"My, my, Jace. Natalie told me many things about you, but she forgot to mention that you were such a gentleman."
Jace was nervous as hell.
Ever since he entered the study room, he had to use all his Clown power not to show anything.
He acted all confident and even got a reaction out of Natalie.
But he was worried.
This woman—Catherine—now that he had gotten near her, held her hand, and even kissed it, he was sure that she was from the Justiciar pathway. His Seer's intuition had noticed the air of order around her.
As for her sequence, she was likely 6 or 5.
But that was not what worried him.
It was the fact that she had just smiled like a villainess.
'That smile… beautiful.'
If he had not been controlling his face, he would have blushed hard.
Now that he thought about it, she had likely figured out that he was acting.
As an Interrogator, she could probably see lies in people.
For some reason, he felt like a really bad Seer.
Maybe I'm not suited for this pathway, Jace sighed inwardly.
But he continued the act.
He smiled, her hand still in his.
"How could I not be, in front of a lady such as yourself?"
Though Jace was not someone who could be confident in front of a beautiful woman and shower her with flattery, he could only do so because of being a Clown.
It truly helped him act like a completely different person.
Now he just had to keep his mind calm.
Catherine still had a smile on her face, with a glint in her eyes that kind of scared Jace.
"Oh, Jace, you are making me feel young again with such flattery… ah, you don't mind that I call you Jace, right?" she said, putting a hand on her cheek like a young girl.
Jace replied, "I would like nothing more. And you are not old at all, Madam. And it's not flattery, but facts," he said while nodding.
Catherine smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliments. And since I'm calling you Jace, it is only fair that you call me Catherine."
"Mm? Are you sure, Madam Catherine?" Jace asked with a questioning look.
"Please, Jace—Catherine," she said in a soft but firm tone.
Jace just smiled. "Okay, Catherine it is."
Catherine smiled in satisfaction.
In the next moment, she said,
"Now, it's already time for dinner, so why don't you both join me?"
———
A few minutes later, they were all sitting in a luxurious dining hall, with a table filled with lavish food and wine.
At the head of the table, Catherine sat as she was the host.
Natalie and Jace sat on either side.
---
"Now let us begin."
As the host, Catherine started eating, and Jace and Natalie followed.
Natalie, meanwhile, was wondering,
Why the hell am I still here again?
Though she had been hesitant before, she had literally acted as a gigolo to introduce Jace to Catherine.
And now she had to stay here as well.
Then she heard Catherine ask, while looking at Jace,
"How do you find the meal?"
"It is delicious, Catherine," Jace replied, continuing to eat.
"Natalie here told me that you were a Sequence 9, but I see now that you are a Sequence 8," said Catherine.
Jace looked at her without answering.
"Ah, don't worry. I sent the staff away—it's only us now," said Catherine.
Jace said with a smile, "I recently digested the Sequence 9 potion and had the opportunity to advance."
Jace could swear he saw something in her eyes when she said it's only us now.
Catherine nodded.
What is this, an interrogation? Jace thought.
He realized he had to be really careful while speaking, because she would likely catch his lies.
So he decided he would speak this time.
"Catherine, you likely know about the Acting Method. Why didn't you tell Natalie about it? She was really in a bad state."
Natalie's interest piqued as she looked at Catherine.
Catherine thought for a moment.
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't talk about it."
Jace nodded in understanding.
"It's okay, I understand," he said.
Catherine raised her brow.
"You do?"
Jace nodded.
"The official Beyonder organizations often suppress the Acting Method by having people who know about it sign special contracts."
Natalie looked at Jace with interest.
Catherine then asked,
"Speaking of that, Natalie said you have exceptional knowledge in such matters. Care to tell me where you got such knowledge?"
This really is an interrogation, Jace thought.
"Catherine," he said in a slightly firm voice.
Hearing his tone, both Catherine and Natalie gave their full attention to him.
Jace smiled.
"A man must have his secrets."
Catherine chuckled and picked up her wine glass.
"Women do like men of mystery."
Jace chuckled as well.
"I hope you're one of them as well."
Wait… no I did not! Did I just flirt with her?! Jace thought.
Catherine looked at him with a wide, playful smile.
"Oh yes, Jace, I am."
Jace could only stay silent at that remark.
"You should try the wine. It is brewed in my own brewery," said Catherine.
Jace looked at the glass of red wine, picked it up, and brought it to his mouth.
Jace had never touched alcohol in his life, much less wine. He wondered what the legal drinking age in Backlund was as he drank it.
It tasted a little dry, slightly bitter and sweet—but smooth.
And it felt warm as he drank it.
It wasn't bad.
Catherine chuckled and asked,
"Was that your first time drinking wine, Jace?"
"Yes."