Chapter 25: It is safe now Part 2

Damn. I sigh a big damn.

My shirt is wet down to my pants. Under such circumstances, the only road left for me to go is straight back home. Since this girl, Poppie, is still baffled by her cries, I decided to bring the source of this flood back with me.

“Go take a bath upstairs and I’ll find you something to wear,” I say, stroking her back.

Poppie nods. She goes to greet the old man and stomp her way upstairs. Watching her small back, I smile, thankful that I was able to reach her in time. Since she’s part of the small orphanage that my Master aids, she’s like a family to us. Although, after all this time, I still can’t figure out the reason why she’s so afraid of me. Does it have something to do with my smile?

“You have a lovely visitor, Reimuz,” the old man smirks at me, patting my shoulder with an impish glimmer backing his eyes. I glance at the living room behind him, curious, and I see a lady occupying one of our wooden chairs wearing a wide brimmed straw hat to shade her face.

Now that I have time to notice, when the old man’s wearing something on top, we have a visitor. Considering I’m still wet all over, I go up to my room to change my clothes first. Once I’m done changing to these shirt and pants that reeks of poverty, I leave a shirt for Poppie and go down to meet my supposed visitor. If there’s one thing I’m worried about, I hope I don’t reek of pee.

I take a deep breath and approach the mysterious lady. Looking groomed and elegant in that green summer dress, she places her hat on the table and softly brush her purple hair resting on her shoulder. Knowing I look like a rag, I sigh once more inside.

“It’s been a while, Reimuz,” she murmurs, extending out her pale and soft looking hand to me.

“Indeed. It’s a pleasure to see you, Miss Emily,” I murmur, reaching out to her outstretched hand with a smile of my own.

“No need for formalities, Reimuz. You’re my benefactor,” she murmurs back, revealing her dimples like the pretty lady that she is. Seeing her act all mature like this makes me blush a little. My nose itches out of embarrassment.

“Not at all. I don’t want you to think that because I saved you that day, that you owe me your life. So please don’t think too much about it,” I smile wryly. “That aside, please have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

Taking a swift glance on our kitchen, I see nothing except for our regular drinking water. This is what happens when you only have brutes inside your home. Sighing inside, I pull out a chair in front of her and clasp my hands on the table.

“So, did you travel by yourself?” I ask.

Emily smiles mischievously, and from that smile alone I already know the answer.  

“Your father’s the embodiment of carelessness,” I say with another sigh before she can even retort. Seems like I’ll be sighing a lot today.

She laughs softly. “I’ll make sure Father knows what you think of him.”

“Please do. Also, are you really feeling better now? I’m not sure if it’s because the last time we met in person you wanted to kill me… But right now, you look a little pale,” I say worriedly.

“Perhaps the next time you fondled my butt, I shall let you have a taste of this?” Emily boasts, smiling a warm and appreciative smile, but her fingers producing those malicious sparks tells me she feels otherwise.

According to the letter I once received from her younger sister, Erumina; Emily gained the ability to manipulate lightning the moment she woke up from that short comatose. Remembering that time when I read her letter, I was doubting her words, but seeing the real thing firsthand in front of me, I can’t deny the truth anymore. But please, oh please. Seems like this lady is still keeping a grudge, or maybe it’s just my imagination? I really hope it’s the latter.

“Remind me not to mess with you,” I murmur, cracking a small laugh to divert her attention from that topic of fondling butts.

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They say a girl changes when she’s in love. Could her change in demeanor has something to do with it, or is this the real Emily? If it is, she’s one desirable woman. While I was busy with my thoughts, Emily starts to fidget with her fingers, reminding me of a similar behavior from her sister.

“Hey, Reimuz… I sent you a letter once… Did you receive it?”

I pause for a moment to think. “Hmm, I think I did. The one in regards to your twenty-second birthday?”

“You don’t have to make it sound like I’m that old,” she pouts. “I was really hoping you’d come, I even played the piano.”

“Sorry. I have a lot on my plate that time.”

For some reason, tears start to flow visibly. I restrain myself from sobbing, but the tears just won’t stop.

“Pardon my unsightly behavior,” I laugh a little, wiping the unnecessary emotions with my wrist. Tears do comes out when you’re least expecting it. Perhaps it’s due to the tears, but Emily gazes at me with an expression I can’t read, her eyes glowing with an unusual warmth.

Pressing a hand on my chest, I take a very deep breath and return her warm gaze.

“So, does Wein still work for your family?” I murmur with my still-shaking voice, redirecting the topic to something else.

“He is, and quite the reliable worker as well. He’s currently accompanying my sisters in Witchelt.”

“Witchelt… What’s your sisters doing across a different border?”  

“Erumina’s acting as the city’s representative. As stated from the last letter we received from her this past month, we will be having a royal visit in the coming week or two,” crossing her arms and folding her legs, she continue her explanation. “Supposedly, we’re to entertain this “prince” while he’s still here,” she says, drooping her shoulders down either in disappointment or complete indifference. Man she does have some resemblance with Erumina after all.

“Did she tell you the purpose of this royal visit?”

“Sorry, that information wasn’t covered in the letter we received from her.”

“Hmm, such a big event.”

Although it doesn’t really concern me. Due to this information broker that I recently talked to, my quarry lies across the ocean. Because of that I’m thinking of taking a ship to the mercantile continent next week. A remedy for my loneliness—go out and have some fun. Yeah right. I ain’t going overseas to watch some girls on their bikinis.

As I thought about my upcoming trip, I see Poppie at the corner of my vision, poking her head out and sneaking glances at us.

“What do you want, Poppie?”

Emily glances over her shoulder, following the line of my sight. Poppie blushes at the sight of her smile, and when Emily gestures her to approach, she does so without even thinking about it. She bounces on her lap, a curious blush visible on both of her cheeks.

Dammit. Here I am, still known as a Mister. Whenever I show her my smile, she jolts away in panic and fear. Ungrateful kid. I should tell your friends how you wet my back just now. Hahaha. Thinking about it, an evil grin surfaced on my lips. But first things first.

“Emily, you have some other plans for today?”

“Not really, why?” she answers, combing Poppie’s frizzy hair.

Good, if that kid feels so comfortable around her, maybe I can use this chance to buy her some clothes. Since if it’s just the two of us, it will not go anywhere.

“I’m thinking of buying her some clothes before I return her back in the orphanage. You up for it?”

She giggles. “Sure, why not?”

After getting her to agree, I go back running upstairs and take a quick bath. In a span of few hours, I changed my clothes for the third time. Good lord, my damn laundry is piling up.