The bell at the café door jingled as Adolfo and Roiselin finally left, leaving Katherine and Ruel in stunned silence. The lingering air of amusement from Adolfo's last smirk still hung around them, but now that he was gone, reality settled in.
Ruel was the first to break the silence.
"So, uh..." He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "What just happened?"
Katherine let out a deep sigh and rubbed her temples. "I have no idea."
Ruel whistled. "That guy just casually dropped that he was your brother's apprentice, offered us unlimited free coffee, and then left like it was nothing. Kat, what kind of life are you living?"
Katherine groaned. "I'd like to know that too."
Ruel smirked. "I mean, I see the appeal. He's got that mysterious noble thing going on. And that smile—"
"Don't start." Katherine glared at him, her face heating up.
Ruel held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. But seriously, I didn't expect that. Your brother being his mentor? That's huge."
