"I'm sure," Isaac said calmly, "you mean only you can treat this condition, Dr. Rivers."
His sharpness amazed Sienna, and her lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Well," she replied "if you insist on praising me, Prince, I won't stop you."
Relief visibly washed over Craig.
For a terrifying second earlier, he had genuinely thought Sienna was about to reject the case entirely.
Thankfully, Isaac had understood her hidden meaning immediately.
"This condition is extremely rare," Sienna continued, her tone returning to professionalism. "And because of that, treatment will take time. A very long time."
Her fingers tapped lightly against the folder in front of her.
"I can't promise quick results. I'll need extensive research while treating you simultaneously."
Isaac listened silently.
"Secondly," she continued, "I'll need access to a fully equipped medical facility. Not a temporary setup. A real one. And finally…i'll need your consistent cooperation and availability."
In truth, Sienna deliberately made the conditions sound difficult an almost unreasonable.
She needed breathing space.
A little time at least away from Isaac and the dangerous pressure surrounding him.
But before she could enjoy even a second of false victory…
"We already prepared a facility for you."
Craig's answer came suddenly.
Sienna blinked.
"…You what?"
"A medical facility," Craig repeated politely. "Fully operational."
Disbelief spread plainly across her face.
"You already have one?"
Her voice rose slightly.
"In Dilrik?"
The sheer absurdity of it stunned her.
These people were from Surbrind, the enemy nation.
Yet somehow they had remained hidden inside Dilrik for days while constructing a secret medical facility without government detection.
It was insane.
And disturbingly impressive.
"I can take you there now if you'd like," Craig offered.
Sienna stared at him for another second before finally standing slowly.
Before she could speak again.
"I'm coming too."
Isaac rose from his seat.
Craig's expression immediately turned alarmed.
"Master…"
The warning in his voice was obvious.
Isaac ignored it completely.
"I'll be fine."
Craig clearly didn't believe that.
Sienna noticed immediately.
Without another word, Craig subtly adjusted the bag hanging near his side, making sure the tranquilizer injector inside remained easily accessible.
The small action didn't escape Sienna's eyes.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
As the three of them exited the private room together, Sienna glanced sideways at Isaac.
"You haven't really gone outside since arriving in Dilrik, have you?"
"No."
He answered simply and straight forwardly.
"Only between the hotel and The Doré."
That hotel.
The memory hit instantly.
Heat crawled into Sienna's face before she could stop it.
She quickly looked ahead again.
"I avoid unnecessary exposure," Isaac added calmly. "If I lose control publicly, people will die."
For a brief moment, Sienna thought there was genuine concern in his words.
Then he continued.
"And that would expose my identity."
Of course.
She almost rolled her eyes at herself.
Compassion clearly wasn't his motivation.
They stepped outside into the cold afternoon air.
Parked near the curb sat an old, unimpressive vehicle that looked like it belonged to an exhausted taxi driver nearing retirement.
Sienna stopped briefly.
Then suddenly she understood.
No one would ever suspect such a pathetic-looking car.
It was perfect camouflage.
Craig opened the doors for them, and Sienna climbed into the backseat without giving so much thoughts to sitting arrangements.
The moment she settled in, however, Isaac entered from the opposite side and sat beside her.
Very close to her.
The car was small already, but somehow his presence made it feel even smaller.
His thigh nearly brushed hers.
The faint scent of cedarwood and cold rain clung to him, subtle yet distracting.
Sienna shifted slightly.
"Can you move over a little?"
Isaac looked at her eyes looking at her like she just said something stupid.
He gestured toward the nonexistent remaining space beside him.
"this car might be modified Doctor Rivers but it's still a small car"
Her cheeks warmed immediately.
Unfortunately, he was right.
There truly wasn't room.
"You don't have to look so uncomfortable though," he added "Considering we've already been significantly closer than this."
Sienna nearly choked on air.
Her grip tightened around her purse instantly.
"Prince," she said through clenched teeth, "I would appreciate it if we never discuss that night again."
Isaac studied her flushed face silently for a second.
Then finally.
"As you wish."
The car fell quiet afterward.
Sienna immediately pulled out her phone to distract herself, pretending to scroll through social media even though she barely processed anything on the screen.
Beside her, Isaac looked out the window calmly.
But his focus wasn't truly outside.
It was her.
Or more specifically, her scent. Lavender, rose and something distinctly medicinal beneath it. Clean and soft all at once.
For reasons he couldn't understand, it soothed him so much.
The constant tension buried deep inside his body eased whenever she was near.
Even now, the violent restlessness he usually carried felt quieter and controlled.
And that alone unsettled him, because nothing had ever affected him like this before, he didn't want to feel weak or be tied to something or someone.
—
After nearly an hour of driving, the car finally slowed and came to a stop.
Sienna looked outside
Then blinked in surprise.
"A daycare?"
The place before them looked nothing like what she expected.
Nestled in one of the quietest corners of Dilrik, the area felt almost unreal.
Flowers bloomed along winding stone paths.
Children laughed loudly as they chased after one another.
Small cottages sat peacefully among vast stretches of green grass while golden sunlight filtered softly through enormous trees overhead.
Animals wandered freely.
No noise, no tension, no chaos, just pure peace.
For a moment, Sienna simply stood there silently after exiting the car.
The atmosphere wrapped around her almost immediately, beautiful, gentle and healing.
She had lived in Dilrik nearly her entire life.
Yet somehow.
She had never discovered this place.
"How did you find somewhere like this?" she asked.
When she turned, she accidentally locked eyes with Isaac.
He had already been watching her.
Watching the wonder slowly bloom across her face.
And strangely he felt proud.
He had chosen this location personally after spending weeks researching isolated areas through maps and virtual tours.
Seeing her reaction made the effort feel unexpectedly worthwhile.
Sienna narrowed her eyes slightly.
As if silently asking why he was staring.
Isaac calmly looked away first.
"Research," he answered flatly before walking ahead.
Sienna stared after him briefly.
Then followed.
"You really are a trespasser," she muttered under her breath.
"I prefer prepared."
The response came immediately.
A small laugh almost escaped her before she stopped herself.
Craig silently watched the exchange while walking behind them.
And he realized his master looked… comfortable.
Far too comfortable around Dr. Rivers.
That could become a problem later.
A very serious problem.
The daycare owner greeted them the moment they entered.
She was a middle-aged woman with an intimidatingly stern face that initially made Sienna think she was angry.
Until the woman bowed respectfully and spoke brightly.
"It's truly an honor to meet you, Dr. Rivers!"
The cheerful warmth in her voice completely contradicted her expression.
Sienna instantly understood.
Facial paralysis.
The woman physically couldn't express emotion properly.
Still, genuine excitement sparkled clearly in her eyes.
"Nice meeting you too," Sienna replied warmly.
The woman visibly relaxed.
Most people misunderstood her because of her face but sienna hadn't and she was grateful.
She led them down a hallway, stopped before a small room and politely excused herself.
Sienna watched her leave thoughtfully.
"She's from Surbrind too?"
"No," Isaac answered.
Then after a brief pause.
"I don't see the point in importing loyal workers when Dilrik already has abandoned people everywhere."
Sienna frowned slightly.
There was something unexpectedly sharp beneath that statement but before she could ask further, Craig stepped forward and entered a code into the door, the room opened to a simple children's room and Sienna frowned in confusion.
But Craig was done, he walked to the wardrobe, placed his hand on it and a soft mechanical sound followed.
Sienna blinked.
The wardrobe inside the room suddenly shifted.
The wooden surface transformed smoothly into sleek white panels before splitting apart silently.
And behind it…
Sienna froze.
An entire underground medical facility revealed itself before her eyes.
Bright white lights illuminated rows of advanced equipment so sophisticated it rivaled top national hospitals.
State-of-the-art scanners.
Research stations.
Surgical suites.
Neurological mapping systems.
Private laboratories.
Everything is immaculate.
Everything is perfect.
For several seconds, Sienna genuinely forgot to breathe.
Then slowly wonder filled her features.
Isaac watched her reaction quietly.
And unconsciously Isaac's heart flowed with satisfaction.