Chapter 42: I'm Sorry, Angeal

Angeal escorted her grandfather to his room after they ate dinner. Martha and Gwen were left behind in the kitchen to fix things up. Edwin and Arvid weren't around during dinner, so is Ivar.

This left the girl wondering where Devin's personal servant went, but with what had happened, Martha and Gwen already knew where he went.

Back to the Kingdom of Elysion.

The moment the two mortals reached the door of Gladios' room, the old man turned his back to face Angeal, worry still evident in his eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay," he asked then he held his granddaughter's hand. "You can sleep with me, you know... like how you slept with your Pops when you were just a little gal," he added and this made Angeal smile at him as she shook her head.

"I am okay," the girl mouthed slowly, making sure the old man would understand.

Knowing his granddaughter's answer made him purse his lips, making him look like a childish old man who's pouting.

"Are you playing mature with me now," he asked teasingly then he ruffled Angeal's hair, making the girl widen her smile more. "Don't forget, you're still my little angel," he added and Angeal nodded, feeling warmth in her heart.

She realized that she loves her grandfather to bits indeed.

Angeal gave her Pops a tight embrace, making the old man feel slightly emotional. He returned her hug, slightly lifting her up in the process.

'Oh, this old man!'

The moment they separated from the embrace, the girl playfully pushed the old man slightly inside the room the moment she opened the door for him to go inside.

"Now rest," she mouthed then Gladios nodded, now seeming to look tired.

"Mm... you rest well, too, my lil Angeal," he said finally then he closed the door, leaving Angeal behind in the hallway.

As she was walking back towards her room, she was suddenly taken aback to see Devin waiting in front of her bedroom door.

'What the... isn't he asleep!? He wasn't there a while ago!'

Feeling her face heat up from embarrassment and at the same time fear, she hid behind a plant that was as almost as tall as her. Her eyes showed full alertness, watching the man in front of her room like a hunter observing his prey.

This, however, seemed to look like the prey was observing the hunter.

Devin just looked at her as he cocked his head, seeing that the mortal was hiding from him obviously.

"Don't hide in the presence of your master," he ordered, emphasizing his power. Angeal shook her head rather aggressively, showing him that she didn't want to approach him.

'You scared me to death! Then cuddled me to death! Are you kidding me?!'

The Soul Eater's eyebrows twitched when he saw how Angeal rejected his order. No one has ever disobeyed his order.

It was only this human girl!

"Do you want me to carry you out from where you're hiding," he threatened her, annoyance etched in his voice.

When the girl heard this, she squinted her eyes at him, not caring the difference of their position of being master and servant.

"You asked for it."

'!!!'

In just four large strides, Devin had reached Angeal. He swiftly carried her and put her over his shoulder like the human girl was a sack of potatoes.

'Hey!'

The girl was pounding both of her fists on his back, wanting to escape from him. At the same time, Martha and Gwen were walking up the stairs when they saw what had happened.

The moment Devin looked at the two with their eyes and mouths opened wide, his expression still remained expressionless as he spoke.

"Leave the both of us alone and don't bother telling what you saw to the old man. That is an order," the Soul Eater ordered them then he raised a brow at them, making his point. "If you do, I will eat your souls."

The moment he said that, he disappeared with Angeal into thin air, leaving the two immortals behind. The mother and daughter looked at each other, dumbfounded of what had just happened.

"You seriously think he is going to eat our souls," Gwen remarked as she scoffed. Martha held her chin, guessing what might happen between them.

"Oh, what is with this now," she mumbled to herself then her daughter Gwen shrugged, feeling confused as well.

But judging by the tone of voice of their master, somehow the two of them knew that they have nothing to worry about.

Their master, Devin, actually looked "brighter" than he was before.

Was it sleep that he really needed?

Devin and Angeal arrived at the mansion's rooftop. Devin put her down slowly, making the girl cling unto him for dear life. Seeing her this way, Devin furrowed his brows by her sudden change of attitude.

"You plead for your release and now you cling on to me as if you don't want to let go?"

Angeal felt the strong wind on her skin. Her fingers dug on Devin's arm, scared that she might be blown away.

'Is this man scaring me to death!?'

The human girl looked down, then back at him. With her other hand, she pointed down, indicating that she is scared of falling down.

Even without knowing her for such a long time, Devin understood what she meant pretty well. Non-verbal cues such as gestures is indeed another way of communicating.

Devin looked at the girl who was clinging unto him for safety. By each passing second, her face showed the intensity of worry worsen as her eyes started to water.

Not knowing what to do, the Soul Eater slowly moved his left arm to support Angeal through an embrace, to assure her of her safety.

When the girl felt his hand on her waist, she was startled at first but at the same time, she felt secure. Angeal looked at him, making Devin avoid her gaze as he showed her an expression she had never seen from him before.

Embarrassment.

They stood on the roof for a few minutes, not daring to move. During their silence, awkwardness turned to comfort as they both looked at the night sky, the full moon shining at its brightest.

The human girl no longer felt scared. As they both looked at the sky, she noticed how beautiful it is up there. They not only saw the city lights from the hill where they stood, but they also saw the sea of stars on the sky.

It is the most beautiful art, alive with in raw energy, a song for the eyes. The night sky was such a welcome sight, appearing like magic at each sunset, promising to return as it faded in dawn's first light.

It was indeed a mesmerizing sight.

Devin discreetly looked at Angeal beside him, who was now admiring the view, her fear obviously replaced by astonishment and awe.

As he watched the girl, he realized how beautiful she was up close.

Her emotions were not easily hidden on her innocent face, but her eyes—her eyes showed her soul.

She had a kind of understated beauty, perhaps it was because she was so disarmingly unaware of her prettiness.

Angeal was all about simplicity, making things easy, helping those around her to relax and be happy with what they have.

Perhaps that is why her skin glowed so, it was her inner beauty that lit her eyes and softened her features.

This made Devin think to himself that being in her company was to feel that he too was someone, that he had been warmed in summer rays regardless of the season.

So calming—so warming.

Realizing that he is lost in his thoughts as he looked at the human girl, he coughed slightly, making Angeal look at him, distracting her from admiring the view.

This made it awkward for them again.

The girl avoided his gaze then pouted, not sure why she was taken there.

"I..." Devin started speaking, making the girl look at him from the corner of her eyes. "Wanted to show you this view," he added and the girl just nodded once, still finding their situation confusing and at the same time awkward.

They fell into a deafening silence once more as they both stared at the sky. After a few minutes, Devin pulled her closer as they felt the wind blow harsher than it was a while ago. Instinctively, Angeal clung on to him, her other hand reaching out to his broad chest out of fear.

'Oh, please, put me down!'

Seeing her scared expression again, Devin looked at the sky then spoke, distracting her from her fear.

"I'm sorry, Angeal."

The girl looked at him, surprised to hear those words from him. Her heart started beating uncontrollably, making it slightly difficult for her to breathe.

Just three simple words... and the girl already felt sincerity from their cold master, who almost ate her soul! It was also the first time he heard him spoke of her name.

Was he really apologizing to her?

Feeling the girl's amused look on him, Devin's eyes met hers, making the girl see a reflection of herself in his beautiful purple eyes.

'Is he doing this... for me?'

The girl's heart was beating erratically as she realized that this was Devin's way of apologizing to her. Even with those three simple words... it moved her heart as she was convinced that he was sincere.