Chapter 67: Shadows Over Ashford

The bathroom door opened only partway.

A female servant stood outside, her voice careful and concerned.

"Madam, I heard your voice. Are you alright? Do you need any help?"

Evelyn composed herself at once. The heat in her face had not fully faded, but her voice came out steady.

"I am fine. You may go. If I need you, I will call."

The servant hesitated for half a second, then bowed and left.

Only after the footsteps faded did Evelyn let out a quiet breath. She turned back toward Daemon, still wrapped in the towel, and managed a small smile.

"It is good to see you, Daemon. I already wanted to talk to you... though I never thought we would meet like this."

Daemon gave a short nod.

"Alright. After I finish here, we can talk more."

Evelyn left the bathroom.

The moment the door closed behind her, she pressed a hand to her chest and exhaled hard.

The image refused to leave her mind. Steam, bare skin, and that calm voice calling her mother-in-law all of it tangled together until she needed air.

She walked toward the garden.

Before she reached the open path, the same servant approached again.

"Madam, Miss Victoria and the guests have arrived. They are currently using the main bathroom."

Evelyn nodded once.

"I see."

Then she continued into the garden alone, letting the cool evening air settle against her skin until her pulse finally slowed.

By the time everyone gathered in the dining hall, the atmosphere of the house had changed completely.

Victoria, Sana, and Roxanna had changed into fresh clothes from Victoria’s wardrobe for the time being. Evelyn was already seated.

Daemon entered last and took the seat beside Victoria. To his left, one chair remained empty.

Evelyn’s gaze moved across the table and stopped on Roxanna.

"Who are we waiting for? Everyone seems to be here... though I do see a new face."

Roxanna straightened slightly and introduced herself with quiet politeness. Evelyn nodded, still observing her carefully, clearly trying to place where this gentle young woman fit among her daughter’s sudden guests.

Then red mist suddenly formed beside the empty chair.

Sana stiffened.

Evelyn’s eyes widened.

The mist twisted, condensed, and shaped itself into a masked girl who calmly sat down in the empty seat next to Victoria.

Evelyn almost rose from her chair.

"Who is this girl? How is it possible she came out of mist?"

Daemon answered before the confusion could grow further.

"She is also with us. One of her abilities. Don’t overthink it for now. Even we don’t fully understand everything about her yet."

Evelyn stared at Calista for another long second. The mask covering her face made the girl even stranger.

Evelyn wanted to ask why she wore it, but in the end she forced herself to leave the question aside. Too many unusual things had already happened in one evening.

Servants began serving the food.

Among the dishes placed on the table were the special items Victoria had requested earlier. Those plates were set carefully in front of Calista.

Victoria leaned slightly toward her.

"Go ahead. Eat whatever you like. If you want something else, tell me. I will have it prepared."

Calista nodded.

A moment later, the lower part of her mask shifted and reduced, now covering only her eyes. With her mouth free, she began eating more comfortably, small and focused, as if the entire table around her barely existed.

Evelyn watched in silence.

This was the first time she had seen Victoria speak to someone with that much open care. Not formality.

Not status. Genuine attentiveness. The sight left a strange feeling in her chest.

Then Victoria suddenly turned toward her.

"Mother. Did you already talk with Daemon? You said before that you wanted to."

Evelyn’s face went red at once.

"I—well—that is—"

Daemon cut in smoothly.

"Yes. We spoke before coming to eat."

The table settled again after that. Conversation returned in fragments, and for a while the hall was filled only with the ordinary sounds of dinner.

Plates shifted. Soft remarks passed between them. Outside the tall windows, night fully claimed the estate grounds.

After the meal, Daemon stood with Sana near the entrance hall.

His expression was serious.

"Be careful. Watch out for Lucien too. Once you find Kassia, you already know what to do next. Remember that."

Sana smiled, sharp and confident.

"I know. I won’t do anything too dramatic."

Then her eyes narrowed with playful heat.

"And after this, we still have something important to complete. Remember?"

Daemon frowned slightly.

"What is it?"

Sana stepped closer.

"We married... but we never did that."

For a second, silence hung between them.

Then Daemon moved in and kissed her, right there where the others could see. It was brief, but deliberate.

When he pulled back, he smiled.

"Alright. Whenever you want."

Victoria turned her face the other way, clearly refusing to watch.

"Don’t get yourselves caught," she said flatly.

Roxanna added more gently,

"Be careful."

Sana gave them one last look, then left for Apex Guild.

The report recovered from Kael’s house had not contained enough. Too many gaps. Too many sealed lines.

Victoria had already asked Rosalind for a full copy of the restricted file, and after reading what little they had, Daemon reached the same conclusion.

Right now, Sana and Lucien were the only real option.

Far across Ashford City, night pressed down hard over the skyline.

At the top of one of the tallest buildings, wind tore across an open balcony. The city lights stretched endlessly below, cold and distant.

A man stood at the edge, hands behind his back, eyes fixed on the dark sky.

"They didn’t even leave Kael’s body," he muttered.

Beside him, a subordinate lowered his head.

"Yes, Master. We confirmed it. When we pressed for details, they said Kael’s body was destroyed by Daemon... Victoria’s husband.

And he is not the E-Rank hunter listed in the reports. His strength and unknown abilities are terrifying. Possibly equal to an A-Rank... or higher."

The man on the balcony did not turn.

Leonard Valen.

Guild Master of Apex.

"I want more former S-Rank and A-Rank people," he said. "Criminals. Thugs. Offer them money and bring them all by tomorrow."

The subordinate hesitated.

"Master, we already have many powerful people under us."

Leonard’s voice hardened.

"No. I want those people. Do not underestimate Victoria. She is not only powerful. She also has a mysterious husband... and her aunt is the Guild Master of the WHA. We need more force."

Wind slammed against the glass behind them.

Leonard’s eyes narrowed on the night city below.

"This time, I will complete what Kael failed to finish."

A pause.

"Not only because he was my son."

His voice dropped into something colder.

"But because I refuse to inherit his failure."