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Chapter 344: Fleur's Secret (Part 1)
Chapter 344: Fleur's Secret (Part 1)
As Lyon hesitated, the carriage carrying his family passed through the checkpoint and entered Redwood Avenue, heading deeper into the road.
When the two little ones were leaning against the edge of the carriage window, marveling at the two towering redwood trees that were at least a hundred meters tall, Lyon also caught a glimpse of Senior Emma's familiar figure at the entrance of the Treasure Flower Estate.
Holding one child in each arm, Lyon helped William and Melanie down from the carriage. He saw Emma wearing a plain-colored woolen skirt with minimal decorations, holding the palm of a little girl's hand as they walked along the street. Emma smiled gently at Lyon, and Lyon felt a sense of peace wash over him.
"Sorry, we're a little late."
"It's not late, Ellie and I just came out not long ago."
Seeing Lyon holding one child on each side, the two little ones curiously examined their father. Emma couldn't help but smile, then lightly squeezed her own palm, where the tiny hand of the little girl was trying to make a fist, trembling with nervousness.
"Ellie, say hello to Uncle Lyon."
The little girl obediently nodded, wearing a wide-brimmed children's hat on her head and a matching woolen skirt. She timidly spoke up:
"Hello, Uncle Lyon, Aunt Anna, and... hello to you too."
The little girl's voice was very pleasant, like the crisp and melodious sound of wind chimes on a summer day. Her voice also carried a soft and sticky baby-like tone at the end of her words, making her sound like a very gentle child just by listening to her voice.
However, her outfit was a bit "hard to approach." The cuffs and hem of her woolen skirt seemed intentionally lengthened, covering her wrists and small shoes completely.
Even the collar embroidered with small flowers hid her slightly chubby baby face behind it. Her face, already partially covered by the wide brim of her hat, was further concealed by a pair of large glasses that didn't seem very transparent.
This child... seemed to be afraid of light?
Lyon looked at Ellie's hand, which was held by Emma, and noticed that she was wearing a delicate pair of gloves. He raised his eyebrows thoughtfully, then released her hand and crouched down, smiling as he said:
"Hello, Ellie. Happy birthday."
"Thank you, Uncle Lyon..."
When Lyon crouched down to look her in the eye, Ellie, who seemed to rarely interact with others, instinctively took a step back, hiding half of her small body behind Emma's skirt.
But upon hearing Lyon's firm yet gentle voice and seeing the warmth and hint of affection in his eyes, Ellie's fear suddenly lessened significantly. Unconsciously, she took half a step forward.
What? Realizing that the small hand she was holding was no longer tense, and even slightly pulled outward, as if wanting to bring herself closer to Lyon, Emma's eyes lit up with surprise.
Ellie didn't seem to resist Lyon's touch?
...
[Trustworthy Older Brother (Bronze): Due to the early passing of your parents, you have taken on the responsibility of... and have earned the deep respect of your younger siblings at home.
[Effect: When conversing with minors younger than you, they will easily develop a sense of trust towards you. When they are emotionally agitated, they may trigger a special state called "Unveil Heart," where they confide their inner troubles and secrets to you.]
Indeed, Senior Emma's daughter was a bit shy around strangers, and it was a good idea for Lyon to have switched his badge beforehand.
Looking at Ellie through the lenses of her glasses, Lyon confirmed that most of her fear and strangeness had dissipated. He smiled slightly and waved to William and Melanie, inviting them to greet "Sister Ellie" as well.
And so, with the support of her trustworthy older brother, the tension and fear in her heart dissipated. Moreover, she had just met two social anxiety-stricken girls her age, and her mood quickly became lively.
Little Ellie, who wasn't very good at socializing with others, quickly overcame the distance between them and played with the two mischievous Lyon siblings. She even boldly removed her glasses and lent them to Melanie, who was curious to try them on.
Her guess was correct; Emma's daughter was 'problematic.'
Although the two children didn't notice, when Little Ellie took off her glasses, Lyon, who had been observing her, keenly noticed that as the sunlight on her skin increased, her body became slightly transparent.
Even though the change wasn't significant, it was like going from completely opaque real flesh to 99.9% opaque, but that ethereal and elusive feeling couldn't be faked. She was definitely not a 'normal' child.
Just before Little Ellie took off her glasses, Emma, who had been chatting with Anna, bit her lower lip as if she wanted to say something to stop her. But in the end, she didn't speak, allowing her daughter's anomaly to be exposed before Lyon. She only intervened when Little Ellie's hat was about to be exposed to the sun during their play, gently adjusting it.
"Miss Anna, could I ask you for a favor?"
Watching her daughter laughing and jumping happily in the sun, more 'alive' than she had ever been, Emma's eyes were filled with half love and half guilt. She couldn't bear to look away for a moment, but in the end, she forced herself to turn her head and asked Anna:
"Could you please watch over them for me? I have something I'd like to discuss with Lyon. I'd appreciate it."
"Sister Emma, you don't have to be so polite."
Anna, naturally, wouldn't refuse her lifesaver. She directly led the three playful children around the redwood tree and past the gallows, entering the Treasure Flower Estate along the main road.
Emma, who had something to say, fell half a step behind and approached Lyon, who also had questions. With her eyebrows lowered, she spoke softly:
"I'm sorry, Lyon. I didn't tell you about Ellie's situation before."
"It's okay."
Lyon shook her head slightly and replied softly:
"Sister Emma, I didn't do these investigations because I suspected you would harm me. I felt that you and the Director were hiding something from me, something very bad for you.
But unlike the Director, I'm willing to respect your thoughts. If you're still not ready to talk, you don't have to tell me the reason. I'll stop the investigation.
However, in return, I hope you can promise me that before you do something you can't hold back, you'll think carefully about Ellie and make your decision. Don't let yourself regret it, okay?"
"Thank you..."
Feeling the warmth from Lyon's hand, Emma bit her lip and gently withdrew her hand. She then took out a sharp little knife and slashed her palm before grabbing Lyon's left hand.
[Name: Treasure Flower's Curse (Flesh and Blood, Life and Death)]
(End of Chapter)
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