"Eon, try this."
Caelan stood up and personally served Eon a bowl of seafood porridge. The steaming porridge was fragrant and mouthwatering, its aroma filling the air.
Eon had glanced at all the dishes on the table earlier, but she had lingered on the seafood porridge for just a moment longer. She hadn't expected Caelan to notice such a small detail.
"Thank you," Eon said, not bothering with false modesty. She took the bowl and began eating slowly.
The moment the savory porridge touched her tongue, her taste buds—and even her soul—rejoiced. A wave of indescribable pleasure washed over her, as if she had been transported to another world.
Human food. It had been so long.
The dining room fell silent, save for the occasional soft clink of bowls and chopsticks. Caelan occasionally paused to use serving chopsticks to place food on both his sisters' plates, careful not to show favoritism.
Eon accepted everything without hesitation, gradually sinking into a state of blissful indulgence.
Sera, on the other hand, ate quietly, her head bowed. She had been unusually subdued since the maid was escorted out.
The meal concluded peacefully.
Eon was satisfied, even a little stuffed. In contrast, the other two had eaten very little, especially Caelan. Despite being a tall, broad-shouldered man, he ate like a bird.
---
In the living room, the aroma of tea filled the air.
Caelan was brewing tea, his movements deliberate and graceful. His hands, with their distinct wristbones, moved with precision, a sight both calming and mesmerizing.
Sera sat beside him, while Eon lounged across from them on a single sofa. Unlike before, she didn't sit primly. Instead, she leaned back comfortably, her long legs crossed.
She resembled a cat that had finally been set free—unrestrained, wild, yet still exuding an innate elegance.
Having enjoyed a feast of human delicacies, Eon was now in a state of contentment. Her gaze wandered idly, eventually landing on Caelan's stomach.
Her conclusion: *Hmm, big brother has a serious health issue.*
But it would be too forward to mention it outright, especially since she wasn't the type to meddle.
"This is the tea I usually drink. Try it," Caelan said, sliding a cup toward Eon. He then signaled the butler to bring something over.
"This is a gift for you. See if you like it."
The gift was a stunning set of ruby jewelry: earrings, a necklace, a brooch, a ring, and a bracelet. Each piece was adorned with perfectly cut rubies of impressive size. Under the sunlight, the gems shimmered with a deep, mysterious red glow—luxurious and enchanting.
Eon seemed captivated by the rare jewels. She set down her teacup and stared at the rubies, momentarily lost in thought.
"There's more," Caelan added, handing her a black card with gold embossing—a symbol of its owner's elite status.
"This is my supplementary card. I'm sorry I wasn't there to watch you grow up, so I don't know what you like. From now on, use this card for anything you want."
Eon finally tore her gaze away from the rubies and looked at Caelan.
Their eyes met, his dark and profound. "Similarly, if you ever face any problems you can't handle, come to me immediately. Don't hesitate or feel burdened. We're siblings, and from now on, I'll be your protector and safe harbor."
Gods had the ability to see through everything, including human hearts. Eon, though not a god, was close enough to possess such a skill. She could tell Caelan's words were genuine. Her lips, lush and red, curved slightly as she finally spoke, handing her brother a metaphorical "good person" card.
"You're surprisingly kind."
The newly returned pauper accepted the gifts and made a promise: "I'll repay you."
Caelan was taken aback, then chuckled. He wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but seeing Eon's serious expression, he changed his tone to a teasing one. "How about calling me 'big brother'?"
"Big brother," Eon said without hesitation.
It didn't matter to her. The man across from her was her brother, after all. Calling him that cost her nothing.
Caelan was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. His deep, pleasant laugh echoed through the room. "Well then, little sister, drink your tea. Sera, you too."
"Do you like diamonds, sister?" Sera suddenly spoke up. "If you do, I have many diamond pieces. You're welcome to pick any you like."
Caelan frowned, his patience wearing thin as Sera's subtle attempts to assert herself became more apparent.
To him, both were his sisters—one lost and now found, the other raised alongside him. The mix-up at the hospital years ago wasn't their fault. Both were innocent infants at the time.
The family had no intention of sending Sera away or neglecting her just because Eon had returned. But naturally, with Eon's homecoming, the family's attention had shifted slightly.
"Sure," Eon said, spinning her now-empty teacup as if it were a priceless artifact. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, though a hint of malice lurked beneath.
She was like a mischievous deity, seeing through Sera's little games but choosing not to expose her outright. Instead, she played along, watching with interest as Sera's mask began to crack.
"I'm not picky. Just give me everything you have."
Sera's smile froze. The atmosphere in the room grew tense, almost hostile.
"Just kidding," Eon said, as if suddenly taking pity on Sera or perhaps losing interest in the game. She spoke plainly, her tone frank. "Don't worry. I don't have a habit of taking other people's things."
Sera's fingers tightened around her teacup, almost crushing it.
The more Eon displayed her indifference, the more Sera felt like a clown. Because Eon was the true bloodline of the Ravencroft family, while Sera was merely an imposter. But still…
"Enough," Caelan interjected, his voice calm but firm. With his intervention, the tension dissipated, and the conversation moved on.
---
An hour later, Eon returned to her pink-themed room. Along with the gifts from her brother, she had also brought back a few herbs she had plucked while familiarizing herself with the estate.
To be precise, they were medicinal herbs—intended to treat Caelan's "serious health issue." As for how to use them…
Eon opened the jewelry box and took out the necklace with the largest ruby. She could feel the faint spiritual energy within it and let out a cold laugh.
Was this the heavens' final act of mercy for her, the unlucky one?
Soon, Eon headed downstairs with the herbs in hand.
Back in her room, the ruby jewelry on the vanity seemed to lose a fraction of its luster, though the change was imperceptible to the human eye. The gems still sparkled brilliantly.
"Ding!" The elevator doors opened.
Eon asked a servant for directions to the kitchen. Once there, she rummaged through the array of kitchen tools and pulled out a blender.
Under the bewildered stares of the chefs, she blended the herbs into a vibrant green juice. Then, holding the cup, she returned to the elevator and rode it to the fifth floor, where she knocked on Caelan's study door.
"Big brother, time to take your medicine."