Chapter 73: Hotel invite

The trio settled around the dining table, the air thick with unspoken tension. Mara busied herself serving the meal, her movements precise but noticeably brusque. As she poured tea for Lady Matilda, her hand trembled slightly, causing a few drops to spill onto the saucer. Sёarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Oh, I do apologize, my lady," Mara said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "My hand seems a bit unsteady this morning. Perhaps I'm simply tired from all the... noise last night."

Matilda raised an eyebrow but maintained her composure. "No harm done, Mara. Thank you for the tea."

Zafron shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes darting between the two women. 'This is going to be a long breakfast,' he thought, reaching for a piece of toast.

Mara turned her attention to Zafron, her demeanor softening instantly. "I hope you slept well, Zafron. I made your favorite – honey-glazed porridge with fresh berries."

"Thanks, Mara. It looks delicious," Zafron replied, offering a tentative smile.

As Mara placed the bowl before him, she leaned in closer than necessary, her hand lingering on his shoulder. "Let me know if you need anything else. Anything at all."

Matilda cleared her throat softly. "Mara, perhaps you'd like to join us? There's plenty of food."

Mara straightened, her smile tightening. "Oh, I wouldn't want to impose, my lady. After all, I am just the help."

'Just the help who's trying to murder Matilda with her eyes,' Zafron mused, taking a sip of his tea.

"Nonsense. That dynamic has long fizzled out," Matilda said, her tone casual but firm. "Please, sit. We're all friends here."

Mara hesitated for a moment before taking a seat, her posture rigid. As they began to eat, an awkward silence settled over the table.

"So," Mara began, her voice overly cheerful, "did you sleep well, Lady Matilda? I hope the... accommodations were to your liking."

Matilda met Mara's gaze evenly. "Very well, thank you. Though I must say, these walls are thinner than I expected. One hears all sorts of... interesting noises at night."

Zafron nearly choked on his porridge. 'Great Goddess, give me strength,' he thought, reaching for his napkin.

Mara's smile became brittle. "Oh? How unfortunate. Perhaps we should look into some soundproofing. Wouldn't want to disturb anyone's... rest."

"That's thoughtful of you, Mara," Matilda replied smoothly. "Though I'm sure we can all adapt to our new living situation."

'New living situation? More like a powder keg waiting to explode,' Zafron thought, desperately searching for a way to change the subject.

"This porridge is really good, Mara," he said, a bit too enthusiastically. "What's your secret?"

Mara beamed at him, her entire demeanor changing. "Oh, it's simple really. Just a touch of cinnamon and lots of love."

"Love, indeed," Matilda murmured, taking a delicate bite of her toast.

Mara's eyes narrowed slightly. "Well, my lady, not all of us can rely on... other methods to show our affection."

'Oh boy, here we go,' Zafron thought, bracing himself for the impending storm.

Matilda set down her teacup with a soft clink. "Mara, dear, is there something you'd like to discuss? You seem... out of sorts this morning."

Mara's facade cracked for a moment, raw emotion flashing across her face before she quickly composed herself. "Not at all, my lady. I'm simply concerned about our current situation. It's all so... unconventional."

"These are unconventional times," Matilda replied, her voice softening slightly. "We're all adjusting."

Zafron looked between them, feeling the weight of unspoken words and conflicting emotions. 'I need to fix this somehow,' he thought. 'But how do I balance my feelings for both of them without hurting either?'

"Ladies," he said, clearing his throat, "I think we need to—"

A sharp knock at the door cut him off. All three of them froze, exchanging worried glances.

"Were we expecting anyone?" Mara whispered, her earlier hostility forgotten in the face of potential danger.

Matilda shook her head, rising slowly from her seat. "No, we weren't. Zafron, stay here with Mara. I'll see who it is."

As Matilda moved towards the door, Zafron felt a familiar tingle at the base of his skull. Blue text flickered to life before his eyes:

[Quest Update: Unexpected Visitor]

[Objective: Identify the newcomer and assess potential threat]

[Reward: Enhanced perception ability]

Zafron's heart raced as he watched Matilda approach the door. Whatever lay on the other side, he knew it would change everything. Again. As the door began to open, he steeled himself for whatever challenge awaited them, acutely aware of Mara's presence beside him and Matilda's vulnerable position at the entrance.

'No matter what happens,' he thought, resolve strengthening his resolve, 'I'll protect them both. Somehow.'

As Matilda reached for the door handle, Zafron felt his muscles tense, ready for anything. Mara edged closer to him, their earlier friction momentarily forgotten in the face of potential danger.

The door swung open, revealing a young man in a crisp uniform, holding a small package. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of three people staring at him with such intensity.

"Uh, good morning," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "I have a delivery for..." he glanced down at the label, "Lady Matilda?"

Matilda's shoulders visibly relaxed, though confusion still painted her features. "That's me. But I wasn't expecting any packages."

The delivery boy shrugged. "It's all paid for, ma'am. If you could just sign here..." He held out a small clipboard.

As Matilda signed, Zafron noticed the sender's name on the package: Malachi Vex.

[Quest Update: Unexpected Delivery]

[Objective: Uncover the contents and purpose of Malachi Vex's package]

[Reward: Enhanced deductive reasoning]

"Thank you," Matilda said, taking the package. The delivery boy nodded, tipped his cap, and hurried off.

Closing the door, Matilda turned to face Zafron and Mara, the small parcel cradled in her hands like it might explode.

"It's from Malachi Vex," Zafron said, breaking the silence.

Mara's brow furrowed. "The man from the alley? Why would he be sending you packages?"

Matilda's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not sure. But I intend to find out."

They moved back to the dining table, the remains of their breakfast forgotten. Matilda carefully set the package down, eyeing it warily.

"Should we open it?" Mara asked, curiosity overriding her earlier hostility towards Matilda.

Zafron nodded. "We need to know what he wants. It could be important."

'Or dangerous,' he thought, watching as Matilda slowly began to unwrap the parcel.

As the paper fell away, it revealed a small, ornate box. Matilda hesitated for a moment before lifting the lid. Inside, nestled on a bed of velvet, was a delicate silver key and a folded note.

With slightly trembling hands, Matilda unfolded the note and read aloud:

"My dear Lady Matilda,

I trust this message finds you well. Enclosed is a key to a hotel room at the Drakoria Grand Hotel. I advise you to visit alone. Inside, you will find information on recent developments concerning yourself and your company that may be of significant interest.

Consider this a gesture of goodwill from an old acquaintance. Should you require further assistance or wish to discuss these matters, you know where to find me.

Yours sincerely,

Malachi Vex"

A heavy silence fell over the room as Matilda finished reading the letter. Zafron's mind raced with possibilities. 'What's in this hotel room? And how much does Malachi Vex really know about us?'

Mara was the first to speak. "Are we going to the hotel?"

Matilda's eyes met Zafron's, a silent question in her gaze. "The letter says I have to go alone," she said, her voice steady but tinged with concern. "I need to handle this by myself."

Zafron's brows furrowed. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. This Malachi Vex came out of nowhere and now suddenly knows where we stay, sent a letter and is inviting you to a hotel. All of this...it just doesn't sit right with me,. We don't know what he might be planning."

Matilda's expression was resolute. "I understand your concern, but if I don't go alone, it might jeopardize what we're trying to achieve. We need to find out what he knows, and I have to do this."

Zafron shook his head, his suspicion growing. "I still think it's too risky. We should come with you or at least keep a close watch."

Matilda's gaze was firm. "I appreciate your concern, Zafron, but I can't risk him thinking we're trying to outsmart him. He asked for me alone, and I need to honor that."

Mara stepped in, her voice a mix of worry and support. "If Matilda insists, we should respect her decision. But we need to stay alert and have a plan in place in case something goes wrong."

Zafron's expression remained troubled. "Alright, but promise me you'll be cautious. We'll stay here and keep an eye out. If anything happens, we'll be ready."

Matilda nodded, determination in her eyes. "I'll be careful. Just make sure to be ready for any emergencies."

'Whatvthe hell does Malachi want?' Zafron thought and just about then, a new prompt appeared right in his view.