"Mr. Minovo." Lady Maelis turned to Casilo with a warm smile that he readily returned. She gave him a quick once-over from head to toe, then clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "If you continue the way you are, you’ll end up being the oldest bachelor among your peers," she chided, still clearly frustrated by how effortlessly Casilo had dismissed every attempt she had made in the past to pair him with the daughters of her friends.

Casilo only flashed her his signature grin. "Lady Maelis, you look as radiant as ever."

"Flattery will get you nowhere," she scoffed, though the corner of her lips twitched in amusement.

Casilo’s grin widened. "Ah, but I beg to differ. Flattery on its own has gotten me into a lot more places than you can imagine."

Across the room, Nieah, who remained seated quietly on the other side of the drawing room, let out a soft, derisive snort. It was quiet enough to escape Lady Maelis’s attention, but just when she thought she had gotten away with it, Casilo tilted his head slightly, glancing back at her with a smirk playing on his lips.

Lady Maelis’s gaze eventually returned to Circe. This time, her eyes lingered not in judgment, nor in scrutiny, but in gentle curiosity, like someone searching for a familiar face in a crowd. She looked at her quietly, as if she could see through the careful mask Circe wore, through all the things Circe would rather keep hidden. Her gaze wasn’t cruel or cold, but it made Circe shift in her seat nonetheless.

Though the days when vampires viewed humans purely as sustenance were long gone, Lamora still wasn’t the kindest place for humans. Many vampires still clung to those archaic ideologies, seeing humans as little more than prey or a source of entertainment.

Humans didn’t come to Lamora seeking a fresh start unless what they were running from was far worse than the possibility of having their blood drained dry by a rogue vampire. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

And yet here they were three human women gathered in the same room, each with her own reasons for being in Lamora. One had married the prince. Another had risen to the ranks of nobility. And the last, Nieah, now worked directly for the prince himself.

Circe couldn’t help but be curious. She wanted to know what had brought each of them here, what they had left behind and what had led them to this vicious kingdom. But she knew better than to ask outright. That kind of question would be considered far too forward, even inappropriate.

Ragnar cleared his throat to reclaim Lady Maelis’s attention.

"If you’re not too preoccupied," he said once she turned toward him again, "I was hoping we could discuss your upcoming charity gala."

"Oh?" she raised a brow, her expression teasing. "And here I thought you visited solely to enjoy my company."

Ragnar’s lips curled faintly. "Two things can be true at once, Lady Maelis."

Twice a year, Lady Maelis hosted a grand charity gala. The funds raised from the event went directly into her foundation, a cause she held very dear. The foundation provided food, clothing, and shelter for human refugees struggling to survive in Lamora. Many of them arrived with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and painful memories of the past. Thanks to her, countless lives had been rebuilt.

Maelis had once been one of them. A refugee. Back when she had nothing and no one, she had clawed her way out of desperation.

Now, in a position of wealth and influence, she poured her energy into helping others like her. It was a passion that drove her, even though it meant being ostracized by many of her fellow nobles who disapproved of her association with humans.

With a graceful wave of her hand, Maelis gestured for him to continue. "Very well. I’m listening."

"I regret to inform you that I won’t be able to attend this year’s gala," Ragnar said. His voice was calm, but there was a faint shadow of regret in his eyes. For the past nine years, he had attended her galas without fail. It had become one of the few events he genuinely looked forward to. "I will, however, make a generous donation to help make up for my absence."

Lady Maelis sighed softly and shook her head. Her eyes softened, and a small, sad smile touched her lips. "You should know by now, Ragnar, that no amount of gold or generous offerings could ever replace your presence. But despite that, I still hope you’ll be able to attend the party I’m hosting for my son when he returns from his travels."

He had heard about it already. The event was scheduled to take place in two weeks, exactly a month before the charity gala.

Maelis had two sons. The elder remained in Amris, managing their father’s businesses. The younger, by contrast, was a spirited wanderer with a thirst for adventure and discovery and It had been four years since he last returned home.

Ragnar had never been particularly fond of either of Lady Maelis’s sons, especially the younger one. The man’s flamboyant demeanor and reckless nature had always rubbed him the wrong way. Still, instead of voicing his reluctance, Ragnar simply offered a polite smile.

"Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world."

Because Maelis wasn’t just another one of his allies. She was far more than that. She was a true friend, a woman who had welcomed him during one of the most difficult times of his life. Just like Lady Taryn, Maelis had embraced him without hesitation, strange shadows and all. Though she didn’t understand his abilities, she had never once looked at him with fear or disdain.

He didn’t attend her events because he enjoyed the fanfare or the company. He went because he felt he owed her everything and because part of him had grown to genuinely care for her.

There were only a few people Ragnar truly cared for and lady Maelis was one of them.