Little Han looked at me pleadingly as his eyes twinkled with anticipation and assurance.
I know more than anyone that letting Little Han see Eli's terrible state would be inappropriate from every angle. But his persistence makes me unable to reject him firmly.
"Prince Master, we will guard Little Han at a distance… if you are worried that he would be hurt." In the end, Wisey intervened and gave a suggestion.
I paused and thought for a moment.
With the two companions, I can be assured that Little Han would not be hurt, but I am still reluctant to let him see such a shocking scene.
"If anything arises, then you shall go out with Little Han at once… do you hear me?" After thinking for some time, I looked at Baobao and Wisey and requested.
"Yes, Prince Master, we understand." The two furry companions looked at me with certainty in their eyes.
I know that as Little Han and Eli's contracted companions, they were also bound to act for the utmost well-being of their masters.
They would never allow Little Han to be shocked because of such situations. And so I allowed them to take Little Han once Eli would show signs of going hysterical.
Four of us finally reached Eli's room which was now eerily quiet and dark.
Eli does not like the bright light outside and she tends to hide in the darkest corners of the room.
When Little Han saw the room, he closed his mouth and gestured that he would be quiet. It seems like he also knew not to disturb Eli at the moment.
Fortunately, the three of them stopped just a few meters from Eli's bedside.
It was enough to see Eli who was hiding at the corner, and safe enough not to trigger her vigilance.
As for me, I gently placed the tray in a nearby cabinet.
Knowing that random thuds, metal, and glass sounds would make her scared I deliberately asked the kitchen to use wooden utensils.
Even the tray is made of light materials that even if it made a sound, it was soft and not alarming for Eli to hear.
"Eli…" I called out. "I brought your meal…"
I stood at the six-meter mark and squatted slowly. My hand only brought a wooden cup of light juice so that she could take her liquids immediately.
As soon as Eli heard my voice, she became vigilant.
Her dark obsidian eyes which used to look at me tenderly were now looking at me with terror and distrust.
My body froze in dejection as I still could not get used to the way she views me. It pains me that in her mind at the moment, there is no trace of recognition on her face and actions.
Even so, I need to succeed in making her lower her guard, so I bent down and slowly moved to the five-meter mark.
"Ahhh…" Eli trembled as she sensed my approach. Raising her hand to tuck herself with her hands and knees as cover she covered and squeezed herself to the corner.
"Easy…" I raised my hands and let her see that I did not have anything in me.
Then with my magic, I slowly pushed the wooden cup in an attempt to divert her attention to the food.
"See… I just came to bring you food. I won't hurt you…" I looked at her and used my actions to show that I really did not mean her arm.
Using a little twinkle light surrounding the wooden cup, I hoped that it would fascinate her in a way to lower her guard even a little.
In the dark room, the magic I used was like little fireflies dancing around her.
With the peculiar scene, Eli's eyes glimmered with a bit of interest.
She looked at the gentle twinkles but her vigilance was still at its highest.
"Is it beautiful?" I asked while observing every bit of her actions. Although there was not much reaction from her, I could see that she was fascinated by the magic I displayed.
"I mean no harm… I just want to give this to you…" I muttered as I very slowly moved the cup at an imperceptible speed so that she would not realize that the cup was moving toward her as she was attracted by the light.
Eli followed the little glimmer of light and stared without any reaction.
"Take it… that's for you…" Slowly coaxing her, I patiently waited.
I do not believe that she lost the ability to properly comprehend things, as I know that she still had memories of her past life other than the seclusive memory in the torture dungeon. I am relying on that fact to keep her guard lowered.
For a few minutes, there was still no movement, but that did not make me falter.
I stayed on the five-meter mark and leaned on the wall perpendicular to the corner she was sitting.
Ten minutes later, her eyes flickered with vigilance once more. I looked up and followed her gaze only to realize that Little Han also stood just in front of the five-meter mark.
Apparently, he figured out that beyond the space where I was sitting, is a prohibited boundary.
Little Han blinked at the two of us but he did not say anything. I could tell from his expression that he wanted to help Eli with her meal, but since I won't coax her further he wouldn't as well.
In the end, he seemed to decide that accompanying me and Eli would be the best course of action.
"Come here…" I beckoned him to sit on my lap, not wanting my child to feel alone while we coax Eli to eat.
Little Han quietly approached me and I hugged him safely in my arms, his gaze not leaving Eli.
At one point, I bitterly smiled as all we could do was wait for Eli to respond.
But when I saw Eli staring at us blankly, following every movement we made, I remained calm and collected.
Half an hour passed and I was amazed by Little Han's patience as he did not even show any signs of boredom.
He just sat obediently in my lap, staring at the magic trick with his mother.
"Growl…" But a few moments later, the silence was interrupted by a small growl near me.
I looked down to see Little Han's embarrassed face. His face was red like a tomato as he looked at Eli and me with guilt on his face.
As we had already gone for about an hour in silence, Little Han felt like the little growl from his stomach broke the mood.
"Are you hungry?" I smiled gently and caressed his face, letting him know that I do not blame him at all.
On the corner, Eli seemed to become interested in the sound Little Han had made. Without any change in expression, she followed Little Han's movements.
Little Han also looked at Eli reluctantly and shook his head saying, "Johann can eat later, Daddi…"
I patted his back and replied, "You do not have to keep yourself hungry… Let's get the kitchen to prepare you a meal."
"Ah… no Daddi… pwease don't call the sewvants… Mommi doesn't like it…" Little Han seemed to panic and begged me not to do so.
"Are you sure?" I coaxed him a few more times, but my son might have gotten the stubbornness from both his parents that he stuck to rejecting having a meal outside.
I know that he just wanted to accompany Eli in his own little way, but as a parent, I cannot neglect his condition as well.
In the end, I looked at the food I got for Eli nearby and used magic to bring it over.
Since I knew that Eli might not eat the food I brought right away, I covered the food with magic so that it would remain warm and fresh until it was consumed.
In the tray, aside from the pitcher of juice, there is a pot of creamy vegetable chowder then a loaf of freshly baked bread.
Fortunately, I also anticipated that Eli might put away the food should she go hysterical so I brought several portions of food and a pair of utensils as well.
I took a bowl and served soup and sliced a few pieces of bread.historical
As we were sitting on the floor, Little Han and I seemed to have an indoor picnic with the food I brought inside.
Little Han looked at me reluctantly, knowing that it was his mother's food.
Feeling warm toward how sensible my son is, I smiled and said, "Don't worry, I left a good portion for Mommy, she will eat it if she is hungry as well.."
"..."
"Owkay…"
After pausing to pray for a little while, my son finally nodded and took the spoon.
Like a little grown-up, he scooped a spoonful of the soup and blew it gently. Then he carefully tasted it with delight.
He looked at me with praise and declared, "Yummy!"
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