NOVEL NEXT Chapter 439: They're back!
District of Seven Flowers, house 37
In the dead of night, a little boy was sleeping sweetly in a crib, sucking his thumb. Next to the crib, in a large bed, a middle-aged woman with black hair was sleeping peacefully. There was silence in the room, broken only by the soft breathing of the two sleeping men.
However, apart from these two, there was a small dark figure hiding in the dark corner of the room. Unlike the two of them, she was not asleep, but stared intently at the little boy with her black eyes, unable to look away.
It was Bera, the Perfect Doppelganger, with whom Arabel had signed her first contract. It was Arabel who left her to look after her nephew.
Ever since her master entrusted Bera with the care of a little boy, this little one has become her world. Day and night, Bera did not take her eyes off him. When he cried, she instantly appeared next to him in the guise of his grandmother and mother to calm him down. And when he cried from hunger, she immediately appeared next to him with milk in her hands.
Her presence alone was a real salvation for Irene and her mother, because she turned out to be an invaluable assistant.
Bera never got tired, complained, or demanded anything in return. She was always there, ready to help.
Looking at Bera, Irene began to wish that she could get a Perfect Doppelganger.
In the next room, in a small bedroom with a large bed, lay a short girl with long sea-green hair. The desk lamp was on, and she was enthusiastically browsing the web, watching short videos with headphones on her ears.
Next to her, on the bed, there was a little fox, which was quickly moving its paws, playing a mobile game.
These two were Esma and Coco, who, instead of sleeping, each went about their business, not caring about anything.
At the same time, two people were sitting at the kitchen table on the first floor.
One of them was Irene, Idan's older sister, a woman with long blonde hair and brown eyes. Across from her sat Arslan, Arabel's younger twin brother, a young man with short red hair and azure eyes.
"Still no news?" Arslan asked Irene, and she shook her head.
Both of them were in a depressed mood.
The last few days have been especially difficult for Irene.
Ever since Idan and Arabel had disappeared that day, she had been restless.
Even when Esma assured her that they were fine, Irene couldn't quite believe her. She understood that Esma and Bera were related to Arabel, not to her younger brother.
Because of this, the fate of her younger brother remained unknown.
Arslan was unaware of what had happened to his older sister until he returned and met with Irene.
When he found out the truth, his heart ached. The joy of Arabel's long-awaited return, who had been absent for 1 year and 9 months, instantly disappeared, replaced by deep anxiety.
A creak.
The door of the guest room on the first floor creaked, and the head of a boy with blue hair and eyes peeked out. When he saw Irene and Arslan, he quickly disappeared, closing the door behind him.
"Are they still trying to convince you to give them back?" asked Arslan.
"It's been quiet for the last few days, but it's causing some concern," Irene replied. "But you don't have to worry about them. Esma won't give them to anyone, because your older sister asked her to keep an eye on them and not give them to anyone before she disappeared into the portal."
"Esma, right?" — Arslan said with a slight sadness in his voice, remembering his first meeting with this girl.
Arslan mistook her for a little girl and even tried to pat her on the head, offering her a lollipop. However, in response, he received a strong kick in the legs and a stream of curses in which he was called a pervert and a harasser.
It didn't take long before the little girl started offering her some strange potions, winking playfully. But Arslan had no time to pick them up when Irene appeared. When she saw what Esma was holding in her hands and offering them to Arslan, instead of scolding Esma, she started scolding Arslan.
While they were sitting quietly and drinking quietly, immersed in worries about the future, a noise was heard from above.
Top, top, top.
A short girl was hurrying down the stairs.
"What happened?" asked Irene, looking at the worried Esma in surprise.
"They're back!" exclaimed Esma.
"What?" — Irene did not understand at once.
"I say, my little sister is back! I've just reconnected with her," Esma said hurriedly. "The connection is still weak, but it's getting stronger by the second, as if my little sister is moving and getting closer."
Irene, like Arslan, was amazed by what she heard.
"The connection is still very weak, and I can't talk to her yet and find out how she is, but I'll be able to do it soon," Esma continued.
Although Esma had tried not to show her concern before, she, like Irene, was scared and all the time afraid that her contract with Arabel was about to be terminated.
But now that their bond had been restored and was getting stronger by the second, Esma was overjoyed.
Arslan hurried to Irene to comfort her. Although Arabel was safe, that didn't guarantee that Idan was okay. Walking up to her, he gently hugged her from behind.
"Don't worry, Irene, I'm sure your brother is fine. I know my sister, she won't leave him in the lurch," Arslan said, trying to cheer her up.
Irene nodded, not giving up hope, and waited.
Everyone was looking forward to when the bond between Esma and Arabel would become stronger and they would be able to talk. Finally, it happened.
A smile lit up on Esma's face, and she let out a sigh of relief.
"Your brother is fine, Irene, — Esma said the words Irene had been waiting for the most. "They're on a plane back to the capital right now."
"Really?" asked Irene, as if fearing that she had misheard.
"Yes, Irene, it's true. Idan and my younger sister are returning to the capital," Esma repeated with a smile.
Irene couldn't hold back her tears; a smile of joy and relief appeared on her face. Finally, her worry for her younger brother, which had lasted for more than ten painful days, was over.