Vanessa stood a small ways from the bench while she addressed me, "Hey Noct, I-I… Can I speak to you for a moment?" 

I turned to face her with an irritated expression. 

Why does she have to interrupt my conversation with Ana, and why the hell is she acting all shy now, too? I thought we got past that part of her personality.

When my eyes focused on her, I realized she wasn't the same as the last time I saw her. Now, she was all done up with an expensive dress and makeup, like all the other women here. She looked beautiful at this moment—stunning even — but she didn't come close to Ana. I could see her face redden as my lavender hues wandered up and down her figure.

How obvious do you want to be, Vanessa?

For a moment, I glanced back to Ana, who had a slight, condescending smile, and when my eyes met hers, she whispered, "Don't keep the Lady waiting, Noct."

Without missing a beat, I grumbled, "She's no Lady of mine." Then, with a deep sigh, I stood up and turned toward Vanessa again, placing my empty wineglass on the stone bench for some servant to collect. "What do you want? I'm sort of in the middle of an important conversation."

The teen blushed further and pointed to another place in the garden. "C-can we talk in private?"

This girl.

I shook my head and headed toward the secluded space she was pointing to: an ivy-covered gazebo by a fountain in the garden's heart. Once we were both standing in the gazebo, I snapped at her over the sound of the water falling, "Okay, what is it? This better be fucking good."

The noble hesitated while trying to find her words, and I lost my patience, "Spit it out, Vanessa! Damn!" 

This outburst spooked the female into talking, but only in a soft voice, "Princess Anastalia of Borea… Why… Why were you talking to her?" 

Is Vanessa being serious right now? 

"I have my own damn reasons! Why? Are you jealous of her? Do you want me all to yourself, Vanessa? Is that it?" I hissed at her, losing my cool at the thought of her being possessive of me. 

I will never belong to you.

Because of my harsh words, tears formed in her eyes, and I could tell she was trying her hardest not to cry. "N-no! I just… I want to warn you she's dangerous. She's killed more people than you can imagine for reasons that aren't justifiable. I—… I don't want you to become another one of her victims!" she countered in a shaky voice, but she kept her tears back.

In my eyes, that was a damn stupid reason for concern. "Vanessa, look who you're talking to. I'm dangerous. I've killed people. She can't kill me even if she tries. I have these…." I hesitated, still unsure how to describe them, "Unnatural abilities. I'll be fine. You're letting yourself worry for nothing!"

Her concerned expression remained, and she murmured, "There's something else, too. Something worse." 

"Yeah? And what would that be?" I asked in an agitated tone, wanting the pointless conversation to end so I could return to Ana. 

"M-my father… When he asks to see people alone, I often never see them again..." Vanessa spoke, and I could tell something terrified her.

Why is she bringing this up now?

"Okay, and that matters because…?" I frowned, not liking where this was headed.

"It's because he… He's asked to see you, Noct," she stammered, fear in her warm brown eyes, "He may want to kill you."