"Okay, relax. I won't do that." Valeska's heart sank; hearing his anxious plea made her even more unwilling to leave him outside. She let out a long breath. Trying to calm down. "So, what's your name?" asked Valeska in a soft tone. She smiled widely. Gazing at the boy intensely. "You have a lot to explain to me. Take it easy; I'm willing to listen to you. I'm grateful that you can talk. I know you must be terrified. Being wary of strangers is the way to be."
Valeska thought she would have a hard time interacting with him, so she thought of another option: giving him a pen or a memo. Valeska hoped that the boy before her eyes could write something even if he was mute. But thankfully, perhaps he was afraid of interacting with strangers. Even so, Valeska did not feel offended.
But the vigilance of this 10-year-old child felt too odd, as if something strong lived inside him, and his glittering eyes... it was unusual.
"I don't remember anything," he avowed weakly, his head down, disoriented. "I have no idea where to go."
Valeska frowned, briefly making sure there were no visible physical injuries on the boy's head. "Amnesia? That's why I wanted to take you to the hospital. I'm afraid you've suffered a serious injury. Proper treatment could prevent that, or perhaps you could find your memories again."
"No need; I'm fine. Maybe I just need more time to remember what happened to me." He shook his head, insisting. Staring at Valeska intensely again. "It doesn't matter that you think of me as your brother or refer to me as Nero. Adopt me. I like that name. I can do anything if you want me to work. I'm tough enough; I promise I won't cause any trouble. It's just that I don't have anyone or a home—"
Valeska felt even more compassion; hearing that tiny, trembling voice—soft but trying to be strong and resilient before her—melted her heart. But there were many things Valeska needed to consider: if she let this boy stay with her, what would happen to the Ravenscroft family? They would surely exploit him to squeeze his labor to make money, ending up trash like Valeska.
Her life was already awful. After Nero's death, it got even worse.
Sometimes I think it's good that Nero is gone. Even if he lives, he will only suffer with me.
Valeska would love to escape the Ravenscroft family, but they won't let her—the only way out of that hellish family is through death. Surprisingly, no matter how many times Valeska commits suicide, she always comes back from the verge of death.
Then Valeska felt claustrophobic, imagining that the boy would suffer if he stayed by her side. "The thing is, you know how my foster family is, right? You've seen it clearly; you can't end up like me. You still have a long, bright future ahead of you. I must have gone mad, turned into a monster to let them hurt you too. My life is already bad; you will only suffer with me."
"I can be your guardian angel," he stated firmly. Without thinking. With a calm expression. Full of determination, persistence, and conviction. "Let me be your knight. I promise, they won't be able to hurt you again, lady."
Something tickled Valeska's soul, and she burst out laughing. Hearing that remark actually made her laugh out loud. A simple consolation that Valeska hadn't gotten in a long time. "How can you two be so similar? Even your traits—it's ridiculous to call it a coincidence, isn't it?"
"I will prove it, perhaps to you—I am a strange miracle. But this is my vow—no matter what happens, I will save you."
I will never leave you, no matter what.
"Strange miracle? You're joking." Valeska's eyes narrowed, scoffing; she folded her arms across her chest. "Smart and so damn good at arguing with me, huh? I'm lost; I get a weird vibe from you. I mean, you don't look like a 10-year-old boy. Seemingly sincere, not bragging, but calm like... I'm unsure, whereas before you seemed so depressed and scared. In what way did you save me? Don't think about me, and don't live as badly as I did. I'd love to be free, but even fate has never allowed me to die in peace. That's my situation now."
"Even so, you still saved me. You gave me this delicate stuff—warm, nice clothes. You're not a monster, although they repeatedly forced you to be. But you still saved me. I owe you my life. The only one who smiled and reached out helped me selflessly with a face covered in blood. If I met you the right way, would you adopt me?"
Valeska snorted; she really didn't expect this kid to be able to argue in between her compliments in such an impressive way. "What do you mean?"
The boy innocently walked out to the door of the L&C shop. Picking a flower stalk in the shop's pot. Knocks on the door again, walking in after Valeska gives him permission. He walked upright, approaching Valeska to kneel at her feet, offering the flower to her.
"What are you doing, anyway? Wake up, Nero." Valeska gasped, hardly believing her own words. How could she have spoken out of turn, calling out to this boy as if Nero were still alive?
He smiled sweetly, lifting the flower higher, his red ruby eyes sparkling even more. "A knight always kneels for his queen. Hello, Lady. My name is Nero. I hope you accept my offer. I have nothing, but I will protect you with my life forever."
Valeska guffawed, little kids are always acting so weird and innocent. But this was so entertaining that it was beyond her expectations. "But you picked a flower that didn't belong to you; did you know it was Sir Walker's favorite? What happened that you told me earlier—you wouldn't cause me any trouble?"
Nero shrugged, he assured stiffly, "I'll buy a new one someday if I could make some money. I'll talk to Sir Walker; he should comprehend."
"You're a strange boy, so confident, as if you could hold up the whole world." Valeska shook in disbelief, her head spinning. Massaging her throbbing forehead, she accepted the flowers with open arms. "I always gave in to my brother before, but I never thought that after he passed away, you would be the only one who could make me do the same."
"Does that mean you agreed?"
"I don't have a choice; even leaving you out to starve, I would feel so guilty. How could I? Maybe you have a point, a strange miracle."
"I am a good luck charm," Nero stood up dramatically. "I'm already acting cute and adorable like this; don't you wanna hug me? Don't you miss your brother? I don't mind if you want to hug me. It's an honor to me."
Valeska roared; she was going to die with this insane excitement. She hugged Nero with a shriek of thrill.
***
"You just sleep here; don't make a sound. If they are coming, just hide in the wardrobe, okay?" Valeska whispered, wrapping her arms around Nero on the cold bed. "I promise, they won't be able to touch or hurt you. So, we'll help each other together, right?"
Nero nodded. "Where do you sleep? Just let me lay under the floor. No problem to me."
"You'll get sick. I can sleep on the mattress instead," Valeska smiled broadly under the weak moonlight. She ruffled Nero's head. "Good night, Nero."
What a miserable attic it was, cramped, filled with worn-out stuff, though it was dust-free and Valeska had taken good care of every corner. Two windows on the side overlooked the tiny front yard, as well as a window in the roof that showed the expanse of the night sky studded with sparkling clusters of stars.
"That's the only view I like here. The cluster of stars, the golden moon. You won't find it anywhere else," Valeska added, noticing Nero's brilliant ruby eyes focused on the night sky.
"You're such a simple person; don't you have any dreams that you want to realize?" asked Nero, still focused on the stars above.
Valeska chuckled. "Dreams, yeah, everyone has them, right? I haven't had time to think about it." Valeska's eyes fell on the Cassiopeia, glowing brightly beside the full moon. "I just want my life to improve, to be free from this hellish family, and it seems like having my own shop would be nice. Imagine just the two of us."
"If I can make it happen?" emphasized Nero, seeing Valeska's bruised face.
"Yeah, amen to that. Now gets sleep, bro."
"V! I'M HUNGRY! Cook something for me, DAMN IT!" Corbett roared furiously from downstairs. "HOW CAN I LET A USELESS GIRL LIKE YOU LIVE IN MY HOUSE?!"
Nero flinched, his eyes flaring indignantly, his tiny jaw tightening. He was even about to jump off the bed, realizing that Valeska grasped Nero's hand, shaking her head when their eyes met.
Valeska pleading. "Stay here; don't go anywhere, and be quiet. Promise me, Nero."
Nero sighed in vexed; he threw away his sickening look, having promised Valeska—then he had to restrain himself.
Valeska glanced at Nero closely, made sure he was calm, and lay back down under the covers. She hadn't expected Nero to react like that. She felt goosebumps, a chill creeping up her back—there was a strong, savage, wierd, and violent vibe coming from Nero's tiny body.
Valeska just shook her head, exiting slowly, making sure the attic door was locked so that no one would enter after her.
"UNWANTED! If you can't make a lot of money for me! I'D BETTER SEND YOU AND LET YOU WORK IN A BROTHEL!"
Nero gasped in rage, can't hold this anymore, then jolted up, hearing Valeska screaming and moaning in horror below. The sound of a blunt object hitting, then the glass scattering. Corbett continued to curse and torment her. Nero tried to open the damned locked attic door, shaking it in disturbance. He stood back, reached out, and let out a red glow pyrokinesis. Nero melted the lock of the attic door as easily as shredding paper.
Nero climbed down but didn't expect Hadeon's ambush from behind, who choked him.
"Gotcha!" Hadeon hissed and cackled wickedly, his eyes blazed with madness, his adrenaline always rising with excitement if he caught his prey. Hadeon lifted Nero's body, strengthening the choke on his neck until Nero had trouble breathing. "DAD! Look at this! I CAUGHT THIS DAMN THIEF!"
***