Escape of Freedom [ female reader x Eiser Leinz Grayan ]

Ch18. Worry Over Nothing

It's been a while since I did archery because my life has been hectic for the past few days. I picked up the things required for archery and decided to practice in the backyard. I know no one goes there except the maid so I can be comfortable there. 

I went outside alone and dropped everything on the ground to set things up. I set everything up before picking up the bow and arrow and started to shoot the aim. I closed my left eye and took a very deep breath before releasing the bow. It's shot out far before hitting the colored aim board. I couldn't help but get cocky when it hit the target. I am so glad that I don't get rusty after not practicing for weeks now. I brushed off any dust that might be on my clothes and picked up another arrow. 

Once again, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly focused on the target, I was about to release the string when I heard something rustling. It's made me lose my focus and I did it wrong. The arrow shot out in an unknown direction and the string hit my forearm hard. I winced in pain, releasing the arrow out of shock. I rolled my sleeve to check on my forearm to see it swelling up in colored purple mixed with blue. This thing used to happen a lot when I was a beginner in archery so I am used to it. 

Oh gosh..... I sighed before deciding to check on the noise. I looked around the bush and found a kitten hiding away. Its eyes were watching me warily and it was hissing. 

I guess he is scared. I smiled gently, reaching out slowly and gently, not wanting to frighten the kitten. I stopped myself when we were only a few inches away since he might want to sniff me first. 

Not long after that, I was able to pick up the kitten and so I played around with it. The kitten was so cute purring in my hand, trying to get me to pet him more. All the pain that I had felt a moment ago washes away. I even forget that I got myself injured. 

"Mrs. Serenity! I am so sorry for disturbing you but Mr. Eiser was calling for you" one of the maids comes out, informing me. I picked myself up and handed the kitten to the maid "Can you help me and give this kitten some boiled fish?" she nodded, "yes I can" I hummed with a smile before heading to where Eiser are. 

I knocked on his office door. 

"Come in"

I pushed the door open and got inside where he was. I wiped the sweats off "What is it? I was told that you were calling for me" 

Eiser was looking down at his file, reading what was written on it. 

"I was calling for you to inf-" he looked up at me after reading the file and stopped his words. 

"What is happening to you?" he stood up, approaching me so suddenly. He grabbed my hand, stopping me from stepping away. "Why is your forearm bruising like that?" I chuckled awkwardly at his question "It was nothing. This is normal if you practice archery" he started to pull me along with him. 

He sat me down on the sofa before went to grab something.

Not long after that, he returned with a first aid kit. He sat next to me and opened the box before grabbing the necessity. Then, he turned to me and pressed the ice pack on my bruise. "You shouldn't let it heal on its own, you know. It is going to swell even more" he nagged at me causing me to chuckle. 

"You worry too much. What would I do after this marriage ended? What if I get too spoiled and I can't live without you anymore? and what if you can't live without me?" I looked at him with a teasing grin. 

"Seeing you like this makes me wonder, did you somehow develop feelings for me?" I can see Eiser stopped pressing on the ice pack. 

He turned his head to face me,

"I am not in love with you so don't worry about that" 

It was like a hit on my head. He is saying it too seriously and it makes me sure that he means it. I swallow my feelings, chuckling at his words "I am glad then....it makes things easier for us" I was mumbling the words because I just can't say it proudly. 

I pulled my hand away, grabbing the ice pack "I am kind of sleepy so I am heading now" I stood up, turning away from him. I could feel tears dropping from my eyes so I turned my back on him. I walked away from him and stopped when I was in front of his office door.

"Eiser, this is just my advice but I hope you take this seriously. You shouldn't do what you just did to anyone. It's....just putting their hope up on you. It makes them feel like you care about them and you know we should only care about people we love" I twisted the doorknob and was about to leave the office when I heard him. 

"What do you mean? I did care for you" 

"But my care for you and your care for me is different, Eiser"

"What do you mean by that? I don't get you at all. I try to understand but I just can't"

".....You fool" I mumbled, before facing him "I like you, you fool!" I clenched my fist "Unlike you, I care about you because I like you. I have feelings for you. I want to know more and want to help you because I like you" I glared at him.

"Are you just pretending to be dumb or you are just dumb?" I closed my eyes "I am sorry for dumping this on you suddenly. I understand that you just don't harbor feelings to me but I just want you to know this. I am so tired of hiding things" I looked down.

"You can avoid me after this. You can ignore me after me telling you this but I don't think my feelings are going away just like that. Give me time to let go of these feelings" I sighed, curling my mouth up to smile "I will be here for you, Eiser. After all, I had learned to depend on you so I hope you also feel the same. I might not be someone with power but I want to help you. I hope you can depend on me too sometimes" I keep my smile on. 

"Don't take everything on your own. My friend used to tell me, that even the strongest shield can break and you are just a human. It's normal to cry and get angry. It's okay to show emotions. If you can't do it in front of everyone, you can do it to me"

I scratched my neck, feeling embarrassed

"That's what I wanted to say to you yesterday but I just can't do it at that time so I am venting it now. I am sorry if it is too random" I rushed out the door, taking a deep breath before running to my room. 

I lay down on my bed, taking another breather. It was too nerve-wracking. 

I did it...

I confess to him...

But we just ain't meant to be together. I just hope he knows that I meant what I am saying. I might only be able to do that because I like him. 

"He really worries about nothing but doesn't care about the most important one" I sighed, covering my face with a pillow.

+/

Eiser looked down on the ground. His heart ached after seeing her leaving without him saying anything. A lot of things intrude on his mind after hearing her confession. He can hear his inner self telling him that he shouldn't trust what she is saying. He was once betrayed by someone he trusted too. Someone who used to hold a dear place inside his heart. 

He just couldn't afford another heartbreak. 

However, in a very deep place inside his heart.....it was swallowing him to pour everything into her. He knows that she is different from that woman but can he give her the same feelings that she had?  Eiser knows sooner or later the time will come when everything will end up in his decision. 

Either losing her or being by her side. 

A decision that he might regret or be happy with. 

Eiser closed his eyes, taking a breath....pushing any of the thoughts away. 

XXXXX