The Jester and Elios simultaneously turned their heads toward the voice, their eyes locking onto a woman approaching with the confident grace of a predatory cat.

  Her movements were slow, elegant, and exceptionally precise — each step echoed through the stone floor of the laboratory thanks to the thin heels of her tall boots.

  She wore a sophisticated, form-fitting outfit that combined style with practicality. The top consisted of a white shirt with a deep neckline, over which a dark corset with silvery fasteners was worn. The dominant accent color — a rich violet — stood in striking contrast to her slightly lighter-toned hair. The corset flowed seamlessly into a jacket that extended below the waist, adorned with refined embroidery and silver buckles. Her legs were clad in tight trousers crisscrossed with leather straps, and high boots that reached her thighs.

  Her figure was feminine, toned, and refined. Her violet hair was long, tied back, with a few loose strands falling over her shoulders and framing her face. Her eyes — bright, radiant, and slightly shimmering — looked on with curious, almost playful mockery. Her expression was elegant, seductive, yet carried a hidden hint of superiority. Bright violet lipstick emphasized her already sensual lips.

  As soon as the woman saw the Jester, her eyes lit up with amusement and she clapped her hands theatrically.

  "Wow, look who it is! And here I was thinking you were holed up in your estate again, busy with those financial machinations of yours that always make my head spin."

  The Jester laughed, throwing his head back.

  "As I’ve said many, many times — there’s nothing complicated about it if—"

  "If you know the basic principles," she interrupted with a meaningful smile. "I know, I know. I’ve heard it so many times, I stopped counting."

  She turned her gaze to Elios and, folding her hands lightly behind her back, leaned forward slightly.

  "So, how’s my baby doing? Did you finish fixing him?"

  Elios silently took a pistol from the table and handed it to her. The metallic-violet casing gleamed in the dim light of the laboratory, as if freshly assembled.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "This is the last time I’m doing it for free," he said dryly. "Next time I’ll start charging you so much that you’ll think twenty times before pouring that much mana into it again."

  The woman exhaled dramatically, widening her eyes in mock outrage.

  "Are you really that cruel that you’d charge an old friend?"

  "If you can’t understand normal speech," Elios grumbled, "I’ll have to resort to alternative methods."

  She immediately turned a pleading gaze to the Jester, as if expecting support.

  "This will definitely motivate you to treat your things with more care," he shrugged with a smile. "So I have to side with Elios on this one."

  She sighed heavily, casting an annoyed glance at both of them.

  "I was hoping at least you’d take my side…"

  She twirled the pistol in her hands, then turned back to both men, her voice suddenly sweet as sugar.

  "Since we’re all here, how about a little dungeon run? You know, like old times! Nothing brings people closer like monster hunting! Or, if you prefer, we could hunt people. That’s way more fun." Her eyes sparkled with dangerous excitement.

  Elios grimaced.

  "I’d love to, but I still have a mountain of work. And it just keeps growing…"

  "Booooring…" she drawled with a pout.

  Then she shifted her gaze solely to the Jester, waiting for his response.

  "Unfortunately, I’ve got things to take care of too," he sighed. "But once I sort everything out — I promise, we’ll hit a nice little dungeon together."

  "Really?!" Her face lit up instantly, like a child promised candy.

  "Have I ever lied to you?" the Jester smiled.

  Her expression returned to its usual composed, slightly superior look.

  "I’ll hold you to that," she said, turning toward the exit. "But sadly, I also have… work." She let the last word out with a long sigh, rolling her eyes in disappointment.

  Her heels clicked on the floor for a few more seconds… and then silence fell, leaving only the faint scent of violet in the air.

  Elios and the Jester exchanged glances. A trace of weariness mixed with irony flickered in the engineer’s eyes. He was the first to break the silence.

  "You should be thinking about how to deal with the duke, not signing up for more of Mirael’s adventures."

  The Jester’s face turned serious for a moment. His smile faded, replaced by a calm, composed expression.

  "I’ll settle everything with Lorenzo as soon as possible. I understand why you’re pressing me," he said firmly.

  "Good," Elios replied with a frown. "But I’ll say it again — if you need help, I’m ready to step in personally."

  "Better focus on your own work," the Jester replied with a faint smile. "You never know when Mirael will ask you to fix something again."

  A smile flickered across Elios’s face as well. He turned back to his desk, picked up some papers, and waved a hand in farewell.

  "Good luck with Lorenzo."

  "And to you — patience," said the Jester.

  A magical circle flared beneath his feet, wrapped in shadows and flickering symbols. In an instant, the Jester’s figure vanished from the laboratory, leaving behind only a faint tremor in the air.