Ruzorh pretended not to care, closing his eyes as he took a quick sip of the offered tea.

"It really isn't for everyone as everybody has their own perspective," Nukaya also smiled. "For me, tea is as charming as coffee."

"Of course not! Coffee is much tastier! How can you say such a thing?!" removing her father's last big thorn, Xarcondra now acquired the cup of coffee that Nukaya offered her, blowing off the hot steam before taking the first sip.

"Well..." Nukaya smiled again. "The two go well with a little poison."

At that moment, both Ruzorh and Xarcondra opened their eyes wide, swallowing what they had just heard.

"Just kidding!" Nukaya showed her teeth in a long, mocking smile.

"You are crazy, Nukaya!" exclaimed Xarcondra, who soon acquired a seat on the sofa next to her father. "I almost threw my coffee at you!"

"That was awesome! So nice!" Ruzorh laughed, being more pleased with the fact that Xarcondra was deceived. "This little girl here froze instantly at the corner!

"You too!" Xarcondra pushed her father.

"Ow! Ouch! I'm still in pain! Take it out on your friend!" Ruzorh complained, but he was amused all the same.

But it didn't take long for everyone to calm down, and the affairs of the day came naturally.

"Nukaya," Ruzorh, with something already fixed on his head, sought answers. "I imagine Druko told you about certain things that are happening in Verozys."

When serving herself with a cup of coffee, and coming to sit on the sofa next to her friend Xarcondra, Nukaya recognized the seriousness of the matter.

"I serve Master Druko with my life and, naturally, I am aware of what happens in Verozys nights," she fixed her eyes on those of her circus tutor. "Even because I was the victim of one of them."

"Just as I had imagined." Ruzorh rested his hands on his thighs, lowering his face a little in a brief thought. "My brother would never welcome a child for anything. Or out of nowhere. He disguises his own intentions quite well."

"Wait a minute!" without even knowing the subject they were dealing with, Xarcondra looked at them in doubt. "What are you talking about?!"

"Xarcondra... I need to ask you something..." Ruzorh rested his hand on his daughter's shoulder, fearing what she would answer. "Was there ever a time when someone messed with you? Does anyone touched your skin, looked at you crookedly, harassed you or-"

"What... no... what is it? Mess with me? How so?" confused and worried about her father's expression, she didn't know what he was talking about.

He then approached his daughter a little closer, feeling ashamed to say the next words and much more indignant to conceive this in his head.

"I mean... did someone touch you in an unpleasant way? Or... offered... suggested... something strange? Boy and girl stuff?" even a little temperamental, being a father proved to be a great challenge for Ruzorh.

"No, no! Of course not, dad! I hate boys!" replied Xarcondra with disgust.

"And the men?" Ruzorh was sorry to proceed, but he needed to be sure of his daughter's safety. "Did any... tried to-"

"Ew! No! Disgusting!" Xarcondra made faces while showing her denial. "Why are you asking me that?!"

The circus master rubbed his face with his hands, trying to get rid of the bad feeling he felt about going deeper into that topic.

"Well... there are horrible things that have happened... I..." Ruzorh hesitated. "I don't... I don't know if this is appropriate..."

"Why don't you just spit it out?!" Xarcondra was losing patience. "What happened?!"