NoGift

AURUM told a footman to follow Mishla and made sure than nothing would happen to him. She saw how emotionally unstable Mishla was when he left. If no one watched over him, she was worried that he might be in an accident or something similar. 

She let out a deep sigh and walked towards the back garden of the manor. She was not worried that some outsider might see her. Because the back garden of the manor faced the rest of the land owned by the Blackbournes. One couldn't catch a glimpse of it unless they get through the manor itself. The only thing she really needed to worry about was unfaithful servants who would tattle whatever they saw to anyone who paid them the right price. 

But honestly? She really couldn't care less right now. She just wanted to breath a little bit of fresh air. Maybe it would clear her muddled head. 

Arriving at the back garden, she took a deep breath and walked aimlessly. The expression on Mishla's face when he left was still on her mind. As if it engraved itself in her brain. The confusion and pain could be clearly seen in those russet colored eyes. It was something that she probably wouldn't forget for the rest of her life. 

For a second, Aurum deeply regretted what she did. Was it really the right decision to reject him so straightforwardly? Could she have handled it differently? Maybe in a much gentler way? Those were the things that were going through her mind at that instant. When Mishla stood up and told him he was leaving, she even almost reached out to him. 

But at the end, she didn't. And she was glad for that. Because she knew that small action would just hurt him even more. Besides, what else would she say to him? There's nothing she could say that would soften the blow of her rejection. Unless, of course, she took back all the things she just said. And that's one thing she couldn't do. 

So, she strengthened her resolve, stayed put, and just watched him leave. 

She believed that she made the right decision. Mishla might be hurt and in pain right now, but he would get passed this. He was strong. And this experience would definitely make him even stronger. He was still young, not even 20 years of age. In time, he would definitely be able to let go of the feeling he felt for her. And then, he would meet the right woman for him. Someone who would love him with all her heart and soul. Mishla deserved nothing less.

But even so, Aurum still felt tremendous guilt in her heart. A sad smile crossed her lips. Maybe after this, the two of them could never return to being friends again. She could no longer hear the other's funny jokes or even see him acting all spoiled. He probably wouldn't contact her again. At least maybe until the wound in his heart healed. But this was her choice. So, whatever the outcome, she should learn to accept that. 

"Aurum!" called her mother's voice from behind.

She turned and saw her mother walking, no, rather, rushing up to her. 

"Good morning, Mother," she greeted, trying her best to make her smile looked normal.

But the sadness in it didn't escape Anthea's eyes. "Are you okay? I was told that the boy from the Greaves' family came to visit. How did he know that you're back? Did he do anything?" she asked worriedly.

Aurum looked at her mother's face. There was an obvious shadow under her eyes, a sign that she didn't have enough sleep. Maybe she didn't sleep at all. Which was only natural after what they discovered yesterday. It was probably even harder for her than anyone else. Aside from the fact that they still had no idea about the whereabouts of her father or if he was even alive at all, if they didn't succeed in opening the Mythos Continent, then their days were already numbered. In just another 15 years, the both of them might depart in this world. Leaving their mother behind.

Aurum couldn't even imagine something like that happening to her. Even thinking of that possibility could already make her go insane. So, she and her brother would make sure that that wouldn't happen to their mother. They're going to pass this trial and live happily together. Maybe they could even find her missing father and the four of them could be a whole family again.

"I'm fine, Mother," she said, this time, her smile was more natural. "Mishla found out I'm back because one of the manor servants told him. But don't worry, I will talk to Gregory about it later. And Mishla didn't do anything to me. We just talked and catch up a little."

Anthea felt anger when she heard that a servant told an outsider about their return. That's not something someone who swore fealty to their family should do. Especially when the head butler specifically ordered that they should not tell anyone about it. But when she heard her daughter's last sentence, she felt worried again. Because Aurum was obviously lying. And it had something to do with that Greaves boy. 

But she was not the type of mother who would pry into the personal business of her children. So, at the end, she could only sigh helplessly. But in the off-chance that that Greaves boy really did something that made her daughter sad, well, she wouldn't simply let that go. 

"Don't worry about the servants. I will talk to them myself. You should go inside with me and have breakfast. Black was already gorging himself with Nelly's scones."

"That brat. You shouldn't have let him eat too much, Mother. You know it's bad for him."

"I'm sure he'd be fine."

Aurum could only shake her head. It seemed that her mother still couldn't understand the concept of Black going into haywire if he overate. "I'm not that hungry. I'm going to continue walking for a while. You should go back inside and eat breakfast, Mother."

Anthea stared at her daughter's beautiful face, as if examining her every expression. At the end, she could only nod and walked back inside the manor.

After she couldn't see the back of her mother anymore, she continued walking. Her mind took her back again to what happened with her and Mishla. And she couldn't help but fall in a state of sadness again. 

She didn't notice that she had already walked towards the front of the manor. She couldn't even remember how she got there nor how much time had already passed. She sighed and planned to go back inside the manor when her sPhone rang. She thought it was her brother, so she answered it without looking at the name of the caller.

"Aurum?" asked a very familiar magnetic low voice. 

Aurum felt like she had been nailed on the ground when she heard that voice. Unknowingly, her heart started beating faster and faster. "Clay?"