Chapter 155: Eve’s Gift
Baron Mortimer's Castle, Evening
The soft afternoon sunlight filtered through the large windows of the guest room Adrian sat in, casting a warm glow on the Mortimer Castle walls.
The room, though grand, felt more like a temporary sanctuary than a place of respite. Adrian sat at the edge of the large bed, staring at the ornate ceiling, his mind racing with various thoughts.
His brainstorming had led him nowhere, and the pressure was mounting.
Sophia and Isabella had gone to instruct the soldiers on key matters, making sure Mortimer Castle remained secure from any potential threat.
Meanwhile, Seraphina was busy setting up a magical field around the castle, a barrier to intercept any unwanted visitors.
The rest of the women—rested in the rooms provided for them, grateful for a moment's peace. Adrian, however, couldn't afford to rest.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Adrian was deep in conversation with the system, trying to figure out a way to teleport his army to safety.
His brainstorming had failed to produce any solid ideas, and while he had a mission—Oyakodon Time—that could grant him two training chamber vouchers, he couldn't bring himself to use it.
Forcing his mother and sister into an intimate situation just to gain the vouchers was something that went against his values, no matter how tempting the reward might be.
He wanted things to progress naturally, not through coercion. The system's response only deepened his frustration.
"Host has insufficient authority to purchase training chamber vouchers. You need to be at least a 5th Class Awakened to buy these. As for teleportation-related items, host must acquire spatial techniques or gain access to spatial skills. If host can acquire those techniques, the system shop will automatically update. As for buying them, host needs to be at least 6 class Awakened."
Adrian sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “Of course… nothing comes easy,” he muttered to himself.
His mind raced through possible alternatives, but without the proper tools or abilities, teleporting his army was out of the question.
The situation was becoming more complex by the second, and the clock was ticking.
Just then, a soft knock came at the door, breaking through his thoughts. Adrian’s head lifted, and he sensed something strange. He could feel more than one presence, but only one person was at the door.
“Come in,” Adrian called out, his voice calm yet curious.
The door creaked open, and Eve Mortimer stepped in, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. Adrian’s curiosity grew, but before he could say anything, Eve rushed toward him with unexpected speed.
In a blur of movement, she launched herself at Adrian, catching him off guard.
"Eve!" Adrian exclaimed, but it was too late. She collided with him, sending them both tumbling backward onto the bed.
Eve clung to him tightly, burying her face in his chest as her body trembled. Adrian blinked in surprise, his arms instinctively wrapping around her to steady them both as they landed in a heap on the plush mattress.
Eve's tears spilled onto his shirt as she cried, her sobs filled with a strange mix of joy and relief. “Thank you... Thank you so much, Adrian…” she wept, her voice trembling as she pressed her face into his chest.
“You freed me. You saved my mother’s life, you saved my family… and you even freed us from Mortimer’s grasp. I— I don’t know how to thank you enough!”
Her words were nearly incoherent through her tears, but the emotion behind them was clear.
Adrian’s heart softened as he listened to her, his hand moving gently to stroke her hair. “Shh… it’s alright, Eve,” he said softly, his voice soothing.
“I told you before, didn’t I? You’re already mine, so of course, I’ll protect you. You don’t have to give me anything in return.”
Eve sobbed harder at his words, clutching his shirt as if afraid to let go. Adrian could feel the depth of her gratitude, the weight that had been lifted from her shoulders after years of fear and oppression.
For the first time in a long while, Eve was truly free.
“I don’t deserve this…” Eve whispered through her tears, her voice barely audible. “I don’t deserve you.”
Adrian’s heart clenched at her words. He held her closer, his fingers gently stroking her hair as he spoke softly into her ear.
“You deserve to be happy, Eve. You deserve to live without fear. I’ll make sure of that.”
Eve remained quiet for a moment, her face still buried in his chest as she tried to calm her racing heart.
Adrian’s steady breathing and gentle touch helped her to relax, her sobs slowly subsiding as she found comfort in his presence.
After a few moments, she pulled away slightly, just enough to look up at him with tear-filled eyes.
Her gaze was filled with adoration, gratitude, and something else—something deeper. Without warning, she leaned forward and kissed him, her lips soft and warm against his.
The kiss was brief but filled with emotion, and when they broke apart, Eve’s eyes shimmered with a quiet intensity.
Eve smiled through her tears, her heart swelling with emotion. She nuzzled her face back into his chest, content to stay in his embrace for just a little while longer.
But after a few minutes, she shifted, her expression turning slightly serious.
“There’s… something else I wanted to tell you,” she said, her voice hesitant. “While I can’t give you anything substantial, I’ve brought someone who can.”
Adrian’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion. “Someone who can? What do you mean?”
Eve sat up, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand as she glanced toward the door. She hesitated for a moment before calling out, “You can come in now.”
Adrian’s gaze followed hers, and a moment later, the door creaked open again. The door slowly creaked open, and a tall, slender figure stepped into the room, her movements graceful, almost ethereal.
Adrian was shocked and happy to see the figure and at the same time, his mind buzzed with a system notification, stating New Mission.