Vynx should have known the letter would be bad news. A part of him wanted to discard it the moment he noticed the wax seal on the front, imprinted with the crest of a rose. The hint of expensive perfume lingered on the paper, but it was not the same scent as the cologne the King always used. Against his will, his professionalism took over, and he forced himself to tear open the envelope to read the contents within. 

He had been in a pensive mood since their party arrived at the city written in the address. As a bustling trade center located on the coast, the buildings were not quite as grandiose as the ones in the capital, yet they offered a scenic view of the ocean near the port. Above the slums and downtown area were the row houses of the middle class, and beyond that, the mansions of the well-off merchant families and nobles. Vynx had picked a tavern by the pier to check their party into, despite Sophia's comment that they could afford one in a better neighbourhood. The ladies had gotten too used to coasting on their bounty money from the King, but Vynx knew better than to splurge the rest away before he could land another big job—and unfortunately for him, the latest reward in question was one he couldn't pass up. 

"Are you sure you don't need us to come with you?" Hilde inquired for the third time. She noticed Vynx's apprehension since receiving the letter, and despite knowing that he was more than capable of handling himself, she worried about the morose air that had fallen upon him.

"I'm just going to get more details about the job. There's no need for you three to come. Besides, you know how these noble types are with uninvited guests," Vynx replied, keeping the letter neatly tucked away in his pocket where the others couldn't get to it. While there was hardly anything worth making a fuss about, this was one meeting he needed to attend. Alone. 

"Sounds like you just want to keep all the reward money for yourself," Soleil snorted. She didn't have much interest in meddling in Vynx's private business, but she did keep track of their group's remaining funds. "Whatever. I'll look for another job while we're in town." If Soleil sensed something was wrong, she preferred pretending to ignore it. 

"I'm sure you'll find something, Sol. Maybe someday, you'll be as popular and highly requested as yours truly," Vynx shot back. In truth, he was thankful for Soleil's disinterest and how she liked to work independently. "Be safe out there."

"Yeah, you too." Soleil slung her shield over her shoulder and left the room first, letting the door swing closed behind her.

Sophia wore a skeptical expression as she analyzed the hunter. He was more… fidgety than usual. Normally, Vynx had no issue sharing the specifics of any job that came their way, but this was the first time he was acting secretive about it. "Who's the sender?" she questioned, keeping her arms crossed as she watched Vynx make for the door of their room. 

Vynx stopped as he reached for the doorknob. "It's no one important," he replied. Without another word, Vynx left the cramped inn room and headed uptown. He knew he owed the girls a better explanation, but the hunter wasn't in a talkative mood. His mind was elsewhere during the entire walk to the Bellino estate, and he hardly noticed the sun setting until he nearly bumped into the lamplighter at the outer gates. He only offered a brusque apology before heading through the iron gates and up the path to the front doors. As he rapped against the solid barrier of carved wood, Vynx felt the urge to turn right back around, for once hoping that no one was home to answer him.

Regrettably, the door opened and a cordial servant welcomed him in. "You must be Sir Tusand. The madam has been expecting you."

"Yeah, that's me. I'm here about the job," Vynx said, unenthused. He followed the servant through the foyer and up the stairs. Vynx caught sight of a well-dressed gentleman looking down at them from the balcony above, but the nobleman only gave a small scoff before he turned to return to what looked like a private study. "Not even a greeting from the master of the house, huh?" he muttered. 

The servant brought him to a small library lit by a crackling marble fireplace in the wall. A woman in a vermillion silk nightrobe lounged in an armchair, her head turning only as the servant announced Vynx's arrival. Her features were striking, with bright emerald eyes that contrasted against her fiery red hair, worn in a partial updo that allowed her wavy locks to fall free. Immaculate makeup painted her face, so well done that it hid any trace of her years beneath its layers. Strings of pearl decorated her neck and hands, with two iridescent teardrops dangling from each ear. "Thank you, Cesar. You may leave us." She rose from her seat and gave a nod to dismiss the butler. As the doors closed behind Vynx, she approached him with a sly smile and quipped, "You don't seem quite happy to see me, my dear."

"Can't say I'm all too happy to be here," Vynx returned. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead at the fireplace to avoid meeting her gaze. "You look like you've been doing well for yourself, Rosina." 

"Well enough, I suppose." The mistress waved him to take a seat by the fireplace. She offered no other pleasantries, only seeing the hunter as exactly the worn, obedient soldier he was. For while she was currently dressed the part of a nobleman's mistress, Rosina had once been the prized flower of the Rose Garden. As the top courtesan of the capital's most upscale brothel, Rosina had entertained many of the kingdom's wealthiest men and been the talk of the town in her prime. A woman of unrivaled beauty, wit, and charm, and the only person Vynx woefully considered his first flame.

Back then, he was little more than a vagrant who could only afford her when the King tossed a generous bonus his way or when he managed to retrieve some legendary artifact worth selling off for gold. Rosina used to commend his gifts of precious jewels from underground ruins and sang his praises when he returned with the feathers of elusive, mythical birds. Every rare trinket he found on his travels, he'd bring back for Rosina to win her love. It hadn't been easy competing against a dozen highborn blokes, but Vynx had foolishly believed he stood a chance. Now, surrounded by the ornamented walls and tall pillars of her patron's mansion, Vynx could only think of how naive he must have been. Grudgingly, he threw himself onto the sofa and sighed, "Why did you ask for me? I highly doubt it's because you missed me."

"Isn't it obvious? I need your skills for a job." Rosina sat down beside him. Up close, her perfume permeated his senses, and Vynx immediately tensed up. With a voice like honey, she cooed, "You're the only one who can get what I need, Vynx." She placed her hand on his thigh, and the hunter reflexively pulled away.

"Just tell me what you want, Rosina." He narrowed his eyes. Vynx knew that sweet tone of hers all too well and cursed how it danced in his ears. 

"Don't be so cold, darling. I'm willing to pay a great deal for this little favour." Rosina pouted her red lips before continuing, "I need a Mermaid's Tear for a certain elixir. I've heard that it has miraculous properties that not even money can buy. And believe me, I've tried to find a seller." She shrugged her shoulders in dismay. 

Once again, he felt reduced to her foolish errand boy. "You want a beauty potion?" Vynx scoffed. If she was coming to him, Vynx had to presume the mistress had exhausted her other options and connections. The letter had made her request sound like an urgent matter, but now he was ready to get up right there and then. Before he could, Rosina grabbed his face so he would look at her.

"I won't be young forever. Not like you," she muttered. Her eyes stared deeply into his as she took in his features, still exactly the same as they had been since their last meeting so many years ago. She was one of the few who knew what he was—a secret Vynx had carelessly spilled on a drunken night when she asked about his "tattoos." With Rosina's face just inches away, Vynx could see the faint lines of age finally showing in her skin. Yet her eyes still burned with the same ambition she had always held: an ambition to climb in society and never look back, no matter what the cost. "Please. You are the only one I can rely on," she whispered.

Vynx felt his breath hitch in his throat. She was still so beautiful. So painfully close to him. His heart began to hammer in his chest, and his hand seized tightly to the fabric of his jacket. He wanted to say no—knew he should say no—but his words failed him as her lips pressed against his. A fire he forgot existed reignited in his chest, and he suddenly found himself on top of the woman, panting and aching for more of her taste. 

"Well?" Rosina's smouldering eyes peered up at him through her thick lashes. She placed his hand atop her breast expectantly. Even through the thin fabric of her nightgown, Vynx could feel her soft skin and the heat of her body under him.

"Fuck." Vynx hissed under his breath. His hand gripped her chest possessively as he pinned his weight down on her. There was anger fueling his desire, like a dam had burst in his mind and the feelings he thought he had buried came surging forth all at once. He recalled the night he learned that Rosina would no longer be working at the Rose Garden and how she disappeared from his life without a single farewell. Vynx had shut his heart off and slept with nearly every prostitute in the establishment afterwards, never thinking about courting someone again. Jealousy, resentment, love, lust—he had felt them all once before with Rosina, and the typhoon of emotions was crashing back on him faster than he could handle. Rosina wrapped her arms around him, whispering sweet nothings into his ear as Vynx kissed down her neck. She teased him with fantasies of reliving their wildest nights and old promises of running away together. She could give him anything he wanted, and in that moment, he wanted nothing but her.

The spell was broken as soon as a knock came at the door. Rosina halted and sat up, pushing Vynx off of her as one would an oversized dog. "Yes, what is it?"

"You have another visitor, madam," Cesar called shakily from the other side of the door. "She claims to be a companion of Sir Tusand."

"She can wait outside." Rosina rolled her eyes and returned to her own seat. "We're just about done with our business here."

Vynx shamefully wiped his mouth with his sleeve. A streak of scarlet lipstick stuck to the cloth, and he hoped the others would simply mistake it for blood. He brushed himself off and cleared his throat. "Right, uh. I should get going now. I'll… keep an eye out for your tears," he mumbled. Vynx could see the satisfied smirk on Rosina's lips as he left the library and trudged back to the foyer, where a familiar face awaited him.

Hilde perked up as Vynx came down the stairs. "Vynx! I'm sorry, Sophia asked me to come get you. And you know how scary she is when she's like that…" She bowed apologetically to him. 

"No, it's alright. I appreciate it." Vynx forced a smile, hoping the guilt wasn't too obvious on his face. He wanted to believe that he had moved past all this—that he had become a better man ever since he met Sophia and the others. Yet now, he felt no better than he did after all those sinful nights in the Garden. He took Hilde's hand and led her out of the manor, casting only one glance back to the lit-up library window on the second floor. Vynx tore his eyes away to focus back on Hilde, who watched him in concern.

"Did… everything go well?" Hilde asked. 

"Yeah. It's a bit of a silly request, but I said I'd look into it for them." Vynx exhaled and rustled his hair. For once, he was grateful for the chilly night air calming his nerves. "The mistress of the house needs a Mermaid's Tear for… health purposes," he uttered half-heartedly.

"Oh, I see. Then we should do our best to find one if it means curing her ailments," Hilde agreed easily. She squeezed his hand as they strolled together, far more at ease now that he was back at her side. Her innocent smile never left her face, even as Vynx avoided her eyes the entire walk back.

Vynx wanted to forget the agreement, but a promise was a promise, no matter how badly he had screwed up by making it.