Finally, the house is quiet. I could not feel any movement downstairs anymore. I sat up in the bed and slowly took away Janus and Aisha's hands that were holding me. I got down from the bed and headed to our bags to get a change of clothes to wear after a shower. I had waited for everyone to go to bed to have the bathtub for myself.
Silently, I took the stairs and headed to the bathroom. It surprised me when the bathroom door opened.
"Xanther! You're here? I mean..." I averted my gaze away from his half-naked body. "I thought no one was using the bath."
"I will clean it first if you don't mind bathing later. Those two left behind their dirty clothes."
"Oh. Okay. You need not feel obliged." Did I say it correctly? I thought. I wanted to tell him it's not his job to clean the bathroom.
"I've got it cleaned up. You can use the bathroom now."
"Ah. Thank you!" I stepped aside to give him room to pass through. His body framed almost all of the corridor's space. When Manager Jang left the bathroom, I rushed inside and locked the door. I scanned the entire room.
"Hmm... He sure loves cleaning," I mumbled.
Personally, I know little about him. I didn't want to become close to anyone, so I didn't try to learn anything about them except for a few—those few I wanted to help out by causing a drop of luck to find them.
Besides, I don't have the right to be close to anyone anymore. After I broke the Sacred Rites, I'm no longer worthy of being a Priestess...
I took off my clothes after I filled the tub with hot water. My sanctuary has a spacious hot spring I always enjoyed, especially during the peak of the full moon. And tonight is a full moon on this planet. I could use the light from the upper glass window of this bathroom just above the bathtub.
I turn off the light. It's ten o'clock, the moon is up, and its reflection is coming through the window.
"Ah..." So nice. When was the last time I had quality time for myself? I can't think of any since the twins arrived in my life. Not to mention when I died and turned to ashes for a year.
Lionel and Sora cared for the twins after I conceived them, and they died for a year. They hid in the Galatian Universe, and Luna looked after my ashes until I returned. When I resurrected, we could no longer stay in the Galatian Universe. It is not safe when many could know our presence.
Initially, I had to keep changing planets to live with the twins. Then I heard about a different Universe that's difficult to get to. That universe is where the Earthen lives, and it seems to be a more special place than most of the galaxies I know, but I cannot collect much information about this universe. Earth is a beautiful planet. The force I could sense is unexplainable, but it's warm to the feeling.
I was glad our arrival on this planet went without notice. I figured out that as long as we didn't meddle in the flow of this world, we were free to dwell on this land.
Ah, it's not the right time to recall anything. I should enjoy soaking in the tub. Besides, things are getting better for me... I'm used to living like a pure Earthen. My children grew up on this planet. The older they get, the more they will get used to being here. It becomes home. But now, they must learn how to control their energy, which naturally flows inside their bodies; it is overwhelming.
Also, as the company grew, I was getting busy and had less time to spend with the kids, like bringing them to the amusement park or going to the nearby picnic park areas. That's one reason I really pushed for this weekend out of town, to take this opportunity to show them who we are. But then, many things happened. I met the Elves, and now I was with Mikael and my bosses after we experienced that quake earlier. The bridge has collapsed, and they're stuck with me.
"Hmm... The water is so nice."
Being stuck here, I got to know more sides of my boss. Lately, Manager Jang is becoming a mystery to me, and I cannot avoid thinking about it. Sometimes, his aura is overwhelming, while most of the time, it is calm and quiet. At the moment, it feels too relaxed. It intrigues me as to who he was in his past self. Xanther must be a noble warrior in his past life.
Could he be immortal and granted a mortal life in his next life?
A system in the Celestial Universe sends out reincarnated souls throughout. I may be a goddess, but I have less knowledge of how to grant reincarnation, how it works, and how to achieve it.
Before I died, I wished to be born as a mortal. Someone who has the freedom to love. It's not that I regretted accepting the Priestess System. I chose it and aimed for it. But...
"Why?!"
"Why!?"
'A question that keeps repeating inside my head...'
"Miss Henderson?" a knock on the bathroom door.
"Hah!" I breathed out… Did I fall asleep? Is that a dream? Ah, if I did not possess some kind of power, I would already have drowned in the tub.
"Miss Henderson?"
Xanther? "Manager Jang? Do you need anything?" I shouted for him to hear me.
"Are you alright? It's been one hour since you entered the bath, and I heard no movement. I worried you stayed in the bathtub and fell asleep."
"Oh... erm, don't worry, I am fine. I will finish my bath."
"Okay."
I did not expect he would be this worried or to check on me. It amazes me because he is not the usual Manager Jang I know from my work.
'Hmm... Should I rate him now with a perfect ten score?' Let me see... an excellent cook, an organized guy, strict but sweet in secret? Also, regarding his work: he is a reliable boss and intelligent. He scolds his employees but is always in the right situation to benefit the team.
Ah, is it what single ladies are looking for as husband material?
But those secretaries and female workers are looking for rich boyfriends. It doesn't matter if he does not know any housework as long as he can afford a dozen houseworkers to spoil the girlfriend or wife with a luxurious life. Even high-class celebrities and women aim for a wealthy husband to ride fame.
What am I thinking right now? I have to finish my bath.
A short time later, I stepped outside the bathroom and noticed Manager Jang in the laundry area, putting the newly washed clothes on the hangers. I guess that was Shane and Mikael's clothes, including his own...
I could not help but pursed a smile. He really is husband material. But I haven't heard about him dating, or maybe he is just keeping it a secret? I know he is not after the same gender, but such a mystery to me he is single. Wait, why do I think about this? I am probably curious about his life since I know about the lives of my co-employees in our department.
I headed to the kitchen to make tea, then invited Manager Jang. I approached him in the laundry area.
"Miss Henderson, do you need anything?"
"Ah, nothing. I made tea. Maybe you want to join me before you head to bed."
"Ah..."
Manager Jang's blinking eyes revealed that tears threatened to stream down his face. 'Don't tell me it is his first time being asked by a woman?' Indeed many women have asked him out, showing motives and flirting with him. So, I wonder why he looks like he is about to cry.
"Um, I will finish hanging the clothes. I'll come over after. He said after he gave me his back. Is he shy about my invitation? Ah, maybe it was just my imagination. I left him and headed back to the kitchen. I carried the tray and carefully placed it on the table. Pouring the tea into the tiny cup, I heard Xanther's footsteps.
Xanther took the armchair across from me. I placed the teacup in front of him. Quietly, we had tea without a conversation. Honestly, I could not think of any topic to start a conversation on, and it looked like it was the same for him. This is the first time we have been alone together that wasn't related to work.. just a pure coincidence
"It tastes great."
"I'm glad you like it, Manager Jang."
"Of course I do."
"Oh… thank you." It surprised me he complimented the tea. I received praise for it, but it gladdens me to hear from him the excellent critique. But what astounds me most is to see his smile. So he does know how to smile!
"Since we are not at the company or working outside, you can just call me Xanther."
"Hm?" Again, he surprised me. But he is not the only one who told me this… ah, that was Prince Argus. "Okay, um, Xanther… then, you need not call me by my formal address. Zelena is fine…." I said. Once again, I saw his smile.
* * *
EXTRA SCENE:
It was after dinner, and the three men were cleaning the kitchen and dining area…
'Priestess, a human has been flying around above us.'
'It must be the one Shane is waiting for… we need to remove the barrier, Luna. They won't find this lodge.'
'All right. I'm coming out to take down the magic barrier.'
'Don't show up yourself. Someone might notice you and mistake you for a ghost.'
'I will remain on the roof and stay invisible while moon bathing.' Luna promised. But a brilliant, silly thought played in her head.
After showering, Shane was putting on his pajamas when he had a sensation that something was not right. Suddenly, an object fell from the dresser. Shane presses his mouth.
With a big step, he reaches for the doorknob and leaves the room.
"Hey! What are you doing here!" asked Mikael. It startled him when the bedroom door slammed open.
"What? This room has two beds! Don't expect me to share a bed with Xanther!" he drops his body onto the bed.
"Hey! I disagreed that you could sleep here!"
"Shut up! I will sleep now!" Shane yells. He pulled the blanket and covered his body with it.
"Hm… don't tell me you saw a ghost?" Mikael grins.
"What ghost!? I'm not afraid of it!" Shane denies it.
"Your face is screaming it. You were afraid of the ghost!"
"Shut up!"
Above the lodge, lying on the rooftop, Luna holds her stomach, laughing hard.
'Luna, why did you do that?' Zelenia noticed that Luna was playing a prank on Shane.
'Haha! I want to do it again!' Playing a ghost is cool!