Morning came.

After preparing his heart, Eugene opened the door to Kristina's room.

Sienna and Kristina sat opposite each other at the dining table. They were enjoying a steaming, bright red stew, or perhaps it was a soup, but they ceased their activity upon seeing Eugene.

"Are you two feeling alright?" Eugene asked after a pause.

"Hmm." Sienna set down her spoon and patted her chest while coughing. She had fallen asleep in her drunken state, not wanting to regain full consciousness. Upon waking and shaking off the intoxication, she found herself almost without a hangover.

She remembered everything that had happened at dawn. Alcohol was the enemy. After clearing her throat a few times, she looked at Eugene calmly. However, her carefully controlled breath and expression crumbled like sand as soon as her eyes met Eugene's.

Sienna opened and closed her mouth a few times like a goldfish before swiftly turning her head away. Her spoon sat innocently within her sight. She took hold of it, stirring the unfortunate stew unnecessarily harshly.

While Sienna was doing so, Kristina picked up a napkin. With graceful hand movements, she shook the napkin and gently wiped her mouth.

"Did you sleep well?" Kristina inquired before setting down the napkin and giving Eugene a warm smile. The memories of dawn were clear to her as well. Feelings of embarrassment lingered, but a much greater sense of contentment eclipsed them.

'Such a scary, formidable child….'

Sienna realized Kristina was not an opponent to be underestimated. She looked at Kristina, who was smiling as if nothing was amiss, and, grinning slightly, she pulled out the chair next to her as she addressed Eugene, "If you're hungry, why don't you eat with us?"

Although he wasn't particularly hungry, Eugene took the suggested seat — between Sienna and Kristina. As if she had been waiting, Kristina scooped...