Sarien has yet to reach a few meters when he met his butler accompanying a guest. Observing that they were heading towards Aquillen's room, his eyes narrowed.
" Bernard, who is this guest?" He approached them and questioned while discreetly studying the man's figure.
A pair of sharp, pumpkin-colored eyes met his. He finds it somehow unpleasant, like being stared at by a beast.
" Young Master, this is Sir Judas. He is Lady Eve's acquaintance."
Hearing their relationship made him feel worse.
Judas, hearing the words "Young Master" readily surmised that he is the hero to whom Eve was referring. Also, he is the reason why they came over non-stop. Judas isn't clear about their relationship but knew his master is fond of him. Maybe he saved her in the past, rendering her to treat him preferentially.
Despite that possibility, he couldn't muster an ounce of good impression for the handsome and gentle-looking person before him. It is because he let Eve wait for him for almost two hours. His master is so delicate and has spent traveling non-stop for nearly three days straight, yet he made her wait until the very end.
Judas has a poor opinion of him but still showed proper courtesy.
" Greetings. My master, Eve, calls me Judas." He stood straight, meeting the young man's scrutinizing gaze head-on. He did not exhibit any timidity as a person who lacks freedom. On the contrary, what he emanated is pride, for he is Eve's person.
A slight furrow appeared on Sarien's glabella but erased it a second later.
He doesn't like it- him calling Eve his master.
" I am Sarien, Eve's ...friend." He almost spat the word hero. Luckily, his clouded mind snapped back to reality.
Then, silence permeated the hallway.
You look at me, and I look at you. What is supposed to happen here?
The butler, Bernard, glanced at the two impressive lads standing face to face, seeming as if they'll duel at any second. He decided to salvage the deadlock.
" Young Master, Sir Judas came upstairs to check on Lady Eve."
" She is asleep." He answered in a heartbeat.
" Then I'll trouble young master Sarien to show the way so I can check on my master."
Two narrowed eyes met once more with a tinge of hostility brewing within them.
" Of course." Sarien turned around and started walking towards his room.
The butler hid the surprise that flashed his eyes when he realized where they were heading. He thought to himself that the young cub has finally grown up.
When they reached the said chamber, Sarien looked back at Judas and stated,
" She's inside. You only need to verify that she is alright and resting is that it?"
" Naturally, I need to confirm that my master wants to stay for the night. Master said earlier that she would head home after tending to her matters."
The air seems to lower a couple of degrees.
" Eve is already sleeping. No need to wake her up again."
" My master said she needs to go home at all cost."
The air seems to lower a couple of degrees, part 2.
Sarien: ...
Judas: ...
Tumbling weed:
Bernard: ... [ Can I be excused now?] His old bones are too tired for this kind of excitement.
The air became stagnant, and no one wanted to back down.
***
( Host! Host! It's terrible! You have to wake up!)
The drowsy Eve lifelessly tried to perk her ears up but was lulled to sleep once more.
( Host! Come on! They are about to fight!)
( What fight?) She mumbled groggily, in a half-conscious state.
( That kind of intense body collision communication!) Halfsie explained haphazardly.
Fortunately, before she completely slips into a coma, the juicy news reboots her gossip, pornographic cells online.
( Host! Hurry! Sarien and Judas are about to get it on!)
Eve: [ Whose going to get on?] Her eyes swing open upon hearing the unexpected revelation.
In truth, Halfsie isn't clear of what transpired.
Earlier, it was watching the hero and host's movements like searchlights and ears perked up like an avid, neighborhood gossip auntie. Hence, when the depraved creature saw Sarien approached Eve, it got too stimulated that every fiber in its body trembled. The moment the hero articulated those domineering words, those fibers shook moderately. Later, when their lips were about to meet, it shuddered furiously.
It could almost see the dawn of victory- grabbing the heavenly being's man, which is the key to securing its rewards.
Thinking of those sacred golden orbs was the last straw that broke the degenerate camel's back.
In the end, the furball didn't witness the kissing scene, for it was beyond animated that it convulsed to oblivion.
The moment it regained consciousness was when Sarien and Judas were nearing the peak of their confrontation.
( Host! You go! They are about to do it!) It urged Eve once more, not minding how ambiguous its chatter was.
Curious about the two males who somehow become magically entangled, Eve summoned every bit of energy in her body.
She dragged herself towards the door to verify if the plane issued an additional BL tag in place of the epic one-sided love story.
Meanwhile, on the corridor;
Judas tightened his clenched fists while glaring at the person obstructing the doorway.
" I advised you to move aside, young master Sarien. You are very much hindering my duty." Judas spoke through gritted teeth.
" And I suggest you back down, Sir knight." An equally frosted voice replied, biting the word knight bitterly.
" As I said. I need to check on my master."
" I have told you that she is asleep. No need to disturb her any longer."
" You don't have the right to stop me."
" I am her friend, and right now, she is my guest. If you agree on merely checking her situation and back off, of course, I will let you in."
" And I have told you repeatedly that I must take my master home as per her orders."
It may be summer in Xia country but, a wild winter season is raging in Lu Villa's corridor.
Not getting to anywhere, as they have been going round and round, their agitated nerves have reached the precipice. The thinned-out patience of the two sleep-deprived, exhausted but infuriated men begun to crack, saturating the hall with a suffocating aura.
At this moment, the tightly guarded door opened, taking them by surprise.
Eve glanced at Sarien and Judas standing close to each other with intense, fiery sparks in their squinted eyes. When she disrupted the atmosphere and took their gazes, she hurriedly excused herself and closed the door.
" Carry on." She spoke and returned their privacy, thoughtfully.
( Host, what are you doing?) The bewildered Halfsie asked. Didn't she saw them about to ramble?
( I didn't expect this development but, maybe this is called the butterfly effect?)
( What are you talking about, host?)
( Well, there was no Judas in the original timeline, huh.)
Halfsie: ? [ Who am I? What are we talking about?]
( Anyway, I don't judge. Love is love. Even I love snacks, so that's about it.) Eve altruistically muttered.
Halfsie: ... [ What the hell is happening?]
Outside the door:
Sarien: ...
Judas: ...
They were both confounded by the whirlwind series of events that they maintained their original posture. When they finally noticed, both speedily let the other go.
Just a while back, their awful mood got the better of themselves that they were on the brink of hitting each other. Hence, Sarien and Judas had just grasped the other's collars, and the entryway opened. Suddenly, Eve cast them a look, showed a vague expression then, closed the door again.
And her statement, remembering those two words, made their faces crumple horridly in a blink of an eye.
They felt terrible like they've eaten a swarm of flies.
At the end of the episode, the two temporarily agreed on a truce and knocked.
They wanted to clarify things but believed that maybe they were presuming too much? How could a person whose eyes are so serene think in that direction? Explaining would be more suspicious.
Nonetheless, in order to clear their names of such horrid stains, they decided to gloss it over. To Eve, however, it seemed like a dying struggle.
Still, what they received was her graceful, empathetic voice saying;
" No need to explain. I understand." With a lovely smile on her face.
They are choked by the awful misunderstanding, making them unable to refute.
Somehow, the two contained another emotion in each other's eyes- pity for the other.
Ultimately, Eve still decided to head home because she misses her bed and its softness attribute.
She bade her farewells to the hero and asked Judas to carry her.
Talk about the perks of having her person- it is simply heaven-sent for a sloth like her.
Sarien could only watch Eve be princess-carried by Judas.
Despite controlling his appearance, he could not conceal the annoyance that flitted his eyes.
How he wished he was the one to carry Eve.
When Eve took a last glimpse at the hero- what welcomed him was a frosty-looking Sarien.
She was taken aback by such sight.
Never has she seen Sarien with that kind of expression.
Eve glanced at Judas's side profile, contemplating that he is the only change that has occurred in their life, and recalled the scene she saw earlier.
The furball has explained repeatedly that Judas and Sarien were genuinely about to fight, miraculously wanting to rectify her corrupted thoughts.
Nonetheless, she glanced back at Sarien and smiled meaningfully.
[ Somehow, it got more exciting.]
Out of the blue, Sarien and Judas shivered.