Unforeseen Truth

Chapter 10

If I were another woman, I would probably consider it an oblivion moment. But I'm not just any other woman; I'm Trubel Syvianne.

I made fun of Eiji for saying he would do me one of his favors when he said he would. I genuinely find him entertaining. His demeanor and words make sense, albeit in a peculiar way.

"Mochizuki, you would think I'm being disrespectful if you won't stop giving me reasons to make fun of you."

I blasted smoke in his face and handed him a cigarette.

When a familiar voice asked, I was on my way inside the mansion after having a conversation with Eiji.

I walked towards the mansion and was about to get inside when a familiar voice spoke.

"Have I seen you before?"

I riveted my focus on him. 

It's him.

As I examined him, I regulated my thoughts to keep them under control. I keep my cool and retain my indifferent expression

He approached me with his gaze fixed on my face. He placed his left hand over my half-face and fixed his stare on me.

"You had the eyes of someone I recognized."

As I stared at him, I chose to take some distance away from him.

"I'm sorry, but I need to excuse myself."

I turned away from him and entered the mansion without giving him another glance. I let out a sigh of relief and calmed myself down as I realized I was no longer in his presence.

What's his connection to my cousins?

I shoved my thoughts back in my mind in an effort to get rid of the feeling I despised.

Tame snatched me by the hand without waiting for a response, "Where have you been, Truvianne?"

She grabbed me and dragged me toward our cousins and their friends. Everyone was growing louder, and some of them were having a good time with their drinks. Tame motioned for me to take a seat next to Hale and then offered me a couple of drinks, which I promptly gulped.

"Knock it off, Tame. Are you going to make her drunk?" Hale advised quietly

She answered with a wink, "I want her to have fun, darling. This is the last party that she'll be experiencing with us."

"I don't get wasted that easily, Tame."

The shock on my cousins' faces was palpable.

"Are you a good drinker?"

I simply shrugged my shoulders.

I've already begun to acclimate to the comfort of interacting with my cousin's friends. I can't stop myself from examining them carefully, interpreting their feelings and even their thoughts. I can only infer from my observations of them that they are attempting to get to know me and that some of them are skilled at concealing their thoughts. When some of their friends noticed we were all gathered in a single place, they gradually joined us.

I was too absorbed in their conversation and my drinks to realize that One was seated right next to Hale. She spoke to Hale normally, but I could tell she was acting very differently in front of Hale and me.

***

The party ended early when Crest and Grandma arrived home; it had already been almost beyond midnight. Crest was the first to arrive; he joined us, but I observed that he wasn't himself; it appeared as though he was considering something so deeply that it was visible on his face. Back then, he caught my attention and simply smiled at me despite the fact that I kept staring at him. When Grandma arrived, I could sense her uneasiness, but she quickly dissipated it when she saw us enjoying ourselves in her mansion. My cousins invited her, but she simply excused herself, and the mood gradually faded with our Grandma's presence as well as Crest's aura.