"C-Cassian."
Faye spoke up as soon as the crowd finally thinned out, but that wasn't nearly enough for me. There was no way I'd be satisfied with just talking it out after what had just happened.
Not with how paranoid I was right now. Not with my current status.
"Not here."
I took her by the arm and led her toward a small hotel right beside the conclave hall. It catered to nobles who couldn't afford their own residence in the capital—unlike me.
It was the closest and safest option I had.
We stepped inside. I practically tossed a handful of coins onto the counter, and the receptionist, catching the look in my eyes, fumbled through the room list in a panic before finally pressing a key into my hand. Second floor.
The moment we got into the room and I turned the lock, I tried to force myself to calm down.
'Damn…'
I let out a short, breathless laugh and stared up at the ceiling. I could hardly believe what I'd just done. I really did have that much power now. I'd just detained another noble. Just like that.
It was… incredible, to say the least.
But enough about that. I wasn't alone here—and the woman with me had just been humiliated in front of everyone.
I drew in a deep breath, exhaled slowly, then looked back at Faye.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah… you didn't have to do something like that, y'know?"
"No," I said. "I did have to. And even if I didn't, I still would've done it. I wanted to."
"Wanted to?" Faye's voice was small, disbelieving.
"Let's just say I don't have a particular fondness for people like that," I replied.
Still, useless back-and-forth wasn't going to help. If this whole mess had taught me anything, it was that if I wasn't careful, I could easily turn Faye's life into a living hell.
I needed to make sure that didn't happen.
And I already had the best solution in mind.
Make everyone believe she had complete control over me.
Was that the right way to put it?
Oh well… close enough.
"Here."
I slipped off one of the rings on my fingers—the most expensive one I could pick out of the lot. Not that you could really tell. With how many rings I was wearing, it all just looked like a set of gaudy brass knuckles more than actual jewelry.
But apparently, that was how the 'usual' Cassian dressed, so I just had to live with it.
"H-Huh?" Faye flinched back, hands lifting in a flustered refusal. "I-I can't accept something like that, it's way too expensive!"
"Expensive?" That actually caught me off guard. She was seriously saying that after I'd already paid off all her debts? "Don't you think it's a little late to start worrying about that now?"
Faye froze, clearly remembering the last 'gift' she'd gotten from me. "Y-You're right."
"So what's one more on top of it?"
"I-I mean… that does make sense, but…" She finally reached out and took the ring from my hand, turning it over in her fingers. She hesitated to put it on, glancing up at me with a confused expression.
"W-What brought this on? I mean… getting slapped doesn't exactly scream 'gift-giving mood,' y'know."
She let out a small chuckle at her own joke, not even really bothering to touch the mark on her cheek.
Which just made it clearer: this wasn't the first time something like that had happened to her.
Heroines really have it rough, huh?
"Think of it as a… weapon," I said, folding my arms.
"...A weapon?" Faye tilted her head, confused, as she slid the ring onto her finger.
"If anyone tries to mess with you again, just show them the ring. Or better yet, threaten them while wearing it and drop my name."
"That actually works…?"
"As long as you sound confident, it will. No one's stupid enough to ignore a threat like that when you've got proof."
I'd rather not come up with some convoluted plan to make sure people don't disrespect her; that sounds way too unreliable, and I don't trust myself to pull something like that off.
"A-Aren't you afraid I'll abuse it?"
"If anyone's going to abuse my power, you're honestly the best person I could've picked."
[Faye Amberlyne: Personality slightly shifted due to actions.]
Seriously, that notification again?
"O-Okay… I'll use it to protect myself."
"Good. I'd really rather not have to detain anyone else."
To my surprise, Faye laughed at that.
Wait...
She laughed…? I thought she'd be more morally conflicted, considering someone literally just got detained because of her.
But surprisingly… no.
"Well… like I said, if you're the one who ordered it, then I guess they deserved it…"
Okay... that's the second time I think she said something out of character today.