"Now, now. Don't think too much, you are not alone through this, Carole," Gabriel gives comfort words while touching her shoulder tenderly, "This may be confused you, but it will make sense later. Why is Alfred doing this."
Corale nodded slightly. She always believes every decision has a strong reason, including her father too. She doesn't want to think negatively.
Ever.
Especially, she reminisces her father's response about her dream.
He is so proud of her, then says he will do anything to help her if the situation becomes difficult in the future.
'Just ask, Corale. I try to grant your wish with all my power. That's my promise.'
Remembering her father's comfort words makes Corale's heart ache so much she burst into tears.
Maybe this decision was made by her father because he knew he could not keep his promise to her.
This was her father's way of showing his love for her after being unable to meet her in Eguisheim for a long time due to his busy work.
Even though there are things she doesn't want, her father's only goal is to want the best for her.
"Father ..." Corale can't take it anymore, the 'what-if' scenario in her head about what her father did before he passed away.
His undying love for her, but she couldn't do anything to repay his kindness because he was already gone.
Corale's legs become weak, and her body leans forward to lean on and fall into Vyrion's firm back.
"Ugh ...!" Vyrion let out a low groan at sudden pain through his entire body, his hand immediately pushing Corale away until she falls into Gabriel's arms. That mysterious electric effect disappeared as soon as their body was not in contact anymore, His breath heavily, thinking what just happened.
"What the—!?" Gabriel was so angry that his cheeks were red, "she only touched you for a few seconds, you don't have to push Corale so hard! Handle woman with care, Vyrion!" he snapped.
Vyrion who still breathes heavily looks away with his arm crossed. He didn't care, he here not too impressed Corale, let alone become her new friend.
"J*rk," Gabriel cursed before looking at her niece who was still in his arms, "Are you okay, Corale?"
Corale didn't respond. She could explain logically what had happened to her and Vyrion, but deep in her heart, there was something other than the proton and electron effect that gave them an electric shock. Moreover, they wear full clothes, do not touch the skin directly.
"Corale?"
Corale blinked, "Uh ...?"
"You want to rest?"
"Uhm," Corale slowly nodded, and Gabriel led her to sit on the sofa. She took a deep breath, "Mr. Laurent ...?"
"Just call me Gabriel, Corale," Gabriel says softly, "or Uncle Gabriel."
Uncle?
Corale still feels strange about that, "Um ... can I think about all this?"
"Eh?"
"About living together with you ...?" Corale gives a specific explanation, "this is too sudden to me."
"You want to live here? With that jerk?"
Vyrion ...
Corale's eyes feel on Vyrion who still refused to look at her, put a thick wall between them. She bite her lower lip, slowly nodded.
"You know very well how he treats you," Gabriel protested loudly, "he hates you."
Hate?
That's a strong word.
Corale just thinks Vyrion didn't know her enough, beside that electric effect makes her decision more clear. But ... she could be wrong, and Gabriel right. After all, she can't read people's minds—
"Just shut up, let her do what she wants," Vyrion's sudden confession makes everyone gasp, "It's her life, not yours."
"You little br*t," Gabriel says coldly, "I'll come here often if she lives here."
Vyrion looks away again. Thinking another human in his castle makes his hand itchy to do something to make them disappear. But his mouth refuses to argue anything else than that.
"Vyrion ..." Corale was speechless. Despite he boldly said he gladly accept if she didn't live here, he chooses to argue with Gabriel about her decision.
His face is now cold and unfriendly, thinking if she lives here, maybe.
But ...
Corale little happy he says that, "Yes, I want to live here to think. It's that okay?"
"But—"
"Please?" She pleaded sadly.
"I understand," Gabriel gave up persuaded her.
Corale smiles widely, "Thank you." really happy Gabriel let it go. She turns her head to see Vyrion, but what is she gonna say gone when she sees him holding his head like in pain, "Are you alright?" Desperately worry fill her mind, she didn't move an inch, afraid he avoid her again.
"..."
Corale got up from her seat the moment Vyrion suddenly fell to his knees on the white floor still holding his head, "Vyrion!? Are you hurt? Want me to call a Doctor?"
Vyrion raised his shaking hand, rejecting Corale's suggestion to call the Doctor as there was no use in the matter, "Ugh ..." He groaned in pain feeling his head start spinning making his vision start to blur.
Corale's instinct of caring kicking in see Vyrion become pale and sweat began to fill his face, her hand reached his face, and just like before, when their skin brush for a second, the mysterious electric come back, much stronger than before making her cry out in pain.
'What should I do?'
Corale hates it when she can't do anything when someone is in danger or pain.
Vyrion tries to get up, showing Corale that he is fine. He slowly gets on his shaky legs, forced to steady, even hold on sofa tight to support. His vision still blurs, but the pain in his head starts to fade away.
This feeling.
It's been a while since he feel it.
Corale watched silently every Vyrion action, see if there's another strange action because she will call Doctor if he starts showing any pain again, whether he wants it or not, "You ... okay?" she carefully ask seeing his face start rose again, and tiny blush appear on his cheek.
Vyrion took a deep breath before giving a slow nod.
"You sure?"
"Do I have to say everything to you?" Vyrion asked, starting irritated about her over-worried.
Corale was startled for while before bursting into a small giggle.
Vyrion stared at her face, hard. Confused about what makes her giggle. He didn't say something funny, but why did she respond like that?
"Sorry," Corale says shyly noticing his beautiful ruby eyes focused on her, "I believe you okay now since your respond is cold like you are." Then she giggled again. Never in her life, she will be relieved to get a cold response.
Vyrion is more confused than before about her reason. What in heaven she could think that?
Corale lowered her head, unable to stare too long. She may be like his ruby eyes, but eyes locked to each other, not so much.
For now.
'Why do I behave like this?'
Corale swung her right legs awkwardly. Not long ago, she cried out in pain alone in her room about the failure of her first relationship. Now her heart pounding faster just get stared at the man who is not interested become her friend—
"Hey, guys! I'm back~!" Vega's cheerful voice fills the room, breaking the intense atmosphere between these two. Her warm brown-eyed widened see Gabriel there just one second before turning soft again, "Huh. What'd I miss?" She ask, tilting her head innocently.
"Nothing," Corale responded softly.
"Huh~?" Vega noticed something different in Corale, "Is there something interesting~? Your face is all red!"
"Wha—?" Corale immediately touch her cheek.
Warm.
There's no way she—
"Just kidding~!" Vega says playfully, "So ... why are you here, Mr. Laurent?"
"Cut the cr*p, Vega," Gabriel says coldly, remembering she the one who started this 'drama', "Why you brought Corale here? I never says that to Zara, neither you."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Laurent. I just so lonely, need friend," Vega says, "besides, Miss Corale didn't mind staying here."
Corale nods, agree with what Vega says, "Please, don't blame Vega on this."
"No promises," Gabriel says, "I go then. Need something to do. Call me if you need anything, Corale."
"I will," Corale replied tenderly, "Be careful, Mr. Laurent."