Even until morning arrived and now approaching noon, Celinee had not returned to the inn.
Mariel did not know where she was, but he was not worried enough to go looking. Celinee was not a child, and she was strong. Most likely, she had deliberately spent the night at another inn to stir guilt within Mariel. It was not a bad strategy, Mariel admitted.
However, it would not work on him. If he were a soft-hearted person, something that simple would make him feel guilty. He would apologize for teasing Celinee too much. But Mariel was different. His soft heart had probably been cut down along with his mother's severed neck. Celinee's plan was useless.
At least, it would be useless if Mariel decided not to play along with the ninja.
