Yuki slowly emerged from the haze of sleep, her delicate eyelids fluttered open to reveal her striking blue eyes, which that morning sparkled like never before. Meanwhile, her long luscious lashes lifted and separated to frame her eyes with a soft gentle elegance. When she fully awoke, Yuki's gaze was met with the soft, sagging curves of her mother's bosom, inches from her face. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the familiar but unusual view.
With slow and deliberate movements, the maiden extracted herself from the warmth of the bed and her mother's embrace. She held her breath, meanwhile, her eyes were fixed on her mother's peaceful face, as she inched her way to the edge of the bed. While making sure her movements did not disrupt her mother's sleep, Yuki left the room barely making any noises. Following her exit from the bedroom, Yuki made her way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
In the kitchen, Yuki busily kneaded dough with graceful skill and precision. Her bright eyes hovered over the soft dough that was slowly taking shape as her fingers sank into them.
Yuki's attention was however broken, when from the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of a disheveled Treyton shuffling into the kitchen. Her gaze remained on the dough, but her attention was elsewhere. She first took in Treyton's unkempt hair, as well as the fatigue etched on his face despite it being in the morning. Yuki's hands continued to knead, but her strokes gradually slowed when her eyes wandered from Treyton's face downwards.
When her eyes reached his naked chest, Yuki's hands froze on the dough as she captured the perfectly toned abs and biceps into her memory. From his chest, her lascivious eyes ogled at Treyton's hard, well-defined thighs which threatened to rip the briefs that was wrapped around them. Unhurriedly, she tore her eyes from his thighs and then directed them towards the bulging entity between his thighs when she spontaneously looked behind Treyton.
With arms crossed and eyes expressing intense scorn and criticism, Jacek stood at the kitchen's entrance, glaring at her. Yuki was evidently startled after being caught red handed, looking at a man in a not-very-innocent manner. She blushed and turned her face back to her dough.
"Tsk!" Jacek clicked his tongue. His eyes flashed with annoyance, a brief but intense burst of frustration.
Treyton turned sluggishly to look behind himself after hearing the clicking sound. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake of the haze of a restless night's sleep, then he yawned widely and brushed his hand through his hair with a narrowed gaze. Treyton was still sleepy after keeping watch all night in case any more intruders came by. "Mornin' Jacek," his rough and husky voice greeted.
"Good morning. You did not sleep well?" Jacek asked as he walked towards the disheveled man.
"I slept late," Treyton disclosed with a yawn. Then he turned to look at the figure standing in the middle of the kitchen. "Good morning, Ms. Adlerian," he greeted loudly.
"Good morning…" Yuki responded sheepishly without turning.
Treyton frowned at Yuki's unusual behavior. He glanced back at Jacek to receive any verbal interpretation there could have been. Instead, he was met with Jacek's carping eyes that scanned him from chest to knee. He followed his gaze and understood the thought that Jacek tried to communicate.
Treyton chuckled amusingly then stated, "Maidens of Echt really are bashful." Then he turned back to go and dress more appropriately.
"Bashful!? How innocent of him to make such a statement around a person who viewed him so shamelessly a moment ago!" Jacek scorned audibly to himself.
Yuki flinched as Jacek's words pierced her guilty heart. She bit her lips, blushing wildly while aggressively kneading the over-kneaded dough.
"I better tell him to be careful, after all, not all the maidens in Echt are as pure as he perceives, what do you think, Yuki?" Jacek persisted in his endeavor to cleanse his sister of her eroticism.
"Let it rest, would you!" Yuki fumed, her face as red as ripened tomatoes. "Say you are jealous of his features if you must; I see how you look at him too! What is so shameful about admiring an appealing body? Do not project your hurt ego on me!" Yuki scolded, throwing a sharp glare at her brother.
Jacek looked at Yuki with his mouth and eyes ajar. "What?! My body is perfectly fine, I will have you know!" Jacek yelled across the kitchen.
"And fine is all it is! No one admires what is ordinary. Besides, even on the ordinary scale, you are more ordinary than most!" the chains to Yuki's sarcasm were broken by shame.
For the first time in a banter with Yuki, Jacek was rendered speechless. Did Yuki really criticize the body he was indeed insecure about? Really? Was it his fault he was lean when neither his mother nor father were fleshy?
"You little brat…" as soon as he hissed the three words, Jacek felt a sharp smack against his back. He shrunk and groaned from the sting on his back.
"Why are you yelling at the poor girl so early in the morning?" Mrs. Adlerian roared as she glared down at her son's pained stance as he tried to reach and touch his back.
Yuki's fierce expression had switched to a guiltless one the moment she spotted her mother behind Jacek. Now, a smirk promised to jeopardize her perfect disguise as she saw Jacek in defeat. However, her eyes fell on the lofty form of Treyton leaning against the frame of the kitchen entrance with an intrigued look on his face; clearly, he had a better grasp on what happened than their mother. Did he hear her argument with Jacek? Yuki averted her gaze when she felt her cheeks heating up again.
"Mother!" Jacek exclaimed bitterly, then straightened his back and eyed his mother with an offended look.
Treyton laughed as he watched the drama that was unfolding before his eyes. His grey eyes softened as he beheld the bright, serene air that surrounded the Adlerian household. But just as quickly as his eyes lightened up at the sight of the family, Treyton's eyes darkened slightly when he glanced at Yuki's busy back.
…
As Treyton advised Yuki not to go out alone, and if possible, at all, Mrs. Adlerian insisted that she did not go to the shop for some time until her problems were completely resolved.
Thus, Jacek was the only one who left for the shop that Thursday morning. He was not too pleased about leaving Yuki home with Treyton, except, he had no choice in the matter. At the end of his mother's persistence that he left the house, Jacek's expression was a sulky mask, a scowling visage that dared anyone to try and cheer him up when he departed for the shop.
Somewhere midday, Mrs. Adlerian retired to her room to take a nap, leaving Treyton and Yuki together in Yuki's little garden in their backyard.
In the tiny paradise nestled in the Adlerian cottage's backyard, where vibrant flowers bloomed and birds sang sweet melodies, Yuki squatted amidst the beautiful flowers uprooting weeds. She seemed very much content with the little activity as she immersed herself in the scenery and harmonious tunes of hummingbirds.
Meanwhile, Treyton stood against the wall, a little distance sitting between himself and Yuki. She had strictly warned him not to come near her garden after recalling his horrible gardening skills. Not that he took offense to her playful caution. Moreover, he loved the sight of Yuki among the flowers.
"Say, Sir Athaulfe… How did you know to arrive when you did when I was being attacked?" Yuki asked hesitantly while still looking at the flowers.
She heard gentle but steady taps approach her from behind, followed by Treyton squatting beside her and touching the petal of a lily flower tenderly.
"I felt like we were being followed ever since we left the hotel yesterday. I initially assumed I was the one being followed since my presence is not too welcomed here in Echt, but after arriving at the old man's house, I noticed the presence had disappeared after I separated from you two."
"So, I wasn't mistaken by thinking the stalking started at the hotel…" Yuki trailed off.
"You notice his presence?" Treyton sounded surprised.
"Yes, several, actually. It felt like I was an item being displayed at an auction, except I did not see anyone looking at me no matter how much I looked. It was an uncomfortable feeling," Yuki expressed with a pensive expression.
Treyton's expression darkened after hearing Yuki's words.
"Then, you came to check up on us after realizing Jacek and I were the ones being followed?" Yuki looked up at Treyton to confirm if his story ended as she assumed.
Treyton's face cleared as soon as Yuki's crystal-like eyes looked into his. "Yes," he validated, then continued by saying, "when I arrived, you were the first person that came to mind and that was how I came to find you and stumbled upon your attacker."
"I see. Thank you once more," Yuki said genuinely, glancing at Treyton who in turn smiled warmly and mouthed, "You are welcome."