บท 23: Family Bonding with the Doll

"Sadly, I was far too frantic that I got on the wrong ship to actually enjoy the culture of Manika." Freiheit said regretfully. "However, as I was looking for a hotel to stay in for the day since the schedule for the next ship was on the next, I stumbled upon an Eternity Women shop."

"How was it?" Evan asked as he took a bite out of his fries.

"I can't explain it, but the moment I saw Eternity in the shop's display window, I was mesmerized." Freiheit was breathless as he recalled the memory.

Eternity's cheeks turned slightly pink, and she lowered her face embarrassedly, her long red hair curtaining her beautiful heart-shaped face.

It annoyed Evan greatly that she was reacting to Freiheit's praises as she did when Evan praised her.

"If you were so mesmerized by her, why didn't you take her for your own?" Evan mentally shook his head and asked, not wanting to sound like a jealous fool even to his mind.

"Oh, brother!" Freiheit laughed heartily. "I do not need a sex doll."

He didn't need to expound on his words for Evan to understand what he meant.

Sadly, Eternity needed it.

"What do you mean?" Eternity asked, though she didn't sound offended but with genuine curiosity.

Freiheit's eyes darted at Evan, then back to Eternity.

"Let's just say," Freiheit said, leaning his arm on the back of the dining chair. "I have a rather colorful sex life."

"And you're implying that I don't?" Evan glared.

But they both knew the answer to that.

"Anyway." Freiheit waved his hand dismissively. "I thought you looked like Evan's type."

"I had the initial thought that you customized her to my liking," Evan said. "I actually have the impression that Eternity Women were customizable."

"We are," Eternity said.

Evan hummed before abruptly giving Freiheit an accusatory gaze. "What made you think that she looked like my type in the first place?"

"Don't you think Eternity looked like the girl you were gushing over when we were teenagers?"

Evan opened his mouth defensively but then closed it. He opened it again but immediately closed it once more. He looked like he was copying a dumb goldfish.

"We were teenagers," Evan said at last.

"But she is your type," Freiheit chuckled. "Isn't she?"

Evan crossed his arms, grumpily mumbling under his breath.

"So what do we intend to do the whole day?" Freiheit asked in a bored tone, leaning his elbow on the glass surface of the kitchen dining table.

"How about you go your merry way and leave?" Evan smiled with a tense face, his words barely escaping from his gritted teeth.

He was sitting on the dining chair next to Freiheit, while Eternity sat next to Evan. Evan still needed to trust Freiheit to be close to Eternity, so he gave his brother a wide berth.

"Boo!" Freiheit did a thumbs-down gesture. "Come on, Eternity! Join me, bully Evan!"

Eternity looked at Freiheit with unsure eyes but made the same gesture anyway.

"Boo…?" She said it hesitantly.

"Stop teaching Eternity your stupid antics!" Evan shouted, massaging his nose bridge in annoyance.

"But seriously," Freiheit said. "What do we intend to do today?"

"What do Eternity and I intend to do today?" Evan emphasized 'Eternity and I' a bit too aggressively.

"I see." Freiheit rubbed his chin, squinting. "Keep her all to yourself, you selfish bastard."

"But she's mine!" Evan argued.

"Hypocrite!" Freiheit accused. "You said you wanted to treat her properly, but you're treating her like a possession!"

Evan opened his mouth to defend himself, but he realized (it hurt his pride to say this) that Freiheit was right.

He shouldn't confine Eternity to the four walls of his apartment! He should let her thrive by bringing her to various places to help her get acquainted with the world around her.

"Fine!" He said at last, crossing his arms like an insolent child. "Eternity." He then faced the doll, speaking in a more pleasant tone than when talking to Freiheit. This made Freiheit scoff. "Where do you want to go today?"

Eternity placed her index finger at the side of her lips, looking up as she contemplated.

"I want to learn how to cook."

"But we just ate!" Freiheit pointed out.

"Hush," Evan said, raising an index finger in Freiheit's direction. "No one cares about your opinion in our home, Freiheit."

Freiheit rolled his eyes.

"But we don't have any ingredients." Eternity looked quite glum; it made Evan's heart ache.

"Shall I buy some?" Freiheit offered. "As a thank you for letting me sleep overnight last night."

"No." Evan immediately declined. "I'm absolutely sure that you're going to buy the most incredulously expensive spices that I will only use once, effectively wasting my money."

"I'll buy it with my cash," Freiheit said.

Evan huffed. "Are you sure you even have money left?"

Freiheit opened his mouth but paused. He shoved his hand inside his trouser pockets and pulled out the insides of them, revealing completely empty pockets. He looked up and shyly grinned at Evan.

"Oopsie…"

Evan facepalmed.

This was the thing with Freiheit.

He liked to shop 'til he dropped, with absolutely zero balance in his bank and wallet. His lavish lifestyle was one of the main things that caused a conflict between him and his father, Mr. Royall.

"You should be glad that you're the son of a billionaire." Evan shook his head, placing his hand on his forehead. "Else you'd be in the streets."

"I am, though," Freiheit said earnestly. "I am forever aware of my privilege and how I was graced with unlimited money for my expenses."

That didn't sound like a person who's thankful for his privilege.

"It's not unlimited, you know." Evan pointed out.

"Not if Dad can't help it!" Freiheit laughed heartily.

"You really are scum," Evan sighed. "Anyway, going back to the topic, I'll buy the ingredients. You!" He pointed at his brother. "You're coming with me."