"What?" Shouko was slightly stunned. She turned her head and looked at Old Toshio. "He won't have dinner?"
Old Toshio nodded with a regretful look on his face. "The young master said he has an important matter that needed his immediate attendance. He asked you, Young Madam to have dinner first and retreat to your bedroom to rest afterward."
Shouko was quite baffled when suddenly Old Toshio came and relayed that Kyoya wouldn't dine with her. She couldn't help but feeling something was off.
Did something happen because he didn't go to the company today?
If that was the reason, she would feel guilty because she understood that he worked from home today just to accompany her.
"It's alright," Shouko decided to drop the matter. She looked up and asked kindly to Old Toshio. "I'll just eat in my room. Don't forget to send dinner to him too."
She didn't want him to forgo dinner just for the sake of working.
"Understood, Young Madam," Old Toshio appeared to relax. He began instructed the maids to begin serving dinner.
For the first time, Shouko had dinner alone. Usually, Kyoya would be there to accompany her. If felt kind of lonely when she recalled she would usually have someone to talk to.
Shouko recalled that after lunch, she had stopped seeing him. Did his work hadn't ended? Kyoya had been confining himself in the study until the night fell. She could only hope his work would progress smoothly. Recalling his dark circles the other day, she somehow understood there would be times when he couldn't get enough rest for himself.
Being the president of a company is so troublesome. If it were me, I'd just pack up all of my things and money and then I'd just live happily in the countryside, away from unnecessary problems.
Shouko couldn't help but have such a thought.
"Well, he certainly good at what he does," She mumbled slowly.
While in the library, she used some time to make a search on her own husband. His glorious achievements ever since he took over Kashino Corporation five years ago had been repeatedly praised by critics. He was still young, reaching 33 years old this coming summer but his hard work and perseverance were evident in how the conglomerate had prospered after him taking office.
Such a good and caliber man, somehow Shouko felt it was wasted for him to be married to no one like her.
If Kyoya were to know her thoughts, he would certainly do not know either to laugh or cry.
After dinner, Shouko spent some time reading before she obediently ate her medicine and went to sleep. Before she went to bed, she asked Mai to oversee whether Kyoya had dinner or not which the maid immediately went to find Old Toshio.
"Young Madam asked if Young Master has eaten his dinner or not," Mai appeared nervous as she glanced at the closed doors of the room opposite the master bedroom.
Old Toshio nodded silently. He then gestured for the young lady to retreat to the servants' living quarters.
Most of them would knock off work around 9 since their young master disliked having people roaming inside the mansion at night. Besides him the butler and a few other people, the rest of them would go back to their quarters to rest before they started their work at 5 AM the next morning.
Old Toshio knocked on the door twice before he silently opened it. The air inside the room was stuffy with the windows being locked and the curtains pulled together, depriving the room of any light. But, even in the darkness, he could see a lonely figure sitting on a single couch at one side of the room.
"Young Master, Young Madam has gone to sleep," Old Toshio reported from the spot he was standing. He didn't dare to move nearer because he understood at this kind of moment, his young master disliked having people around him.
"En," Kyoya grunted in acknowledgment. His eyes were closed, one of his hands was propped up on the armrest as he leaned one side of his head on it.
"Young Madam asked for you to have dinner. She was thinking you're still working in the study."
His eyelashes fluttered at the mention of his wife's name. Kyoya tiredly opened his eyes and stared right ahead of him, his gaze was unfocused.
If the room was lit, one could see the redness in his eyes and how his languid expression right now akin to an insatiable beast who had woke up from his slumber.
"You may leave."
"But, Young Master..." Old Toshio hesitated.
"Go."
A warning was laced in his order. Old Toshio didn't dare to refute. He bowed once and silently left the room. Only after the door was closed and the sound of his footsteps faded did Kyoya begin to move.
He glanced at the cold dinner that was laying in negligence since the moment it was brought to him. He got off of the couch, his steps were languid as he made way toward the table where the dinner was placed.
His slender hand reached for the fork. He stabbed a couple of vegetables and slowly chewed them down. His taste buds couldn't taste anything. His eyes were still in a daze.
Grandpa's words in the evening came haunting in his mind.
Subconsciously, his fingers tightened around the fork. His grip was so hard, resulting in small droplets of blood to stain the table as they dripped down from the wound.
Right now, there was no tenderness in his eyes like the one he had always directed to the little woman in his heart.
Instead, it was a storm of rage, anxiety, fear and violence.
She would return.
She would return.
She would return.
As the words continuously haunting him, he felt his back was throbbing with extreme pain.
"Urgh!"
The fork fell from his hand. Kyoya leaned forward, both of his hands clenched the edge of the table tightly. His knuckles whitened, the blood continued dripping down, creating a small pool of blood on the floor. A layer of cold sweat broke on his forehead.
It was a long and sleepless night.
"He has gone to the office?"
"Yes, Young Madam. Young Master asked us to attend to your matter today."
It was the next morning when Shouko learned that she wouldn't be having breakfast with Kyoya today. But, she didn't think too much of it considering he seemed so busy after lunch yesterday. She didn't even see him for dinner.
"Alright, I'll just eat in my room."
After breakfast, Shouko went to spend her time in the library. The excitement from yesterday hadn't subsided. It was like she was dreaming when she realized she had penned closed to twenty children's books within these five years. She had even written a series, starting with Aiko and the Sea, her first book.
It wasn't until noon when her concentration got diverted by a sudden message. Shouko placed the book down on her lap before she reached out for the phone. It was a message from Kyoya. Her eyes instinctually lit up by seeing the name.
Are you there?
Huh?
Before she could reply, another message came.
Can I call you?
Shouko pressed her lips. These two consecutive messages carried a sense of uncertainty. Without thinking, she tapped on the Call button icon.
This time, the call got connected even when the first ring had yet to cease.
"Shouko?"
Shouko chewed her lower lip. She had just heard him calling out her name, yet just one word confirmed her suspicions.
She was right. He sounded so nervous and surprised when she suddenly made the call.
He wanted to call her yet something in him made him hesitate. Shouko couldn't help but wonder why did he sound like that? Did it because he was too busy with his work?
"Have you had your lunch?" Shouko softened her voice, pretending not to realize how he sounded like earlier. It would be better to feign innocence rather than making him felt like she was pitying him. "You went to the company so early in the morning. I'm afraid you didn't even eat your breakfast."
"Oh... I have sandwiches with me. Are you in the library?" Kyoya's words carried relief in them. The tension in his body started loosening once the soft voice of hers drifted into his ears.
"Yes! Ah, you know what-"
Shouko began chatting happily. Her fuse suddenly went off when he mentioned the library. She kept on talking about her books, feeling happy to have someone to listen to her. She had been alone since yesterday evening so she was eager to have a companion to talk to.
She talked and talked and Kyoya would only give her an occasional grunt but Shouko didn't feel repulsed by his lack of words. She couldn't see his expression but it was clear that he was enjoying to hear her talking.
It was impossible to ask Mai or Noriko to accompany her since those two still had their own duties so Kyoya's message came at the right time.
"Well, I'm not sure whether I should start writing the continuation of the series but I am eager to do so. But, what if I messed it up?"
The series that started with Aiko and the Sea had another five books in it, it ended with Aiko and the Moon that was published in autumn last year. Apparently, she hadn't written down a new book since Aiko and the Moon.
She wondered why did she stop there?
"You know yourself well. You could write it," Kyoya spoke ever so gently, if Shouko could see him right now, she would see that only indulgence was expressed on his face right now. "Still, I think it's better for you to recover well. I'm afraid you would be disturbed by your amnesia."
"En, you're right," After thinking for a moment, Shouko agreed with his advice. It was plausible to think of that way. Right now, she was affected by the realization that she had been living her dream but at her current state, it was better for her to take it slow.
They continued to chat for some time later until Mai came to notify that lunch was ready. Apparently Kyoya heard the young girl's words.
"Go and have your lunch, I'll continue my work then" He gently urged her, worrying if she would just be stuck in the library without eating.
"En? Aren't you having lunch too?" Shouko glanced at the wall clock. It was supposed to be his lunchtime too.
"Kuroda would send my lunch after this. I'll eat, don't worry," A hint of a smile tinged in his voice, slowly drifting into her ears.
"So, um... Well, would you be back tonight?"
There was no response from the other side when she dropped the question. Shouko was waiting nervously when a slow reply came, "We'll dine together."
"Alright! See you at home!"
Kyoya's eyes dilated in surprise. It was clear that his little lady was excited to see him at home tonight.
"Yes. See you at home."
While Shouko was having lunch, Kyoya was still staring at his phone with a faint smile tugged on his thin lips.
After the warning that he received from his grandfather yesterday evening, his mood turned hostile all of a sudden. He avoided meeting her for fear he would be scaring her if he couldn't contain himself. He locked himself up in his room even though he was deeply yearning to see her.
He didn't want her to see his hideous thoughts with those clear eyes of hers.
Luckily, she bought the excuse that he was busy with his work.
It was a torturous night. He couldn't even sleep a wink. Once the morning came, he appeared so ghastly it scared the servants away. Only Old Toshio remained by his side. Before Shouko could wake up, he was already in the car, heading to the company.
He refused to let her see him in this state.
"Ha..."
Kyoya let out a soft sigh.
By just hearing her voice, the violent beast inside him began to retreat to the lowest part in his mind. He no longer felt hostile. She had made him felt so safe and secure.
Once again.
As he was rewinding the sound of her voice like how one would rewind the music box, his eyelids slowly closed. He leaned back against the couch. In no time, a faint snore echoed in the quiet office. His right hand fell on his lap while the other rested on the armrest.
The exhaustion from last night had caught up to him.
Her voice was his lullaby.
When Assistant Kuroda entered the president's office with Ryota in tow, this was the sight that greeted their eyes. Both of them quickly retreated without making a noise and escaped to the secretarial department.
"What happened? Didn't he has just torture the Planning Department this morning? How could he is sleeping so peacefully right now?" Ryota looked at Kuroda with suspicions in his eyes, he spoke so lowly as if both of them were conspired something.
"I don't know! The president came so early in the morning! It was so obvious he was insomniac again last night! I didn't even remember the last time I saw him with such dark circles!"
"Well, I did hear he has trouble sleeping since my cousin-in-law got into an accident... Wait! He returned being an insomniac since the end of last year so this is nothing new except..."
"Vice president, the president has never slept even once whenever he reached the office."
"Well, even the Demon Lord has his own share of fatigue no matter how insomniac he was," Ryota answered, even though he himself wasn't convinced with the reason.
While both of them were speaking with their heads almost touching each other, the man inside the president's office was sleeping peacefully. There was even a faint smile on his face. His entire countenance relaxed as he was dreaming of a beautiful memory of a long time ago.
It breaks my heart imagining Kyoya sleeping in peace after going through countless ordeal. He could just dream of his cherished memories
您可能也喜歡
章節 12: That Woman Would Return Soon
They spent their time in the library until it was time for lunch. Kyoya brought his work to the library. While Shouko was reading all the books she had written, he took the opportunity to accompany her.
She was now sitting opposite him. He was the one who changed his spot from earlier, choosing to sit quite far from her. Kyoya thought back of the hug they shared the other day. He knew it was a bit too rush but at that time, he couldn't think of any other way to comfort her.
And then there was the head pat.
He was quite shocked when she was the one who initiated it. But, he didn't mind.
Even so, he planned to restrain himself from now on. He didn't want to make her feel in a rush to accept him back. She was still clueless about their marriage. It wasn't a good idea to always do intimate gestures with her.
Let's take it slow. Bit by bit, he believed he could win her heart back.
Shouko didn't even aware of what had been bothering this man. If she knew, she would surely be grateful.
Her dependence on him was purely due to instinct.
There was still no love in her heart. Besides trust and the feeling of security toward him, she didn't feel anything else. Yet.
The tea had gone cold and the snacks had been left into two or three pieces. Shouko was so engrossed in her reading until she didn't realize the man sitting before her had been watching her for a full five minutes.
The corners of his lips lifted up.
Kyoya glanced at the wristwatch adorned his left wrist. He saved and closed all of the important documents, backed them in the cloud and shut the laptop down.
"Shouko."
"...En?"
Kyoya let out a low laugh seeing her surprised face. "It's near lunch. Let's eat first and then you could continue reading them."
"Ah!" Shouko turned her head around left and right before she found the wall clock hung on the wall. "It's 12:45? I didn't even realize..."
Kyoya stood up, walked around the coffee table and stopped beside the couch where Shouko sat. He extended his hands, planning to help her. "Since you're better, let's have lunch in the lounge overlooking the garden. You haven't been there, right?"
"Yes..."
Kyoya smiled when Shouko reached out to hold onto him. The feeling of her soft hands touching his own elevated his mood. He carefully pulled her up.
"The garden is beautiful, especially in autumn. You'd love looking at it."
Kyoya asked for the lunch to be served in the lounge. While he helped Shouko to walk downstairs, the helpers were on their feet with the dishes on their hands. Soon, a table inside the lounge was occupied with various kinds of dishes. One of the maids opened the French doors of the lounge, allowing the cool breeze to freshen the air inside.
"Waaa~"
Shouko's entire countenance brightened, her eyes were sparkling with delight once she looked at the garden outside the lounge.
It was so beautiful!
There was a ginkgo trail at one side, their leaves had yet to turn into gold as the autumn hadn't yet reached its peak but she could already imagine how exquisite it would look like.
Even the flower beds were blossoming with colorful autumn flowers!
"You love it?" Kyoya tilted his head, his dark eyes were peering into her twinkling ones. With her by his side, he didn't have the time to entertain the darkness within him.
It was really a good idea to not go to the company today.
"Yes!" Shouko nodded her head in excitement. "I've seen the garden from the balcony upstairs but seeing it again from a short distance makes it seems like another experience. I've never seen a garden as beautiful as this one."
Kyoya smiled knowingly. Of course, this garden couldn't be compared to any other gardens. Everyone in the high society knew the garden of Rosy Mansion owned by the First Young Master of Kashino household was the best within the circle.
He personally designed it, all the flowers and equipment were handpicked by him and even the team that he hired for the garden reconstruction was the best among the best worldwide, all for his beloved wife.
The once gloomy and deserted garden was transformed to Garden of Eden within a week.
But, right now the said person didn't know about it.
"Once you've completely healed, I'll bring you to take a stroll," Kyoya extended an invitation to Shouko naturally. He cast a glance toward the beautiful garden. "You loved spending your time in the garden too, finding inspiration for your books."
Shouko easily believed his words. This beautiful place would certainly provide her with countless inspirations. She had already anticipated the day she could spend her time here.
As they were eating lunch, a thought popped inside her mind.
"Kyoya, you said my editor remains the same," Shouko raised up her eyes, staring directly at him. "Was she informed of my condition?"
Editor Minagawa was the first person who was willing to take in an inexperienced writer like her. She couldn't tell how much had changed but right now, she was unsure how she should begin her work with all this confusion.
"I've told her, don't worry," Kyoya raised his hand, gesturing for the maids to bring out the herbal soup prepared for Shouko. "You should just take it slow, recuperating here. I know you might feel bored but please endure it for this time."
Kyoya had been reminding her to take it easy, he was really a considerate person in her opinion.
"Alright," Shouko smiled, ready to agree with him.
After lunch, Kyoya excused himself to his study, citing he needed to attend to a work matter. Shouko gave him a smile, reassuring him that she would continue enjoying her time in the library. After sending her to the library, Kyoya walked toward his study upstairs.
Shouko walked slowly toward her working table. She sat on the chair, her smile turned brighter. Right now, her entire being was filled with excitement as she tried to recall the sweet feeling she had while working on her dream here.
She must have spent a lot of time writing in this table, right?
Shouko opened the laptop, wanting to see what was stored inside. She was stunned to see the wallpaper displayed in front of her. It was a photo of her and Kyoya.
It seemed like they were having a picnic. The photo was taken from a high angle, showing Kyoya was sleeping peacefully on her lap while she was reading a book under a small tree. One of his hands was wrapped around her waist, he was sleeping while facing her.
The photo carried a sense of intimacy that she couldn't describe.
A sense of helplessness enveloped her heart. Right now, she was torn in between indebted and guilt.
She felt indebted because at her lowest moment, he was there to pull her out from the abyss.
1At the same time, she was guilty because she was afraid she couldn't return his feelings.
These photos and the way he treated her had emphasized countless times that she was a treasure in his heart yet she couldn't understand.
Although fuzzy, she could not understand why did at the exact moment of their first meeting, her memory was gone.
Did something happen that made her unconsciously seal his existence in her life?
"Forget it," Shouko heaved a sigh. Her head hurt thinking of it. "I should just see how my new life unfold."
In the study.
Kyoya had just finished a video conference with a part of the higher-ups in the company. Once all of them left the meeting room, Assistant Kuroda and the vice-president came forward to speak with him.
"The development of the land in S city would begin next week. The mayor has contacted me for the ribbon-cutting event. Are you sure you do not want to go?" the vice-president, Kashino Ryota reported to Kyoya. This man who was younger than him was his cousin from his second uncle.
1"Make sure everything is perfect," Kyoya tapped his index finger on the smooth surface of the big mahogany table. He silently rejecting the offer. "Once it's done, you can claim your vacation from me."
"Really?" Ryota smiled like a fool, he was enticed with the prospect of vacation coming from this ice block statue of his cousin. "So, I could go anywhere I like?"
"Up to you," Kyoya answered lazily. "You've worked hard to acquire the land. Go for a week's vacation and return to oversee the project."
"Alright, Big Boss!" Ryota felt like dancing right on the spot. His face was beaming with excitement.
Assistant Kuroda who was watching from the side swore he could see a tail wagging behind the vice-president. He eyed him with disdain while sighing internally, foreshadowing the increase of his workload once the VP went for vacation.
"Kuroda."
3"Yes, sir!" Assistant Kuroda snapped out of his thought. He immediately refocused his attention toward the man on the screen.
"How about the matter the other day? I expect to see the list by tonight."
"I've compiled all of them and will send them to you soon," Assistant Kuroda answered without breaking a cold sweat. Even though his big boss was in another part of the city, he could still feel the creeping cold breeze coming from the screen.
"Be quick. We need to conclude it before winter," Kyoya frowned but he didn't voice out his dissatisfaction. After all, this was one of his personal endeavors. If not for his assistant's efforts, he couldn't be sure how the matter would be started.
"You mean... that thing? You've started it?" Ryota carefully voiced out his curiosity. He understood why did his cousin want to finish it before winter. No one needed to ask for clarification.
It was for that day.
Kyoya pursed his lips, he appeared indifferent to the question but away from their sight, his hands were clenching into fists. As the air turned heavy, a sudden ringing interrupted his thought. He glanced at the phone that was lying on the table.
"Who it is?" Ryota noticed that it was his cousin's personal phone. If it was ringing at this moment, it could only mean it was someone that he personally knew too since only the selected few that could have access to Kyoya's personal number.
"It's Grandpa," Kyoya swiped the Accept button, he looked at Ryota and Assistant Kuroda for the last time. "Call me if it's necessary."
"Alright," Ryota nodded.
Within a second, the giant screen before him switched to black.
"I wonder why did the old man call him," Ryota muttered under his breath. Well, knowing his grandfather, maybe he was just bored and decided to interrupt his cousin.
Assistant Kuroda began rearranging the documents in his file. Ryota peeked at one of them.
"Hurm... once winter comes, it would already be one year, huh?"
5Assistant Kuroda glanced at the vice-president. He could only nod with a grim face.
Ryota lifted up his chin, intentionally looking at the pristine white ceiling above him as he felt his eyes turned red.
Back to Rosy Mansion.
With the phone pressed against his right ear, Kyoya stood up from the swivel chair and walked toward the windows. His dark gaze laid on the exquisite view of the garden that his little wife loved so much.
"What is it, Grandpa?" Kyoya wondered if this old man wanted to brag about something again to him.
But, when he thought his joyful voice would annoy his eardrums, this time his grandfather sounded so sullen as he greeted him.
"Kyoya, I heard you didn't go to the company today?"
"En." Kyoya pulled the white curtain back, letting the bright light of the autumn sun penetrating through the windows. He patiently waited even though he had noticed the abnormality of his grandfather's behavior.
"Well, you must be accompanying Shouko, right? That's good, she needed your companion the most at this time."
Grandpa Kashino began to prattle, earning Kyoya a curiosity. Yet, he waited until the old man finished babbling before he interjected him.
"You sound upset, Grandpa."
Kyoya might be indifferent to most people but he could never treat his grandfather with the same nonchalance. This old man was his savior. Since almost three decades ago, he had sworn his filial piety to this old man.
"Oh, well... I've just heard that..." Grandpa Kashino trailed off, unsure of how to disclose the news to his beloved grandson. Saying it could throw him into a rage but if he didn't say it, he couldn't imagine what would happen later.
"Well, I heard that that woman would be coming back to the country soon."
Kyoya's pupils constricted once the words fell in his ears. All of a sudden, the dormant violent beast within him went enraged, tried to break the chains that were binding him.
His breath grew heavier as each second passed. The veins throbbed under his skin. The whites in his eyes were stained with red.
"Kyoya, listen to Grandpa. Don't fall for her provocation. Don't let her return infuriate you."
Grandpa Kashino began feeling anxious once his grandson went into silence at the end of the line. He was worried he would be out of control.
"Remember that Shouko needs you to protect her. Don't let that woman ruin your life again."
But, his words fell into deaf ears as Kyoya threw his phone crossed the room. The phone was lying dead under the couch at the corner of the study.
Kyoya's shoulders slumped. His eyes were fixated on the smooth marble floor under his feet. Its coolness did nothing to subside his anger.
創作者的想法 hansora
Song Recommendation
Since the last two months, my playlist for whenever I'm writing is consisted of:
MC The Max - Bloom (I could listen to this song for hours, the feeling is real lol)
Park Hyo Sin - Goodbye (I fell in love with his soulful voice here)
Naul - Memories of the Wind (the MV is so BEAUTIFUL!)
Naul - Emptiness of Memory
Onestar - The Way to Say Goodbye