♡TO CAPTURE YOUR HEART♡

제15장

♤THIRD PERSON PERSPECTIVE♤

It has been thirty minutes since Arreitty and Amethyst went to town. Brynleigh was still asleep, nestled under a soft, knitted blanket, her chest rising and falling gently. She needed as much rest as possible after staying up late to study for her upcoming exams.

Meanwhile, in the den, just three doors away from the second living room, the brothers were deeply engrossed in a game of chess. The room, once a sanctuary for their father, was now a space they claimed as their own.

Upon a sturdy oak table rested a chessboard, its surface gleaming with a polished shine. The brothers, Artemis and Dion, leaned forward in their chairs, their brows furrowed in concentration. Dion, the older of the two, moved his knight with a calculated precision, while Artemis, ever the strategist, countered with a defensive play. The chess pieces made a soft clicking sound as they were moved across the board, creating a rhythmic beat in the otherwise silent den.

"Checkmate." Artemis announced, a hint of triumph in his voice as he leaned back, crossing his arms with a satisfied grin. Dion didn't hesitate to speak up: "You cheated." Artemis chuckled, nonchalantly clearing the board to prepare for another game.

"You're just frustrated about losing. You really can't handle defeat." With an exaggerated eye roll, Dion meticulously set up the chess pieces before starting the clock. The room grew quiet again as the twins concentrated deeply on the game, devising new strategies.

Only ten minutes into the third round of chess, the doorbell rang, its piercing chime echoing through the once-peaceful home. "Who could that be?" Dion wondered aloud, his voice tinged with annoyance.

Dion stepped up to answer the door, leaving the den and heading to the foyer. Peering out the window, he spotted a tall figure that made him tilt his head in confusion. As he unlocked and opened the door, he immediately regretted it. "I heard my wife was back from New York." The man said. Dion looked down at him and scoffed. "You mean your ex-wife, right? You're divorced, remember? Or has age finally caught up with you?" The man shot a glare at Dion and barged past him, his son trailing behind. 

"Where is she?" He demanded, starting to shout for Arrietty. "She's hiding, isn't she? Just like her." Dion clicked his tongue and took a sharp breath. "She's not here right now, and I'd prefer you not to be here when she returns. I don't want her day spoiled by your unwelcome visit." Meanwhile, Artemis was growing impatient, wondering why his brother was taking so long. He stepped out of the den and, upon reaching the foyer, felt his anger rising.

"What brings you here?" He asked, irritation lacing his voice as he glared at Adrian Lancaster, the man who had attacked him and, regrettably, was also his relative. "I heard my mum is back in Edinburgh, and we'd really like to see her since it's been so long since we last met." Artemis glanced between the two men, noting the unsettling looks on their faces. 

He sensed that these men were dangerous and untrustworthy, yet he lacked the full context of their reputation as criminals. All he could do was speculate about the terrible deeds they might have committed, wondering why people would warn others to steer clear of them.

Mr. Lancaster moved closer to Artemis, trying to assert his dominance, but Artemis remained unfazed. "It's a shame, really, because we have so much to talk about." He said with a smirk, prompting a scoff from Artemis. "You don't have to put on an act, but it seems you can't help yourself. You'd probably fade away if you didn't tell at least one lie each day—just like the one you told Arreitty on your wedding day, promising to protect her from evil and love her until death. I later realised that the evil you swore to shield her from was actually you." Just as Mr. Lancaster raised his fist to strike him, a powerful voice interrupted.

"DO NOT TOUCH MY COUSIN OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!" It was Brynleigh, who had woken up earlier and was making her way downstairs. She had overheard snippets of the conversation and was left puzzled, wondering who this man was.

"Cousin? I don't think we've met before. What's your name, darling?" Brynleigh felt a wave of disgust at the term of endearment he used. Standing firm, she shot back, "You don't need to know my name, and don't bother sharing yours because I really don't care. I may not know you, but I saw you were about to harm my cousin, which tells me you're not a good person and resort to violence when things don't go your way. Am I right?" Mr. Lancaster let out a derisive laugh and stormed out, unwilling to engage in a debate with a woman.

His son trailed behind him moments later. Dion locked the door and watched as they drove away in the car they had arrived in. "Who was that guy, and what was he doing here?" Artemis glanced at Dion, who shook his head. It was better for Brynleigh to remain unaware of the man's identity.

"He's a thing of the past; there's no need to fret about him. He won't be back anytime soon, I'll ensure that." Artemis was serious about his promise and had no intention of breaking it.

Brynleigh playfully batted her eyelashes and declared, "I'm starving and can't whip up anything myself, so who’s making me breakfast?" The brothers eagerly pointed at themselves.

"How about a game of rock, paper, scissors to decide who will treat our cousin to a delicious meal?" They jumped right into the game, with Dion emerging as the winner. "I win! Better luck next time!" Brynleigh laughed as Dion celebrated, while Artemis sighed and headed to the kitchen to start making her breakfast.

Artemis asked Brynleigh if she had any allergies while she settled into the warm window nook, admiring the beautiful garden outside. Sunlight poured in, illuminating her face as the colourful flowers swayed gently in the breeze.

Brynleigh glanced at the garden, noticing the frost sparkling in the light and delicate snowflakes drifting down. After taking in the lovely view, she replied softly, "Not really. I don’t think I’m allergic to anything, just the usual seasonal stuff." Artemis nodded, looking thoughtful.

"That’s good to know. I’ve been trying out new recipes and wouldn’t want to include anything that might cause a reaction." Curious, Brynleigh asked about the recipes, and he shared that he was experimenting with herbal teas and infused oils for their taste and health benefits.

Intrigued, she leaned in and asked if he had any favourites yet, to which he replied that he hadn’t found any but hoped too soon.

Artemis cooked like a pro while they chatted, preparing a breakfast that would surely have his cousin coming back for seconds.

In the den, Dion's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and answered, a small smile appearing on his face.

His cheeks were flushed with a charming pink hue, his heart raced in his chest, palms clammy, and his eyes shone brightly—all because of the man who had undeniably become more than just a crush.

Kiyoto chose to progress their relationship at a gentle pace, careful not to burden Dion with anything he wasn't prepared for, and Dion valued Kiyoto's consideration.

In reality, this approach intensified his emotions, turning a previously strange feeling into something truly lovely.

"Hi, Kiyoto."

♡END OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN♡