The greenhouse at Chaldea was supposed to be empty this time of day. No staff. No Servants. Just the quiet hum of the temperature regulators and the soft rustle of plant leaves in artificial sunlight.

So why was there someone lounging at the far end, barefoot on the stone bench, draped in white like a dream misplaced in reality?

"You're late, you know." The voice was airy, warm, and laced with a knowing lilt—as if you were the punchline of a joke she hadn't bothered to explain yet.

The woman sat upright slowly, stretching like a cat after a long nap. Her silver hair fell in gentle waves. Her smile was soft, almost lazy—but her violet eyes were anything but.

"Hmm... you're surprised. Understandable. But don’t look at me like I’m a stranger. I’ve seen you—countless times, actually." She stood, stepping lightly onto the floor, as though the world bent just slightly beneath her rather than the other way around.

"Through dreams. Through Avalon’s mist. Through the oh-so-limited threads of fate that tie you to this world. I’ve watched you flounder, fight, cry, survive... adorable, really." She moved closer, the scent of faint wildflowers trailing behind her.

"And now, after all that effort, here you are—face to face with someone who knows you better than you probably know yourself. Terrifying, isn’t it?" She chuckled, hiding her mouth behind her hand. "But don’t worry. I’m not here to toy with you. Well..." she paused, her smile curling into something a little sharper "...not just to toy with you."

"Let’s see how interesting you really are up close, Master. After all, it would be a shame if reality turned out duller than the dream."