Hence
2214 Words
When Luminous returned, the food was already well-prepared. He forked a piece of pork cutlet and shoved it into his mouth. He saw Chraen smiled while looking at him.
“You,” he started, beaming at the other, "You really can cook.”
Chraen chuckled, “Not really. I only knew how to please those two people with this. Let’s eat?”
No one spoke while eating. However, Luminous can feel Chraen’s gazes. Though he was not uncomfortable about it, he also couldn't help but worry.
He looked up from his food and asked, “Are you worried about something?”
“I’ll tell you after we finish the meal.”
This piqued Luminous’ curiosity. However, he did not expect what Chraen did after the meal.
“This should be the right way or I remembered it wrong?”
It was already their second dead end.
Luminous stared at Chraen’s back as the other person struggled to find their way around the maze garden. He believed wholeheartedly that the Chraen who came to him the other day and this one were two different people.
However, he had no plans of telling him what actually happened right away. He needed to be careful when dealing with these things. Careful not to trigger anything that might endanger Chraen’s life.
Just as he was about to follow Chraen, the other person called him, “Luminous, don’t you think this wall was unusually too thick?”
Luminous pressed his left hand on the wall for support but just as his palm touched it, the area they were holding on to suddenly sunk. Startled, they heard a faint rumbling of unknown machineries. But before they could even look at it, a female’s voice suddenly called for Chraen’s name.
Chraen became stiff all of a sudden, eyes blanked.
Luminous looked at him worriedly. “What happened? Are you alright?”
It took him a few seconds before he finally moved. He slowly stood up, his voice seemed gentler and finer than usual. His eyes curved as he smiled at Luminous, “Let’s go. I’m afraid Mother will get angry if she sees us here.”
Without waiting for Luminous’ answer, Chraen pulled him out of the maze easily. Luminous frowned. Something was wrong with the other’s actions.
The elevated, almost shrieking voice of the woman made Luminous’ frown grow deeper.
“Chraen! Chraen, how dare you bring someone to my garden?! Get out as soon as possible!”
“Mother, we’re almost there, wait a bit.”
As they stepped out of the maze, a crisp slap greeted Chraen’s face.
Luminous pulled him back but he was late to see Celeste’s actions.
“Chraen!” Luminous held and observed the other’s face. Chraen’s cheeks started to turn red.
Celeste turned at him in hysteria, “Who are you?! This kid has no friends. Did you trick him to get in here?!”
Chraen turned his head and looked at Celeste without letting go of the person in front of him. “Madam, don’t you recognize me? I am Luminous Zofel Madrozja. We’ve met before,” he said, clenched teeth. He really did not like her. And now, she abused her step son? Does Mr. Visterdja knew about it? Did he really just let her hurt Chraen?
When Luminous returned, the food was already well-prepared. He forked a piece of pork cutlet and shoved it into his mouth. He saw Chraen smiled while looking at him.
“You,” he started, beaming at the other, "You really can cook.”
Chraen chuckled, “Not really. I only knew how to please those two people with this. Let’s eat?”
No one spoke while eating. However, Luminous can feel Chraen’s gazes. Though he was not uncomfortable about it, he also couldn't help but worry.
He looked up from his food and asked, “Are you worried about something?”
“I’ll tell you after we finish the meal.”
This piqued Luminous’ curiosity. However, he did not expect what Chraen did after the meal.
“This should be the right way or I remembered it wrong?”
It was already their second dead end.
Luminous stared at Chraen’s back as the other person struggled to find their way around the maze garden. He believed wholeheartedly that the Chraen who came to him the other day and this one were two different people.
However, he had no plans of telling him what actually happened right away. He needed to be careful when dealing with these things. Careful not to trigger anything that might endanger Chraen’s life.
Just as he was about to follow Chraen, the other person called him, “Luminous, don’t you think this wall was unusually too thick?”
Luminous pressed his left hand on the wall for support but just as his palm touched it, the area they were holding on to suddenly sunk. Startled, they heard a faint rumbling of unknown machineries. But before they could even look at it, a female’s voice suddenly called for Chraen’s name.
Chraen became stiff all of a sudden, eyes blanked.
Luminous looked at him worriedly. “What happened? Are you alright?”
It took him a few seconds before he finally moved. He slowly stood up, his voice seemed gentler and finer than usual. His eyes curved as he smiled at Luminous, “Let’s go. I’m afraid Mother will get angry if she sees us here.”
Without waiting for Luminous’ answer, Chraen pulled him out of the maze easily. Luminous frowned. Something was wrong with the other’s actions.
The elevated, almost shrieking voice of the woman made Luminous’ frown grow deeper.
“Chraen! Chraen, how dare you bring someone in my garden?! Get out as soon as possible!”
“Mother, we’re almost there, wait a bit.”
As they stepped out of the maze, a crisp slap greeted Chraen’s face.
Luminous pulled him back but he was late to see Celeste’s actions.
“Chraen!” Luminous held and observed the other’s face. Chraen’s cheeks started to turn red.
Celeste turned at him in hysteria, “Who are you?! This kid has no friends. Did you trick him to get in here?!”
Chraen turned his head and looked at Celeste without letting go of the person in front of him. “Madam, don’t you recognize me? I am Luminous Zofel Madrozja. We’ve met before,” he said, clenched teeth. He really did not like her. And now, she abused her step son? Does Mr. Visterdja know about it? Did he really just let her hurt Chraen?
Celeste’s eyes widened. She did not recognize Noctis’ nephew. Trying to save her face, she smiled, “A-ah, it is Young Master Zofel. I’m sorry. Did I startle you? I always tell this kid not to bring people in the maze. Because the maze was rarely maintained. There are areas that need repair.”
Luminous just stared at her. Yes, what she said made sense, but there were too many flaws in her reasons. He looked at Chraen. For some reason, the latter’s eyes downcasted, not even saying a single word. He looked worried and scared. “It doesn’t matter. May I have some ice cubes? I'll take care of Chraen.”
Celeste’s eyes narrowed, “You don’t need to worry about this child.” She tried to pull Chraen but Luminous blocked between them.
“Madam, I’ll bring him to his room. We still need to plan for the school festival.”
Luminous put his arms on Chraen’s shoulder, “Let’s go.” He did not wait for the other’s reply. He led the other into the house to look for Damian.
“Madam sent Mr. Damian to bring the documents Master Bazyli left behind.”
“Then could you tell me where Chraen's room is?”
“Please follow me.”
On the way, Luminous saw a huge family portrait with both Celeste and Chraen on it. Both were smiling as if both had a good relationship with each other. He sighed. Luminous did not mean to interfere with their family affair, but how could he ignore what happened earlier?
“Damn, and here I thought you had a good relationship with your mom.”
Luminous brought him to the
When Luminous returned, the food was already well-prepared. He forked a piece of pork cutlet and shoved it into his mouth. He saw Chraen smiled while looking at him.
“You,” he started, beaming at the other, "You really can cook.”
Chraen chuckled, “Not really. I only knew how to please those two people with this. Let’s eat?”
No one spoke while eating. However, Luminous can feel Chraen’s gazes. Though he was not uncomfortable about it, he also couldn't help but worry.
He looked up from his food and asked, “Are you worried about something?”
“I’ll tell you after we finish the meal.”
This piqued Luminous’ curiosity. However, he did not expect what Chraen did after the meal.
“This should be the right way or I remembered it wrong?”
It was already their second dead end.
Luminous stared at Chraen’s back as the other person struggled to find their way around the maze garden. He believed wholeheartedly that the Chraen who came to him the other day and this one were two different people.
However, he had no plans of telling him what actually happened right away. He needed to be careful when dealing with these things. Careful not to trigger anything that might endanger Chraen’s life.
Just as he was about to follow Chraen, the other person called him, “Luminous, don’t you think this wall was unusually too thick?”
Luminous pressed his left hand on the wall for support but just as his palm touched it, the area they were holding on to suddenly sunk. Startled, they heard a faint rumbling of unknown machineries. But before they could even look at it, a female’s voice suddenly called for Chraen’s name.
Chraen became stiff all of a sudden, eyes blanked.
Luminous looked at him worriedly. “What happened? Are you alright?”
It took him a few seconds before he finally moved. He slowly stood up, his voice seemed gentler and finer than usual. His eyes curved as he smiled at Luminous, “Let’s go. I’m afraid Mother will get angry if she sees us here.”
Without waiting for Luminous’ answer, Chraen pulled him out of the maze easily. Luminous frowned. Something was wrong with the other’s actions.
The elevated, almost shrieking voice of the woman made Luminous’ frown grow deeper.
“Chraen! Chraen, how dare you bring someone in my garden?! Get out as soon as possible!”
“Mother, we’re almost there, wait a bit.”
As they stepped out of the maze, a crisp slap greeted Chraen’s face.
Luminous pulled him back but he was late to see Celeste’s actions.
“Chraen!” Luminous held and observed the other’s face. Chraen’s cheeks started to turn red.
Celeste turned at him in hysteria, “Who are you?! This kid has no friends. Did you trick him to get in here?!”
Chraen turned his head and looked at Celeste without letting go of the person in front of him. “Madam, don’t you recognize me? I am Luminous Zofel Madrozja. We’ve met before,” he said, clenched teeth. He really did not like her. And now, she abused her step son? Does Mr. Visterdja know about it? Did he really just let her hurt Chraen?
Celeste’s eyes widened. She did not recognize Noctis’ nephew. Trying to save her face, she smiled, “A-ah, it is Young Master Zofel. I’m sorry. Did I startle you? I always tell this kid not to bring people in the maze. Because the maze was rarely maintained. There are areas that need repair.”
Luminous just stared at her. Yes, what she said made sense, but there were too many flaws in her reasons. He looked at Chraen. For some reason, the latter’s eyes downcasted, not even saying a single word. He looked worried and scared. “It doesn’t matter. May I have some ice cubes? I'll take care of Chraen.”
Celeste’s eyes narrowed, “You don’t need to worry about this child.” She tried to pull Chraen but Luminous blocked between them.
“Madam, I’ll bring him to his room. We still need to plan for the school festival.”
Luminous put his arms on Chraen’s shoulder, “Let’s go.” He did not wait for the other’s reply. He led the other into the house to look for Damian.
“Madam sent Mr. Damian to bring the documents Master Bazyli left behind.”
“Then could you tell me where Chraen's room is?”
“Please follow me.”
On the way, Luminous saw a huge family portrait with both Celeste and Chraen on it. Both were smiling as if both had a good relationship with each other. He sighed. Luminous did not mean to interfere with their family affair, but how could he ignore what happened earlier?
“Damn, and here I thought you had a good relationship with your mom.”
Luminous brought him to the
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