Growing stronger comes at a price.
After Morgan agreed to Gael's proposal, which sounded so tempting that even Altaïr felt a stir of envy, the light faded from his eyes. For the sake of power, he had sold his dignity.
He neither spoke nor resisted. Like an exquisite doll devoid of spirit, he let Gael and Pawdrick do as they pleased.
Pawdrick applied a little face powder to Morgan. Gael gathered his none-too-long hair at the back of his head and tied it into a strange little knot. The woman and the Felyne studied their "masterpiece" for a few moments, clicking their tongues in wonder.
"Even with us fooling around like this, he still doesn't look bad, meow. If anything, there's an innocent, straightforward beauty to him, meow?"
"That face simply has too much presence."
"We'd better stop fooling around, meow, and leave this to a real professional, meow."
"Agreed. Let's go find Francesca's grandmother right now!"
Gael grabbed Morgan and dashed off. Pawdrick looked back and called, "Sajji, go send a message to Francesca and the others, meow. Just say that since Francesca's good friends have arrived, her mother is inviting everyone to dinner tonight at Sterling Mansion, meow."
"Don't mention anything about matchmaking, meow. Just say it's dinner, meow. Given Gael's personality, an invitation like that is perfectly normal, meow."
"Got it, meow."
Casting Morgan one last sympathetic look, Sajji jogged away.
Altaïr and Isis followed Gael and the others, their feelings complicated. Noticing the faint pity in Isis's eyes, Altaïr quietly consoled her. "It's a necessary sacrifice."
Isis was speechless.
—--
The group raced to Sterling Mansion, a place neither Gael nor Francesca visited often.
Mindful of propriety, Gael asked Morgan and the others to wait for a moment in the reception room, then hurried off alone. When she returned, she was carrying a heavy book bag.
She thrust the bag into the thoroughly dispirited Morgan's arms. "Here. This is what I promised you. Forget deposits and all that nonsense. I'm paying you in full upfront."
"I won't go back on my word about teaching you, either. Do your part!"
A spark returned to Morgan's stagnant eyes. He took out a notebook and rapidly flipped through it. The man who, moments earlier, had looked as lifeless and colorless as a dead octopus regained a little vitality.
"That's more like it. That look in your eyes just now was terrifying, as if all humanity had died out." Gael patted him on the shoulder and rose. "You can go over this at your leisure later, or even make a copy if you like."
"Anyway, you've been paid, so now it's time to work. Come on, I'm taking you to someone who can give you a proper makeover!"
Morgan carefully closed the notebook, returned it to the book bag, and solemnly placed the bag in Altaïr's hands, asking him to keep it safe. Then, with grim determination, he followed Gael.
All of this was for the sake of becoming stronger!
After asking a servant and learning that the elder Mrs. Sterling was sunbathing in the garden, Gael led the group straight there. They found the elegant old woman without any trouble.
Despite her age, her memory was extraordinary. She clearly remembered Altaïr, whom she had met only once, and smilingly teased him by asking whether he wanted to try looking a different age this time.
"No, no, no, it isn't him this time, Sis. It's this kid!" Gael pulled Morgan in front of the elder Mrs. Sterling.
The old woman's gaze swept over Morgan's face, and involuntary admiration flashed in her eyes.
Then she noticed the unevenly applied powder on his face and the bizarre little braid at the back of his head. Her expression instantly twisted as though she had swallowed a live Vespoid.
Seeing the old woman's expression change, Gael gave a smug little smile.
Why had she and Pawdrick made such a mess of Morgan's makeup? Wasn't it precisely to provoke the old woman?
"Hurry and take this child to wash his face, then let down his hair and comb it properly. What a complete mess. Can this even be called a hairstyle?" After instructing the maid beside her, the old woman shot Gael a sidelong glance.
She knew at once that this was Gael's handiwork.
After the maid led Morgan away, the old woman asked Gael crossly, "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull this time?"
"Sis, listen to me. This time it's serious. It concerns Francesca's future!" Gael put on a solemn expression.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Francesca isn't a little girl anymore, is she? And she's never been in a relationship..."
At that, the elder Mrs. Sterling visibly sat a little straighter. "Go on."
"Francesca has a good friend who's two or three years older than her. He's very handsome, has a great personality, and is extremely strong. They survived danger together when they were younger, and they're almost like childhood sweethearts. They may even have feelings for each other. You know what I mean, right?"
The elder Mrs. Sterling's eyes lit up. "Where is that young man? I must get a good look at him!"
"He's been invited here for dinner tonight. You'll see him then!"
"That's wonderful! Jessica is back too. Let her take a look as well!"
Isis leaned close to Altaïr's ear and whispered, "Lady Jessica is Francesca's aunt, the one I mentioned before!"
"Wait, Jessica's back too?" Gael's mouth twitched.
The elder Mrs. Sterling nodded. "She returned a little before you did. When she heard that a whole group of you had come running to see me, she probably decided to come by soon and watch the excitement."
"Ah, well..." Gael grew visibly hesitant.
She had never accounted for Jessica joining the scheme.
"What are you trying to keep from me?" A slightly androgynous woman's voice drifted through the garden's many flower-covered walls.
Gael shuddered, turned around, and greeted the newcomer with a dry laugh. "Sis, you're back..."
Altaïr instinctively looked toward the woman.
She appeared to be in her fifties. Her skin was very well maintained, and she held her back perfectly straight. Her actual age was probably greater than her appearance suggested.
The woman wore a smile and showed none of the intimidating presence Isis had described, but Isis had been right about one thing. Jessica was exceptionally good at hiding her emotions.
Altaïr's ability to read people and situations, honed in his youth when he worked as a guide, failed him completely against this woman.
Noticing Altaïr's gaze, Jessica turned her head slightly and gave him a small nod.
Isis resembled a startled Gargwa. She kept her head lowered, utterly unable to meet Jessica's eyes, so Altaïr had no choice but to offer an apologetic, polite smile and nod in greeting.
Jessica's gaze lingered on him for an extra second before she looked away and turned back to Gael.
"My dear little sister Gael, has something interesting happened?"
"Uh..."
Before Gael could say anything, the elder Mrs. Sterling cheerfully repeated what Gael had just told her.
Older people were always especially enthusiastic about such matters. She gently patted the armrest of her chaise lounge. "Our adorable little Francesca is all grown up. Has romance finally found her?"
"You mean that young man named Serl?" Jessica asked Gael.
Altaïr's eye twitched. Gael and the elder Mrs. Sterling had never mentioned Serl by name. That was honestly a little terrifying.
"He would certainly be a good match. The problem is that he and Francesca don't stay in regular contact, so they probably haven't developed anything beyond friendship yet. Are you thinking of testing how those two feel about each other?"
Just then, the maid who had taken Morgan to freshen up returned with him.
Jessica's gaze swept over Morgan's face, and understanding dawned in her eyes, mingled with amusement. "So that's how you want to go about it. It's a little old-fashioned, but direct and effective. The only thing you need to watch is how hard you push. Don't overdo it. You mustn't make it obvious that you're testing them. An apparently spontaneous joke would be much more suitable."
"What do you mean?" Gael looked utterly baffled.
"You're planning to tell Serl, 'There's a pretty young woman I'd like to introduce to you,' then watch how he and Francesca react, correct?"
"Uh, yes..."
"Too deliberate. Revise the plan. Halfway through dinner, I'll enter with this adorable young friend. React with your usual open admiration, then put on that cheeky grin you always wear and say something like, 'How about I introduce her to you?' Use the same joking, teasing tone you always do. Understood? Then, no matter how they react, we'll have room to play it either way."
"–Got it, Sis! I'll follow your lead!"