Victor didn’t miss the clear amusement that suddenly lit up Mondai’s brown eyes, and he almost regretted his confession, had it not been for the beautiful decanter filled with firewhiskey that appeared on his desk at that moment. He noticed that it came accompanied by two glasses instead of just one, and wondered if this was Cavendish’s way of telling him to invite Mondai for a drink. Well, if that was what he wanted, the man must not have known Saint Airi very well. Victor highly doubted she would trust him enough to have a drink with only him around, after all they had been through.

The boy was absentmindedly pouring himself a glass of the alcoholic treat when Airlia checked the door. Nope, still locked inside. No surprise there. It seemed Cavendish wanted them to confess every possible secret before letting them out, until they were completely bare. Naked.

“Bloody git…” Victor muttered under his breath as he took a sip of firewhiskey. Despite himself, he was rather eager to hear Mondai’s following confession. What did she do this time? Write out “80085” on a calculator?

“I had a crush on Vince.”
Victor coughed, slamming the glass back down on the desk. WHAT?! Seriously?! Mondai had a crush on his stupid brother?! Sure, she’d said it had happened when she was thirteen, but still. That was only three years ago! Vince? Really? The strange thing was, Victor felt certain this was supposed to be funny. Hilarious, even. He was supposed to be laughing hysterically at this, teasing Mondai by threatening to tell his brother. But instead, he felt this weird, strange twist in his stomach. An unusual feeling, one he had become familiar with since Mondai had declared that idiot McDweeb her ‘hero’; a feeling which only grew in force when Vince told him about the kiss.

The kiss.
Victor had almost forgotten about that. With Cavendish’s mysterious puzzles and rewards, the boy had almost forgotten that he was sitting across from Robert MacGhilleseatheanaich III’s new girlfriend. That unpleasant wave of anger and irritation crashed over him again, and Victor finished the rest of his glass of firewhiskey in one large gulp in an effort to distract himself. But the thoughts were still there, and that uncomfortable feeling was still there. Suddenly he seemed to remember all too clearly the way the Ravenclaw’s face had lit up when MacGhilleseatheanaich had walked out from behind that statue, the way she had run to him with the brightest of smiles, the way she complimented his handiwork like he had actually done something out of this world. It had only been a stupid glisseo charm, nothing even special.

“First my brother, now MacGhilleseatheanaich… You certainly have an interesting taste, Mondai,” said the boy, unable to help himself. He knew he shouldn’t have said anything, that he was just starting unnecessary trouble at the most inappropriate of times, that he was breaking every rule his father had taught him about remaining cold-hearted and logical. But he didn’t care anymore. Mondai owed him an explanation - why exactly, he didn’t even know, and neither did he want to figure out - and now was the time to hear it. He would probably never get another chance to speak with her alone like this, so he might as well bring it up now.