Chapter 11

Chapter 11
Rory remained in the same position behind him as he ate lunch. She had heeded Caro's advice to avoid acting like his mother and to carry out all of his requests. "Pass the chicken to me." She looked at Eren when he spoke. Since he began to eat, he hadn't said a word to her.

He seemed to be upset.

"Yes, sir," Her hand went toward the chicken. “How many pieces?” She enquired while clutching the bowl in both hands.

“Two is enough.” Eren replied while putting the vegetable in his mouth after pinching it with his fork.

Rory transferred the chicken to his plate using the wooden spoon. Back on the table, she set the plate.

“Where has Mr. Lewis gone?” He looked up at her and chewed on the chicken he had just tasted.

“He said he would be in his study and explained that he would not be joining you for lunch today because he had to work.”

"Did he tell you specifically what work he was doing?" Eren enquired, but his focus had returned to his meal.

“No, sir, not really.”

"All right then. Once lunch is finished, get ready for my stroll to the garden. I miss having the sun on my face.” Rory was surprised by his words when he said them.

Right away, she gave him a quick glance.

However, now that he wasn't being coerced or asked to go to the garden, he was prepared to do so. Earlier, he had yelled at her and refused to agree to anything.

"Why, sir? You said you didn't... " Rory paused her speech as she thought back to Caro's remarks.

“Just do as you are told. That is your position here.” Though she was unable to see Eren’s grin. He wasn't sure why he was also changing his mind, but he thought she was correct that he should work out his body. He was aware that he had given up on ever seeing anything again, but he also understood that if he didn't exercise, the body he was in would feel pain, and since his butler wouldn't let him die as he wanted to, he would technically feel pain and suffer the consequences.

After lunch, Rory got him ready for his walk to the garden, but she remained silent. He asked her to put the red knit scarf around his neck, which she expertly did after helping him get into his coat.

He stepped out of the mansion and into the garden while holding onto his cane and using her hands as support. The moment he entered, the maids who were wandering the garden left.

The sun was in his face, and he inhaled deeply. It was cold outside, and the last time he came out for a walk or out of the mansion was probably two months ago or more. He couldn't recall, but he was aware that it had been a while since he had left the house.

Rory gave him a spare seat so that he could spread his legs out as he sat down in the shade. “This isn't so bad.” Upon hearing the wind blowing in his direction, he nodded his head. “Have you requested that they bring the wine?” He asked. His chin was brought up.

“Yes, young master. It is prepared." Next to the vacant chair, Rory reached for a small basket and brought it up. The basket was placed on the table, and she took out the wine. She opened it, poured it into a cup, and handed it to him.

Eren's lips curled as he exhaled. From the cup, he drank. "Sit down." After noticing that she had been standing for too long, he said a moment later.

"Young master, I'm fine here." Rory answered.

“Come on,” Eren tapped into the vacant chair next to him. “You should be happy because I'm being nice right now, but don't get used to it. It doesn’t last too long.”

Rory followed his instructions, but she chose not to take a seat next to him. Instead, she sat across from him without looking at him. She didn't speak, even though it was the most difficult decision.

He had asked to go for a walk, but here he was, sitting in the shade, drinking wine in the middle of the day.

"I'm curious about your appearance." She turned back to look at him as he continued. "Ever since you arrived here, I have been curious about your appearance." He extended the empty glass cup to her and asked for more; she didn't hesitate to fill it up. “You should have a drink as well. The flavor is fantastic.”

He was acting strangely, which Rory noticed. She had been yelled at by this man hours earlier, and now he was acting in a completely different way and was being polite.

"I am aware that some people criticize me. Even though I can't see, the wall has ears, and I can listen to it.” He took a deep breath and raised his head before lowering it again. “Rory, I'm not as bad as you think, but there are times when I do make a cruel decision. I won't be respected if I don't act like a master.” which she understood. He was doing everything in his power to earn the respect of the maids as the mansion's heir.

“Say something. I promise, I won't cut your tongue if you speak.” He grinned.

"Young master, I have nothing to say." Rory said, looking away again.

As he rose to his feet, Eren sighed. As soon as he emerged from the shade and grabbed his cane, Rory immediately followed suit. He didn't need her hand this time to help him reach the railings. He put his hands on the handrails and felt the sunlight. "I always wonder what the views looks like now, but I do know that there is a big pool underneath where we are standing," said Eren, looking at the sky.

"How did you find that out?" Rory finally made a statement. How did he know there was a pool if he wasn't able to see? Right. He would know because he was born there and raised there.

She had sneaked a peek at his face and felt sorry for him. Rory didn't want to believe what his cousin had said, that Eren wouldn’t be able to see again. In her opinion, it was only a matter of time before he would be able to see again, so she hoped he wouldn’t give up.

"I can feel it, but I don't remember." She gave him her hand when he turned around and asked for it. “I want to go back to my room. I feel like I've spent a lot of time here.”

“Already?” He remained silent when she asked. “What will happen to the leftover wine? In the end, you were not even able to take a stroll.” Again, she was speaking in a motherly tone, which she noticed and immediately said, "Young master, I apologize for talking so much." Rory assisted him in getting back to his room and into bed.

She hung his coat for him and put the red scarf back in its proper place. "Is there anything else you need?" She asked.

"When I do, I'll call you. You may now leave.” He spoke as he removed his slippers from his feet and lay his head on his pillow. Once again, his emotions were returning to him, and each time they did, he felt helpless.

His heart ached, and he clung tenaciously to his pillow. Nobody was aware of how frequently his past tries to resurface in his thoughts when his emotions arise. He would have been asked to see a doctor if he had disclosed to his butler that he constantly had the same night mares and saw images anytime he tried to think about it.

A short while later, Mr. Lewis entered his room. Rory was not there; instead, there was another girl. When Mr. Lewis approached Eren, he helped Eren sit up. "Young master, it's time for your medicine." He gestured for the girl to bring the tray. He had instructed Rory to update him on everything she did with the young master, which she dutifully did. Without omitting anything, she told him everything she had seen and heard, including the words Eren had said to her—in the exact same way.

“But I do not need any pills.” Eren groaned. “If I had, I would have called Rory.”

"You spent too much time in the sun, and now you're feeling exhausted.” He reached for Eren's forehead and placed his hand on it. “Your body is also burning up.”

Eren was aware that wasn't the cause of his body burning up. By focusing intently on the hazy image he had in his head as well as the woman's voice he had heard in his dream, he had attempted to go beyond his limit, which was the main reason for his exhaustion. Although he couldn't place it, he thought he had previously heard that voice somewhere.

"I swear, I've never felt any better.” He faked a grin as he said. He could only avoid not taking the medication in that way. “I don't need the medication. The sun was able to make me forget everything that obnoxious brat said to me earlier.” He was referring to his cousin. "Once I get some sleep, I'll be fine,"

“Ugh! You are so stubborn, son.” Returning the tray to the maid who stood next to him, Mr. Lewis turned around and headed for the door. He turned his head when he opened the door and looked at Eren, who had his head back on the pillow, before leaving the room.