"What date is today?"
" 4th april."
" Year?"
" Come on Eren, It's 1059." Eren smiled to his answer and drank the tea with delight.
Eren who hadn't finished his tea yet, stood up and brought something back to dining table where they were eating breakfast.
Without missing any time and smugness, Eren slammed the lunch box before Marco.
" Yesterday was a burst, She left because I said something I shouldn't have but it's finished, Now it's getting annoying and I hope you don't forget your lunch today." Eren smiled, He was neither angry nor irritated but meeting new peoples, strangers were always stressful for him who became distrustful of life.
Marco sighed and nodded, he didn't argue but eren knew he wasn't gonna let it end like that.
But what does marco's silence meant, suddenly a bad premonition crawled in Eren's heart.
His nerve took a hit as ring of doorbell chimed several times.
All of a sudden everything seemed to slow down, yet his heart paced and breathing swelled with insidious fear.
Marco stood up to open door. His expression neutral, as if he was still disappointed by Eren's blunt denial yet it failed to mask his thoughts. He didn't look so much troubled and that was trouble for eren.
Eren watched marco leave kitchen but he never left his senses, greenish figure of mana opened the door for another figure who seemed ethereal green but much and much more frighteningly bright and powerful.
Eren didn't knew that presense, But peering on framework and physique of that individual eren was able to discern who it was, who she was.
But just as eren peered on the individual, The violent gaze peered back. Much more silent, cold and suffocating gaze.
But It lasted barely a second and then vanished, now that gaze and the gazing individual both were gone from Eren's senses.
Eren could tell that she was there in other room, yet his mana sense didn't perceive her anymore.
Eren sighed, his face fell in utter defeat because Now he knew why he felt danger before and even now.
" Eren look who came to visit you?" Marco who always sounded awfully excited, sounded unusually cheeky.
"Ms.agatha lang." Her figure slowly emerged from the door, Dressed in casual loose white tshirt and cargo jean.
Her expression stoic atleast untill she smiled fakely.
" Killer smile." Eren smiled to hide tension.
' Literally.'
" I see that your tongue is still is Slythering Eren."
" Well ofcourse, I leaned that from my uncle Marco. He taught me well to not leave any beautiful lady uncomplimented." Eren looked at Marco, His smile widened for a moment and then he turned around.
" By the way, This is my beautiful aunt jasmine." Eren gestured to the woman who stood behind him, Her apron dirty and hair disheaveled but smiling ever so radiantly.
" Nice to meet you..." jasmine greeted her with smile and turned to Marco, her smile changed slightly and now she looked very much like killer widow.
" Dear husband you should introduce us?" marco's face expressed perplexity by meager exchange of words.
With only few words, not only eren made it so that Marco was unattentive of situation but also appeared to be a Playboy with Eren's earlier remark on marco's teachings.
It was easy, very easy to know that now he is screwed.
" Yes..Haha..." Marco laughed awkwardly, and his unnerving dilemma didn't go unnoticed.
" Ms. Lang, This is my gorgeous wife, Jasmin stark." Marco arrived to jasmine's side as he gently pulled her closer and gave a soft kiss on the cheeks.
" She's part time superintendent for willwater turbine ltd. And full time CEO of our marriage. She's smart, rich and influential.
Isn't she just a charmer.?" Marco wrapped his hand around her waist, atleast he tried but jasmine slapped him away.
" My apron is dirty marc and you have to leave for work." Her reasoning might have been accurate but that wasn't the real reason.
' I'm beyond saving aren't I?'
' Yes You are dear uncle.' His thoughts came to halt when Answer to his doubts sounded in his head.
He looked at eren in disbelief but eren showed only bright cheeky smile, as if he didn't just casually read his mind and answered telepathically.
" Honey!!" jasmine's voice drew him back to reality, putting his surprise aside Marco looked at jasmine.
" Yes dear, And this is Ms. Agatha Lang." His expression little rattled when he looked at Agatha, he felt jasmine's soft grip around his waist tightened so he didn't linger and quickly averted his eyes.
"I ran into her yesterday and ended up helping her, but you know how much I care for eren so i convinced ms.lang to take eren for sightseeing.
She's tourist as well, so you know But..." He looked at eren and continued,
" Eren acted impolitely, Ms.Lang notified of his inappropriate behaviour.
Originally I wanted to scold him but doing so without consulting you and without knowing exact detail of his misconducts,it felt wrong.
So I arranged this meeting." Marco peered in jasmine's eyes, He wasn't smiling anymore.
" Alright, Is that why you asked me to prepare extra food?" Marco nodded, jasmine didn't say anything else and went on her way to serve the breakfast for new member.
She didn't say anything at all, not even a smile and that was her way of saying that she didn't trust her.
Oh the motherly love she had developed for eren, There was just no arguing with that.
Agatha noticed it, Marco as well and of ofcourse eren wasn't unobservant.
" Ms.lang please seat."
Agatha took that offer and made herself comfortable, Marco and eren followed the suit and since breakfast was already served, even jasmine joined in after washing her hands.
Though she looked but tired, Disheaveled in appearance but she smiled gently and served another cup of tea to eren, even went out of her way to put some extra pieces of cookies in his plate.
Reluctantly or so, she also served Agatha and Marco with smile of formality.
And Agatha of her recieving gaze had no opinion to express, her eyes and face still stoic and unreadable.
" So What did eren do?" Asked jasmine, her voice stern. Not angry but authorative, authority that she held in this house.
Agatha took a small sip, pursed her lips, put the cup back down and spoke,
" He said I'm not good person."
" Well seeing you at my home, whining like a 12 year old girl is not very convincing argument.
Even I feel compell to agree with him."
' Slammed shut.' it was open and shut case, now bringing that argument back will be kind of shameful for Agatha.
" Jas, atleast listen to her part of story." Marco's word fell to deaf ears.
" Jasmine right?.. It's not that I'm complaining, I didn't like what he said but so what, like I care.
Instead I'm taking this as an example to teach him how the world works,
If he keeps going on the same way, Who knows maybe one day he won't even return home." That was a direct threat, threat that silenced the whole room.
Agatha's lips parted in wide smile, she looked at eren and spoke again,
" Or maybe he'll return home to find that no one is living here anymore."
Eren's head pulsed in headache just hearing her words, Deep seated fear started crawling back to the surface of his emotions along with trauma that haunted his dreams.
Eren's face darkened, stiff and pained with fear, He felt fear because that's what he knew and he felt fear because he knew how powerful she actually was.
He had realised it when she entered, He just didn't knew that he'll be on other side of sword of flames instead of snarky remarks.
" Say that again." Eren's eyes widened, he looked at jasmine to understand what those words meant.
But looking at her, Eren felt bone chilling terror. Calm radiating smile was long gone, replaced by grimace of anger and what made her look more deadly was one simple fork in her hand.
" Go on, Say it again." Her voice broke the silence with unnerving alarms.
" I said he'll di-"
BOOM...
Sharp fork shot like bullet, enough to create powerful burst, Forced with the might of green rank's strength and mana..it carried destructive force to splatter even novice green realm cultivator's head.
Eren couldn't even see how fast that was.
yet instant it left jasmine's hand, it laid motionless on Agatha's hand.
Obviously it failed to produce desired result,
Targeted Agatha caught it, just like that and played with it like a toy.
" here you dropped this." Eren hoped she wouldn't throw it back, Because she seemed immensely stronger than jasmine and throw like that would not leave anyone unscathed, other than herself ofcourse.
Luckily she didn't, Instead she put it back with a smile and it looked awfully concerning.
" Ms.agatha I hope you won't make such remark even as a joke." Marco smiled, but unlike any of his expressions this one looked rattled. He was angry, but foremost he was calculative.
" Because next time, i wouldn't be able to hold myself back.Even if that outburst might result in my death." So much for calculative behaviour but as those words fell to Eren's ears, striking realisation came.
He looked at Agatha and there she was smiling at him, Like she was waiting for this precise moment.
' They really are nice vampires, Lucky guy.
But that aside, How was my acting?' Her words transmitted telepathically and it didn't sounded anything like she ever spoke.
she sounded excited and exhilirated, Eren felt surprise but not so much.
The stranger before him still remained mystery, she knew much about him but eren didn't knew anything and her earlier stunt made that even more complicated.
' Terrific, but don't do that, Ever again.'
For eren best course of action was still playing nice, he didn't wanted to be bad side of someone who could subdue such attack like it was nothing.
Agatha smiled even more, She was surprised that eren could use telepathy but more so excited, that this was getting on fun parts.
' Oh This is nothing boy, wait till I spill your insecurities out.' Those words seemed like real threat, It felt even more terryfying with that devilish smile of her.
Eren felt scared, Not because it was something illegal or inappropriate. Because his doubts would put a crack on the fine glass of relation between him and stark family.
As if all those moments where they put effort to make eren happy, would suddenly become painful reality. One sided love story that hurts more than anything.
Eren didn't wanted to break their heart, he didn't had it in himself to do so. But he also didn't say anything to stop Agatha.
He feared her because he didn't knew her at all, Earlier he advice Agatha to be beautiful from inside but now he felt stupid about it.
In reality, he knew nothing of her, in her and for her.
Was he really that naive to judge someone based on few moments?, His judgement could still be right but does he have capabilities to speak those words so casually?
' Seems like it's too late for sorry huh?' His message got through, but there was no responce
" I'm sorry jasmine but I had to put a stunt like that for dear eren." Jasmine expression softened into bewilderment.
" Eren didn't trust you guys enough, He was afraid that you'll scam him or something else, only he knows what he fears.
So he asked for my help and this is it." All to last words her expression didn't change, she kept smiling as her eyes stared in eren.
And eren couldn't do anything, for a moment he felt fear that her words will break what little bond he shares with this people but at the same time he felt relieved, that his doubts were cleared even if he didn't knew what turn this situation would take.
" Eren, is this true?" Marco's face stiffened as he make out those words.
Eren looked at him,
" She has no reason to lie."
" But-"
" Marc, Anyone would be suspicious. You know that." Jasmine left no words for Marco to argue and looked at Eren, though she smiled it looked restrained.
" I'll be totally cool, if you want to say something outrageous right now but once this we leave this table, you better mind your manners."
Eren looked surprised, though it didn't lasted long.
" No that won't be necessary aunt jasmine, but you know I'm kind of starving." his remark brought their attention to the food that was about to turn cold.
But it handn't yet, jasmine served another cup to eren with a smile, and eren was happy to recieve it, that's what his own smile described.
" It ended?, Just like that?" Watching from sidelines, Agatha couldn't help but blurt out.
Marco who was just as surprised as her felt left out, yet he knew that it was done and there was no quelm to dissuade anymore.
" Why?, Were expecting soap drama Agatha?" Jasmine eyed her warily, because being good aside only someone with ulterior motive would play a stunt like this, A stunt that very well could end relations.
Agatha didn't answer for a long while,
" I was, in a way, I mean i'm glad it worked out fine but I was expecting more, that's all." She would've enjoyed it fullest, slight disappointment was rather apparent for that.
Agatha sighed and stood up,
" It's been nice meeting you Jasmine." Agatha bowed as customary etiquettes, Guess her fun was over and it was time to leave.
" Marco said you're on a tour right?" Jasmine inquired, to which Agatha politely nodded.
" Tour means visiting new places and meeting new peoples right?, Then please enjoy our company. Let's have a breakfast."
" No I don't want to impose." Agatha denied politely.
" You aren't, beside we still haven't talked about what eren did to make you displeased." Jasmine insisted, That was two time and denying now would only appear rude from Agatha's books.
" Alright, but to make this clear I didn't take his words seriously, much less be affected by them." She sat down with pleasant smile, jasmine poured her another cup with fresh hot tea and some home backed cookies to go along with.
" That's really very kind of you but it's my duty to educate him." Jasmine reciprocated Agatha's smile, sipped her tea and added further,
"He's a special kid with Somewhat loose tongue." Agatha eyed him with mirth, as she enjoyed eren squirming like a rebellious child in their sugary sarcasms.
And he was restrained to not speak any words at all, that was manners engraved in his bones.
" Come on jass, Where you see loose tongue I see his ego developing.
He's on the path of greatness, maybe he'll become a great psychiatrist just like me." Marco's eyes shone with radiance, like future really unfolded in them.
His smile widened even more, There was no stopping his uncontrolled imagination.
' What kind of freaky future he has imagined?' A small chill ran down Eren's spine, it was really terryfying thought.
" No way marc, I have my hands full with one philosopher, no need for another."
Agatha chuckled and spoke,
" Well then jasmine, You've already lost.
He's already a great philosopher." Agatha sipped again, " You know he said ' Be like mocha, sweet from inside.' And I was like who's this kid talking to?"
Suddenly the room was bursting with laughter,
" Don't act like you didn't care, last I remember you were the one who bolted midway." Eren growled in shame, Vein visible on his head. He had enough as it is and now his words were subjects of mockery, that struck the nerve.
" That's because something came up urgently, You don't see me leaving now, do you?" She had a smug look on her beautiful face.
Eren scoffed, " Excuses."
" What's that brat?"
" I said no good of excu-"
" Hey Mrs. Jasmine, Do you know what other thing he did yesterday." suddenly a bad premonition ringed in Eren's head.
The way she said it reminded him of exactly someone who depicted very wholesome picture in something unimaginably misguided story, especially something lewd.
Eren was scared, his hormone was already peaked yet he controlled himself as much as he could, but he knew what those drop of uncontrolled hormone made him do.
" He enjoyed cranberry pie like it was the most delicious thing, And I fell for his acting.
I tried it and believe me, it wasn't good.
You see, he's not naive little boy you think he is, he's deceptive." Her words earned eren quite an attention, surprised and unwelcoming attention.
But it was better, way better.
' Don't be happy just yet, I haven't forgotten how you oogled on my breasts.' With a cheeky smile, it didn't seem as she was upset about it.
' I'm pretty sure you get unwanted attention on them everywhere, there is no reason to bring dirt on me.
Unless you really are that pathetic and petty.' Eren tried, But his empty provocation had no effect. She was smart enough to not fall for that.
" Ms. Agatha, it would seem weird and with all honest, I'm not taking his side but," Jasmine smiled mirthlessly, like she felt sadness over something she felt watching eren.
She looked at him,
" He's like that.
He doesn't complain, he eats everything as if it would be his last meal and lives like there is no tomorrow." There was no joy in her words.
Maybe most if not all parents would expect their child to be this sincere, but the somber words didn't make it sound so appealing.
Even Agatha's smile faded as she gazed at Eren's calculated smiling face, now that she noticed it. It looked practiced and performed masterfully, And very much real but it wasn't.
" Yes you may be right jasmine, But he's not that perfect either. Just yesterday I saw him staring at by breast." She chuckled as her statement exploded the level of conversation into absolute chaos.
Eren nearly lost balance of his chair, even Marco spilled the tea and eyed eren with surprise.
Jasmine looked at eren's flushed, embarrassed and red with anger face,That spoke something in itself of Agatha's allegations and their legitimacy.
But surprisingly, she wasn't angry. Much like Marco, she was surprised and even relieved.
" How could you eren?, Not after I taught you how a civilian should act and live." Though Marco's words held fair share of disappointment, his face showed none.
He looked happy for some reason, so did jasmine.
" Ms. Agatha, this might be a bit personal question but if I may?" Agatha swayed her hands gently with a poignant smile, jasmine taking that as her approval shifted slightly closer to her.
" Eren's not a bad kid, He's just young and does not know his way around here.
But you're at fault yourself, being so beautiful an all." Jasmine paused with a chuckle, this timely pause felt unnerving for some reason.
" So how about you give him a chance, He's smart and handsome and certainly shows interest in you.
Ofcourse that is if you're not in commitment with someone else."
Suddenly room was drowned in eerie silence,
" What the heck, Aunt i'm-"
" Yes jasmine what the fuck-"
" Exactly what the actual fuc-"
" Language people...language." Their series of bewildering remarks were neatly shut by jasmine's no swearing in the house rule.
Jasmine looked at them calmly, their eyes asked an explanation and she obliged,
" I only want the best for eren, I know he's young and immature but there is one girl he likes and I think she's perfect for him." Though her words sounded genuine, Her smile looked forced out as she paused,
"She's beautiful, wise, strong, looks rich as well and most importantly, she's from not around here.
You know how this kingdom..No, this entire continent is like. It's best if eren leaves this place while he still has a chance and this could be it." She looked at Marco, She wasn't smiling anymore.
" You're right sweety but" Marco sighed and spoke, " That's not for us to decide, remember he's not our kid."
Those words struck jasmine like a lightning, however painful it may be but it was the truth.
Only then she looked at eren, he looked pained.
" I'm sorry eren, I got carried away." Her face turned to Agatha, " I apologise Ms. Agatha."
" Nah..it's ok, I understand how you feel and besides, You're hundred percent accurate to say that I'm smart, wise, strong, rich and totally capable of taking care of him." She smiled at eren, " What do you say?, Want a sugarmommy to spoil you rotten?"
Fuashhh
Simultaneously, Tea sprinkled in the air. Marco and jasmine quickly covered their disgrace as they tried to comprehend Agatha's words.
" What's a sugarmommy?" Hearing Eren's question, Suddenly jasmine and Marco both had a intense urge to facepalm.
That was another level of ignorance, Despite knowing that Eren had limited vocabulary of modern world, such ignorance was really frustrating.
" Why don't you come with me and I'll show you?" Agatha laughed hard, joking and exploring new ways to make fun.
And Marco and jasmine remained silent, squirming on their seat with flushed face.
Eren didn't like the way it portrayed his position, But he didn't knew what that was and so he did what he always did,
Eren picked his phone up and searched,
' A "sugar mommy" is a wealthy, often older, woman who provides financial support and lavish gifts to a younger companion in exchange for companionship or intimacy.'
Eren's expression turned visibly red, flamed with shame and anger, Agatha on the other hand enjoyed every bit of it.
" isn't it wonderful relation?, How about it eren, wanna be my boytoy?"
She didn't let any opportunity leave to fawn the flames, And sadly enough eren didn't knew what Boytoy meant either but it didn't sounded good in any way.
" I'll gladly decline, Afterall if your over the expired life hasn't attracted you a man to marry then there is obviously something wrong with you."
Though eren expected Agatha to show some level of disapproval or anger perhaps but she didn't, instead a very calm words sounded from just beside.
" Eren sweety." Jasmine smiled, though she looked beautiful, she also looked dangerous.
" It's about time you apologise, she's being really kind by not punching in you face."
Now that jasmine had spoken, Eren had no options left.
Eren looked at Agatha angrily, till those expression changed visibly to defeated self scoff and then a gentle smile bloomed.
It was a lesson, That his unnecessary remark had brought him on his knees. Surely the situation wasn't as dire as that.
Words and bonds are powerful, Restraints or not, powerful none the less.
" Uncle Marco, Isn't this hypocrisy?"
" No eren this is feminism." Marco shook his head in defeat.
" This is justice you numskulls." Jasmine interneved.
" How about we all agree that this is jasmine's love." Agatha's opinion sounded least controversial.
" Yes you understand me Agatha, by the way my offer still stands." Jasmine joked but eren and Marco had no words to argue.
Both knew they had no chance of winning over this argument, or maybe over any argument.
Eren sighed in defeat and bowed to Agatha,
" I'm sorry Ms. lang."
Eren apologetically bowed and looked at jasmine for approval, Yet she didn't look satisfied.
" And I want to make my amendment, I would really appreciate if you could give me second chance to make it up to you."
Jasmine smiled brightly and nodded, only then eren felt that heavy pressure of demanding gaze vanish.
" And how would you make your amendment dear eren?" Asked Agatha.
Eren didn't like that snarky dear placed between her cheeky lips, he hated how she enjoyed it.
But he couldn't say anything, instead he just ignored her smug face and drank some tea and looked at her again, now his facial expressions controlled and pleasing. A very gentle smile bloomed as he spoke,
" How about another coffee date. My treat ofcourse."