Eve and Lyka were absorbed in their chat that they didn't notice a shadow looming over them. They are currently buried on their phones, as Lyka unilaterally sent her files. His momentum was unstoppable as he hustled her phone and proceeded to transfer the video.
In any case, it wouldn't hurt to have a memento of their disputes, she conceived.
" Dumbbutt Diaries Season 10 Episode 145?" Lucian's query gathered the youngsters' eyes on his figure.
" Yeah, Dad. It's a series about two fools quarreling but has never settled their dispute with their fists. It's quite popular in the castle, you know." Lyka didn't even bat an eye as he satirized his dad and younger brother.
" Sounds stupid." Lucian, who was clueless about who the protagonists were, ridiculed. He assumed it was simply a noontime drama that teenagers like.
" Right?" He laughed loudly, not disguising the deriding undertones of his roar.
Lucian merely furrowed his brows for his second son's ill-manner. He is too exhausted to deal with him.
Later, he glanced at Tess, who didn't bother to acknowledge his existence, and rolled his eyes. Whenever he witnesses him and the third brat bickering, he would simply watch at the sidelines while savoring his tea. He won't even speak up for his amazing father, who is being oppressed by his rascal sibling-so much for pretending to be the role model.
[ Tsk, fraud.] He scoffed. As if hearing his unreasonable thoughts, Tess's eyes met his. A little guilty, he ducked his and transferred it to Eve.
[ Ah so cute, and well-behaved.] He meditated.
[ If I had a daughter, I'm sure she'll be like her; docile, adorable, and naturally a member of my team and not on her brother's side. ]
Then he pictures him and his daughter enjoying picnics by the meadow, rowing their boat down the lake, and the leaves falling like snow while he lifts her by the arms and spins round and round.
It's such a lovely scene, especially when he envisions her standing up to her brothers and their vivid dumbfounded faces seeing them as a solid unit. The 2 and 1/2 vs. 3 and 1/2 imagined team were too delightful that his eyes glowed in anticipation.
Eve felt his unblinking eyes and looked up.
Eve: ?
[ Why is he looking at me like that?]
Lucian, lost in a daydream, didn't recognize that his profound gaze has drawn all of his sons' attention.
" Stop it, Dad. You're creeping Eva." Lyka spewed in repugnance. How come his father, with an eternal resting-proud-face, stares at his cousin with such silly expression? It's too loving and warm that it doesn't go well with his natural visage. It's disgusting.
" Father, could you fix that face of yours? It's too disturbing." Tess politely advised. The foolish appearance was too much that even his favorite tea tasted bitter in his mouth.
When Lucian returned to reality and registered their nasty remarks, he felt his healed soul shatter once again. Before he could admonish the ungrateful brats, his nemesis interjected.
" Right? If it weren't for Mom, I would have gotten a face implant ages ago." Carla, who finally escaped from Violet's heart-to-heart conversation, joined the roasting session.
" Heh, if you hate my handsome face that much, why don't you go, huh?" He barked.
" Gimme money, and tell Mom I got approval from you, alright?" The smirking Carla opened his palm and signaled Lucian to give him the dough.
Lucian choked so bad his eyes practically rolled up as if losing consciousness.
Then he heard a crunching sound and peeped at Eve, who is observing them while eating popcorn.
" Linlin, why are you eating that? It's unhealthy. You should eat your meal first."
" It's not lunchtime yet."
" Nonsense, it's mealtime when your heart decides its mealtime."
For the first time since knowing her uncle, Eve never saw him so admirable as now. She reflected that she might have misunderstood her uncle. Not only was he shameless to a fault, but he also speaks her language.
Seeing her questioning gaze, he expounded.
" Would you like Foie gras, Steak, or Rouladen?" Then recalling her sweet tooth, he enumerated.
" We could also request the patissier for Sonho, Mochi, Cannoli, Kunefe-"
Seeing her dazed but brightening eyes, Lucian proceeded until he exhausted his dessert vocabulary.
" Or some Cheesecake, Mousse cake, Angel cake?"
The boys listening silently due to confusion: [ Who is this man?]
Of course, they didn't know that Lucian, who accompanied Violet gallivanting the world before, had encountered these different sweets.
Eve's eyes sparkled brilliantly. She had a newfound reverence for her uncle.
" Undad, you are amazing." Her melodious voice contained a tinge of respect.
" Oh, Linlin." Lucian's eyes sparkled back. [ I've always been amazing.] He didn't even catch the Undad Eve finally addressed him.
In this house, everyone was tight-lipped, and no one wanted to praise his excellence. He is deep in delight for the first positive reinforcement he received in ages, aside from his wife's since she's kind of obligated to do it.
Seeing such a disturbing scene unfolding before them, the three siblings hurriedly stopped the weird performance.
" Come on, Eve. If you're hungry we'll eat right away. No need to be deceived by the old man's flowery words." Carla pulled her up from her seat.
" Well, I'm hungry too." Lyka stood up and flipped his unruly bangs, then followed behind.
Tess did not utter a word but patted his pants as he rose, ready to catch up with the bunch.
Lucian, who was ousted once again: ...
Just like that, an early luncheon began.
Eve gets to savor her meal with the four men of the Cross family for the first time. Despite the clashing flagrant natures they have, their mealtime was a peaceful one, quite a surprising phenomenon at that.
Lucian, on the main seat, stopped fawning over Eve. He wanted to yet was crippled by the evil eyes cast by his sons.
Tess, sitting opposite her, remains the high and lofty eldest son, exhibiting the perfect etiquette.
Lyka, beside Tess, mumbles now and then after swallowing his spoonful of food.
And, Carla, sitting alongside her, surprisingly doesn't lose out to Tess's dining manners.
" Eve, wanna go have fun with me?" Carla invited while dabbing his mouth with a napkin.
" How fun?"
" Super fun. Let's say that one wrong move, and we could die at any moment, kind of fun." He smirked, trying to see if his cousin was as he deemed she is.
Tess and Lyka may seem uninterested but were discreetly listening to their conversation. They haven't fully interacted with their newly arrived cousin and took Carla's question as a way to gauge her character.
Lucian, who heard his son's devil whisper to his lovely niece, almost flung his fork flying in his direction.
[ Brat trying to corrupt my angel niece? Not on my watch.]
Before he could "rescue" Eve, she already responded, taking the three by surprise. Carla only grinned wider, predicting her answer.
" Sounds dangerous. I'm in." She beamed.
Her response caused a similar thought to flash in their minds.
[ Ah, she's also like that, it seems.]
Particularly Lucian, he sighed and massaged his forehead. Anyway, if it's her peculiar trait, then no one could ever persuade her otherwise. Hence, he won't hinder her. However, he can still say some words to his son.
" If something happens to Linlin," Lucian didn't get to finish his threat when Carla refuted.
" Chillax, old man. Haven't you seen me drive? I'm divine."
" I know full well that's why I'm saying this." He almost exposed that he understood perfectly well of his driving history nearing divinity. It's so miraculous that up until now, he is still in one piece despite that reckless driving.
" Yeah, yeah. Stop furrowing your brows, Dad. Your unsightly wrinkles make me view a grotesque version of my face."
Lucian crackled his fist and yelled, " Get out!"
" Jee, no need to send me so enthusiastically. Haha." Carla roared as he snatched the still gnawing Eve.
***
Carla followed Eve for quite some time and recognized they are on the way towards the training ground. At first, he was the one guiding her, but at some point, somehow, he was the one following her. He raised his brows and didn't comment, for he knew she must be visiting her subordinate.
Judas was swinging his wooden sword against a dummy when they arrived. He was striking the subject ardently as if wanting to cut it into two. The sheer focus he had was astounding that he didn't even sense the newcomer's arrival.
Eve didn't mind and only watched the docile cat practicing his clawing skills.
From where she stood, she can see the solemn determination in his amber eyes that even had a murderous glint as he swings his sword over and over, becoming more intense and fiercer with each passing blow.
" Interesting." Carla's remark successfully rattled the other's practice.
" Master." Judas exhibited a delighted expression as he saw Eve. The dark aura that enveloped him vanished in an instant as he switched to being a humble subordinate. Then he turned to the blue-eyed teen standing by her side and lowered his head to show his respect.
" Are you having fun?" She raised her palm to pet his wavy dark hair.
Judas, grasping what she intends to do, lowered his head to accommodate her action.
" Yes, Master."
He assumed that having fun is equivalent to working hard, and therefore, responded.
" That's good. I'm off to have fun too."
Judas cast a glance at the handsome youngster beside her. He knew who he is. According to the knights, the third young master is a savage beast when it comes to fistfights, and no one could contend with his might. That is why his growing trepidation of not being able to guard Eve, was appeased. Though he yearns to accompany his master, he can't, for he is still too weak.
" Take care, Master." Then he turned to Carla and curtsied.
" Sir, please take care of Master."
" With me around, she won't die." He spouted a not-so-reassuring phrase, but Judas didn't know that.
Before they left, Eve prompted Judas not to forget his meal. He should eat at least 6x a day to fatten up.
***
MINI THEATER
Deep in the night within the Tang Manor:
* Ringggg
Sylvius: *Glanced at the phone and scrunched his brows.*
Lucian, what is it?
Lucian: Hehehe
Sylvius: Speak human. How could I understand you otherwise?
Lucian: Kekeke
Sylvius: I'm dropping the call.
Lucian: Linlin called me Undad. KEKEKE
Sylvius: What? [ What the hell is a linlin? Undad? Is this some kind of a new curse?]
Lucian: I said our daughter finally recognized me as her dad. HAHAHA
Sylvius: &(@$*$&!!!!