"Papa~!"
Cosette froze by the door. Her pupils slowly went large, darting her eyes between Conrad and Maxen. Her father was grabbing Maxen by the collar, agitated for a reason she didn't understand. They looked back at her with dread in their eyes.
"What... is going on here?" her voice was low, confusion apparent in her tone. "Papa?"
Conrad automatically released Maxen. His lips opened and closed, but his voice was stuck in his throat. Surely, Maxen had the worse timing, but Cosette's timing was worst. Of all the time she could come, she appeared in a situation that was easily misunderstood.
"I insulted you." Maxen's voice assaulted the building silence in the study room. "That's why Sir Conrad is agitated."
Cosette frowned at his explanation while Conrad glanced at Maxen in surprise. Although Maxen wasn't completely lying because he, indeed, insulted Cosette by corrupting her, there was no need for him to cover for Conrad.
