Invanne froze right there in the doorway. The tray tilted slightly in her hands.
Azrean blinked. In that single instant, she disappeared. The silver tray slipped from her fingers and crashed onto the floor. The bottles rolled away, knocking softly against each other as warm milk spilled out, spreading into pale pools across the carpet.
When he opened them again—he wasn't on the ground anymore. Strong arms held him. Her face was right there, only inches away from his. Those gray eyes locked onto his, sharp and cold, carrying something heavy enough to make his chest tighten.
Azrean went completely still. His pupils widened.
'Who…'
She pulled him a little closer, slow and controlled, her gaze fixed on him as if she were trying to peel something apart layer by layer.
'I'm scared…' The thought hit him hard.
'I feel like she could kill me at any second… What is this… this pressure…?'
Down below, Sumi sat stiff on the carpet. Her back straight, her body locked in place. A thin line of sweat slid down from her temple. She didn't even blink.
Invanne's eyes softened just a little. A quiet breath slipped from her lips. Then she turned and placed Azrean gently back onto the bed. The silk dipped under his small body.
"He is the lord Azrean…" she murmured under her breath. "I don't know why… for a moment, I thought it was someone else… And…"
She paused. Her voice lowered.
"Now I can feel it from him too… but much stronger."
Her gaze shifted downward. Sumi looked up at her, wide-eyed, her small body still tense.
"Oh, Lady Sumi," Invanne said, her tone easing. "Sorry if I scared you."
She bent down smoothly, lifting Sumi with careful hands, and placed her beside Azrean on the bed.
Only then did her attention drift to the floor. The book. It lay open near the foot of the bed, pages spread wide, a faint cloud of dust still hanging in the air around it. Invanne tilted her head slightly.
"How did this get here?"
Her eyes traced the distance—from the tall bookshelf across the room… all the way to the bed. Then back to the two babies sitting far too still. Breathing just a little too carefully.
"How did they even come down from the bed?"
A faint line formed between her brows.
"Did they do it by themselves…?"
She paused. Then shook her head slightly.
"No. That's not possible."
Her gaze lingered on the book for another moment—then suddenly dropped.
The spilled milk. White pools soak into the carpet. Bottles lying on their sides.
"No!" she gasped softly.
She moved instantly. For a brief second, her body blurred. Then she was already kneeling beside the mess.
Her hands moved quickly, picking up the bottles, setting them upright with precise care. A small cloth appeared from her apron, and she began wiping the carpet in quick, efficient strokes, soaking up the milk before it could sink deeper. Every movement was fast and controlled.
From the bed, Sumi watched closely. Her blue eyes narrowed slightly. Then, a tiny smirk formed. She leaned closer to Azrean, her voice barely a whisper.
"Pretend to cry."
Then she shut her eyes tight, scrunched her face, and let out a loud, wobbly wail. A perfect baby cry.
High, shaky, full of pitiful energy. Tears gathered instantly at the corners of her eyes. Azrean stared at her, completely confused.
"What? Why?"
Sumi cracked one eye open, urgency flashing through it.
"Just do it!"
Azrean blinked once more, then shifted his gaze toward Invanne's back. He took a shaky breath.
His face scrunched up awkwardly, unfamiliar with the motion. Then he forced it—pushing out a thin, uneven cry. It started weak, almost fake, but he pushed harder, letting it rise until it blended with Sumi's loud wailing.
Together, their cries filled the room. Invanne froze mid-wipe. Her hand stopped against the damp carpet. Her head snapped around.
On the bed, the two babies sat side by side, faces flushed red, expressions crumpled, mouths open wide as they cried in perfect, messy harmony. Tiny fists clenched, bodies trembling with effort.
"S-sorry," she stammered, voice trembling.
"I'll bring new warm milk right away—so please wait."
Invanne didn't hesitate. She vanished. One step—and she was gone. The door swung open, then shut again just as quickly.
Then Silence. The cries stopped instantly. Sumi let out a breath and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, clearing away tears that had come far too easily. Azrean stared at the closed door, his chest rising and falling quickly.
"That… worked?" he whispered.
Sumi exhaled long and slow. The tension drained out of her small body as she flopped backward onto the silk sheets, one chubby hand resting over her chest.
Azrean turned his head toward her, still catching his breath.
"Who is that creepy girl?" he whispered.
Sumi rolled her head slightly to face him. Her blue eyes had already lost their earlier panic, settling into something more serious.
"Invanne," she said quietly. "She's the maid for both our families."
She paused for a moment.
"But from what I've overheard… she's a monster."
Azrean's eyes widened. "A monster?"
Sumi nodded slowly.
"The other day, our moms were talking about her. They said she killed twenty people… for some reason."
Azrean swallowed. His throat felt tight.
"She can use magic she created herself," Sumi went on, her voice dropping lower.
Azrean's small hands tightened against the silk sheets.
"What does that even mean… created by herself?" he asked, his voice dry.
Sumi frowned slightly, tilting her head as she tried to remember.
"I don't know all the details… but this world has something called original magic. Spells that only one person in the entire world can use."
She shifted a little against the sheets.
"I heard my mom mention she can do it too… but I've never actually seen it."
Azrean didn't respond right away. His eyes drifted back to the closed door. He swallowed again.
"We should be careful around her," he said quietly.
Sumi gave a small nod.
"Really careful."