Chapter 88 Lilly (3)

After a while, the little girl and Nekonna made it to the room the fierce man was in, who is still patiently waiting.

Nekonna asked the little girl to wait before knocking on the door. The man inside then said. "You may come in."

Nekonna slowly opened the door, meeting the eyes of the fierce looking man inside, but his eyes were not meeting her's. It was instead focusing on the little girl beside her, who couldn't help but jump upon meeting the man's gaze.

The man then spoke in a calm, yet booming voice. "Come in."

Almost like his voice took control of their will, the two came into the room with haste. Just as Nekonna was about to close the door, the little girl looked back at her with teary eyes.

Nekonna felt pity upon seeing the little girl's sorry state. She then mumbled in a low voice. "Maybe this is a-?"

Before Nekonna could finish her thought process and close the door completely, a foot blocked the door.

"Whoever is closing the door, please stop. The Master's and the Little Miss' food is here." Said a voice on the other side.

Realizing what the voice meant, Nekonna immediately opened the door, letting a group of people carrying trays of food to come in.

Upon setting the trays on the table infront of the fierce looking man, the people bringing the food performed a little bow.

The fierce looking man then said with the same calm, yet booming voice. "Lilly, come over here."

The little girl with the white hair froze upon hearing the man call her by name. She looked at Nekonna by her side, giving her a look of hesitation and fear.

Nekonna offered her a hand, which the little Lilly immediately took. She then began guiding the still hesitant Lilly over to the table with the fierce looking man following them with his observant eyes.

Once close enough to the table, Lilly immediately hid behind Nekonna as the man stared directly at Nekonna, who is wearing a very brave face. 

The man then asked with a calm, yet booming voice. "Why is she hiding behind you?"

Nekonna performed a little bow as she continued to hide Lilly behind her. And without raising her head, she replied. "Nekonna is the name of this servant."

"As for the reason she is hiding behind me... I believe the Little Miss is afraid of your booming voice, Master."

"Is that so...." The man said, seemingly pondering the new information.

Nekonna then added. "The Little Miss seems to trust me quite a bit. So I ask, please, let me stay in this room?"

"What good will that do?" The fierce man asked.

"It's so the Little Miss will feel more comfortable with you, Master."

The man looked past Nekonna and met Lilly's peeking gaze. He then asked with a loud booming voice. "Is this what you want, Lilly?"

Hearing the man's loud, yet relaxed voice get pointed at her, Lilly felt her very soul shake in terror. She frantically nodded before completely hiding behind Nekonna.

Nekonna then looked up, blocking the man's gaze with her brave and defiant eyes. The man then said with his naturally loud voice. "Very well. Nekonna, was it? I permit you to stay."

He then looked at the group of people who brought their food before saying to them. "As for the rest of you, leave us. And order the rest of the servants to not come anywhere close this room. Got it?"

"Yes, Master."

After the other people left the room, Nekonna guided the trembling Lilly onto the opposite side of the table where the man is currently sitting.

Upon being sat infront of the man, Lilly tried to sit properly, but the man's silent, yet intimidating stare bore down on her, making her lose composure.

She immediately clung tightly to Nekonna, who was about to move away. Who then said to her with a calm and gentle tone. "Little Miss, it will be fine. I'll just be over there on the corner."

Lilly reluctantly let go of Nekonna, who then moved behind the man and sat by the wall. She gave Lilly, who has full view of her, a bright smile, like the one she did earlier.

Lilly tried and made the same smile as her, but when she met the man's fierce and silent gaze, it crumbled immediately.

The man gave Nekonna a passing glance before he said calmly, but his voice still loud as ever. "My name is Sai, the Master of this house and head of the Oboete family."

Lilly nodded shakily before stating as she avoided the man's gaze. "M-my name is Lilly."

"Hmm...." Sai observed Lilly, who is trying to avoid meeting his gaze at all cost. He seemed to have come to a conclusion before saying. "Very well, Lilly. Let us eat before the food gets cold."

Sai casually picked up his chopsticks with grace and precise movement. Meanwhile, Lilly grabbed her's with her shaky hands.

"Thanks for the food."

"T-Thanks for the food."

As Sai began to eat his food, Lilly's hand won't stop shaking. She then noticed movements behind Sai. Noticing it was Nekonna, she gave her a glance.

She saw Nekonna making weird gestures while wearing a bright smile, causing Lilly to smile as well. Lilly's hand stopped shaking and held firmly onto her chopsticks.

Just as she was about to take her first bit of food, Sai said with his booming voice. "You are holding it wrong."

Lilly immediately froze up upon hearing the Sai's voice once more, causing her hands to shake once more.

Without any warning, Sai grabbed Lilly's little hand that held the chopsticks, causing Lilly to lose all power in her body.

Sai grabbed her chopsticks and rearraged them on her fingers. After seeing his work done, Sai let go of Lilly's hand before picking up his chopsticks before continuing to eat his share.

Lilly, still in the position Sai left her, gave Nekonna a look of pure helplessness. Nekonna felt her heart ache, but she gestured to her to continue eating.

Lilly reluctantly did what she said, sheepishly eating her share of the food. But what happened right now wasn't a one off case.

"Cut the fish this way."

"Pick up the bowl and hold it close to your mouth."

"Chew the food properly."

"Make sure to eat the side dishes."

Sai, who was still speaking in a calm yet booming voice, nitpicked Lilly's actions at almost every opportunity he sees, causing Lilly and even Nekonna to feel a bit stressed by his behavior.

Lilly had the worse of it. Everytime Sai pointed out her mistakes, she would freeze up as tears begin to form in her eyes. 

Everytime Sai sees tears beginning to form, he would just wipe her eyes with a hankerchief while saying. "Do not cry on the food. It's already been seasoned."

The only thing preventing Lilly from just bolting out of the room was Nekonna, who is still siting in the room doing weird gestures, trying desperately to keep Lilly inside the room.

After this happened for about half an hour, they finally finished eating. Sai turned to Nekonna, who immediately stopped doing gestures, before he said. "Nekonna, was it? Clean the table for me."

"Right away."

Nekonna then stood up, made her way to the table, and began cleaning up. While she was cleaning, she felt something tug on her clothes from underneath the table.

She saw that it was Lilly's hand firmly grabbing onto her clothes without the intention of letting go. She gave Lilly a bright smile as she winked towards her teary eyes.

Lilly felt her heart calm down a bit knowing Nekonna was still with her. She reluctantly let go of her clothes as Nekonna continued to clean the table.

After cleaning up the table, Nekonna grabbed the trays and went back to her former place. She set the trays to her side as she sat with a bright smile on her face, placed where Lilly could see.

A small smile formed on Lilly's face, but it immediately disappeared when Sai placed a scroll from his person onto the table, producing a loud thud.

Lilly felt her body freeze over, feeling like she has no control over her own body and soul. She stared at the scroll with a haunted expression.

Sai then said as he opened the scroll, allowing Lilly to see it's contents. "Show me what you have learned. Read these words out loud before you write them down yourself."

Lilly, still unable to control her body, gave Sai a nod.

Sai then handed the scroll to Lilly, who took the scroll with her shaking hands. Sai sat back as he watched Lilly read out the contents of the scroll.

And just like earlier, Sai is quick to point out every little mistake Lilly makes, causing more tears to form in her eyes.

And like before, Sai wiped her tears away before saying. "Continue reading, Lilly."

Nekonna, who is sitted at the back, couldn't help but feel like she should do something. So she did, she began to say. "Master, I think she's-"

Before Nekonna could finish her sentence, Sai looked back at her. Staring directly into her eyes with his fierce looking eyes, petrifying her in place.

Nekonna then looked down and gripped her hands tightly. Seeing that she had nothing to say, Sai returned his attention to Lilly, who's face is turning red, her tears beginning to flow, and her voice wavering.

This went on for an hour, but for Lilly, it felt like an eternity. With Sai watching her every movement, pointing out her every mistake while Nekonna can only helplessly watch from the side.

After reading the entire scroll out loud and writing it down, Sai picked up the scroll Lilly just wrote in.

He stood up from his seat and began to walk near the windows while reading Lilly's writing. 

Seeing him move, Nekonna immediately ran over to Lilly's side, who is just sitting like a statue, staring deep into the floor while her hair, which was no longer braided, hung on the side of her head, hiding her teary face.

As Nekonna comforted the sobbing Lilly, Sai turned around and looked at them. And without waiting for them to look at him, he said. "Disappointing."

This single word that Sai uttered, sent ripples into Lilly's very soul, making tears to flow out more freely through her eyes hidden behind her hair.

Sai then began walking towards the door, each step sounding like thunder in Lilly's ears. He dropped Lilly's scroll midway before he reached for the door.

Before he left, he said with the same calm yet booming voice like from before. "I'll be back in a month. I expect you to learn from the mistakes I pointed out and perfect it."

These words felt like a hammer beating down on Lilly's already fragile heart. And before Sai completely left, he added. "Nekonna, was it?"

Nekonna, still trying to comfort Lilly, looked at Sai with defiant eyes as she said. "Yes, Master. That is my name."

"Hmm...." Sai gave her one last glance before leaving the room entirely.

After he left the room, Nekonna hugged the sobbing Lilly and said to her in a calm and gentle tone. "It will be fine, Little Miss."

"I'm here for you. And I kept my promise to you, didn't I? So please, don't cry."

"*sob* *sob* *sniff*"

"Here. Let me take you to your room. I'll stay with you all day. I'll tell the others to leave us alone for the rest day so you can rest. Is that okay?"

"*nods* *sniff*"

"Then, up you go." Nekonna then picked Lilly up onto her arms as she continued to pat her back. She walked through the empty halls with the only sound filling said halls were Lilly's sobs.