Chapter 4

Unexpected Visitor(s)

This one is a much MUCH shorter update than the previous one.

I kinda got carried away with the character and world building last time that I wrote too much.

Harpstring Moon

Annette hummed as she walked the halls leading to the offices, she had a good night hanging out with Lysithea after work yesterday with both former roommates catching up on what has occured in their lives after their graduation. Lysithea insists she visits Annette's apartment instead to have more privacy despite the latter's reservation on entertaining her friend in her sparsely decorated apartment space.

Annette shuddered when she recalled Lysithea's reaction when Annette told her that her apartment is not a place a high-class girl like her would love being in, getting an earful from Lysithea that she could care less what her friends' social status or living conditions are, pressing further that she is not like the other pompous spoiled brats out there still sucking in more money from their parents.

"You should know better! We've been roommates for almost five years in a small dormitory space! I'm not some picky fool!"

Were Lysithea's resounding words before closing the topic and Annette agreed to her insistence.

Nonetheless, Lysithea was still mostly the same girl as she had been since their university days yet Annette could feel a more dignified vibe from her friend and she became more patient, even if it was only a small amount.

"Hmm… perhaps the proper term is tolerant. Lysithea is everything but patient after all." Annette giggled to herself as she caught sight of the office space of her direct superior.

Judging from the darkness behind the slightly open window blinds, he was nowhere to be seen and Annette felt like this has been her routine everyday since she and Felix had come to terms with what happened between them.

Two weeks have passed after Annette's birthday and so far so good, Felix has been good on his word of treating her with the proper respect she wanted and to be honest, everything felt… warm.

Despite the coldness of the office, Annette felt strangely warm as she worked there in conjunction with Felix. Any feelings of anxiety have all but disappeared, there were still doubts but she was overall comfortable in the new work atmosphere… Besides, Felix has been good to her by having snacks and beverages readily available in their mini-fridge in the office, even placing in some of her favorites such as Albinean Berry Soda and the Golden Sponge, a particularly popular sponge cake snack with sweet cream inside that Annette loves to snack on although Lysithea finds it disgusting.

Annette couldn't help but feel blessed that Felix stocked up on them despite his disdain for anything sweet. The question from him suddenly popped up in the middle of nowhere just as the two were silently minding their own thought Felix was merely making smalltalk after he was unnerved with the cold silence of the office but much to her shock the next day, he had a mini-fridge delivered into his office and stocked it up with her favorites as well as Felix' own preferred beverages.

The (recently-returned) bubbly girl took out the office door keys that Felix had entrusted to her and opened the door to the dark office she works on, switching on the lights, she was met by the familiar working environment.

Placing her documents and bag on her big table far across Felix' table near the windows overlooking the city, Annette turned on the air conditioner with the remote hidden in one of her table's drawers.

"Ah… another day, another bottle of Albinean Berry Soda!" Annette cheerfully hummed, going for the mini-fridge, opening it and treating herself to a bottle of her favorite soda to jumpstart her day. If coffee is to be mostly everyone's preferred drink in the morning, Annette prefers the sweet and sour taste of her favorite soda to wire her brain to work mode.

After taking a few sips, she closed the bottle of soda, placing it on her desk before going for the shelves, continuing the documents she'll be working on for the day right as she hummed one of her favorite songs from the Hey Arnaults.

"I used to think maybe you loved me now baby I'm sure

And I just can't wait till the day when you knock on my door

Now every time I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down

'Cause I just can't wait 'til you write me you're coming around…"

Annette chanted as she accompanied her movements with some dancing, feeling free to do so due to the absence of almost everyone in the offices as well as Felix. While work is her primary focus, who says she couldn't have her own brand of fun without really getting distracted?

"I'm walking on sunshine… whoah oh!"

"Ugh, not too loud early in the morning-"

"I'm walking on sunshine…. whoAAAAAAHHH!" Annette's cheerful singing turned to a horrified scream when she realized that her boss, Felix was sleeping on his chair, his hair messy from his sleeping position and his eyes tired, turning his chair around to face Annette.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Annette shouted out, still in shock as her blue eyes regarded Felix' exhausted form.

Felix groaned, touching his temples as if in pain. "I had too much drinking with some idiots last night-aghh..." Felix groaned again when he tried to recall his time with Dimitri and Sylvain last night.. "And I wasn't sober enough to drive back home."

"Please don't tell me you didn't see the dance?" Annette nervously asked, Felix lifted his eyes up to meet hers just as he was supposed to take a drink from a half-empty bottle of water.

"Saw it on the window reflection." Felix nonchalantly replied before emptying the bottle of its contents in one gulp, releasing a satisfied sigh while unaware that Annette was seething with great amounts of mortification.

"Can you at least forget what you saw?" Annette asked as if pleading.

Felix chuckled and rose up from his seat, still groaning in pain.

"You're more concerned for that rather than- ughh…" Felix fell down on the floor as he tried to stand up from his seat, causing Annette to go by his side and support him, making him sit down on the floor as she placed a hand on one of his shoulders.

"Oh my Goddess, are you alright?"

"Obviously?" Felix sarcastically responded much to Annette's chagrin.

"Can you please lose the attitude right now?" Annette said, withdrawing her hand from Felix, her concern replaced with irritation.

Before Felix could respond, he gagged and quickly took the nearby trash bin on the side of his table before finally throwing up in it. Coughing and convulsing as he does as Annette looked on with extreme concern at the state of her boss.

"H-Hang on, I'm going to call for help-"

"N-No…" Felix coughed, weakly looking at Annette, the latter noticing the heavy bags under his eyes. "Just get me some… medicine for a hangover from the clinic." Felix ordered but Annette seemed adamant to get him somewhere just to be sure.

"But-"

"Just… do it, Ms. Dominic." Felix replied a bit more sharply than he ever let on, taking Annette aback who sadly looked at him before nodding in agreement albeit being a forced one.

"Yes, Mr. Fraldarius." Annette reluctantly said before leaving to do as Felix asked her to do.

Annette was thankful the clinic was one of the few departments in the company that was open early in the morning albeit only having one of the nurses, it was enough since the medications that Felix had asked for were available.

Thanking the nurse for his assistance in providing the necessary medications, Annette hurried to leave the clinic to return to Felix' office, wanting to make sure her boss gets well as soon as possible.

Yet her mind wondered, why was he drunk in the first place last night? Was he a drunkard or… she could only think from the stories she has heard and from what she saw from television that people who get themselves drunk often do so to forget something bad that happened to them hence the term "drown your sorrows.".

"He's got you fetching something for hangovers now, huh?"

Annette gasped and looked behind her to see Glenn leaning his back on the wall beside the clinic door, frowning with his arms crossed over his chest.

"M-Mr. Fraldarius! I-"

"No need. This isn't the first time this happened." Glenn shook his head, wanting to hear no excuse coming from Annette on any possible defense for his younger brother.

"Only this time, he's got someone to get it for him instead of dragging himself to the clinic." Glenn continued voicing his disapproval.

Annette looked down on the floor, gripping the small pill container. "Mr. Fraldarius, this happened before?"

Glenn nodded. "Even before you and him worked here, he would often go to my office, ordering the night guards to open it for him and sleep there when he had more drink than he could handle."

"I-I see." Annette sighed, that sealed the deal, Felix was a drunkard after all…

"He normally controls his alcohol but whenever he and our old man gets into a fight, he would often just go to his favored bar with Sylvain and just drink himself to death." Glenn sighed deeply. "Honestly, I'm worried about him."

"Mr. Fraldarius and him… fighting?" Annette repeated, despite her impression of Felix' personality, she never thought he'd have his own issues against someone like Rodrigue, she always thought that the man was considerate and well-meaning all these years…

Glenn eyed her with a solemn look, prompting Annette to get nervous for overstepping her bounds into asking all about her bosses' private life.

"Felix and the old man generally have a decent relationship but whenever the old man touches on specific subjects, Felix would just lose it." Glenn explained before shaking his head, finding no reason to continue discussing such a subject to Annette.

"Apologies for burdening with such a topic, just bring those meds to him and tell him to groom himself. He has a visitor coming today." Glenn ordered before departing to his own office, leaving the matter towards the capable young woman. Annette could only watch with uncertainty and ponder on the fragments of information she had gotten from her former direct superior.

She wondered… What could be the reason why Felix and Rodrigue would have a heated argument about?

After providing Felix the necessary medications he asked for, Annette did the initiative to bring him something to eat as well as do some housekeeping by cleaning up after Felix, she was disgusted on the smell and what she had to clean up but she felt it was unnecessary to call in the housekeeping department and let them find out that one of the heirs of the company got himself overly drunk last night.

All while Felix rested on his office couch as the medicine was taking its effect, groaning from the headache.

Excusing herself to go to the department that was working on the presentation for the upcoming Fodlan Tech Expo in the coming month, Annette left Felix to recover on his couch.

After doing her part as well as discussing further alterations on the plan, Annette departed to return to working in Felix' office after hours had passed.

She had been concerned about the current status of her boss especially in regards to Glenn's mention earlier that he has a visitor to meet and by the tone of his voice, it seemed like an important one. Annette didn't want her boss to embarrass himself and by extension, the company by exhibiting post-drunk behaviors so she hastened her return.

"Mr. Fraldarius, I'm back… Are you alri-" Annette opened the door as she returned to Felix' office only to interrupt a meeting between her boss who seems to have recovered but his hair was now loose and a rather handsome blonde man with blue eyes and loose unkempt hair, Felix looked at her with his usual scowl or was he annoyed she interrupted them in the middle of the meeting? While the blonde man looked at her with some interest.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." Annette apologized but the blonde man simply shook his head as he stood up from the couch opposite Felix'.

"You must be Felix' secretary, a pleasure to meet you." The blonde man greeted her with a bow. "I am Dimitri, an old friend of Felix."

Annette looked frozen, marveling at Dimitri's appearance as if she was starstruck, it was like looking at a popular action star celebrity she saw in one of the movies she watched with Mercedes, she just kept on staring at Dimitri who nervously looked at Felix who was frowning.

"Ms. Dominic!" Felix called out in irritation of his secretary gawking at his friend. "Don't be rude and introduce yourself."

Annette snapped out of her startled gaze towards Dimitri and apologetically bowed.

"S-Sorry for the rudeness! I-I am Annette Fantine Dominic! I work for Mr. Fraldarius…"

Dimitri looked surprised upon hearing her name and afterwards his face briefly darkened as if remembering something horrible.

"Annette Fantine Dominic, you say?" Dimitri repeated as Felix and Annette looked at him with inquiring looks.

Dimitri shook his head. "Apologies, I thought I have heard of the name before but I am mistaken." Dimitri said with a chuckle, resuming the polite smile he wore earlier as Felix cocked an eyebrow up while Annette looked dreamily at him. She couldn't help but look at him as such, out of all the boys she met throughout her life, Dimitri seemed like the charming classical prince she's seen in shows and read about in books…

Dimitri then gave Felix a small nod. "I must depart now, Felix."

"I see… Glenn and the old man will appreciate what you did in the settlement of that particular case against Cornelia."

Dimitri shook his head. "Think nothing of it, Felix. Glad to help and also, you should thank Edelgard as well… she helped me with some of the details on it."

Felix scoffed. "As if I could see her, it's been months since I've seen her last outside of the news."

The blonde man looked a little troubled from what Felix said regarding Edelgard before covering it up with a half-smile.

"Farewell." He said before giving a nod to Annette as well before he left, Annette and Felix' eyes trailing the blonde man before he closed the door behind him getting out of the office.

"Ms. Dominic." Felix called out for his secretary.

"He's so polite and seems gentle…"

Annette stared at the door, still having her mind on the blonde man that is her boss' friend.

"Ms. Dominic…"

"How lucky the girl must be if she is in a relationship with him…" Annette wondered.

"Ms. Dominic…." Felix coughed loudly.

"Ah, what am I thinking… I shouldn't even dare to think about that! T-There's no way I have a chance!" Annette thought out loud.

"MS. DOMINIC!" Felix yelled, making Annette jump up and yelp from surprise.

Annette turned around to face a very irritated Felix who is now sitting on his office chair behind his desk, a look of annoyance and… something else seems to be prevalent in his expression.

"Yes, Mr. Fraldarius?" Annette asked, composing herself before remembering something. "Are you okay now?"

Felix tied his hair back up into a short ponytail. "Yes, evidently. You were far too busy gawking at my friend to notice."

"I-I wasn't gawking!" Annette protested, suddenly becoming defensive in her tone, words and body language.

"You'll have a better time convincing a dog with that excuse, Ms. Dominic." Felix sardonically replied and began looking at the documents Dimitri left for him.

Annette puffed her cheeks in annoyance at her boss.

"I'm telling you I'm not!"

"The fact that you're still defending yourself over it means you are guilty of it." Felix responded sharply which further proved to incense his secretary more.

"Ugh, Mr. Fraldarius-"

"Also, I'm doing you a favor telling you this… Dimitri's married, so any feeling of infatuation you have for him, you can forget it." Felix further pressed, glaring at Annette who looked taken aback.

Annette's mouth was agape from Felix' words but also his tone, he seemed much more annoyed than usual as if… he was feeling something more than just his usual irritation… Why was he so hard-pressed to shut down any thoughts regarding Dimitri?

Feeling there's something else but not risking to get her boss angry, Annette decided to move to business and present Felix some progress reports for the upcoming Fodlan Tech Expo that Fraldarius Tech will be hosting in the coming month.

"While most of the food to be served in the event has been handled, we still don't have word on what to serve our guests with desserts during the banquet-"

"I have that handled, I will be meeting with someone tomorrow to address that." Felix interrupted, glancing at Annette before looking back into the documents Dimitri gave him.

Annette nodded. "And that concludes my report, is there anything else?"

Felix passed the documents he received from Dimitri to Annette.

"Ms. Dominic, you are aware of the fraudulent case we have filed against a certain Cornelia who embezzled funds."

Annette nodded affirmatively. "I am aware, she used to be Mr. Fraldarius, your father's accountant until she was caught by your brother taking kickbacks from under the table deals she made with some people."

Felix slightly smirked at Annette's attentiveness on such matters.

"Pass that to my brother, everything he needs to know is on those documents. He'll understand."

Annette bowed to Felix before heading towards the door out of the office.

"After giving that to Glenn, you can go home." Felix said what is probably his last words for Annette for the day.

The Dominic girl turned around and gave Felix a smile of thanks before leaving the office she shares with her boss, leaving Felix all by his lonesome in his office.

With a sigh, Felix turned on the television mounted on the wall at the left side of his office, watching a few channels before tuning in on the news channel to see Fodlan News Channel and it's news anchor, Shamir Nevrand relaying updates on one of Fodlan's hottest topics in recent memory.

"This is Fodlan News Channel. I am Shamir Nevrand and here is the latest news , Prosecutor Edelgard von Hresvelg says in a short interview that her motives for prosecuting Archbishop Rhea of the Church of Seiros is not a ploy to garner public approval for the upcoming elections... she has this to say..."

"While I am aware that such a thing can look as such, I have to affirm my intentions to the public and say that I have been gathering the necessary evidence and testimonies for years regarding this case. Only time and the court will tell if all of those efforts will bear fruit. That is all."

"Mrs. Hresvelg! Is it true that your marriage to Dimi—"

Felix tiredly sighed and switched the TV off, having no interest in the recent scandal the Church of Seiros had gotten themselves into, it has left Fodlan's population divided in their opinions regarding the cases made against the millenium old religious institution, some are adamant on their innocence while the others are either unsure or convinced of their guilt on the particular cases made against it and it's Archbishop.

"Same stories, same shit." Felix murmured to himself, he heard his phone vibrate and checked it to see a message from Dimitri.

"Are you alone right now?"

"Yes. Why?"

"I need to talk to you. May I call?"

"Go ahead."

The phone rang immediately right after Felix replied, the latter answered it just as it rang.

"What is it, boar? You were just here a few moments ago." Felix grumbled, looking out at the glass panels of his office with the view of the city.

"You had Dedue look into… I didn't tell you to do that- wait… are you sure?"

Felix breathed out a long sigh before groaning in irritation.

"Did you really think that was necessary to research about? Huh, you were curious? Stop sticking your nose to everyone's business you boar! I don't care if it's your job! There's a limit on where you could stick your nose in!"

Felix huffed and ended the call, scratching the back of his head, evidently vexed at what Dimitri discussed with him with such a brief phone call. It may be brief but it sure made an impact on him in whatever Dimitri had told him that was so urgent.

"Ms. Dominic… you are full of surprises… For better or for worse." Felix muttered as he looked out of the glass window to see Annette walking out of the building and waiting at the bus stop.

Annette arrived home to her humble abode she calls her apartment space. Closing and locking the door behind her, Annette removed her leather shoes near the door before going in to turn on the lights, being greeted by the sight of her combined living room-kitchen-dining room with two doors leading to her bathroom and toilet and to her bedroom.

It's quite the average home for a single young woman living in Garreg Mach City and while Annette's job could afford her a much better space, Annette elected not to do so. She was comfortable with her current space and even if she does get a better space, she couldn't enjoy much of it due to her being constantly at work and even if she goes out from work, she would often be with Mercedes to hang out.

Annette looked at the wall clock hanging above the small television she has. She was able to go home an hour earlier thanks to Felix, for what reason he dismissed her earlier, she doesn't know but she figured it may have something to do with the case against Cornelia, that he might discuss matters with his brother and father regarding the latest update about the case they are pursuing against their former employee that they used to trust.

Up until now, Annette couldn't figure out why people would have the nerve to scam the Fraldarius family. In her experience with them, especially Glenn and Rodrigue, they have been nothing but considerate and compassionate to the people working for them.

Annette's phone rang, indicating a message had been sent to her. Annette took out her phone from her purse, lightly throwing her bag on her couch before slumping on one of her sofa chairs to check the message.

"Annette, dear. I received the money you sent but isn't this a bit too much? I understand you are trying to send extra for my sake but please don't forget to take care of yourself in turn."

The Dominic girl smiled at her mother's message before replying.

"Mother, I only spare enough for me to get by for a month. Don't worry, I have every expense considered as well as leaving some spare money for various things… just please focus on getting better and stop fretting too much about me. I love you."

Annette sighed and put her phone down on her lap as she let the soft sofa chair relieve her body, looking up at the ceiling while resting her feet on the table between her chairs and couch.

Then the phone rang again but only this time, it's ringtone was meant for incoming calls.

Picking up her phone again and thinking it was her mother in Fhirdiad, Annette looked at it only to see a different name on the screen.

"Hello? Mercie?" Annette answered the call.

"Oh Annie! Can you drop by at my workplace after you get out of work?"

Annette raised an eyebrow. "I can't Mercie, Mr. Fraldarius dismissed me early… why?"

"Oh… I just want to share something with you because you won't believe me who went to the pastry shop today."

"Who?"

"It's Dorothea from the Hey Arnaults! She came in to buy some pastries but not before I asked if I could get her autograph."

Annette's eyes widened. "Dorothea went there… talked to you… and gave you an autograph?!" She squealed out.

"I know you always wanted to have her sign something so I had her sign one of my aprons with a personal message for you. I can't wait to show it to you, you'll love it!"

"Just hearing about it makes me happy as it is!" Annette excitedly said after hearing her best friend's experience with their favorite singer in Fodlan as well as the prospect of receiving something with Dorothea's signature and message for her.

"I'll drop by later at your apartment, Emile will be picking me up after work."

"Ooooh thank you Mercie! I swear I don't deserve you most of the time!"

"Heeheehee! You know that's not true- oh, Lysithea's calling out to me… I'll see you later!"

With that, Mercedes dropped the call, leaving Annette ecstatic in meeting her later though Annette couldn't help but feel jealous, long as she wanted to meet Dorothea in person and talk to her but it seemed such a fleeting dream to have.

With nothing much to do but just rest and relax, Annette decided to take a bath to pass time and soothe her body.

Annette yawned as she wore her employee ID around her neck, having stayed up late hanging out with Mercedes last night before Emile came to pick her up once again after dropping her off. The two best friends would often hang out by cooking together and watching their favorite shows on TV with some news in the mix.

The signed apron that Mercedes brought for Annette immediately skyrocketed the latter's mood as she squealed at the prospect of finally owning something that has her favorite singer's signature, the personal message Dorothea gave to her didn't help curb her excitement.

"Write your own lyrics and perform with all your heart! Life is a song so sing it!"

Annette repeated the message Dorothea had for her with a smile as she went inside the elevator, being the only occupant as the elevator made its way up the floors.

The Dominic girl accused Mercedes of telling the singer what to write which Mercedes poorly denied, while Dorothea's message for her was inspiring… Annette couldn't help but feel sad at its meaning and Mercedes' intention on having it written.

Being with her ever since they were children in Fhirdiad… Mercedes has always been supportive of her and her singing, and while Annette appreciates Mercedes' continual support… Annette just couldn't help but think of the dream she used to have as nothing more than an impossible one considering the situation of her life now.

"But Annie… you've always wanted to be a singer... "

"I know Mercie… I know for myself I still want to pursue that path but I can't! Not with the current situation my mother has right now."

"Annie…"

"I can't just drop off everything and selfishly pursue my dream when someone in this world only has me to count on to. If I must sacrifice my own dreams for the sake of my mother's well-being then-"

Annette and Mercedes dropped the subject last night in favor of talking about various topics and just watching their favorite shows together. Mercedes understood her best friend's feelings on the matter, fully understanding her situation yet she still couldn't help but feel that there might only be regret for Annette if she continued a path of continual self-sacrifice.

Annette walked through the halls leading to Felix' office, she had thought of what could possibly be the thing that Rodrigue and Felix argued about the other night and if she would experience the aftermath of seeing Felix suffering from the effects of drinking.

She sighed, she was thinking too much about the personal problems of her bosses, she has no business meddling into their family affairs. She once remembered Lysithea telling her off during their days as college students that she was "too nice for your own good." kind of person, Annette simply replied she just doesn't want to see people she had grown to care about having issues…

Care… Had she grown to truly care for the Fraldarius family? Rodrigue? Glenn? And even Felix…? Had she finally thought of them as more than just her employers…?

She couldn't tell yet, especially with the youngest of the Fraldarius men. Her relationship with Felix has been rather… rocky at the start but ever since he apologized during her birthday, things have been going on smoothly, their relationship turning into a proper professional one.

Annette found herself blushing on what caused the huge rift between the two of them that almost led to Annette resigning. She shook her head, not wanting to think of the implications behind it anymore. She's just willing to be in a professional relationship with her boss, nothing less… nothing more.

Besides, despite their repaired relationship…

"He can be a jerk sometimes unlike his brother." Annette murmured to herself as she tried to unlock the door to Felix' office only to find out it's unlocked, Annette wondered if Felix was already in his office until she heard muffled shouts.

Filled with concern, Annette opened the door to Felix' office only to witness the unthinkable.

"Just try a bite. Come on. Open up!" Lysithea urged as she pressed on further, her right hand holding a fork with a piece of cake on it, her left hand on one of Felix' shoulders.

"No! I already told you, I don't want it!" Felix refused, tilting his head on all sides to avoid the piece of cake in being shoved into his mouth as Lysithea pouted.

"I can't believe that after all these years, you're still so dispassionate about the magnificence of cake!" Lysithea exclaimed as she tried to force him to taste the cake, unaware of the third person in the room.

As Felix turned to his other side, his eyes widened to see Annette standing still at the opened door with a horrified look.

"M-Ms. Dominic…!" Felix called out in shock.

Lysithea looked at where Felix' eyes were directed to see her friend and former roommate.

Annette on the other hand was busy deciphering what she just witnessed… Lysithea was almost sitting on Felix' lap, her left hand on his right shoulder, she was trying to feed him cake while Felix' back was pressed against his couch. The sight caused an impression of something of questionable vulgar nature in Annette's mind.

Thinking she arrived at an ill opportuned time, Annette left the office and slammed the door shut.

"I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T MEANT TO INTERRUPT!"

Felix realized the position he and Lysithea were in, blushing and pushing Lysithea away from him, he followed after Annette.

"Ms. Dominic! Wait! It's not what it looks like!"

"S-Sorry for that…" Annette apologized and sighed tiredly, drinking a glass of water as she sat beside Lysithea on one of the couches with Felix on the couch at the opposite side of the table.

"I should be sorry as well, I tried to surprise you by coming in the office before you but well…" Lysithea nervously chuckled.

"How did you two know each other anyway?" Annette questioned her friend, frowning at her for what she saw.

Lysithea raised an eyebrow and before she could answer…

"Lysithea and I have known each other since we were children. We met by chance when my family and I visited Ordelia Pastries' grand opening in Arianrhod.." Felix said, glancing at Lysithea.

"And ever since then, his family has been frequent customers of Ordelia Pastries." Lysithea said with a proud smile. "It's just tragic Felix doesn't share the same affinity his family has for our sweets."

Felix frowned at Lysithea. "Despite being armed with that knowledge, you still insist on trying to make me eat one of those deplorable sweets you call cake that your pastry shops make."

It was Lysithea's turn to frown at Felix, looking like Felix offended her with the worst insult possible.

"Cake is not a "sweet." Cake is the divine essence of the heavens!" Lysithea argued back, something Annette has heard of many times during her college days with Lysithea.

"I told you everyone has their own tastes!"

"That's true, but life without cake is no life at all. Your divisiveness regarding cake is inexcusable! Inconceivable!" Lysithea responded with such passion that Felix sighed, unable to dissuade the Ordelia girl of her pathetic attempts to make him eat sweets.

Placing a hand on his forehead, Felix could only growl irritably.

"I'm not sure why you're so fixated on this…"

"Simple! Ordelia Pastries is aimed to spread the joys of sweets all over Fodlan and that includes people who dares blaspheme on hating sweets!" Lysithea proclaimed with pride before pointing accusingly at Felix. "And you, Felix, is the greatest challenge I have right now!"

Annette looked back and forth at the two seemingly childhood friends, her thoughts were still thinking about the rather awkward position she stumbled upon the two when she entered the office, she could feel like something stung in her heart yet she doesn't know why…

"You are the most impossible girl I have ever met." Felix sighed in exasperation.

Annette bit her lip, wanting to steer the topic to a question she has for Lysithea. Why does she feel something whenever she sees Lysithea and Felix being so… casual in their interactions?

"Lysithea, what are you even doing here anyway? Did you just come here to visit me?" She questioned her.

The snow haired girl shifted her gaze towards her.

"Well that's one reason… the moment I found out you were working here all along, it just seemed like we live in a small world so I came by to visit…"

"And the other reason is…?"

Lysithea smiled at her. "Well, the main reason why I'm here is because I'll be discussing with Felix about the Fodlan Tech Expo. Fraldarius Corporation is going to hire Ordelia Pastries to make the desserts for the banquet."

And that wraps it up for this chapter, I originally intended to write the scene of Annette and Mercedes in better detail but I couldn't conceive of an idea on how to write it. Nonetheless, I believe I manage to leave the intended hints in this chapter that will prove to be of use in later chapters.

Now, I must return to updating Last Scion regularly while writing a collab smut fic with a friend and fellow writer XD

Reviews are very much appreciated! Thank you!