Stephen didn't know what Aria was up to, but he always did as she said unconditionally. It wasn't just because she was the head of the family but also because he believed she could handle everything well. Warren slept lightly, so Stephen didn't take long to wake him up. Stephen told him everything, and he got up so hurriedly that he'd forgotten to wear his slippers. This was unexpected given that he didn't believe in things such as spirits or deities. "Quick, take me to the study!"The visitor was a heroic spirit coming from the frontlines, and Warren had never forgotten how his family's business had come to be. Warren walked briskly, supporting himself on his walking stick. He was anxious as he wondered what had happened for a heroic spirit to visit him here. Stephen wanted to know as well, but he had to wake Fergus up. When Fergus was roused, Poeta, who was sleeping in the room next door, woke up as well. With a coat draped over her and the long hair cascading down her shoul
Only then did Devon realize that Warren couldn't see him either. He turned to ask Aria, "I can hear Mr. Carver Senior's voice. Why can't he hear me?""It's nighttime," Aria answered vaguely. "I'll hand him the letter in front of you. Is that okay?"Devon nodded. He'd stowed the letter into a pocket closest to his heart, several layers of clothes the only thing between it and the letter. Everyone else present could see nothing until Aria touched the sheet of yellowing paper. Warren took the letter immediately. After many years, the ink on it had already been smudged. The text read like someone's final words. "Never sign the West Treaty and beware of some Farshyans who have betrayed the country. Beware—"The writer hadn't gotten to finish his sentence—beware of what?Warren's hand gripping the walking stick shook. He turned to Devon, whom he couldn't see. "What's the writer telling me to be wary of?""I'm merely the messenger. I don't know about anything else." Devon looked conf
Aria went straight to the point. "He's here to deliver a letter to Grandpa. Something happened down there, probably.""Down there?" The longer Fergus listened, the more questions he had. Stephen wanted to ask Devon about Soren's whereabouts, but the letter Aria held reminded him that something more important was at stake. "Something's not right with him, my lord," Nyx reminded nervously.Something was not right with Devon, indeed. Black fog rose from behind him, and emotions roiled in his eyes as he struggled to remember where he was supposed to go back to. These were signs of a spirit's condition worsening."Why does he look like an earthbound spirit now?" Nyx muttered. "This is weird."Aria bit her finger until it bled and wrote a word on Devon's back with it. She didn't know how to make talismans, so she tried to stabilize Devon's soul with her fortune.Nyx exclaimed in shock, "Are you giving him your lifespan, my lord?"Aria didn't respond to that. When she looked at Devo
Fergus was confused upon having his name called. "Me?""Yes, you, Fergus." Aria asked directly, "What do you think about Ms. Summers?"Fergus looked at Warren and smiled. "Grandpa didn't tell you this, but I think Leon has mentioned this before—Poeta and I were a couple once.""I wanted to sit down and talk to you about certain matters, but—" Aria looked at Devon. "I'm forced to do this more efficiently. This may sound ridiculous, but I've always felt like I'm living my life a second time.""What do you mean, a second time?" Fergus frowned.Aria looked up. "Let's base everything off this assumption—what if no one in our social circles accepted me in my past life after I turned out to be the daughter of the Carver family because everyone thought that Mindy was more fitting for the role than me?"I was an ignorant country bumpkin who didn't know what to talk to the others about. Compared to the smart, likable Mindy, my awkward personality seemed particularly jarring, and nothing I
"In that dream, Leon was killed in an accident," Aria whispered, "He stopped breathing even before the ambulance arrived at the hospital."She didn't sound like she was joking. Both Fergus and Warren's pupils dilated in shock. They could never dismiss what Aria had just described as just scenes from a dream, not when they involved Leon.Stephen added, "Was that why you were there when he filmed the variety show, Ms. Aria?""It was a coincidence." Aria looked down. "But I'm glad that I went there. This also goes for Elijah. I can't treat what I saw as just something that happened in a dream."Warren could not stay calm in his seat. His hands were shaking as he touched the top of Aria's head. "Don't worry, Aria. You have me.""That's not all of it, though." Aria met Fergus' gaze. "Grandpa had you come back to help maintain the family business. And same as today, you came across Ms. Summers in the airport."The Carver family was having an extremely tough time of it. Grandpa wanted
Aria was relieved to hear that. Fergus was smarter and more responsible than she expected, which was a relief.Fergus noticed the expressions Aria and Warren were wearing. He didn't see Aria often, but he knew Warren well. His grandfather had been a decisive man his whole life, and he'd never looked so careful and tentative as if he hoped that Fergus wouldn't blame him.Fergus swallowed. His heart ached as he was consumed with guilt. Just by listening to Aria's descriptions alone, he could already feel Warren's helplessness and desperation. He couldn't fathom how difficult things would be for Warren. No matter Poeta's motives when she approached him, he shouldn't have let Warren deal with her. Fergus wasn't brought up by Warren, and a lot of people assumed that they weren't close. However, as the family's oldest son, he knew better than anyone how elated Warren had been at his birth. There were records of that day, and Fiona often told him stories.Fergus still remembered how
Was it really not that terrible? Fergus didn't think so, at least not based on what he'd seen online. He said nothing more as he transferred more money over. The money was more than enough for a few first-class seats; Aria could even have the entire carriage for herself.So this was what it felt like to have a brother indulge her. Aria smiled, her heart warm.Stephen thought that Aria and Devon would at least stay the night, but she looked at Devon and said, "I'm not waiting any longer. I'm leaving overnight."Spirits were more unstable during the day, and Aria would have an increased chance of meeting spirits who could provide her with hints if she journeyed at night.Stephen packed everything Aria would need for her, including a thermos, some sliced fruit, and bread.Aria gave everything to Devon. "We can buy the other stuff I promised you after we arrive at our destination."Devon was stunned. "This is already enough. Everyone can feast on this pile of food for days."Aria
Little Percy used to resent himself for not understanding what Owen was saying. Other kids received impeccable grades, but he couldn't even comprehend what the teachers were saying in class. The words Percy heard most often during childhood were, "Why do I have a son as stupid as you? You embarrass me."He knew that Owen was scolding him because of the high pitch of his father's voice; he'd even found fault in himself for everything. Percy didn't know if every child with developmental delays had the same thoughts as him. He'd think about how Owen wouldn't have been so mad at him if he were more typical. With that, he gradually grew up to become a people-pleaser. No one would believe that Percy Carver, the smiling fox who never lost in court, used to be a people-pleaser in his childhood.Percy only became a new person when he turned 11, and it was because he was the first person little Aria had wanted to hug. Leon had been walking circles around Aria all day, but she'd paid