I tried to intervene again, "Emma, come back here, please don’t..."
But she wriggled out of my grasp and darted to another guard, pointing at his earpiece. "And this thing! What does it do? Can it talk to aliens? Or maybe ghosts?"
The guard gave a nervous glance to Edward, unsure how much he could explain. Edward merely nodded slightly, a silent "let her be" gesture.
Emma leaned close to the guard, whispering dramatically, "If it talks to aliens, tell me the secrets, okay? I promise I won’t tell Mr. Bunny."
By now, I was nearly in tears from equal parts embarrassment and amusement, while Sophia just stood behind me, arms crossed, watching in disbelief as she cracked up.
Finally, Edward scooped Emma up again, holding her against his chest as she continued to babble about knights, dragons, puddles, and magical earpieces.
The butler, who had been walking ahead, looked back, exhaling softly. Even he seemed slightly entertained by her innocent chaos.
As we moved deeper into the mansion, Emma snuggled into Edward’s arms, whispering to him, "Next time, I’ll show you my secret puddle. It’s very, very secret. Only for brave knights."
Edward smiled faintly, pressing a soft kiss to her head. "I’ll remember that, little one."
I glanced at Sophia, who finally cracked a small, incredulous smile, shaking her head.
For the first time in what felt like hours, the tension in the air lifted slightly, all because of a tiny girl who saw the world as magical, fearless, and completely hilarious.
Even in the midst of secrets, danger, and mistrust, Emma’s innocence was a small spark of light that none of us could ignore or resist.
The butler led us into a vast hall, where golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and soft rugs muffled the sound of our footsteps.
Everything shimmered with polished perfection, from the marble floors to the carved wooden furniture.
The walls were lined with portraits and shelves stacked with rare books and ornaments. It was a place built to impress, and to intimidate.
The head butler stopped near a long, luxurious sofa and gestured toward it. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. The master will see you shortly."
I sank into one end of the sofa, trying to keep my hands still in my lap.
My mind raced, still trying to make sense of everything. Edward settled at the other end, holding Emma in his arms.
The little girl’s legs dangled, and her fingers clutched her bunny tightly. Sophia slid in between us, her back rigid, eyes darting toward Edward as if she wanted to demand answers but was trying to keep herself composed.
Edward leaned slightly forward, talking softly to Emma. "Do you see that vase, Emma? What color is it?"
Emma squinted, turning her head from side to side. "Um... green?" she said confidently.
Edward smiled faintly. "Not quite, but close. What do you think is inside it?"
"Magic!" Emma declared with a giggle. "Or maybe... dragon eggs!"
Edward chuckled under his breath, shaking his head slightly. "Dragon eggs, huh? That’s dangerous work. You’d have to be careful."
Emma’s eyes lit up with excitement. "I am super careful! I feed them carrots... and candy!"
Sophia sat there in silence, arms folded, lips pressed tight. She did not even blink, staring at Edward like she wanted to figure out his entire life in a single look.
I glanced at her, then leaned closer. "Are you alright?" I whispered. Get full chapters from novel•fire.net
She gave me a faint nod, her mouth twitching slightly, but the next second, she leaned toward me and started whispering rapidly, almost like she could not control it.
"I feel... so weird, Elena! But... kind of excited too. My boyfriend... he’s... mysterious. Really mysterious!"
I blinked at her in shock. "Excited? Weren’t you angry? Or... sad at him for hiding all this?"
She shrugged, leaning back in the sofa, a small grin forming. "At first, yes! I was angry, but now... thinking about it, maybe there’s a really big reason he’s hiding all this from me. And now... now we’re going to find out. Can you imagine?"
I gaped at her. "Sophia, seriously?"
She leaned closer again, whispering in a voice full of giddy excitement, "Maybe he’s... like some ex-mafia, super-rich, secret life guy! And he’s kept all this from me to... to keep me safe! Isn’t that... isn’t that amazing?"
I blinked again, completely at a loss for words. My mind scrambled, trying to process her reaction. She was... thrilled? After all the secrecy, all the danger, she was thrilled.
Meanwhile, Emma wriggled in Edward’s arms, looking around curiously. Her big eyes took in everything, every golden frame, every polished banister. "What’s that?" she asked suddenly, pointing at a tall grandfather clock.
Edward lifted her slightly so she could see. "That’s a clock, little bird. It tells time."
Emma frowned. "Time? Is it magic time?"
Edward laughed softly. "Not magic. Just... very old time."
Emma’s lips pursed. "Old time... like dinosaur time?"
"Maybe older," Edward said with a hint of amusement.
She clapped her hands. "I like old time! Can it tick-tock like Mr. Bunny?"
Edward nodded, pretending to listen to an imaginary ticking. Emma giggled, poking his chest. "You tick-tock too! You’re funny!"
The butler, who had been standing quietly at the side, finally spoke, his voice calm and polite. "Miss, would you like to see the garden next?"
Emma’s eyes grew wide. "Garden? Full of magic? Or dragons?"
The butler gave a polite, almost imperceptible chuckle. "I think mostly flowers, but... You never know."
She leaned back into Edward’s arms, whispering conspiratorially, "We’ll find magic, I promise. And I’ll teach it to you, too."
I watched all of this quietly, a mixture of amusement and disbelief swirling in my chest.
Sophia, still between us, had quieted for the moment, her earlier excitement replaced by tense observation, though her shoulders no longer looked quite as stiff.
Then, just as I was beginning to relax slightly, the butler moved aside, revealing a tall figure behind him.
The moment he stepped forward, the entire hall seemed to grow colder, the air heavier, as if every shadow deepened.
Silence fell, thick and dangerous. Even Emma, usually unbothered, clutched her bunny a little tighter.
The master had arrived.