Adrian did not know how to explain things to Elowen. In the end, he said nothing and simply touched her hand again, telling her that he was not going anywhere.
She said cheerfully, "Now I finally have time to get used to you. I cannot see you and I cannot hear you talk, so I am going to ask you a few questions. If I am right, touch my right hand. If I am wrong, touch my left, okay?"
Since coming to Elowen's side, this was the first time Adrian had seen her act playful and mischievous like someone her age should. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. If it made the girl happy, there was no reason for him to refuse.
Adrian gently touched the back of her right hand. Her eyes curved instantly into crescent moons, her smile spreading wide and revealing a small, adorable dimple.
So the little girl had a dimple. She was really beautiful.
Adrian felt as if he had grown ten years younger, and he realized that he seemed to have fallen head over heels for a girl who was barely grown.
On the other side, Elowen began to ask, "Do you blame me for telling others about your existence?"
Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might jump out of her chest. She even regretted blurting out his identity as a ghost in the bathroom earlier. What if he got angry and left her? What would she do then?
Not just over the past three months, but long before that, she had known she was not normal. She did not like interacting with people and only wanted to lose herself in her own world. Over time, everyone came to think she was arrogant and looked down on them.
So after the news broke that Elowen was not the daughter of the Rothschild family, outsiders finally felt free to mock and bully her so openly.
What they did not know was that she could sense malice from others. She simply could not smile and chat with people who disliked her.
Only this ghost appeared when her life was shrouded in darkness, offering her a thin thread of light that allowed her to keep going.
When Adrian saw how tense the small girl was, her shoulders trembling nonstop, his heart ached. He gently touched her left hand to show that he was not blaming her. Besides, now that she knew of his existence, it would be even easier for him to ask her to help him find his body.
Elowen let out a long breath, and her smile grew even brighter. Adrian had not encountered someone as pure as her in a very long time. No matter the cost, he was determined to protect this spotless, precious gem and never allow her to be tainted.
"A few months ago, every time I was punished and forced to go hungry, there were always pastries in the cupboard. Was that you?"
Adrian touched her right hand.
Elowen thought about it. If that was the case, then he had been by her side for quite some time already. Why was it only recently that she had begun to feel the chill from him?
She had heard that ghosts absorbed human vitality to cultivate and grow stronger. Could it be that by draining life force, he had finally become able to interact with her?
Seeing the little girl drift off in thought, Adrian lightly brushed her cheek. She startled and dodged at once, her face and ears flushing red like ripe tomatoes.
It seemed the ghost really liked touching her. Even though he was polite and avoided anything improper, having him pat her head or stroke her cheek still made her unbearably shy.
After gathering her courage for a while, Elowen asked,
"Are you... are you a female ghost?"
She held her breath again as she waited for the answer. Her mind was completely blank, and she had no idea how she should react once she knew the ghost's gender.
She did not even know whether she was hoping the ghost would touch her left hand or her right hand.
If it touched her left hand, then...
Adrian assumed Elowen had been forced and harassed by that brat Lucien, and that she probably carried a deep fear of men. After a moment of consideration, he decided to deceive her. He touched her right hand and pretended to be a female ghost.
Elowen sighed in relief. If the ghost was female, that was perfect. From now on, she could let her pat her head without worry.
"Then... are you the same age as me?"
The back of her left hand was touched lightly.
"Older than me?"
This time, her right hand was touched. Elowen beamed and exclaimed, "Then I should call you older sister. That's wonderful. I'll have another sister from now on."
Adrian...
Did he still have time to regret lying about his gender?
A man nearing forty like him never imagined there would come a day when a young girl would call him sister.
It was far too much to accept.
Even though he was deeply displeased, Adrian had no intention of correcting Elowen. Perhaps a sisterly identity would make her feel more at ease when interacting with him.
Then he heard Elowen say with a hint of regret, "It's a shame I can't ask what your name is. It's fine. I'll introduce myself first. My name is Elowen. I'm really happy to meet you."
Adrian looked at the lively girl before him. Her rosy lips curved into a smile that made his heart flutter. This time, he could not hold back and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Feeling the cool touch against her face, even though she knew the ghost was female, she still felt overwhelmingly embarrassed.
Ms. Ghost touched her face again.
With Adrian by her side, it did not take long before Elowen drifted into sleep, wrapped in quiet happiness.
At the same time, the group who had just left Elowen's hospital room sat together, every face heavy with seriousness.