"Great! Just as I imagined how you would look like."
Iva has put on the clothes that Xiao gave to her. Xiao expresses his joy in seeing how wonderful the clothes fit on her.
Xiao got close to Iva to check for any error and see whether all the parts were correctly made. His enthusiasm regarding his work has him stares intensely at Iva's every corner, making her blush till her pointed ears turns red.
"Oh! Sorry, I got too excited about my work again. Hahaha!" Xiao quickly back off once he realizes he was making Iva feeling uncomfortable.
"How do you feel? Comfortable? Feeling anywhere tight or itchy?" Xiao asked Iva to get feedback from wearing the clothes he made.
Iva takes a closer look at the garments and slightly walk around to feel the boots.
"I feel so warm. It's the first time I wear something that makes me feel so warm and comfortable," Iva lets out her thought while smiling innocently.
("Judging by her feedback, it's safe to say that she has been wearing nothing but sackcloth all the time. Is it only her? Or is her homeland so poor that they can't wear any proper clothing?")
Iva looks at Xiao in curious as he got quiet all of a sudden.
Realize Iva was looking at him. Xiao shook off the question in his thought and decided to focus on the feast he has prepared first.
"Well then, with the present settled, let's eat!" Xiao raises his voice to lift up the mood, similar to having a festival.
His effort was in vain as Iva only raises her hand and respond with a monotone response.
Nevertheless, once Iva starts eating, her eyes sparkle, and she immediately stuffs more and more food in her mouth.
"So good~" Iva lets out her feedback as she chews the food in her mouth happily.
("She looks like a squirrel. Just how much food does she stuff in her mouth.")
"Take it easy and be careful not to choke. There's still plenty of food," says Xiao to Iva. Still, she pays no heed to his warning as she continues munching the food happily.
Xiao chuckles a bit upon seeing Iva enjoying his cooking. And he also begins filling his tummy with the food in front of him.
Xiao and Iva thoroughly enjoyed the food. After some time passes, all the dishes on the table has only left with empty plates.
Iva kept burping while she massages her tummy with a satisfied expression.
"Hahaha! I never expect you to finish all the food, even I stop halfway because my stomach is about to burst."
Xiao can't help but laugh and amazed by Iva's stomach capacity to finish all the food he prepared.
"Wasting food is not good~" Iva replied with a smug face.
Seeing how cheerful Iva's mood was, Xiao shakes his head and smiles lightly.
Xiao waited for Iva to rest up a bit before he announces the most important news for the day and why they were having a feast in the first place.
"Iva," Xiao called, thinking it was time to break the news. He took a deep breath, mentally prepared himself for what's going to happen next.
"I'm bringing you back to your homeland tomorrow."
Xiao announces his plan without shuttering his words and hesitation.
He paused right after that and observe Iva's expression.
As expected, the cheerful mood on Iva immediately disappears upon hearing Xiao's plan. She appears shocked at first, but slowly, her eyes narrow down, and she starts facing the floor, not showing her face to Xiao.
Xiao steels his heart as he continues what he wants to say.
"Now that you've completed recovered, I think it's time for you to go home. I'm sure you have someone waiting eagerly for your return. So it's not right for me to keep you here when you have a home to return to."
Iva stays silent for the whole time as Xiao was talking. She kept her face down and stares at the floor. This was what she does when she was in trouble and don't know what to do.
Xiao paused for a while to see a reaction from Iva, which was still none.
"If you're worried about the curse, I had already given you the solution. All you need to do is to sock your finger into the bottle daily, that's all," Xiao says as he thought Iva was worrying about the curse. Still no response.
"I will also persuade the people at your homeland regarding your condition. They will understand since you have done nothing wrong at all."
Not giving up on getting a reaction from Iva, Xiao followed up with an explanation.
Yet, he did not get any response from Iva.
Xiao kept quiet for some time as he thought Iva might need time to process upon hearing everything he had said.
After waiting for a long time, he gets nothing from her as she remains facing downward.
"Do you...have anything to say?" finally getting impatient, Xiao asks a direct question.
Iva shows a sign of reaction as she slowly raises her head. Although her hairs still covered most of her face, Xiao could see the redness around her eyes.
Iva's mouth was half-open. She was shaking as if she tries to muster the courage to get the words out of her mouth.
Xiao was waiting for her to say the words he was expecting, "I want to stay". Xiao kept waiting for her to say the words.
In the end, she did not say anything as she retracts to facing the floor again.
For Xiao, as long as she has a place to return to, his morality won't allow him to keep her here. Whether he was the one who saves her and provides temporary shelter for her, he still has no rights over her.
("Just because I saved her doesn't mean that I can own her. That just makes me no different than a freaking kidnapper.")
Xiao lets out a sigh as he was stress out by the atmosphere. Since Iva didn't say anything about him bringing her back home, he decided to carry on his plan as usual.
"Sorry for the sudden notice. Just go take some rest earlier for today. We will be departing early in the morning," says Xiao as he stood up from his seat, which also means the surprise, the feast, and the announcement has already concluded.
Iva stood up like an emotionless doll. She was about to pick up the plates and wash them like usual when Xiao stops her.
"Don't worry about the cleanup. I'll do it. Just go take some rest. The road ahead is far and might be dangerous, so best keep yourself energized for tomorrow.
Xiao pats her head as he tries to convince her to go to sleep.
Usually, Iva would be annoyed and shows her childish side by saying she is not a child. But now, she just nodded her head and walks lifelessly to her room. Her head was facing downward, which completely hides her expression from Xiao the whole time.
Xiao couldn't say anything to cheer her up. He knows nothing he does will ever lift her spirit as long he is sending her back. He could only look at her small and sorrow back until she disappears into her room.
Xiao goes outside to take a breather. The stars were shining beautifully like a gem, but Xiao's mind was too occupied to even be aware of the stars. He was thinking about the decision he had made up until now, praying that his action will lead to a good result.
"This is for the best."