Rhea escorted Zigh into the drawing room.

  "Sir Zigh, please have a seat. I will prepare some black coffee for you."

  "Thank you."

  Rhea hurried away, leaving Zigh alone. He took a moment to observe the room.

  "The scent of yesterday's tea is gone..." Zigh murmured. He looked up at the ceiling. "No visible damage... Lian must have done something on the second floor."

  He crossed his arms and leaned back into the sofa. "Even though I know who Lian truly is... I..."

  A ringtone shattered his train of thought. He answered immediately.

  "Good morning, Sir!"

  "Morning. Yes, Dev?"

  "I visited the National Civil Registry yesterday and checked the entire database. There is no record of the name Leuliang Esculenta."

  "I see... Did you check the transmigration and immigration departments?"

  "I’ve checked transmigration, but I haven't reached immigration yet, Sir."

  "Dev, go straight to immigration. Tell them Zigh Eosvile requires the data for Leuliang Esculenta."

  The boss is changing. Is it because of... Devin wondered.

  "Dev? Hello? You there?"

  "Ah, my apologies, Sir. I’ll get right on it."

  Devin hung up.

  Zigh clicked his tongue. "Lian, I hope my suspicions are wrong."

  "Are you feeling uncomfortable, Sir Zigh?"

  The voice made Zigh snap his head around. "Ah! No, just work matters."

  Rhea served the black coffee along with several snacks on a plate. She then sat across from him.

  "Regarding Master Lian... could you explain?"

  Straight to the point. No small talk, Zigh thought. He let out a heavy sigh. "He’s ill. He’s been admitted to the hospital."

  Rhea lowered her gaze. "I should have been more persistent in stopping Master Lian from leaving," she said, her voice trailing off like the wind.

  The bitter aroma of black coffee filled the silence of the room.

  Zigh folded his arms. "Miss Edelweiss, may I have Lian's identification card?"

  Rhea’s gaze held his. "To what end?"

  Zigh gave a faint, thin smile. "For medical records. As I said, Lian is sick. The hospital needs to verify his age."

  Rhea’s peridot eyes darkened. "Is that all?"

  "What do you mean?" Zigh asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "For a renowned Young Master of the Eosvile family to personally request an ID card for a patient’s treatment... isn't that a bit strange?"

  Zigh stood up, eyes blazing. "Miss Edelweiss, I am being polite, yet you treat my position with clear disregard!"

  "Sir Zigh, let’s be direct. No need to go in circles. What is it you truly want to know?"

  Zigh flinched, taking half a step back.

  "See? Your body is more honest than your words," Rhea remarked.

  Zigh clenched his fists. "To what extent can Lian... make things disappear?"

  Rhea smiled, though her peridot eyes remained dark as she looked toward the window. "All of Echo can vanish in the blink of an eye."

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  Zigh’s eyes widened, his mouth agape. "How is that possible?" he whispered.

  "You saw Master Lian use his power with your own eyes when you visited yesterday."

  Zigh’s legs felt weak. He sank back into the sofa, leaning his shoulders against the cushions.

  "Is there anything else?" Rhea asked.

  Zigh straightened his posture. "Of course. Who is 'Outer'?"

  Rhea noticed Zigh’s hands trembling slightly. "Outer is a part of Master Lian—his trusted friend."

  A part... a friend? Zigh thought. He glared at her. "None of this is logical."

  "Is it logical for something to vanish before your eyes?"

  Zigh bit his lip, silenced.

  "Sir Zigh, have you had enough?"

  Zigh rubbed his face. "Does Miss Edelweiss know that Lian is malnourished?"

  Rhea’s eyes softened. "Yes..."

  She knows. It seems she isn't the one starving him, Zigh realized.

  Rhea sighed. "Can you explain what is actually happening with Master Lian?"

  Zigh looked toward the window. "He tried to escape the hospital. He even pulled out his own IV drip."

  Rhea covered her mouth with her hand.

  "Miss Edelweiss, do you know why Lian would react that way?"

  Rhea fell silent. Memories of the Vellion Crater surfaced—the story of Ron and Nox at the hospital during Lian’s treatment at Syntax Hospital. The tears almost spilled from the corners of her eyes. "No..."

  "Miss Rhea, you know something..."

  "Can you bring Master Lian home, Sir Zigh?"

  "Home? He’s sick, Miss Edelweiss!"

  "I understand, but Master Lian... he seems to hate hospitals," she whispered.

  "How can that be?" Zigh snapped.

  "Sir Zigh, please lower your voice."

  Zigh ran his fingers through his hair. "Miss Edelweiss... Lian is ill. If you keep hiding things, it will only make it worse."

  "I understand that too, but... please be calm. Your anger will become fuel for the fire," Rhea said, her voice steady yet cutting.

  Zigh went silent, turning his face away.

  "Sir Zigh, you should drink your coffee and have some snacks. Perhaps it will calm your nerves."

  Zigh exhaled, letting out his anger.

  He took the cup and drank from it. This coffee... I’ve never tasted anything like it, he thought.

  Zigh placed the cup back on the table and massaged his temples. "My apologies for before."

  Rhea shook her head. "How is it? Is the coffee to your liking?"

  He offered a small smile. "Miss Edelweiss, let’s stay focused on Lian. We can discuss coffee anytime."

  "Yes. At least you are a bit calmer now."

  "Miss Edelweiss, please. Tell me what made Lian hate hospitals."

  Rhea remained silent. Zigh waited.

  "Sir Zigh, there are times when we must keep secrets so as not to hurt others."

  "Miss Edelweiss, this is the last time I’m asking. Do not dodge the question. It’s for Lian’s sake."

  "I am only stating facts, Sir Zigh."

  "No. You know the cause, but you’re only revealing pieces," Zigh countered.

  The air in the room grew heavy, making the scent of the coffee even more pungent.

  "Miss Edelweiss, just spill the beans. Lian can recover. The doctors said he can get better."

  Rhea took a deep breath. "Do you always think that you and your father, Vaston Eosvile, are the only Eosviles?"

  "Miss Rhea Edel—"

  Zigh’s shout was cut off by a phone call. He stood up, clicking his tongue.

  "Lex, what is it?"

  "The shooter has regained consciousness, Sir."

  Zigh glanced at Rhea briefly. She remained still. He walked toward the window. "And?"

  "The perpetrator is an associate of the inmate who was smuggling illegal weapons."

  "Keep digging. Don't give him any room to breathe."

  "Yes, Sir."

  Zigh sat back down after ending the call.

  "Your burden is heavy, Sir Zigh," Rhea noted.

  Zigh snorted. "Then don't add to it, Miss Edelweiss."

  "If you wish to know the truth, then you must be patient—at least until the repairs on my house are finished."

  Zigh stood up. "It seems that even though you care for Lian, he isn't your priority."

  He walked away, leaving Rhea standing still. Even at the end, she remains tight-lipped... what a drag, Zigh thought.

  He stepped into his car. "I need to get back to the hospital fast," he muttered. He started the engine and sped away from the Edelweiss Estate.

  In the drawing room, Rhea tidied the table. He finished the coffee after all, she noted. She carried the cups and plates to the kitchen.

  "If I told him the truth, Sir Zigh would storm off to confront Sir Nox and Ron at the hospital immediately," she whispered while washing the cup.

  Once finished, she put the snacks in the refrigerator. "Master Lian, I want to visit you, but I fear it would only disturb you."

  Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed. Lena entered the kitchen carrying bags of groceries.

  "Ah! Lady Rhea is here!"

  "Lena, you don't need to be so loud inside the house."

  "I just saw a brand new sports car leaving the Estate!"

  Rhea sat at the dining chair. "Hurry and put the groceries in the fridge."

  "Understood, Lady Rhea!"

  Rhea smiled. It's almost noon and her energy hasn't faded, she thought.

  As Lena organized the items, she asked, "So, Lady Rhea, who was the guest in the fancy sports car?"

  "Zigh Eosvile."

  Lena hummed. "Oh, Zigh Eosvile... WAIT, ZIGH EOSVILE?!"

  She slammed the fridge shut and sat across from Rhea. "So, how is Master Lian, Lady Rhea?"

  "Master Lian is sick, Lena."

  Lena’s smile vanished, her eyes clouding. "Master Lian... he really is the one who suffers most in the end," she murmured.

  Rhea gazed at her with bright peridot eyes. "Even so, that Young Master Eosvile takes good care of him."

  Lena’s eyes went wide. "You aren't lying, are you?"

  "Why would I lie, Lena?"

  "It’s just... Master Lian says one thing but his heart says another."

  Rhea chuckled. "But it seems someone has finally realized that."

  "Do you know which hospital he’s in?"

  "Unfortunately, I don't know which one. Sir Zigh didn't say."

  "I see... but why did Sir Zigh come back here after taking Master Lian away?"

  "Master Lian seems to have a trauma regarding hospitals," Rhea replied, her eyes beginning to water.

  "Does this have something to do with Sir Ron and Sir Nox?"

  "Sometimes you are too perceptive, Lena. I worry you’ll get hurt because of it."

  Lena could only respond with a faint, sad smile.

  To be continued...