The Exiled Huntress

Chapter 7

"Charles!" his mother gasped, "When did you get a girlfriend?" Charles parted his lips to explain but even he didn't know how to tell his parents that a mysterious girl had fallen into his garden he was was now taking care of her until she found a way home or getting used to the world around them.

"We've been living together for three weeks," Rümvo said with a smile, "Charles has been very kind to me."

He watched as his mother's eyes widened, "Living together?" his mother gasped, "Why didn't you tell me anything?" She rested a hand on Rümvo's shoulder, "Tell me dearie, have you been using protection?"

"Oh my god mom. Not this," Charles groaned, facepalming himself.

Rümvo's brows furrowed in confusion, "I don't understand. I can protect myself perfectly fine."

Charles reached out and grabbed her hand, "Come on," he turned to his baffled parents I'll be right back." He quickly guided the young woman towards his bedroom, "Stay here," he told her.

Rümvo frowned, "I don't understand. Did I do something wrong?"

Charles shook his head and sighed, "You did nothing wrong. I just need to explain to my parents why you're here without scaring them."

Rümvo's brows furrowed, "I tried to appear less threatening. Was the friendly handshake not enough? Perhaps a kiss on the cheek?"

Charles quickly shook his head, "No! You did fine. I just don't want my parents interrogating you. Believe me," he rubbed the back of his head, "They can be a little intense."

Rümvo simply nodded, "I understand. What shall I do then?" Charles sighed and glanced around, until his eyes fell on an old painting set his parents had bought for him when he through an art phrase.

He should've packed it away long ago but the supplies simply molded themselves into the wall, "Can you paint?"

Rümvo tilted her head, "I helped paint my father's face before he went to war."

Charles nodded and quickly set up the paint set, "Alright. Since I can't exactly tell my parents you're an alien, just pretend you're an aspiring artist. Alright?" He left her alone before removing his parents in the living room, both whispering intently to each other.

"Mom? Dad?" They both looked up, grim looks on their aging faces, "We need to talk."

"Yes we do," his mother said, rising from the white leather sofa, "Why is she living here? Does she not have her own home?"

Charles felt his heart beat rapidly inside his chest, each one making him panic internally, "Eh mom. She's my girlfriend I don't want you scaring her away."

"But you're living with her," his dad said, lips set in a thin line, "While I'm not used to this modern lingo, I don't think it's up to that point where you live with your girlfriend."

You got to save this, Charles thought as he tried to calm his racing heart.

"Mom," he said, interrupting their tirade but even that proved to be futile.

"Oh my goodness Charles!" his mother gasped, her eyes wide, "You proposed to her!"

Charles felt his jaw drop at the preposterous thought, "Mom n-"

"Oh sweetie!" his mother squealed, pulling Charles into a tight embrace, "My little boy is growing up!" She pressed her painted lips against his forehead before pulling away tears of happiness streaking down her cheeks, "I'm so happy for you," she sniffed wiping away the tears.

It broke his heart to see his mother so happy about his "proposal". He just didn't have the heart to shatter her moment of happiness. Two sets of arms wrapped around him, murmuring their congratulations in his ears.

I think I made things a whole lot worse, he thought.

Rümvo

She looked at the painting, her brows furrowed as she surveyed the once white canvas that was now covered with the mountains of her world. Jagged and whitish blue, it bought a sense of nostalgia. They were mountains that she had flown over when she went on her hunts, the same mountains she could see from her bedroom window.

For some strange reason, she missed them, she missed feeling the wind in her hair when she rode on Drüa's back, the rhythmic beating of her beautiful wings.

A loud slam of the bedroom door bought her out of her reverie, bringing her to her feet at the sudden sound. A body barreled into her, nearly making her fall if it weren't for the pair of strong slender arms, that wrapped around her.

"Oh sweetie!" The creature said. Rümvo's brows furrowed in confusion her own eyes taking in the creature's figure.

Charles's mother, she thought, peering down at the tiny woman that seemed to have an endless bundle of energy. Untamed brown curls stuck out from the flowery scarf on her head, bright red glasses resting on her nose. She was a bit on the heavy side, her head barely reaching Rümvo's chin.

"I'm so happy for you!" The tiny woman said, wiping away the tears from her blue eyes, "Have you set up a due date?" she said pulling away, "Oh we have so much planning to do!"

Rümvo's brows furrowed in confusion, "Planning?"

"Mom?" Charles said from the doorway, his hand running through her brown curls, "Can I talk to Rümvo? Alone?"

His mother nodded, a grin on her red lips, "Of course sweetie! I'll be unpacking my things!" They watched her leave before Charles closed other door behind her.

Exhaustion weighed Charles's shoulders, something she could see, "Something wrong Charles?"

Charles slumped on the edge of his king bed, his head resting on his hands, elbows to his knees, "I think I meet things worse."

She tilted her head in confusion, "How so? Is it grave?"

Charles groaned and fell back against the cushion, "She didn't let me explain. She jumped to conclusions so fast. Next thing I know, she thinks we're getting married."

Rümvo froze, her eyes growing wide, "Married?! Charles! You must do something!"

Charles shook his head, "My parents will throw you out if you're not my fiancée."

She felt her legs grow weak, her body slumping into her chair, "Oh Charles. What am I supposed to do?"

"I have an idea. It's a long shot but it might be worth it," Charles murmured, snatching her attention, "Well, we can play along with the getting married thing. A wedding takes months to plan, so while that happens, I can find you a place to live and work so you can sustain yourself on your own."

Rümvo frowned, "Charles, you're asking me to fool your parents. That's very cruel."

Charles sighed, "I know but it's the only plan I have."

"Fine," she murmured, looking down at her painted fingers, "I'll do it."