"How long is she going to be like that?" Damien asked as he watched Wistoria hop down the carriage and walk inside the manor without looking back at him.
He had tried to speak to her in the carriage, but the woman had shut him up each and every time. He couldn't understand why women did this.
If she was angry at him, she should at least let him explain.
Xavier glanced at him as if he was speaking a different language and replied, "If I may, then I believe that Lady Wistoria has every right to be angry with you—"
"You know never mind, I nearly forgot that you are fanatic when it comes to Lady Wistoria and Lord Nicholas," Damien snorted with a roll of his eyes.
"She is your wife—"
"Well, I don't know how to break this to you, Xavier," began Damien with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Your lady has never really been a wife to me other than just in name?"
He turned on his feet and took the path which led to the mansion where he lived with his family. As he walked away, Damien could still feel Xavier's murderous gaze at his back.
"Brother!"
"Priscilla," Damien smiled at his little sister who seemed to be waiting for him. "Were you waiting for me, Cici?"
"Yeah," Priscilla replied as she took his hand and led Damien inside the manor. "Were you able to defeat the Impert Snake Beast? Mother was so worried when she found out that you took such a dangerous risk."
"Is mother doing alright?" Damien asked with a note of worry in his voice.
To his surprise, Priscilla nodded and replied, "Mother is much better since she stopped taking the medication provided by the temple and started taking yours. She can now sleep at night for a few hours."
In the past, the pain was unbearable for Lady Cecil making it impossible for her to even take a shut eye.
Damien was relieved to find that Lady Cecil was doing better. He asked, "Is she awake?"
"No," Priscilla shook her head and replied, "Mother, went to sleep after waiting for you. No one knew when you were going to return, brother."
She then paused and asked, "Are you hungry? There is some onion soup, and baguette left from dinner."
Damien hadn't felt the pang of hunger until Priscilla spoke up. His stomach rumbled upon hearing the words 'onion soup,' he nodded and replied, "Alright."
Priscilla smiled at him as she took him to the kitchen, though young she was —she could not only cook but also take after her brothers.
"The onions are from our garden," she told him. "I know that we have money now," she added when Damien went to speak. "But we should save it and not spend it without care. Who knows, when we might need it?"
Damien understood her worries as they were still carrying the title of 'Slaves'. He didn't mention money but instead went ahead and questioned, "Why are you the one who is cooking? What about the servants?"
"They are — well, they do a fine job when it comes to cleaning and washing clothes. But we cannot trust them with our meals, just yesterday —Brother Henry apprehended a maid who was adding Fillitrix in our soup."
Dan's eyes lit up as he questioned, "Can I do that?"
"Yeah," replied Damien with a serious expression, as he scathingly added, "Only once though. Because after that I will never wake up again."
Dan stared at him and Damien stared right back.
"I do not understand," Dan asked with a frown on his face. "If you know what the consequences of your actions might be, why even make an offer?"
Damien rolled his eyes. "I didn't make an offer, I made a sarcastic remark."
"Is there a difference between the two?"
"Yes," Damien turned his head to the side and looked up at the moon. "And I am not going to explain it," he added already aware of the fact that Dan was going to ask him to explain the difference. "Just remember that sarcastic remarks are thrown when someone is annoyed like I am right now."
"With whom?" Dan asked again and this time around Damien turned and looked at the 3D hologram. "Why don't you look around and tell me?" He fired back in a slow drawl.
Dan frowned as he mimicked Damien's expression, before turning his head and looking around the room. However, he found nothing and no one until his gaze fell on his reflection in the mirror.
Dan: .... Caw.
He whipped his head and looked at Damien with an accusatory glare, "You mean to say that I am annoying you?" He little did to stop his voice from turning into a screech.
"I thought that AI systems don't feel angry or upset."
"I am not upset I am mimicking the host," replied Dan with a sort of sadistic note in his voice. "You know when your girlfriend broke up with you."
"Don't do it, Dan..." Damien slowly pushed himself off the bed with his elbows. "Don't ever think of doing such a thing."
Dan snickered. And then—
"Damien, I don't think it is working.."
"NOOOOOO!!!"
*** ****
"Are you still upset," Nicholas looked at his sister and asked.
"Why will I be upset?" Wistoria snarled as she pounced on her brother. Her claws unsheathed as she took a swipe at him. "Do you think that man is worthy of that?"
Nicholas pulled his neck back as his sister had been aiming for his throat. "Woah, there sissy. I am your brother."
"There is no relationship on the battlefield," sneered Wistoria as she lunged at her brother once again.