The castle made out of white marble sparkled as light reflected by the nearby lake hit its walls. From afar, one could already appreciate how majestic the ancient edifice is as it stood imposingly within the vast grassland. The grand palace, however, appears desolate against the barren land.
It is the famous Jacea Castle, the home of the prominent ancient lineage-Cross Family. An ancestry of whom people address as the Eastern Region's Fairies of Death.
Rumors have it that this old noble house's kin is blessed with an appearance akin to fairies. But despite their excellent outward facade, they are professed to be brutal monsters instead. They said they lure unsuspecting enemies to their demise using their deceitful beauty. They've become infamous throughout Sarthaal for their history of illusory profiles housing a wicked heart. Notwithstanding that, the House of Cross, who is sovereign over their land, is revered by their people.
The whole country may accuse them as malevolent spirits wearing human skin, but they are their guardians for them. They are the lord that protects them from more savage and cunning monsters residing all over Sarthaal.
Currently, the most deceptive of the fairy's herd is chilling at the castle gates.
Eve, who was asked to stay put until her identity is checked, contemplates whether a monster lives within the lake. The pristine blue waters surrounding half of the castle can tempt people to dive in and relish in its tranquility.
Nonetheless, it gives off an atmosphere that you may never come ashore ever again. It was akin to "Call of the Void", as the stillness seduces people to explore its depths.
" Young Miss, please forgive our rudeness." A man wearing a knight outfit curtsied before her. He was the one who required them to wait outside the castle walls.
Understanding it was a protocol, Eve didn't mind. She was more concerned about why the guards of her uncle's place still have to wear their old uniforms.
For a moment, she recalled the fake-candles in El's torture chamber. To think even her uncle has this taste, she was amused.
" It's alright." She replied with a smile.
The unsuspecting knight was blinded by her charm.
No wonder she looks so pretty, for she is the daughter of the late Miss Lilian, he thought. Remembering how astonished the butler when he reported her appearance, he was thankful for treating the lady with the utmost respect. For once, he was grateful for his "shallowness" and having biased towards good-looking beings.
" Please follow me." He guided the two towards the main entrance in which lines of servants were already standing in wait.
" Welcome, Young Miss." The head steward curtsied before her.
" Hello."
" Let me guide you to the parlor." After a quick pause, he spoke once again. His eyes, nonetheless, retained a tinge of melancholy.
"Will you guide Judas to his room first?" She glanced at Judas, who remained silent all throughout.
The butler promptly heeded her request. He simply gestured to the other subordinates, waiting on the other side. Two maids came forward and stood beside Judas.
" Master." Judas gazed at Eve with a look of regret. He was hoping he could stay at her side and protect her somehow. Even if they acted politely towards her, he wanted to make sure she is safe and sound.
" Rest well, Judas." She then followed the steward towards the receiving room.
" Make sure to treat him well." Her voice rang again when they reached a certain distance.
" Yes, Young Miss."
Eve slumped onto the sofa as she listened to the other's words.
" The Lord and the Young Masters, are on their way back after receiving word of your arrival. Are you certain you'll wait here instead of resting in your chambers, Young Miss?"
" I am already well-rested. You can just send the refreshments as you've said earlier."
" Of course, Young Miss." He then excused himself and tended to his duty.
( They seemed flustered, but I don't feel animosity.)
( Well, host, you didn't notify them you'll come.)
Eve was silent for a minute before responding,
( I thought I did?)
Halfsie rolled its eyes, replying.
( You didn't, host.)
[ You waltz into their front door. Naturally, everyone would be rattled to see your appearance.]
( Oh.) Not that she cared.
She decided to simply savor the various snacks they have delivered.
A few hours later.
As soon she finished a plate of macarons, the door to the parlor blasted open.
" Linlin!" An ebullient roar greeted her.
Eve watched a middle-aged man march towards her.
His well-combed blond hair shook by his eager movements, which was fluid despite wearing a suit. He has well-defined features that lean more towards the elegant type of beauty, but he is handsome nonetheless.
She nodded in appreciation of the genes from her mother's side.
Just look at his Uncle Lucian.
If he had pointy ears and long hair, he'd seem like an elf.
" Linlin!" He called anew.
She glanced around to check whether an unknown soul had breached her room without her noticing.
( Host, he meant you.)
( You mean I am Linlin?)
[ Obviously.] Halfsie swallowed its ridicule.
" Oh, Linlin! I haven't seen you for so long! Come and let uncle look at you." Lucian feverishly examined his long-lost niece.
" Good to see you are well, Uncle." She stood up and showed proper courtesy. If she wanted to continue enjoying yum treats, she should at least show appropriate etiquette. That macaron, after all, was delightful.
" Goodness! You're the splitting image of Lili!" His azure eyes, similar to Eve's, sparkled with joy.
[ That must be my mother.] She inwardly murmured.
" You're too cruel, child. Why haven't you visited us before?" He reproved Eve as he pulled her to sit beside him.
" That's not quite right, Uncle. I did visit you 12 years ago."
" That's not included. Besides, you're only two years old back then. You won't remember that."
She tilted her head and thought, she remembers well, though? Because she received Evangeline's entire memory, she recalls all those moments in her childhood. She even identified that that year was when the Cross's former lord and madam met an accident. It was also the last time Sylvius went to Sarthaal, to attend his in-law's funeral.
Before she could protest, Lucian spoke once more.
" So why did you come all of the sudden huh? I thought you've forgotten us, seeing how fascinated you were with that devil's child." It seems those long years of being apart was nothing to him since he managed to blatantly tease her shortly.
" I came to collect your debts, Uncle."
" Debts?"
" You owe me 14 years of birthday gifts." She remarked solemnly.
Lucian's loud laughter filled the lavish room.
" Haha! Shameless aren't you? I wonder whose side you got that from since both sides are equally shameless."
" Why not both?" Eve knew her paternal, and maternal origin excelled in that aspect. It's a shame, though, that Evangeline seems to be recessive of that trait. Still, she's here now; she'll gladly exercise that inheritance.
" But what do you mean I didn't give you presents? I'm certain I've sent you one in your bank account every year."
" Not counted because I didn't know."
Lucian is once again refreshed by how thick-faced his niece could be. To think his gentle sister could sprout a baby like her. He surmised she only gave birth to a vessel and that his in-law's trait filled her essence. Still, considering the Cross' feature, he knew their blood has an immense synergistic effect on that.
" Okay. Tell Uncle what you want." Thinking how cute she is soliciting gifts, he agreed in a heartbeat. He just treated it as a welcome present for her.
" I want three things."
" Go on."
" First, I can choose any present I want from the treasure room."
Lucian nodded and allowed her request. He only assumed this crafty lady had done her research after eying his coffers.
" Second, I want Judas to be trained."
" Is that your servant?"
" He's my person." She remembers Judas asking if he could be trained. As an altruistic master, she will grant his desires.
" Alright, and the last?"
" I'll think about it later." She fixed her hair and meditated. She had a gut feeling that she had forgotten something important.
The two finally sank into an enjoyable chat.
Surprisingly, Eve wasn't bored with her uncle's company. She listened well of how he brags of securing the land by crushing the scoundrels that lusted over his seat.
Lucian, on the other hand, immensely enjoyed their small talks.
He even listened with ardor as she elaborated how she planned on draining their treasury if she spotted exciting stuff. Knowing that room was filled with nothing but sparkly things and ancient relics, he merely nodded. Even if she did that, he wouldn't mind. She is his little sister's only descendant, after all.
Maybe the shamelessness ingrained in their blood was their gateway for bonding because, just like that, the two had a blast.
Lucian was swept away by a foreign kind of delight as he interacts with his niece.
When he looks at Eve, there exists a calling of wanting to pamper her. He has not felt a similar sensation when together with his children. At that moment, he had an epiphany. He knew that what he feels is what having a daughter is like.
He was ecstatic.
Lucian and Violet had been yearning to give birth to a daughter. It's a shame all they had are three stinky barbaric male monkeys. No wonder he felt fresh when tending to his niece. A daughter is genuinely different from a son, he mused.
[ How great it would be if she was my daughter.]
Suddenly, he grasped his chest when a thrilling notion popped into his head.
" Linlin!" He held Eve's shoulder and stared at her with fierce, twinkling eyes.
[ Violet would surely be happy with this idea.]
Eve looked at him, wondering what he wants from her.
" Linlin, what do you say if I want to adopt you as my daughter?"
" I'm not an orphan, Uncle."
" We can fix that." He beamed brilliantly, and brazenly answered.
Eve:
[ I can't support that.] Sylvius and Lionel are part of her task. If they die, she'll waste all her efforts.
Halfsie:
[ To think there's a formidable foe eyeing the shameless master award.]