As she had planned, Key was set to leave for Gallia right after she finished all the things she need to do in Doitsu.
James decided to accompany her on going to the airport.
"Chela contacted me the other day," James broke the silence in the car
"Hmm, you're over the moon?" Key asked apathetically
"No…" James trailed off and looked at Key worriedly
"Have you been taking your pills frequently? You know that's – It doesn't matter." Key cut him off coldly and James sighed
"She asked me if your supply would last for another several months… but it seems like it won't with how frequent you take it." James said and Key looked at him for a moment before looking out of the window
"No wonder you've been emotionless these days," he muttered and sighed
Key's sleeping pills are not like the ones that can be bought from pharmacies, not only because they are modified specifically for someone with immortal genetics like Key.
The main cause of her inability to sleep normally is her trauma, and because of that, her sleeping pills have acetaminophen and escitalopram substance mixed within it to dull her emotions.
Without her emotions, she wouldn't feel the rapid emotions even if she is plagued by her memories in the silence of the night and she would be able to sleep, but that would trigger some of her emotions and too much of a substance can have the opposing effect.
Like when she had a recollection of the night in Aberdeen, her emotions were at its highest peak and she couldn't control the memories playing in her mind that it reached the point where it's blending in with her current reality.
"James," Key called him out without looking and he looked at her in conflict
"You can visit the twins, there's no need to hold back because of me." Key said and James looked at her in surprise
"Are… are you for real?" James asked in disbelief
"Chela needs a vacation and I can handle some matter in her behalf for a week or two." Key answered without looking at him
"What's the catch?" James asked her, recalling that the woman in front of him is not someone who'd do something without gaining anything
"Ah, good question." There wasn't even a slight change in her tone as she turned her head to look at James's direction
"You'd be good for Coin and Cash's emotional growth," Key replied and then turned to look away
"Wouldn't it be better if it were you?" James asked
Key turned to look at him again, this time, her eyes looked like they were giving him a warning glare.
"Lady Ruiz's out of the radar, isn't she?" James asked and Key didn't say anything before looking out in the window again
"Coin and Cash are doing fine even without our presence, they don't really need us, Chantel," James muttered softly but there was no response from the lady next to him
"We're here, young lady," the driver said and Key opened the door while holding her bag in her hand
She went out of the car and walked up to the entrance without another word. James was left in the car, watching her departing figure, wondering if there will come a day when Chantel will no longer hold her guard even in front of them.
He shook his head and asked the driver to drive him back to the house, his heart was heavy at the thought of spending time with the Rotschilde twins in place of their real parents and he can't help but compare his childhood to theirs.
Meanwhile, Key's flight had just been called the moment she entered the airport.
She walked up to the plane and headed to ride her flight to Gallia, sending a message to the members of JLNC to meet them in the airport before turning her phone off.
She opened her laptop as soon as the plane took off and worked on some proposals on behalf of Chela, finishing off the work that are pending to give Chela enough time to rest for the next two weeks.
It took her a long while to finish the work and by the time she was done with almost a month's worth of paperwork, the captain reminded the passengers to turn off their gadgets and be prepared for landing.
The flight attendants approached her and asked her if she needed any help, in their eyes this first-class passenger is a young lady from a wealthy family.
They're right though, she is indeed from a wealthy family but she's no young lady, a couple-millennium-old lady like her can't be considered 'young' in terms of the current world's standard of descriptions.
She went out of the plane, not minding the stares and the questions of the flight attendants as she walked, then pressed the call icon next to Bright's name.
It took a couple of rings before he picked up and greeted her.
[Where are you?] Bright asked her from the other line
"Where should I meet you guys?" Key asked while starting to create emotions on her face as she walked out of the arrival area
[We're at the arrival area,] Bright replied and Key pursed her lips as she began to look around
"Ah, I see you,"
Blessed with sharp eyesight despite years of exposure to potential eye-damaging radiation and habits, she immediately found the group of people who are taking attention.
It wasn't really challenging as despite not announcing to their fans that they were heading to Gallia, some fans still managed to get the information and appeared at the airport.
The security personnel worked hard to keep the fans away from the group, Key didn't know how she'll approach them without bringing attention to herself so she contacted the driver Poupee arranged for them.
It didn't take long before she was approached by a man wearing a three-piece suit and three burly men, who appeared to be from a well-known security agency, which actually belongs to one of Key's previous batch of Troublemakers.
"Look, it's Kashmiri!"
"I was about to ask where she is."
"Did she come from a separate flight?"
"Kashmiri!"
"Look here, Kashmiri!"
"She looks pretty!"
"I'm a fan!"
"Notice me, Kashmiri!"
The shouting of her name took the other fans' attention and not noticing the security blending around her, they run in an attempt to corner her to take a picture, or get her signature but the men immediately closed in and surrounded her to block the crowd.
"Did I make you wait?" Key asked them as soon as she closed their distance
"You brought your own security?" Dewy asked amusingly while looking at the burly men
"Nope, my cousin arranged them," Key replied and slowly shook her head
"I will lead you to your ride," the driver said and bowed
"Lead the way, Sir," they said politely
The airport's security personnel and three bodyguards from Talon surround them as they followed the driver to the parking lot.
"That's our ride?" Opal asked in shock after the driver opened the door of a limousine for them
"And I told her to stay low-key," Key muttered under her breath
"Of course, Poupee's low-key is different," she thought to herself and sighed
"Let's go, he'll bring us to the house." Key invited them and they went inside one by one
After settling inside, the driver closed the door and headed to the driver's seat.
"I'm starting to wonder who's richer, you or my cousin." Alexei teased Key to break the silence
"I'm not rich," Key denied with a small smile on her lips
She can imagine Kami looking at her in disbelief before saying; "Mochiron desu, you're filthy rich!" and then shaking her head if she heard her words.
"Is it really alright for us to stay in your house?" Quant asked her
"You'll see when we get there," Key said and they looked at the view outside
The ride to their house allowed them to appreciate the beauty of the streets in Gallia, as well as have a nice view of the Eiffel Tower.
By the time they arrived at the neighborhood where Key and Poupee lived as kids, they were already more than satisfied with the beautiful scenery along the way.
"Welcome to the Desmond household," Key said with a smile as they went out of the car
They were greeted with a large fountain in front of a staircase leading to the front porch, and a beautiful woman elegantly walked the staircase.
Her black hair cascaded and flowed at her every movement as she approached them, they couldn't help but stare at her until she ran to hug Key.
"Chantel!" Poupee squealed like a little girl
"We have guests, Poupee," Key said and Poupee narrowed her eyes at her
"It's vacation, aren't you allowed to sleep late?' Poupee asked her in disbelief and Key tilted her head to remind her of their guests
"Oh, my apologies," Poupee chuckled elegantly as she let go of Key
"Hello, I'm Poupée Auclair. It's a pleasure to finally meet you all." Poupee introduced herself with a practiced elegant smile