Borin didn't hesitate.

"Of course," he said with a broad, careless grin, waving a heavy hand toward the empty seat. "Sit, sit. And let's get another bottle while we're at it. Trafalgar's paying today."

Trafalgar didn't react outwardly. He simply lifted his glass slightly in acknowledgment.

Selendra's lips curved faintly. "Is that so?" she asked, already moving. "Then I won't refuse."

She took the seat with unhurried grace, crossing her legs smoothly as the chair settled beneath her. The low mana barrier around the table hummed softly, sealing the space once more. Borin, clearly past the point of caution, raised his hand and flagged down a waiter, slurring a request for another bottle before Trafalgar could object—or choose to.

Not that he would have.

Trafalgar studied Selendra quietly. This wasn't a casual greeting. Not from someone like her. He adjusted his posture slightly, letting his shoulders relax while his thoughts sharpened. 'What do you want?'

Whatever she wanted, she hadn't come just to exchange pleasantries. That meant every word from this point on mattered.

He decided to take control of the pace.

"Lady Selendra au Nocthar," Trafalgar said calmly, inclining his head just enough to be polite. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"

Selendra turned her gaze fully toward him. Up close, her presence was sharper—controlled, deliberate. Her crimson eyes held a faint amusement.

"I thought it would be polite to say hello," she replied smoothly. "Seeing familiar faces in a city like this is rare."

"I see," Trafalgar said, tone even. "Then I hope you'll enjoy your time with us."

"So do I," she answered without missing a beat.

"That's the spirit," Borin cut in, lifting his glass unsteadily. "No point being stiff about it."

The new bottle arrived shortly after. Borin seized it eagerly, filling Selendra's glass first—generously, but not recklessly. When the liquid neared the rim, she lifted a finger.

"That will be enough," she said lightly.

Borin laughed and turned to Trafalgar, pouring him a full glass as well. With what remained, he tipped the bottle back and drank straight from it, uncaring.

Trafalgar accepted his glass. The alcohol wouldn't affect him, but the taste still mattered. And appearances mattered more.

From the outside, it looked harmless: three heirs sharing drinks in a neutral city.

Inside, Trafalgar's guard rose another level.

Selendra took a measured sip before speaking again. "I imagine it isn't coincidence that we're all in Carac," she said casually. "Given… what's happening."

Borin snorted. "Aye. You wouldn't believe how many familiar faces I've seen today. Not just the big names, either. Plenty of folk trying to profit however they can."

"That tends to happen near conflicts," Trafalgar added. "Everyone wants to be close enough to benefit. Far enough to stay safe."

"And yet," Selendra said, setting her glass down, "we're all just watching."

"That's all we're allowed to do," Trafalgar replied. "The agreement was clear. Observation only. No intervention."

She hummed softly. "Which makes it rather dull, doesn't it?"

Trafalgar studied her for a moment, then asked mildly, "Does it? Or does your family intend to make it less so?"

Borin let out a slow, unfocused laugh, swaying slightly in his chair, but Selendra only smiled.

"Oh?" she said. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Neither confirmation nor denial. Just enough to leave the question hanging.

She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. "Let's not talk about war," Selendra continued pleasantly. "This is a rare gathering. I'd hate to waste it on predictable topics."

"And what would you like to talk about, then?" Trafalgar asked calmly.

The question was simple.

Selendra turned her head slightly toward him, lips parting as if she were about to answer—

but Borin beat her to it.

"Well now—" the dwarf began, lifting a finger with great effort, his words already lagging behind his thoughts. "If we're changin' topics, I say—"

He never finished the sentence.

Borin's head dipped forward, chin hitting his chest with a dull thud. The heavy glass slipped from his fingers and rolled onto the table, spilling only a few drops before settling. His breathing evened out almost immediately.

Out cold.

Trafalgar didn't react right away. He simply watched for half a second, confirming what was obvious.

"…That answers that," he muttered.

Selendra blinked once, then smiled faintly. "Impressive tolerance. Even more impressive collapse."

"It catches up eventually," Trafalgar replied. He rose smoothly from his seat and gestured toward the edge of the partition. "Excuse me."

A nearby attendant responded almost instantly.

"My friend needs assistance," Trafalgar said evenly. "Could you contact someone from House Dvergar?"

The waiter bowed and moved off at once.

Moments later, a figure approached—short, broad, unmistakably Dvergar. He wore a tailored suit that looked almost absurd on a dwarf, crisp and formal, every line precise. His eyes took in the scene in an instant.

Lord Borin, unconscious.

Selendra au Nocthar.

Trafalgar du Morgain.

He straightened immediately.

"My apologies," the dwarf servant said, bowing deeply. "On behalf of House Dvergar. The young master appears to have overindulged."

"It happens," Trafalgar replied, waving it off. "We had a good evening. That's all."

The servant nodded, relieved. "I will see him to his room."

With practiced efficiency, he lifted Borin with surprising ease, supporting his weight and guiding him away from the table. The two disappeared into the glow of the casino corridors, their presence swallowed by the hum of the crowd.

Silence settled.

The table felt larger now. Emptier.

Trafalgar sat back down, the low mana barrier humming softly around them. Selendra remained seated, posture relaxed, eyes following Borin's departure until he was gone.

Only then did she turn back to him.

"And now," Selendra said lightly, crimson eyes narrowing just a fraction, "you were asking?"

Trafalgar met her gaze again, unhurried, his expression as neutral as it had been all night.

"I asked," he said calmly, resting one arm against the table, "what you wanted to talk about."

Selendra's lips curved into a faint smile, as if she had been waiting for that exact moment. The warm light caught the edge of her fangs when she spoke.

"That's right," she replied softly. "You did."

She leaned forward just slightly—enough to make it intentional, not enough to be careless. The mana barrier around the table hummed, isolating them further from the rest of the casino.

"I wanted to talk about your… unique talent."

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