"That's what's amusing. "
His laugh prickled her chest. She stayed silent as he snipped.
---
Farewell
An hour later, they stood at the tower's entrance.
"Don't be late for dinner. "
"I'll… manage."
Their exchange echoed a young couple's banter—habitual, charged with unspoken currents.