RISE OF EROS

No one knew that the fallen angels and Purgatory had allied themselves, as they hadn't committed any suspicious acts to date. Several months passed during this apparent calm. Andrew, following the plan discussed with Helena, Candice, and Victoria, hadn't approached Cassandra at all this time. At first, she believed Andrew was giving her time.

Andrew had been too aggressive and clingy before. He pursued her countless times and invited her out to lunch and dinner several times in a short period of time, so she believed she could finally rest.

However, as time passed, she began to worry. His not pursuing her in a few days was fine. Maybe a few weeks was fine, but months had already passed, which left a bad taste in her mouth.

It wasn't that she was vain and believed Andrew's lack of pursuit bothered her. She looked beyond affection; she thought about what Andrew wanted from her. Just as Andrew's wives had sensed, Cassandra always thought Andrew wanted something from her.

Whether it was her status or resources, the fact that Andrew never came back to her led her to believe Andrew had gotten it elsewhere. While she hadn't noticed any unusual behavior on Andrew's part, she still had suspicions. After all, Andrew is a man with extensive business dealings in different countries.

Although he had his informants and was obviously keeping an eye on Andrew, it was impossible to keep track of everything he did, especially when Andrew could transport himself to different countries in a matter of seconds.

Andrew's ability to travel great distances in a short time was no longer a secret. While no one knew for sure how he did it, it wasn't difficult to find some explanations. Finding out that he was a candidate for god and could teleport between temples was unlikely, but there were people in this world with abilities capable of manipulating space, so she believed Andrew was one of those users.

The point is that Cassandra believed Andrew's absence chasing her meant he no longer needed her, and that scared her a little. While she didn't feel anything for him, being abandoned was terrifying.

The first thing that came to her mind was that Andrew had allied himself with his competitors, and that was why he no longer needed her. Although her spies and informants hadn't told her anything about meetings between them, it was most likely the case.

In Cassandra's mind, what Andrew wanted from her could also be provided by her competitors. Still, she held out a glimmer of hope, as business with Andrew hadn't diminished.

Even with all this, she was starting to get nervous and couldn't remain calm, so she approached Andrew on her own initiative. Without any discretion, she rode in her elegant carriage to Comers Palace.

Dozens of guards surrounded the carriage as if it were a high nobleman or a member of royalty. Such a display was not unusual, as there are many wealthy and important figures in Comers.

Any of these characters traveled with a similar tag when leaving, even within the city where security was abundant. Obviously, they did this when dealing with official matters, as it was a way of showing their power and influence.

In truth, this move was calculated. Cassandra wanted everyone to know that she was going to visit Andrew. This way, she could see the others' attitudes and plan countermeasures.

If Andrew had allied himself with his competitors, a showy move like this was perfect for letting them know what was really going on. If these characters became nervous, it meant they weren't allied and, on the contrary, were calm, so it was worrisome.

Obviously, the moment Cassandra left her residence with such a parade of guards, Andrew found out, and thanks to the Shadow agents following her, he soon discovered she was traveling toward him.

It wasn't difficult to deduce her destination once the route she was taking was evaluated. It was obvious she was headed to Comers Palace, and Andrew was already waiting for her, but he didn't get impatient.

It was all part of the plan. She was the one who should be nervous, not him. Andrew had to remain calm and give the impression that Cassandra was no longer important to him.

Despite the large number of people traveling with the carriage, the trip didn't take long. Parades like these were not uncommon in Comers, and that's why the city's road infrastructure was quite advanced.

The streets of Comers City were wide and clear, allowing for a large flow of carriages at a time, even when accompanied by a large number of guards, like Cassandra herself.

It's not that the city was built this way, as no one initially thought Comers would become what it is today. However, with the passage of time and economic development, the city has undergone several renovations over the centuries.

This is why, despite the busy streets, Cassandra's carriage and her companions arrived at Comers Palace in no time. While Andrew had to act calmly, almost ignoring her, he couldn't be rude.

It's one thing to act indifferent, and another to be rude. This is why Andrew sent Gaston to greet her. As Cassandra's chief steward and father figure, Gaston was the ideal person.

Gaston's status allowed Andrew to show that he cared enough about Cassandra's visit to send his most trusted employee to greet her, but at the same time, it showed that he wasn't desperate or anxious to see her.

This small detail didn't escape Cassandra's meticulous eyes, nor did it escape those of the informants who watched from afar what was happening. Spying inside the Comers Palace was impossible, but from the outside, it was easy.

Gaston was respectful and, with etiquette no inferior to that of a nobleman, welcomed Cassandra. She was also not impolite and returned the welcome appropriately.

However, it was what happened next that surprised her and raised her concerns. Gaston didn't immediately usher her into the office, but told her that Andrew was currently busy and couldn't see her.

It wasn't that he was kicking her out, but rather that he was making her wait a few minutes, which was worrying. If Andrew were really busy, he wouldn't make her wait only a few minutes; in fact, he would have notified her, so she wouldn't have come in the first place.

With Cassandra's travel plans, it was easy to identify that she was headed to Comers Palace, so if Andrew was really busy, he could have sent a messenger to tell her and avoid embarrassment like this.

Despite her indignation, Cassandra couldn't leave. She knew that by doing so, she would lose any opportunity. She understood that Andrew was showing her that she wasn't important to him, but the fact that he didn't kick her out showed that there was still something they could change.

Seeing that Cassandra planned to wait, Gaston wasn't rude and called several maids to assist her, offering her drinks and some simple snacks—nothing extraordinary, it was merely polite.

Gaston didn't stay with her. His orders were to greet Cassandra, inform her that she should wait a few minutes, and then leave. All this shows is that Cassandra wasn't that important to Andrew.

While everything seemed premeditated and Cassandra noticed that she was being treated this way on purpose, it didn't change the fact that Andrew was demonstrating his position, and that made Cassandra's expression darken.

Andrew's appearance had only caused her problems. Initially, although she was in a constant battle with her competitors, she always had the upper hand, and unless she made a huge mistake, she would never cease to be the most prominent in Comers.

Unfortunately, Andrew's appearance upset the balance. Andrew had many businesses and generated a lot of money for companies like hers that were dedicated to freight transport.

His influence was so great that whoever Andrew allied with would become the leader, so even Cassandra, who had the upper hand, couldn't ignore him. Fortunately, Andrew hadn't destroyed the status quo, but he did create uncertainty.

Andrew did business with the three major shipping companies in the city, which kept things steady, but if he ever decided to ally himself with just one of them, the other two would suffer.

That was the level of business Andrew brought to the table. His presence was both an opportunity and an ordeal, and it all came down to who he would ally himself with.

After about 20 minutes, Gaston returned and, bowing respectfully, informed Cassandra that Andrew was now available to see her. She could only smile bitterly and play along. Andrew's ploy was obvious, but effective. Even if you could tell, you still had to fall for it, and that was why Cassandra smiled so bitterly as she watched Gaston perform.

Shortly after, they reached the office door, and Gaston knocked softly. He then announced Cassandra's arrival, and Andrew answered from inside in a calm, measured tone, "Come in."

Upon entering, Cassandra could see Andrew sitting behind his desk, reviewing what looked like ledgers. He seemed very busy, but it was all an act, which even Cassandra could tell at a glance.