The Spectator of Continuum part 2

The sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling enhanced the tranquil forest's atmosphere.

Lionel gazed upon the crown of towering trees, chomped onto a piece of wild fruit, and muttered in an annoyed breath.

" Stinky Alex. See if you can stop me from attending my darling angel's birthday, huh." He then rudely wiped the dirt off his face.

Counting the days he escaped from the underground facility, it should be a week now. He turned a deaf ear about what Urriene has been spouting and ordered him to distract the bunch of fools. He consequently made his way into the secret passage leading to the nearby forest.

Thinking back to what his brat of a son mentioned about a domesticated wolf his granddaughter has tamed made his molars itchy.

[ Good, good, another one.] An annoyed expression flashed his grumpy cast as he condemned his wimpy ass descendant, who stood on the sidelines doing nothing and letting their cabbage recruit a pig.

He stretched his limbs and cracked his neck as he prepared to trek anew. He estimates that in a few days, he should be getting out of the wilderness.

***

" Master." Judas smiled at Eve, who is reclining prone on the chaise lounge while reading a book.

Eve placed the manuscript on a nearby table and sat up.

She stared at Judas, who she hasn't seen for a while, looking neat on his new suit.

The point is, it resembles the outfit their butler, Bastian, is wearing.

" You're here." She softly spoke while extending her hand.

Judas approached in unhurried steps and half-kneeled before her, with his head lowered.

" Yes, I have returned, Master."

Eve rubbed his wavy hair, enjoying the velvety feel on her fingertips.

" Did you have fun?"

" Yes."

His master did not know the truth behind his absence. She merely believed he was out somewhere for his reason.

Eve gave him enough freedom to do whatever he wanted, too much freedom Judas thought. He knew that he was too lucky to be trusted to such a degree, but sometimes he is at a loss.

He is her subordinate, as she is his only master.

However, she treated him not like a subordinate.

At times like this, he feels that she treats him like a pet that she pampers.

However, her serene eyes didn't have any disdain nor any unfavorable intentions in doing so.

In all honesty, up until now, he doesn't comprehend why she rescued him in the first place.

Even then, he is grateful.

To a person like him, who had been denied the right to live, with life toyed in other's palm, Eve is his beacon of hope, salvation, and of a new beginning.

Hence, he is willing to be seen as her pet, her knight, her subordinate, or as she labeled him before - her person.

To whatever end that title might bring him, he'll go, gladly.

" Judas?" A soft voice beckoned his consciousness.

He glanced at the lady who sat languorously while patting the space beside her.

The morning sun had her whole figure bathe in soft light. Her eyes, sparkling, like glass reflecting the rich azure sky. She looks benevolent at the same time, ethereal.

" Yes, master." He did not lower his eyes. As always, he met her gaze. Impudent as it may, but Eve, not once ever rebuked him.

" Come and sit beside me." Eve motioned.

Judas complied with her command and met her smiling figure.

" Why are you wearing such an outfit?" She cupped her chin and examined him from head to toe. In all fairness, he looked rather dashing in it.

Black suit, white gloves with matching black leather shoes, and his hair combed handsomely.

Not long ago, he was still looking like a restained exotic man, but now, he resembled an aristocratic young adult who hid his edges beneath such facade.

As Halfsie murmured to her, this version of Judas, or Judas 3.0, is indeed fascinating.

" Master, I've decided to train and develop more skill." Judas is hoping his master won't get angry for doing things without her permission. Though she did not restrain his actions nor question his affairs, Judas always attained her authorization first.

He had been training how to wield a sword and shoot a gun back in Jacea castle. He still does in his spare time, but he realized that Eve has a lot of bodyguards. Indeed, he wanted to protect her but doesn't want it to end just there. He wanted to do more to serve her better. That's why he asked Bastian to guide him, and fortunately, the butler was glad to teach him.

" Alright," Eve replied with a smile on her face.

***

Time flew by, and it's already the day of her birthday.

" Evangeline, are you truly okay with this, child?" Sylvius glanced at the modestly decorated dining hall of the Tang mansion and can't help but furrow his brows.

" Of course, dad. I just want a simple dinner." Eve beamed at her discontented father.

Sylvius wanted to celebrate grandly and planned a feast for his lovely daughter but is helpless because she doesn't want to.

Eve, naturally, is too lazy to have a glorious banquet in her name. Just kidding, who wanted to plaster a non-ending smile while greeting guests? Ain't nobody got time for that, she murmured in her heart.

In addition, there would be no spicy play to entertain her. Hence, the festivity is doomed never to occur.

However, the exasperated doting father, knowing Eve's dislike to festivities, haggled with her that in her 18th birthday, they would celebrate it sumptuously.

Eve perfunctorily agreed, letting her future self deal with the future problem.

Sylvius, seeing the hall decorated with various flowers, still felt pity. He wanted the best for his daughter, but he acknowledged that she would not be pleased if he forced her his way. Anyway, she's happy, that's all that matters.

Nevertheless, his feeling of dissatisfaction grew upon seeing the guests. One was tall and the other short, with a seven-point similarity. One was calling her "Eve" tenderly, the other vigorously uttering the word "sister". When he first heard it, his face nearly cracked. When did he have a big child?

In addition, the two occupied his daughter's left and right, not even giving him a chance to serve his child.

What's worse, behind Evangeline was his tamed wolf, always lingering like a dark knight or personal butler, whatever role he is playing. Though Sylvius has second thoughts about his motives, seeing his pure eyes looking at Evangeline reassures him somehow. At least, he is not like that Lu brat whose eyes almost drip with honey gazing at his daughter.

Sylvius's self-restraint has been tested over and over during the simple banquet. However, he didn't expect that the biggest stressor for the night would be his long-absent father.

He remembers how he blasted open the door and entered with a proud wide grin exclaiming,

" Hah! I made it!!"

Everyone at the dinner table was speechless, not because of his rowdy entrance but of what he is carrying.

It was a three-meter "toy" causing them to collectively ponder- what the hell is that thing?.

It appears like a Tyrannosaurus rex, but it was wearing a tutu dress with a diamond necklace. It also has a plush gun on each hand.

It seemed like something designed by a person high above the clouds with illegal drugs.

Surprisingly, Eve did not dislike it and even buried her figure deeper within the hideous plushie.

Then his father went on to tell how she liked a purple dinosaur when she was a toddler, hence, he opted to buy her one. Unfortunately, he couldn't "find" the dinosaur, so he could only "end up" choosing a fierce-looking, more majestic one. Only Lionel knew that such a gay beast wasn't fit for her cute angel, though.

He initially wanted a dragon, but there wasn't one.

The closest figure is a beast that resembled a western dragon if it had wings.

Sylvius, who could see through his father's pretense, felt exhausted.

Anyway, he can see that Eve genuinely liked the gift thus, he won't say a thing.

***

MINI THEATRE

20 hours ago,

Seven moons had passed when Lionel finally got out of the wilderness. His elated face hasn't formed yet when he saw a familiar figure, obviously waiting for him.

Lionel: Urriene, what the hell are you doing here?

Urriene: * passed him a bottle of water.

Master, if you had only listened to my words before.

Lionel had a bad feeling and sent him a death stare.

Urriene: Your probation had ended as of yesterday.

Lionel: *#@*&$)@)(!!!