Bronya stood at the doorway, every button on her Silvermane Guard officer's uniform reflecting a cold metallic sheen, just as straight and immaculate as her posture at this moment.
Her gaze cut through everything, locking precisely onto the figure leaning close to Lucian—Seele.
At this moment, Seele rested casually against Lucian's side, her posture deliberately relaxed.
However, the tense lines of muscle beneath her soft clothes betrayed a completely different signal: alertness, like a thin blade hidden in its sheath.
When Seele finally raised her unique, textured eyes to meet Bronya's, Bronya caught a fleeting cold scrutiny within them, as if a chill wind brushed her skin.
It was not simple unfamiliarity, but a kind of instinctive rejection, almost as if it was built in.
Bronya felt a slight heaviness in her heart, but none of it showed on her face as she maintained the impeccable demeanor befitting the commander of the Silvermane Guards, stepping into the clinic with steady composure.
*Clack-Clack-Clack—*
As Bronya walked, the heels of her boots struck the floor in crisp, regular beats, announcing her arrival.
"Lord Lucian, I'm here."
Bronya's voice rang out calmly, perfectly controlling both volume and sense of distance—clear to the ear, yet never abrupt.
"As for the research institute, they're already dispatching researchers to be stationed here. I came ahead of them to get familiar with the work environment."
As she spoke, Bronya's eyes swept over Seele with polite indifference, as if she were glancing at something worth noting, but not worth extra attention, then at Natasha.
"And these two are?"
"I'm the doctor of this clinic, Natasha." Natasha smiled, showing her own kind of noble grace. "I'm also the leader of Wildfire, and right now, I'm managing the Underworld under Mr. Lucian's orders."
Bronya nodded to Natasha, showing friendliness before turning her gaze to Seele.
It was her first time in the Underworld today, yet something like a memory seemed to be budding in her mind.
Unfortunately, she couldn't recall it at all, as if a thin membrane blocked the memory.
Seele noticed Bronya staring silently at her, so she simply stared right back, just as silently.
From the outfit Bronya wore, Seele knew Bronya was clearly one of the Silvermane Guards. Coincidentally, she never liked the Silvermane Guards—even now, even though Belobog was unified, she still disliked them.
After all, it was Lucian who liberated the Underworld, not the Silvermane Guards or the former Supreme Guardian, so Seele treated Lucian as one of her own, but that didn't mean she accepted others.
In the end, the two girls just kept staring at each other, saying nothing.
"Well, she's Seele, my disciple."
Lucian smiled helplessly and broke the silence.
As he had expected, Seele was only friendly toward people she accepted, and since she didn't trust outsiders, her attitude toward them was always bad.
"Disciple?"
Bronya's expression changed slightly, somewhat surprised by the revelation.
Regardless, she didn't press further since her noble upbringing reminded her to know her boundaries, so she would not interfere in Lucian's affairs.
Actually, now that Lucian had a disciple, maybe he would not leave Belobog so easily?
At this thought, Bronya immediately felt a bit grateful toward Seele, which left Seele confused by Bronya's sudden look of gratitude.
'You looked at me like I stole something from you just a moment ago. What's with the sudden friendliness?'
Seele thought seriously while frowning, then clicked her tongue.
"Tch, boring."
She didn't want to make trouble—at the very least, she wouldn't start anything in front of Lucian.
Bronya, on the other hand, maintained her elegant composure the whole time, but Lucian could see she was actually a bit uneasy inside.
It was honestly understandable.
It was not only her first time in the Underworld, but she would also be stationed here for several days until the arsenal restoration was stable before she could leave.
Any normal person would feel a little uneasy being alone in an unfamiliar place.
Lucian placed his hand gently on Bronya's head and smiled.
"You're showing all your emotions on your face. If you really aren't used to it, I'll stay here with you for a few days."
It just so happened he wanted to look around and find a good spot to build an elevator.
A city this big beneath the ground would be wonderful to develop and use.
Upon hearing Lucian's concern, Bronya felt a warm sensation rise in her heart, causing all her discomfort to vanish.
"Mm... Thank you, Lord Lucian."
Bronya smiled sweetly at Lucian, feeling grateful.
"Hmph..."
Seele saw their intimate interaction, couldn't help but curl her lips, and turned her head away, as if pretending not to see it would make it less annoying.
If one talked about the Underworld, the best place to stay was, without a doubt, the Goethe Grand Hotel, so Lucian and Bronya decided to stay there.
As soon as the owner of the hotel, Gertie, saw Lucian, she insisted on waiving the bill and gave them the best rooms for free, which were right next to each other.
As for the facilities inside his room, Lucian could only say they were average.
Compared to the presidential suite-like room in the Qlipoth Fort, they fell a bit short.
===
The next morning, as soon as Lucian stepped out of his room, he saw Seele coming out of the room next door.
"Seele? Why are you here?"
"I just wanted to try out the hotel's service too. I happened to end up in the room next to yours."
As Seele answered Lucian's question, she looked completely serious, as if it really was just a coincidence.
Lucian couldn't help but roll his eyes.
How many coincidences could there be?
Just then, Bronya also came out of her room.
Needless to say, the two girls had Lucian's room sandwiched right in the middle.
"Good morning, Lord Lucian."
"Good morning, Miss Seele."
Bronya greeted the two with grace and poise.
Seele glanced at Bronya for a moment, then greeted her back.
"Mm, you too."
"Master, are you hungry? Let's go have breakfast."
As soon as Seele finished greeting Bronya, she reached out and grabbed Lucian's wrist before leading him downstairs.
Seeing this, Bronya's eyelid twitched, and she immediately followed.
===
In the hotel's dining hall, Lucian, Seele, and Bronya sat around a round table.
Seele sat on Lucian's left, while Bronya sat on his right.
Two stunningly beautiful ladies sandwiching Lucian—it was enough to make other men jealous, as shown by how the male guests at nearby tables kept sneaking envious, jealous glances their way.
'I wish I could learn the skill of being caught between two beauties like that!'
All the male guests surprisingly had this exact same thought.