Astral Odyssey: Dying Ember

World 5.16: Eva

The sun was setting by the time Austin woke up. Having remembered that he had not yet settled the issue with the servants, he left the room with the intention to do so. However, Edwin happened to be at the foot of the stairs and caught him there.

"Your grace, dinner's ready."

"I'll have it later."

Suddenly, Edwin bowed down low, making Austin stop in his tracks once more. "Sir, please let me handle the servants."

Austin frowned. "Why?"

"All these would not have happened if I had not been careless. Let me atone for my mistakes. Please."

While Austin looked at him contemplatively, Edwin asked once more. "Please have dinner with the miss while I handle the servants."

Austin was bought over by the idea but he did not want to let it show. "She's awake?"

"Yes, I checked on her earlier so I've also made her dinner. I was just about to call her down for dinner."

"I'll do that then. I have business with her anyway."

"Thank you!"

"There's nothing to thank me for. Leave."

Austin watched Edwin walk off before going to the dining hall. 

There was a plate of steak with mashed potatoes and corn as sides and a bowl of yogurt with several fruits that would be easy on the stomach in it. He carried the food up to Eva's room, intending to eat in the room with her.

Austin stood in front of the door with his eyes closed and a frown on his face. What an idiot I am.

He had forgotten that he would have no hands left to open the door. He put his plate down, knocked on the door, waited for awhile before opening it, then picked up the plate again before entering the room.

The curtains had already been drawn open and the room was dyed in the pink colour of the setting sun. He set the food down on the table by the window and turned around to find that Eva has already walked over by herself. They sat themselves down from across each other and dug in.

After he ate a few mouthfuls, he noticed that Eva has not taken another bite after the first one, so he looked at her to find that she was staring at him curiously.

"I'm eating with you to make sure that you finish your food obediently. Eat."

"I'll eat. I didn't forget about my promise to be your sword and shield."

"I'll eat with you till I trust that you will. So, eat. Or do you need me to feed you?"

Eva shook her head then dug into her food once more.

When they were done with their food, Austin breached the topic that he has been delaying for too long. "You probably already know this since you've lived in the servants' quarters for a while... Your parents are still alive."

Eva nodded to show that she understood.

"It's about time for me to hand them over to the royal couple to receive their proper execution. I've been holding them captive in the basement, kept alive in the worst possible condition, to be tortured by the family members of the people they assassinated for no good reason. The royal couple was close to my parents and there were a lot of issues to deal with after my parents died, so they want a piece of your parents as well." Austin looked and talked like he was some kind of villain at the moment.

Eva felt a tug in her heart. She was not surprised since BaoBao filled her in of all that happened to her parents after she had woken up. Instead, she felt slightly saddened that it was as if Austin was trying to play the bad guy now even though he was clearly not one. The way he reminded themselves of the cruel things he did to her family reminded her of what she did to him earlier in the day, so she could tell that he was intentionally drawing a line between them.