After asking that question, Katharina fell into memory.
It had been twenty years before she went into slumber. That day, while wandering aimlessly in a hooded cloak, she'd came across a little boy being bullied.
From the lips of the bullies, she learned that it was because he was the product of the affair between a werewolf and a human woman.
He was an outcast. Accepted, nor welcomed by either race.
Perhaps it was because he reminded her so much of herself that, without thinking, she saved him.
Later on, he became her exclusive blood slave. The one person closest to her.
Before going into slumber, she'd personally sent him away and provided him with enough wealth to live out his human life.
So why… how… was he still standing in front of her now?
What exactly had he done?
"It just happened that way," Cain answered after a long pause, his head still bowed.
She can be single-minded at times, so she didn't consider the possibility that he might be unwilling to go into detail in front of others.
All she understood from his words was that he didn't want to tell her the truth.
Katharina's brows moved subtly.
"Then we have nothing to talk about. Go back."
With that, she turned to head upstairs.
Detecting her movement, Cain raised his head, his brown eyes flashing with panic.
There was no one who knew her better than him. So he understood that if he let her walk away now, he'd lose all chances to stand before her again.
Yes, she was just that callous—or rather, emotionally distant.
Even though he was the person who'd spent the most time beside her, the space he occupied in her heart was likely no more than a sliver.
He reached out and grabbed the hem of her dress.
"I'll tell you. But on one condition—you have to leave this place with me."
A cold glint flashed in Katharina's eyes.
She didn't care much about where she stayed—it could be here or somewhere else—but she loathed being coerced.
Cain clearly knew this too, because he quickly tried to soften his demand.
"I mean, while I explain things to you, you could also take the opportunity to see how much the world has changed. That's something you won't experience by staying here."
Alexander had been watching the interaction with mixed emotions—watching Cain, a man he'd once called uncle, kneel and behave so subserviently toward Katharina. But the moment he mentioned taking her away...
He stepped forward, his expression turning cold.
"Mr. Ashford, don't you think it's inappropriate to waltz in uninvited and then try to walk off with my honored guest?"
Cain's eyes flicked toward him, his tone flat. "This is not your place to speak."
The speed at which his face changed made Alexander feel a little unaccustomed.
One moment, he was respectful and servile, the next dismissive and haughty.
It left Alexander wondering if he'd mistaken the man. The Ashford he remembered—the one his father called friend—was gentle and outgoing. Always smiling.
But this man… even when kneeling, radiated superiority. As though Alexander was beneath his notice.
Alexander didn't like, nor tolerate such a feeling.
Without another word, his aura surged, as he aimed to suppress Cain.
Meanwhile, Katharina was seriously considering Cain's offer. The glimpses she'd seen of the modern world through the phone and tablet were indeed intriguing, but nothing compared to seeing it with her own eyes.
Truthfully, she'd once thought of sneaking away on her own. But she later found it bothersome, so she'd abandoned the thought.
Now, with someone familiar at her side, she saw no reason to refuse.
"I'll go with Cain," she said, coming out of her thoughts.
That was when she noticed the scene—two men locked in a silent power struggle.
"What are you doing?"
Her tone was light. Ordinary, even.
But a chill swept through both men and with immediate effect, they ceased their standoff.
Jaxon, sensing the tension, stepped in and repeated her words to Alexander.
"She said she'll be leaving with Cain."
"You're going with him? Why?" Alexander asked, disbelief in his voice.
Almost like an husband who couldn't accept that his wife was going to leave him for another man, Jaxon thought.
Katharina wasn't the type to explain herself. But looking at Alexander—who'd gone out of his way to make her stay here comfortable, despite his unknown motives—she decided to make an exception.
"I just want to see what the real world now looks like. But the underground crypt here is still my sleeping place, so I'll be back sooner or later."
Hearing her speak so patiently and softly to Alexander, a dark and stormy look appeared in Cain's eyes.
He regretted it
He should've come for her sooner.
But at least, she'd agreed to go with him. That was all that mattered now.
Once she left, he wouldn't let her return back here.
Unaware of Cain's thoughts, Alexander contemplated her words.
She said "sooner or later" but how long was that?
Months? Years? Decades?
He couldn't risk her being gone for that long.
Especially with the prophecy looming.
"If you wanted to see the world, you should've told me. I would've taken you to see it and stayed for as long as you wanted."
Still, Katharina shook her head.
"No. I have something to take care of."
"Then can you at least tell me when you'll be back?"
"A week. At most."
That time frame eased Alexander's heart slightly.
"Then I'll wait for you to come back," he said. There was something tender in his voice, but neither of them seemed to notice.
"If you ever want to go out in the future, I'll take you."
Cain, sensing danger, hurried to interrupt. "Queen, can we go now?"
She gave a soft hum of agreement and began to walk forward.
But Alexander reached for her hand.
"Where's your phone?"
Katharina usually disliked being touched, yet strangely enough, she found she didn't mind his since her awakening in the crypt.
Cain, on the other hand, clenched his fist tighter.
How dare he…
"It's in my room," Katharina replied.
"How can you leave without your phone? Then how am I supposed to contact you?"
"Wait here. I'll get it."
With that, he vanished upstairs.
Moments later, he returned with a phone and a small black box.
After he handed her the phone and she turned to go, he stopped her again.
"What now?" She asked, irritation creeping in her voice.
Without answering, he opened the box.
"If you're going outside, you should change your eye color. Golden eyes are too eye-catching."
Worried she might take offense, he quickly added, "Just taking precautions."
"Open your eyes a little wider," he said, gently holding up a contact lens.
Katharina instinctively flinched as his hand came closer, prompting him to chide her softly.
"Stay still."
A moment later, he closed the box and handed it to her. "Done."
"I'll give you a video call later to show you how to use it."
When she came to, Katharina was baffled that she'd actually stood there and listened to him so obediently.
Strange.
Suppressing the thought, she composed herself and turned to Cain. "Let's go."
Before leaving, Cain cast Alexander a look.
Unreadable—yet cold enough to bite.
We'll meet again.