Nathalie was already shocked by what Jonathan said, after a brief exchange with Daisy that time…


    Everything was in real-time; Mystique would do whatever it takes to rewrite history. But she could only do so much with her mana-consuming abilities.


    With Keith as a perfect conduit, Nathalie wasn''t a fool to know the jig was up.


    Daisy might''ve been crazy enough to follow her only to look for the two of them, knowing a false hope.


    Until that moment came before her.


    Now, Jonathan was beyond determined to look for more cues, and so was Nathalie.


    But for now, she needed to patch things up foremost.


    On the other side of the chamber found Keith, who sat upright on the bed alone, overlooking the arched windows.


    Nothing but dunes found his view; she thought that he''d been wandering off with his thoughts as she stared into the abyss for a long time.


    ''The last time I entered his dreams, I couldn''t do anything… But then, he also didn''t know what I saw… Knowing what Jonathan said, maybe it''s different this time…''


    When he woke up, he was too distressed, grabbing a handful of his hair and curbing himself on the bed out of agony.


    The moment Keith had a relapse that day, and with Ashtra''s immediate rescue, it didn''t take him long enough to relieve the pain he was in. Then, Jonathan was gracious enough for allowing him to make his bed for a comfortable rest for as long as he needed it.


    For as much as Nathalie wanted to know what that ability was, Ashtra was nowhere to be found, except he went for another round of scouting, though outside the boundaries of ''Desolate Ravine'' this time around.


    Jonathan mentioned how Keith didn''t want to eat or do anything, and would instead sleep throughout the day; if not, then he would''ve kept on with what he started today.


    Moreover, he wasn''t throwing any fit of rage at any of them, and as much as she tried to scour the countenance he had, he was too hard to read.


    After she tried to recall that he started to have a round of suspicion about her identity, she thought the same thing might''ve happened once again.


    Yet, he was too blank and detached at this point.


    With it, Nathalie''s gut began to churn, and enough to make her retch from the tension going on inside her body— she had a hard time facing him, after all, what happened since.


    But then, she flinched inwardly as soon as he turned his head to her direction, and now with pleading eyes.


    [I''d like to speak to him…]


    Jonathan mouthed a word, leaning close to her with a tap on her shoulder, to call right away if she needed any further assistance. After which, he turned around, dragging the twins to her as they moved out.


    Nathalie, whatever she had thought of, got thrown out of the window as she only raised her hand with a slight wave of a gesture.


    When he received his curt nod, she drew close to him and sat near the spare chair beside him.


    His sullen eyes with a little frizz by the fringes, and his hollowed cheeks. He still had yet to recover, shocking enough to learn that even though he had inhuman regenerative abilities.


    She gulped hard, at this point, he knew more than enough, and she had been rather cautious about what he was about to say.


    "Have you been well?"


    For a while, she got caught off guard as though she never expected the words her ears picked up right then and there.


    [I— Yes, I''m... Alright, I suppose…]


    Truthfully so, she knew her body wasn''t as fully recharged as she noticed after every session she got; however, looking at him, who fared worse for the first time didn''t feel right to her at all.


    She clasped her hands, trying to stop the tremors, then mustered to respond once more, [What about you?]


    "I feel much better… Thank you for your concern."


    Keith became observant for a while now. So far, neither grudge nor animosity lingered around him like he wasn''t holding anything against her.


    Though she couldn''t be too sure of herself with all that has happened since.


    He scratched his nape, lowering his head as he peeked at her. "...How do you… Want me to call… You?"


    [Oh!] Nathalie noticed her hands began to tremble, like her usual facade crumbled before him. For the first time, she got seen for who she was then, and for a character at that. [I do think calling me the usual is alright—]


    "Doesn''t that sound less polite?" Keith tilted his head for a while. "What about a ''Goddess'' then, if you will—"


    However, out of reflex, Nathalie sprung up, covering his mouth with both of her hands. In the meantime, he ended up blinking his eyes as he glanced at her with such proximity.


    Withal, she shook her head before she pulled away from him.


    [''My Lady'' suits me better, don''t you think so?]


    After a deep hum, he bobbed his head to an agreement. "As you wish, My Lady."


    When he beamed a gentle smile, she couldn''t help but notice the sudden nudge in her heart, smiling back at him.


    ''Goddess, huh…'' Her fingertips began to fiddle as she went back to her seat, sitting upright. ''Must every character somehow feel that way?''


    But then, her palpitations got worse when he kept up with such a gaze as well as how the tension between them became stronger than it was before.


    "I''m glad that My Lady is living well…"


    He let out a soft chuckle.


    [I apologize if I put you in a difficult position—]


    "No, you''ve mistaken it…" He flashed his grin. "Now, I know you''re different from... Her Grace..."


    [You might''ve been into some rude awakening.]


    "Possibly, but none of it mattered now, is it?"


    Right now, Nathalie scrunched her face as she got taken aback somehow from his queries. She thought he wasn''t the type of person to let this situation go off the hook, especially when the betrayal was intense.


    She would''ve been also in despair in his shoes— for a purpose of living with all her life now as a lie. Accepting it too quickly wasn''t on her radar and would''ve been never a guarantee whatever came out after she left this room.


    But then, so unexpectedly, it came to her with a loud crash in the head, messing up her thoughts.


    "I finally met you…"


    [What do you mean?]


    "Weren''t you like the guardian angel that would''ve always saved me whenever I needed you the most?"