บท 19: She Will Understand
"Agh! Finally we're done," Arvid exclaimed then he sat down and rested his back on the wall behind him.
After resting in the dining room, everyone went back to work as soon as possible to finish the mansion floor. As for the ladies, they helped tidy up the old tiles for easy disposal. For old man Gladios, he was the one who prepared dinner for everyone.
Angeal gave Ivar a poke and the Soul Eater's personal servant looked at her.
"Are you going to give me the book now," the phone in her hand asked for her and Ivar chuckled as she gave the human girl a pat on the head like she was a little girl.
They treat Angeal like a little girl, but she didn't mind it. Even though she works for the Soul Eater, the others treated her and her grandfather equally even though she is a mortal.
"I'll give it to you after dinner, okay," Ivar answered the human girl.
Angeal's blue eyes glistened with excitement when she heard Ivar's answer. A beautiful smile appeared on her face as she gave him a small bow then skipped going to the dining room, obviously happy and excited at the same time.
Gwen giggled as she watched Angeal.
"Now isn't she a sweet little one."
Martha put the last box of old tiles aside then nodded. "You know how she loves books! Jane Austen is also one of her favorite authors. I, too, enjoyed her story, Pride and Prejudice," Gwen's mother commented, her passion for books also showing.
Arvid scoffed. "It's just a bunch of books. What's exciting?"
Edwin looked at his son and teased him. "You looked like her when you got your PlayStation. That's just a game," he teased and Arvid rolled his eyes at his father.
"Shut up..."
Everyone made their way to the dining room as they laughed at Edwin and Arvid's exchange of conversation. Working for the whole day got them feeling hungry and tired as well.
As they were walking, Gladios walked alongside Ivar and talked to him.
"I've cleaned master's room one time and saw that those books were the only ones inside his room. Those are important to him, isn't it?"
Ivar smiled as he nodded, answering him.
"It is."
Those books were actually given by his mother before she banished Devin from their realm. Back when his mother was on Earth, she also stayed for years, acquiring rare items herself. Devin's mother knew that her son loved books so much that's why she gave it to him as a farewell present.
"Then why," old man Gladios asked, curiosity evident in his voice. Ivar stopped walking for a moment, making the old man stop waking as well as he waited for his answer.
"He's not that bad, Gladios. He may not express it well, but he felt bad to have treated Angeal that way, especially during their first meeting."
Gladios kept quiet then Ivar's eyes landed on the old man's watch.
"I didn't have any trouble picking gifts for everyone, but a present for you got me thinking too much. Then Devin suggested of giving you a watch and chose that design himself," he added and Gladios looked at his watch then smiled.
He didn't expect that their cold master actually had a heart. He realized that the Soul Eater may be kind after all, and just found it difficult to express himself. Suddenly, the old man felt warmth in his heart.
He may not know their master that much, but Devin was sincere enough to think of him.
"My... he's really inexpressive, isn't he," the old man commented and Ivar chuckled.
"Now that we're home, I hope he tries to open up himself to the others, too. You guys are practically like family to us now since we left our realm," Ivar said and Gladios looked at him.
"You're right. I'll do my best to serve him while I still can. He did save me and my precious granddaughter," he agreed then Ivar suddenly looked serious.
As Gladios was walking towards the dining room, the Soul Eater's personal servant spoke.
"Angeal... she doesn't know yet, right?"
Gladios stopped in his tracks then he looked at Ivar with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
The old man found it difficult to be honest to Angeal about the main reason why they worked for the Soul Eater. He was afraid to see the girl's reaction if she were to know that Devin would eat his soul... and probably hers, too.
Gladios didn't want his precious Angeal to worry too much... especially if he were to disappear from this world, leaving him with no choice but to trust them to take care of his little girl.
"She doesn't know yet. That you sold both of your souls to him," Ivar spoke again then the old man's lips turned into a tight line then nodded. "Why?"
The old man was hesitant to answer for a while but then he sighed then answered his question, knowing that he could trust Ivar.
"You saw how Angeal is, Ivar. I wouldn't want to break her heart. Angeal's... too kind! Who knows what she might say to our master. She might anger him. Who knows what she might do after she..."
The old man didn't know how to continue. He just shook his head, then kept quiet as Ivar looked at him with pity. When Ivar heard his answer, he nodded then he held the old man's back.
He understood completely why he decided to keep it a secret. It was all for sweet Angeal's sake.
"I understand. You're right. But what if, unexpectedly, something would happen to you and she witnessed 'that'? Don't you think it will break her heart more?"
Gladios understood what Ivar meant. What if Angeal were to witness the Soul Eater eating his soul when unexpectedly his time would come?
With what Ivar said, it pulled him straight into his own thoughts until his granddaughter gave him a hug from behind, surprising him.
Gladios instinctively looked at Angeal, who was already pouting. The old man knew her enough to understand what she wanted.
Angeal grew hungrier as she waited for them. It is obvious in this human girl's eyes!
Gladios gave her a smile then spoke. "Go now. We're almost done," he instructed her kindly and Angeal squinted her eyes at the two of them teasingly, indicating them to hurry up, then she went back inside the dining room.
The old man looked at Ivar, almost ending their conversation. "I'll tell her soon," he told him then Ivar nodded.
"It's difficult, but it's for the best. Surely, as sweet and intelligent your granddaughter is, she will understand."
Ivar then patted Gladios' back again for encouragement, then the both of them entered the dining room to eat dinner with everyone.
As they all sat down on their respective seats, Angeal typed on her phone to ask a question.
"Where is master?"
"Oh. Human food doesn't satisfy him," Ivar answered and Angeal furrowed her brows.
"What a bummer... but has he tried eating human food," she typed and asked then Martha gave her small laugh.
"Oh, yes! Before he became a Soul Eater, he enjoyed most of the human food. He particularly liked Salisbury steak! For your information, human food is also our food in our realm," she answered and gave more information then Arvid spoke.
"Can't we invite him to eat?"
Gwen scoffed, finding his question stupid. "We invite our master to eat? You think we never did that? He always distanced himself from us even though we invite him to every meal," she answered, sounding slightly annoyed at their master's attitude then Angeal frowned.
'What a lonely man!'
As they were eating dinner and conversing among themselves, the Soul Eater on the other hand stayed in his room, as he looked at his purple rose, contemplating deeply about his curse.
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง 
MysticAmy
MysticAmy What do you think would happen to old man Gladios? Do you think Angeal would learn about the deal? Anyway, thanks so much for reading the story! :D Do tell me your feedbacks below~!
ของขวัญ
-- ได้รับของขวัญแล้ว สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง