Eliot knew that his bleeding eye was nothing compared to a real punishment. If he spoke of something trivial he would receive a pain worth ripping his heart out.
Yet, he had to say more. The one Lady Rina has been speaking of is in front of him. He felt the need to give him more information.
'..just a bit more...'
For one more time, Eliot caught his breaths and opened his mouth to speak. However, he paused at the touch of a piece of cloth on his bleeding eye.
"That was more than one information."
Eliot's eyes were closed, but he knew the one wiping the blood on his face, was none other than the young revived man.
Eliot pressed the handkerchief on his eye. He hurriedly tried to speak, urgent to clarify himself.
"I can tell you more next time-"
However, a stern yet gentle voice cut him.
"I don't need to know anything for such a price. I can get my needed information using other methods."
Eliot peeked at the speaking young man with his right eye that he heavily opened without dropping any pained tear.
Rivan was gazing at a familiar spot. He was looking at the Jasmines with no expression speaking of his thoughts.
"Say. You are doing this for her? Am I right?"
Eliot nodded his head without a second thought. He knew who is the one 'her' he would do anything for.
"The Lady was my guardian. She gave me a role other than being the cursed child."
"Hmm. Aren't you still considered a cursed doll?"
Rivan asked carelessly with no sing of irony in his voice. He was genuinely curious.
For the fist time, a small smile formed on Eliot's doll face. Despite how innocent it seemed, Rivan felt the slight mockery it held which made him rise his eyebrows in amused surprise. He did not expect to see such an expression on Eliot's doll face.
"But that is not the truth no more. A cursed doll is a broken controlled object."
The young boy opened both his blood colored eyes. Traces of the "punishment" were still present even as he wiped his left eye and pointed at it.
"This isn't a curse, it's a contract. And I'm not a controlled doll. I have a role as a Secret Holder."
Rivan kept silent for a bit. He saw what a few words can do for a punishment. Although Eliot has not whined at the pain, Rivan was certain it was immense.
'Not a curse my ass.'
He knew the difference between a curse and a contract however, seeing there's pain resulted from both, Rivan found them to be alike. Changing the name would not ease the pain.
'It can rise the boy's spirit though.'
After admitting the last point, Rivan addressed the young boy while turning his gaze back to the jasmines once more.
"Let's make a deal. it's not a contract but just a deal."
Eliot lifted his eyebrows in a questioning surprise. Rivan was not looking his way. His words were directed to him yet Eliot could see that Rivan's eyes drifted away to picture something.
"You will probably try to break your Secret Holder contract to tell me more whether I want it or not. You're not allowed to do that."
Just when Eliot was about to speak up and object, Rivan pierced him with his pair of yellowish green eyes. The ash haired boy clenched his lips shut. He could feel the dark cold aura that crept in the funeral earlier. The aura of seducing death. It warped all his being as if any wrong move could rip him to shreds.
'That's the aura of a cursed being, no, of the Undying Duke of Whishipper...'
"Yet."
"Pardon?"
Eliot asked in confusion.
"You're not allowed to break your contact yet."
Eliot was taken aback. He surely did not expect that. Then he thought.
'So I'm allowed to tell of the Secret one day?'
His brightened expression told what in his mind thus, Rivan let out a sigh.
"Haa. Hear the whole deal first. You're only allowed to speak of it when I ask for it. You will be final refuge."
When Rivan, who said he would use other methods to reach what he wants to know, asks for Eliot's help, it would mean he is completely stuck and has no other choice.
'Will such a situation occur...?'
Eliot contemplated for a bit. He doubted that Rivan would even seek for his Secret if he did not offer it himself. Then he dismissing those thoughts quickly and recalled Lady Rina. She would not have given him that Secret and told him about the mole guy if he would not be of his help.
After a few second, Eliot nodded his head in approval and spoke formally once more.
"I will be ready to offer my assistance for his grace, the Duke of Whishipper."
Rivan smiled and reached for a handshake. When Eliot grabbed his hand and the former answered.
"Very well. This is a deal I make with the Secret Holder Eliot Lether."
After their hands parted, the heavy auras coming from the Undying Duke and the Secret Holder both vanished. What was left was mere the warm springy light in the quiet garden.
Rivan looked at Eliot's left eye once before leaving his seat.
"The blood trace will fade if you rest. Remain here before going back inside."
All the blood evaporated from over the table as fast as tears would yet, Rivan did not want someone to misunderstand him for hurting his only close relative, his cousin. It was unneeded trouble.
Eliot was speechless for a second. In fact, He was a bit surprised about Rivan's remark on his left eye.
'Oh...'
Nonetheless, he soon figured that the young Duke was concerned if someone asked Eliot about it, how would he answer for his bloodied eye? Moreover, there's a slight but existing chance that there will be who would know of his Secret Holder contract and recognize the punishment.
Eliot nodded in understanding.
'The Duke is very observant'
Rivan who had no idea of what's on the young boy's mind walked away, observed by the pair of approving red bloods.
End of chapter 14.