Three days.

For three consecutive days, the office lights had remained lit long after midnight.

Reports from Fatui strongholds continued to pile onto the desk one after another—logistics reports, intelligence summaries, personnel transfer requests, diplomatic correspondence. As one of the subordinates working directly under the Eighth Harbinger, the workload was already enough to overwhelm most people. This time, however, Signora was preparing for an important meeting in Snezhnaya, and the pressure had only grown heavier.

By the first night, coffee still helped. By the second, it barely did anything. By the third, even keeping your eyes open felt like a battle.

Just one more section...

That was what you had told yourself. Then your body finally gave out. Your head slowly lowered onto the desk. Darkness swallowed everything. You had no idea how much time had passed.

When consciousness finally returned, the first thing you noticed was the warm glow of firelight dancing across the room.

Firelight?

Your eyes blinked open. And immediately froze.

Not far away, seated elegantly beside the window, was a figure you recognized all too well.

Platinum-blonde hair. A luxurious fur mantle draped over her shoulders. A book resting in her hands. And those cold silver eyes, focused calmly upon its pages.

La Signora.

Every drop of sleep vanished instantly.

I'm dead.

That single thought echoed through your head. Sleeping during work was already bad enough. Falling asleep inside Signora's office? That felt dangerously close to signing your own death warrant.

You jerked upright so quickly that several stacks of documents nearly toppled over.

Signora turned another page.

"Finally awake?"

Her voice was calm. Far too calm.

You swallowed hard.

She's definitely angry.

This is the calm before the storm. The book closed with a soft snap. Signora rose from her chair. The sharp click of her heels echoed across the room.

One step. Two steps. Three.

Each sound made your heartbeat pound harder. Soon, she stood directly in front of you.

Close enough for you to catch the faint scent of her perfume. You lowered your head instinctively. Waiting. For criticism. For punishment. For a shapr slap.

Instead...

Tap. A light pat landed on the top of your head.

Your eyes widened. Signora had casually patted your head.

"Foolish child."

For a moment, your brain stopped functioning.

...What?

You slowly looked up. Her expression remained unchanged.

"If you collapse from exhaustion, who exactly is supposed to do my work?"

Wait... that's what she's worried about?

Not the fact that I fell asleep?

Not the fact that I passed out in her office?

You stared blankly.

Signora sighed.

A long, weary sigh that sounded almost... resigned. Then she slipped a hand into her coat pocket. For a brief moment, you wondered if she was finally retrieving the punishment you deserved. Instead, she pulled out a small piece of candy wrapped in golden paper.

Caramel. The candy was placed neatly on the desk in front of you.

Signora glanced at you once.

"Eat."