[ What she thought happened? Well--no, no it isn't. Himeka is well-aware that Zenos did not offer his assistance out of any sense of righteousness, goodness, or whathaveyou. Is it what she wants to believe it could have been? Maybe a bit. Or at least that maybe he could be pointed in a more productive direction as long as it could be written off as suitably entertaining for him.

Truthfully, Zenos being at the Regent's disposal is a worst-case scenario. That she hadn't been able to find him before the Kenoma had is something she regrets. (Not that she would have any idea of what to do had a Pleroma claimed him.)

But he's shown that he can be sent on the greater enemies at hand. Even if it were simply so that her attention to be directed elsewhere, he had learned that competing for it wasn't as productive as removing the distraction...

...R-right? ]

My prey right now is the Regent.

[ That's probably the obvious, but...if she makes it clear? Maybe? ]

And I don't believe for a moment you're working under them because you believe in their cause, Zenos. I--

[ Oh. Abel is talking? Well it seems he's pretty good at getting her attention, actually. And not even by threatening bodily arm to people! Shocking, amazing. Just by being some guy. ]

...It's okay! This is kind of what he does.

[ It's not okay, actually. Zenos is many things and "okay" is definitely not one of them, but if he's talking he's not causing trouble. ]