Luckily for Cassian, his suspicions were unfounded. When he acted uncomfortable in response to her question, Cassandra didn't press him further. Instead, she shifted the topic back to their task of finding more witnesses and re-questioning the previous ones.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be another waste of time. They uncovered no new leads—just gossip about whose husband was having an affair while his wife did the same, or which unmarried daughter had ended up pregnant. For Cassian, who secretly enjoyed a bit of gossip, it was somewhat entertaining. But for Cassandra, it only made her more and more irritated as the day went on.
"I can't take it anymore..." Cassandra groaned as she slumped back in the carriage taking them back to the office. "Why, for the love of God, should a detective care who soiled themselves after getting drunk or whose son married a whore?"
Cassian just chuckled at her outburst. He would have felt the same if he didn't secretly enjoy the neighborhood gossip. Cassandra spent a few more minutes venting about their wasted day before signaling the driver to stop near her home. She stepped out of the carriage, giving Cassian a tired smile. "See you later, Cassian…"
Cassian bowed slightly from inside the carriage, replying, "Have a nice weekend, Detective."
"You too…" Cassandra called back, already walking toward her door, waving a hand over her shoulder.
As Cassian glanced up at Cassandra's building, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. It was much nicer than the one he lived in, with taller floors and a more spacious design. The surrounding area was pleasant too, with greenery lining the footpaths and wide, clean streets.
"Where to, sir?" the coachman's voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him away from the scene.
Cassian gave the address of his building, relieved that his workday was almost over. He could head home, change, and get ready for his outing with Lucy. When he arrived, he found the place empty—Robert wasn't around. Taking advantage of the quiet, he quickly got ready, not wanting to be subjected to Robert's inevitable interrogation about where he was going and who he was meeting.
"He can be so nosy," Cassian muttered to himself, thinking about how Robert always seemed to know everything happening in the office and beyond. He couldn't help but wonder if he was starting to become like Robert—listening to people's gossip and secretly enjoying it.
Luckily, Robert still hadn't returned, allowing Cassian to slip out early—he really didn't want to risk being late. Dressed in a new shirt, pants, and a warm jacket, he headed out to meet Lucy at their designated spot.
When he arrived, Lucy wasn't there yet, so Cassian took a moment to look around. He had chosen this spot for their meeting because it offered a little bit of everything Magisteria had to offer: unique magic products, books, clothing, and foods native to the city—all without the usual crowds. Robert had told him that the area remained relatively quiet since it was situated between a few academies.
The locals often avoided it, finding it too much of a hassle, so the streets only got busy when the students had their days off.
Fortunately, today wasn't one of those days, and only a few people were milling about.
"Cassian..." After a few minutes of waiting, Cassian heard a voice calling out to him from the side, pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned, surprised to find Lucy standing there with a gentle smile. Her presence always had a way of catching him off guard, despite how often they'd met up lately.
Lucy had an air of maturity about her that showed in the warmth of her eyes and the kindness of her smile. Though she radiated a sense of experience, Cassian knew she only seemed older because he was aware of her age; otherwise, there were no clear signs.
Her curvy figure was wrapped snugly in a tailored, dark blue suit coat that emphasized her elegance, paired with a matching long skirt that fell gracefully to her ankles.
"You look like you were lost in your own world there, Cassian," Lucy said playfully, her tone light as she approached. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."
Cassian shook his head, offering a smile of his own. "Not at all Miss Lucy. You're right on time. And I've been enjoying the view here, anyway."
Cassian looked at her with a smile, taking in her features with delight, and said, "You look beautiful, Miss Lucy…"
"Ooh, thanks..." Lucy replied, giving him an appraising look. Cassian was still the same old Cassian—cute and a bit shorter than her—but today he was dressed a little better, which she liked. She squeezed his cheeks playfully and said, "You look handsome too, my dear Cassian. In a few years, women are going to flock around you."
"Well, you should call your dibs before that happens," Cassian replied with a grin, enjoying the playful tug on his cheeks.
Lucy smirked, crossing her arm around his and pulling him close. "Oh, I'm going to do more than just call dibs..." she teased. "But before that, let's see what you've planned for our first date..."
Cassian nodded with a smile, gently squeezing Lucy's arm as he led her down the quieter streets, pointing out some of the shops and stalls he had come to like. They stopped at a small bookstore where he picked out an old tome, then moved on to a vendor selling charms and trinkets.
As they chatted, he bought her a delicate pendant that caught her eye, enjoying the easy, playful conversation between them.
After a while, Cassian leaned in closer, his tone turning a bit more serious as he asked, "So, how's Lady Katherine doing these days? Still keeping busy? Or... is she in urgent need of one of my massages?" He shot her a teasing grin, knowing well how particular Lady Katherine could be about his special 'treatments.'
Lucy arched a brow and smirked, her expression becoming playful as she leaned in slightly. "Oh, she's doing just fine... but she did mention how much she misses your 'magic hands.' Said they were a rare talent," she replied, her voice dripping with suggestion. "Honestly, I can't blame her. I've always wondered just how good you are with those hands of yours. Seems like they could work wonders...
Cassian chuckled, feeling the heat of her flirty tone, and he replied, "Well, you know me, always happy to lend a hand... or two."
"How's work going, Officer? Are you keeping the city safe?" Lucy asked with a teasing smile as they settled in for dinner.
Cassian let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "I try to..." he replied, trailing off. He couldn't bring himself to say much more, especially since he hadn't even managed to catch a low-level criminal yet.
Lucy noticed his mood dip and quickly tried to lift his spirits. "Well, that's better than doing nothing at all," she said with an encouraging smile.
"So, did you fix that book yet?" Lucy asked, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.
It worked. Cassian eagerly pulled out both the ruined book and a new one where he had copied the contents of the damaged one. With a wide smile, he announced, "I finished it last night…" He wasn't just excited about copying the book; anyone who could read and write could do that. What thrilled him was the reward he might receive in return for his efforts.
With a teasing, surprised expression, he added, "Lady Katherine has quite a strange taste in books, doesn't she?" He glanced at the titles, which now struck him as oddly fitting for both the book and Lady Katherine herself. He couldn't wait to find out tomorrow if she only enjoyed the scenarios in the stories or if she fantasized about them too.
For now, Cassian's attention was fully on Lucy. She shrugged her shoulders, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "I wouldn't know; I've never actually read one. I don't have enough time for that," she replied, her tone light and teasing. "With work and everything else, it feels like I barely have time to breathe, let alone dive into a book."
As she tucked the repaired book into her bag, her satisfied smile made it clear that she appreciated his effort. "But I did promise you a reward for fixing the book. So, do you want it now?"
"Of course I want it now…" Cassian replied without missing a beat.
Lucy smiled at his eagerness and said, "Well, you can get it later. If you add a little more favor into the mix, it might be even better than the reward I was going to give you now…"
"Like what favor?" Cassian asked, knowing it wouldn't hurt to inquire. He still hoped it might involve her breasts in his hands.
Lucy pondered his question for a moment before saying, "Like massaging me, just like Lady Katherine…"
"Then let's do it!" Cassian exclaimed, surprising Lucy as he paid the bill and pulled her to her feet.