Chapter 25: A Choice

"Rule number ten..."

The voice came from the doorway.

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

Leon Caesar stood there, having just arrived after a hospital staff member notified him when they noticed Lumi and Felix entering Celestine’s room. His gaze immediately fell on the pressure still lingering in the air.

His expression darkened.

"Do not unleash your Sentinel power in public areas without authorization, especially within civilian facilities. Any Sentinel found deliberately releasing excessive power for intimidation, retaliation, or personal disputes will be subject to disciplinary action."

Raphael lazily turned his head toward him.

Leon’s eyes narrowed. "And yes, Raphael, that includes you."

Raphael’s lips twitched. "Ah... the forever number three."

Leon didn’t react to the provocation. Instead, his gaze shifted toward Lumi, and his expression changed when he noticed the blood still dried across her forehead and the red mark on her cheek. "What happened to her?"

Felix’s expression stiffened. "It was nothing serious."

Leon looked at him. "Nothing serious?" His eyes briefly roamed over Lumi from head to toe before settling on Felix again. "She doesn’t look fine to me."

Silence.

Leon walked straight toward Lumi and stopped in front of her. "Are you okay?"

He raised his hand, intending to check the wound on her forehead, but Lumi immediately took a step back.

"Ah—I am okay, Mr—" She quickly corrected herself, "I mean, Young Master Caesar."

She smiled awkwardly, glancing at her family for a few moments before looking back at him. "I just fell down earlier..."

Raphael snickered from behind them, covering his mouth as his shoulders shook slightly.

"Funny," he drawled. "When this little duckling faced a Sentinel in Rampage, she didn’t even break a bone. Yet somehow, one little fall left her in this state."

His gaze shifted toward Leon, the corner of his lips curling upward. "Right, number three?"

Leon’s expression remained calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

Lumi’s smile froze. She could already tell that Raphael was about to make things worse.

"Ah—I really fell..." She gulped, still trying to make up an excuse. "Earlier, I didn’t notice the big—" She hesitated, searching for the right word. "The big drain, and I fell into it..."

Raphael suddenly burst out laughing, cutting her off.

"Tch... poor little duckling." His laughter faded as his eyes turned sharp, landing directly on Felix and Esther. "Sometimes I really wish I could throw parents like this straight into Anomaly’s mouth."

Felix and Esther’s expression changed.

Raphael stepped forward. "So... it is set... I’ll take her from now on."

He reached for Lumi’s hand, but before he could touch her, she immediately stepped back.

"What are you doing?" Leon’s voice had lost its usual calmness. His eyes sharpened as he looked directly at Raphael. "You know full well that she is Evan’s Fated Guide."

Raphael clicked his tongue.

"Ah... screw that Fated nonsense. I do what I want." He glanced toward Lumi before scoffing. "The machine probably broke anyway. Why would I be Fated to that rotten-hearted one?"

Celestine’s expression changed, and she bit her lower lip hard.

Leon stared at him for a moment before letting out a quiet scoff. "The machine knew what it was doing."

Raphael raised an eyebrow.

Leon continued, "That machine was developed using the power signatures of both Sentinels and Guides. It doesn’t simply guess who is compatible with whom."

His gaze shifted briefly toward Celestine before returning to Raphael. "If it identified Celestine as your Fated Guide, there is a reason behind it."

Raphael’s eyebrows lifted. "Are you shading me, number three?"

Leon’s expression remained calm. "I’m stating a fact."

"Sounds like you’re trying to convince me."

"You don’t need convincing." Leon glanced toward Celestine before looking back at him. "You need to accept that the machine didn’t make a mistake simply because you don’t like the person it chose."

Celestine’s fingers tightened around the bedsheet.

Raphael stared at Leon for a moment before his lips curved into a faint smile. "So you’re saying I should just accept her?"

Leon shrugged slightly. "Whether you accept her or not is your decision. But calling the machine broken just because you dislike its result is childish."

Raphael’s smile twitched. "Did you just call me childish, number three?"

Leon’s expression remained calm. "Keep calling me ’number three’ and you’re no better than me, glued to number two."

Raphael burst out laughing.

"Glued to number two?" He shook his head, clearly amused. "That’s a new one."

Leon simply looked at him. "You started it."

Raphael wiped the corner of his eye, still laughing. "Fine, fine. I suppose number three has finally learned how to bite."

"And number two still hasn’t learned when to stop talking."

Raphael’s laughter grew louder.

Lumi’s face went blank.

’What are they doing??’

"Ex—cuse me, hmm..." Lumi frowned, trying to recall the man’s name standing in front of her. "Young Master—"

"Valen. Raphael Valen." Raphael smirked. "Engrave the words in your heart, because you will soon be hearing my name quite often."

Lumi stared at him.

’Ahh... goosebumps...’

Raphael’s smirk widened as he stepped closer. "After all, from now on, I’m very interested in you."

"Huh?" Lumi flinched.

Leon immediately stepped between them. "That’s enough, Raphael."

"What?" Raphael looked genuinely amused. "I’m only introducing myself."

Leon’s eyes narrowed. "You don’t need to introduce yourself twice."

Raphael shrugged. "Then perhaps I should introduce myself to Evan instead."

Lumi’s heart sank, but then she hesitantly raised her hand.

"I–I’m sorry, but do..." She stopped, glancing between Raphael and Leon before lowering her voice. "Does my choice... matter?"

The question was so quiet that the room fell silent.

Raphael’s smirk slowly disappeared.

Lumi lowered her hand, her fingers curling nervously against her dress.

"I mean..." She swallowed, forcing a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "If Young Master Valen wants to take me, and Young Master Caesar says I should stay because I’m... I’m Young Master Evan’s Fated Guide..." Her gaze dropped to the floor. "Do I get to choose?"

Nobody answered immediately.

Lumi gave a small, awkward laugh, as if she had suddenly realized how strange her question sounded.

"It’s okay if I don’t. I’m just... asking." Her voice became quieter. "I will... I mean, I actually don’t understand much about this whole Fated thing, but..."

She blinked hard, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her dress.

"I’m all right with whatever decision you make."

She said it so easily, as though she had already learned that her own decision was the least important one in the room.

"No..."

A sudden voice came from the doorway, low and slightly hoarse.

Everyone turned toward the door.

A familiar figure stood there, his expression unreadable as his gaze settled directly on Lumi.

"I’m sorry to break it to you..." His eyes shifted briefly toward Raphael before returning to her.

"You don’t have a choice."