Read with BonusRead with Bonus

8. Who am I here?

A servant approached the living room to inform his master that lunch was ready.

Alendra nodded his head and told the servant to leave immediately.

Put the tablet back on the table. Alendra took off the reading glasses that were perched on top of his sharp nose, then the man's gaze turned to Aneska.

“I invite you to have lunch together. Come on," said Alendra.

However, Aneska just remained silent while looking at Edwin stiffly. I don't know who Aneska should obey, Alendra or Edwin.

"Okay then, that's it. I'll wait at the dining table. Edwin, take Aneska," said Alendra to his son who didn't respond at all.

After saying that, Alendra went from the living room to the dining room and had lunch.

Aneska glanced at Edwin again. However, there was no movement from the man who continued to stare forward.

"Let's go. Father invites you to lunch," said Edwin finally.

Unfortunately, Aneska was the one who had doubts. The girl chose to stay on the sofa. The girl's eyes moved restlessly. In a strange place, and involved in a slight dispute between father and son, Aneska became a little anxious.

The girl immediately raised her head when the strong hand reached out, and looked up to see what Edwin was doing.

“I'll take you home later. But now you have to help me," said Edwin without taking his eyes off Aneska who was still sitting on the sofa.

Not accepting the lies that shone in Edwin's eyes, Aneska took the man's hand and got up from her seat to accept Alendra's invitation to lunch.

After grabbing Edwin's hand, Aneska couldn't let go. The cold aura in the main house made the girl uncomfortable. Strangely enough, Edwin didn't let go of Aneska's hand and the two of them walked towards the dining room.

In her mind, Aneska wondered what was wrong with Edwin's slightly changed attitude. Aneska knew that Edwin didn't care about her at all, but now the man's attitude was a little better.

Arriving at the magnificent dining room, Aneska sat in a chair according to Edwin's directions. Alendra had started eating the food served on the table and smiled faintly at his son's attitude.

"Eat whatever you like," Edwin said to Aneska without serving her.

Aneska was confused by all the food. Many things looked delicious, but Aneska remembered that she had to behave herself in the big house, otherwise there would be problems.

The three of them ate their lunch in silence, the only sound being the sound of spoons and forks clashing against the white ceramic plates in front of them. Occasionally Aneska noticed Edwin and Alendra's calm attitude when they were eating food.

"I'm done," said Alendra after a while, wiping his lips with a napkin.

Aneska was silent for a moment. Alendra pushed the chair he was sitting on and stood up.

"Please eat as much as you like, Aneska," said Alendra kindly, but Aneska saw that the man was strange.

Alendra turned to Edwin without changing his friendly attitude.

"I want to talk to you. So come to the study after eating," said Alendra in an undeniably commanding tone.

Edwin didn't respond so Alendra left there after staring at Aneska for a while.

The girl sighed after Alendra left. Edwin himself was still eating his food. No one spoke between them anymore, and Aneska continued to eat.

A few moments later, Edwin left without saying goodbye, leaving Aneska at the dining table alone and confused.

"I'm full too," muttered Aneska while staring blankly at the food on the table.

Aneska didn't understand the attitude of the father and son, they could have been friends for a moment, then turned cold again. What Aneska increasingly doesn't understand is Edwin's attitude. What's wrong with that guy?

"Who am I here?" Aneska regrets that her fate is now unclear. Feeling an outcast, and a stranger in his own country, in the city where the girl was born.

Deciding to come too, Aneska met Julie, a female servant who had taken Aneska to Edwin's house yesterday.

"Hello, Miss. I will accompany you while the Young Master is with the Old Master," said Julie without looking at Aneska.

Aneska took a deep breath, feeling unsure of what she was going to do, and what her presence in the house meant other than a stranger whose status was unknown.

"I want to go back to my room," said Aneska later.

But Julie was silent.

"Sorry Miss, but you have to go back with Young Master Edwin,- unless Young Master is not there, I will take you there Miss," explained Julie.

Once again Aneska sighed.

There were many interesting things in the big house, but for some reason, Aneska wasn't interested in anything at all apart from wanting to go back to her room and sleep. This place is nothing more than a guard, Aneska thought.

Even so, in the end, Aneska decided to go for a walk. Julie says it's okay to take a walk in the park. Instead of getting bored of waiting, Aneska went out of the house and enjoyed the hot but windy afternoon.

Apart from that, there are many other interesting things. The flower garden is quite large with chairs and tables, as well as artificial swings, a fish pond, trees, and flowers which are neatly arranged and maintained. There's a lot of color in that backyard.

"Can I ask you something?" Aneska asked Julie who was following behind.

"Yes, Miss," the woman answered stiffly.

Aneska nodded briefly.

“Mother Edwin, what kind of person?” Aneska asked, suddenly wanting to know the woman who was Edwin's mother.

There is a little hope in Aneska's heart regarding the woman she will meet tomorrow,- if Edwin or Alendra ask Aneska to come and introduce herself to the woman.

Before Julie answered, Aneska's attention was diverted by Edwin's arrival from behind Julie. The servant woman immediately moved to the side while looking down.

Edwin stood three steps in front of Aneska who looked at him. The girl just realized that she was only as tall as Edwin's shoulder.

“I was bored, so I just went out. If you are busy, you don't need to look for me. I can go home myself," said Aneska without waiting for Edwin to say something.

However, Edwin was silent while looking straight at Aneska which made the girl a little embarrassed.

“W-what?” Aneska stuttered, uncomfortable being stared at like that by Edwin.

“There is something I want to talk to you about. Come with me," said Edwin then just turned his face away from Aneska who was stunned by Edwin's attitude.

Aneska rushed to follow Edwin who entered the back house, the man's house. Edwin didn't stop at the living room, drawing room, or his room, and entered his study. Aneska, who was following from behind, stopped in front of the room. Aneska's memory returned to last night's incident where there should have been blood on the bedroom floor, but now it looked clean.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter