“Mmm, delicious! Wasn’t the soup just great Leon?” The older woman in front of me smiled widely as she reached for my empty bowl. Jane, as she told me her name was, quietly brought the dishes to the kitchen to be washed, leaving only her granddaughter and I at the table alone.
After I made it downstairs, Jane once again introduced herself as a former member of her country’s elite, the Coats, and that she was currently living alone with her only granddaughter, Belladonna, who she told me to call Bella.
The younger demoness fidgeted in her seat and had a hard time looking in my direction. While it wasn’t unexpected due to the state she had seen me in, I was concerned about it. I mean, we couldn’t even communicate due to the language barrier, and if she only had an impression of me as a nudist, I don’t know if I’d ever recover.
‘…Wait. What’s a nudist again?’ I cocked my head to the side as Jane returned to the table and took a seat in between Bella and I.
“Now then, as I predicted, you probably have thought of some things to ask since we left you to change.” Bella’s face turned crimson, but the only reaction Jane showed was a small smirk and an amused expression.
As she had said, I had given some thought to my situation, and two things came to mind. Firstly, I wasn’t in any danger, at least not yet. My initial recollection of memories had me feeling insecure and hyper alert of my surroundings, but the fact that I wasn’t being tortured or threatened meant that they wanted to deal with me in a peaceful manner.
Secondly, they must need me for something. I have no idea what my past-self had done to them, but if it’s something I can resolve without killing them then-
‘Killing them?’ What sort of person was I that my natural flow of thoughts leads me to murder? Sighing, I look Jane dead in the eyes and smile at her. “The first thing I would like to know is: where I am and why I’m here?”
This time it was Jane’s turn to return the sigh, “Such a predictable child. Oh well, at least you aren’t completely useless.” My right eye twitched in annoyance but before I could voice my complaints she started to explain.
“We are currently in the Wirah province of the Azure Continent, which is 50 kilogards from the capital, Songrande.” I took all that in with not so much as a show of emotion on my face, which made Jane chuckle. “I can’t tell if that was in your expectations or if your amnesia is helping you cope with an unknown area, but regardless, you have my respect for not showing any sign of weakness.”
I watched her face with intrigue, but also a trace of bitterness. Why was she acting as if she was grading my every movement, every internal dialogue, and every facial expression? I didn’t like it, and I didn’t like feeling as if I were playing into her hands.
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“Okay, my next question then, why am I being taken care of by you now? Surely if we were only strangers then you wouldn’t be this accommodating, let alone offering to teach me the language of this continent.”
Jane’s smile visibly faltered, indicating that I had struck a nerve. “What are you talking about, I don’t need anything from you, but…” She turned to Bella, grabbed her shoulder and spun her my way so her blushing face was seared into my eyes.
“Bella does. You see, I go out on business trips every once in a while, and it gets quite lonely and dangerous around here. I want you to keep my darling safe from harm and make sure she is never lonely! How does that sound?”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head, getting the truth out of this woman was going to be much harder than I thought.
---
Bella watched in dismay as her grandma chatted up the silver haired boy. While her own eyes were still swimming due to the memory of Leon’s naked body, Her grandmother’s were fierce and aggressive.
Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem, but something irked Bella a bit, and that was the fact that her own name had been mentioned constantly throughout the last two minutes of their conversation.
Finally unable to bear the fact that she was being spoken of in a language she didn’t understand, she grabbed Jane’s hand and tugged her away from the boy.
Jane had a grimace on her face and coolly said, “What is it child?” Bella shuddered. It was only when her grandma was upset or unsettled that she referred to Bella as ‘child’ in that way.
However, it wasn't enough to deter the honest and straightforward girl. “What are you talking about with him, and why is it about me? Also… are you alright grandma?”
Jane smiled in defeat, “The boy is too clever for his own good, and already figured out my long term goals. He’s dangerous, but I think he’s exactly what I’m looking for. All I need now is to find out exactly what kind of magic he has at his disposal and I can begin to make preparations for the future.”
“That doesn’t answer my question grandma. Why are you talking about me, and not even involving me in the conversation whatsoever?” Jane’s smile faded and a frown replaced it.
“That is none of your concern. You will know all about your role when the time is right, so just be a good girl and be patient.” Jane turned back around to continue talking to the man, but Bella once again grabbed her grandma and turned her around, albeit a bit more forcefully this time.
“Grandma, please don’t leave me in the dark! I just want to be with you! I can’t-” A loud smack resounded through the room and Bella placed a hand on her face where Jane’s hand had struck her only moments ago.
“I told you that you would know when the time comes!” Jane yelled in annoyance, causing tears to come out of Bella’s closed eyes. “This is why I can’t trust you to come with me anywhere, and why I always keep you in the dark! You’re too impulsive, if only-”
There was silence. Bella opened her eyes and looked across the table to Leo, whose eyes were glowing blue and had a smile on his face. However, that soon faded as did his consciousness. Catching him before he hit the floor, Bella let the strange man rest on her shoulder as he breathed peacefully.
“Did you do this?” Bella stroked his hair and heard Jane's angry and surprised shout from the garden outside. A small, hopeful smile crept it’s way onto her lips. Maybe she should take her grandma’s suggestion of learning Japanese more seriously.