Chapter 18

Chapter 18
Rory walked back and forth as Eren crossed his legs over one another. For the past twenty minutes, she had been peeping, but there was still no way for them to leave the mansion without being seen by a few maids.

"Young master, are you certain you didn't always use any hidden passages to get away when you were younger? Since you enjoy being outside so much, I would have thought that since Mr. Lewis wouldn't permit you to leave the mansion, you would at least have a secret exit.”

For some time, Eren kept quiet.

Rory sighed. She moved away from his side and went to the window to look out. From where she was, she could see what was going on outside the mansion. As she narrowed her eyes, she could make out some locations that she had never been to before. She swiveled around to face Eren. She would like to at least have a plan in place to help him fulfill his wishes.

"I have no recollection of anything that occurred before my parents' passing and the time I lost my sight. I can only recall events that occurred after that,” he said, breaking the silence. Truth be told, he wasn't sure why he was telling her all of that, but when he did, it felt good in his chest.

“Oh.” Slowly walking over to him, Rory nodded her head. "Young Master, I have something to say. Am I allowed to?" She asked.

“Go on. I have my ear open.”

“If that's how you're putting it, how did you remember that closet had a room in it?" Yes, she undoubtedly saw him leave that place that morning.

Eren was unsure of how he discovered that there was a closet there, but he did. Was it like some past memories? "I had no idea, Rory. I simply assumed it to be there, and when I went there, I discovered it. Does that respond to your inquiry?”

“It did.” It did not. As she tries to comprehend it, she is unable to. He doesn't recall his past experiences, but he was able to recall details about the past without even being aware of them. “Anyway, we can't sneak out without being noticed. The mansion is heavily patrolled. In my opinion, you may be a prisoner in your own home.”

That was something he was conscious of. He had a thorough understanding of it. When it comes to yes or no decisions in Eren's life, Mr. Lewis always wins. Eren could then do whatever he wanted once he could see again, according to what Mr. Lewis had always claimed: that he was doing it to protect Eren from his enemies.

Eren sighed. He spread his hands across the bed to find the closest pillow, and when he did, he drew it nearer and put his head on it.

If she could figure out a way to give him what he wanted, Rory was willing to give it another shot. She had felt something as a result of the change in Eren's face. She experienced a feeling that she couldn't describe to herself. Sadness, perhaps? Or resentment that he wasn't able to go anywhere he wanted to go? She couldn't even answer the questions she was asking herself.

Eren's words caused her to stop as she was making her way back to the door. To look at him, Rory had to turn. “Even though I can't see your face, I wish I could have at least seen how you appear in my clothing.” He laughed as he spoke those words. Though he didn't want to admit it to himself, he had been curious about her face. The first time she came to the mansion for the job, he had wanted to touch it the second he heard her name.

“Would you like to touch it?” His expression changed from laughter to confusion at her question. “You said you wished you could see what I looked like. Would you like to give it a touch?”

She approached him, and he sat up. "I don't feel that desperate. I am just curious.”

At his words, Rory couldn't help but chuckle. “I know.” She stopped and pursed her lips in a pout. "I'm sure I would have been curious, too, if I were you. Even though I am uneducated and aware of our differences, you are still my boss, and you are free to touch my face if you want to. You have the authority to command me to approach you or to distance myself from you.”

After sitting there for a while, he eventually motioned for her with his hand before patting the bed. He was expecting her to take the seat next to him.

Rory was simple to deal with, unlike the other maids he had previously employed. She was— simply a person who frequently makes mistakes. She was flawed, which made him feel more at ease when she was around. Because he enjoyed having her close by, he constantly sought to cause her pain.

Since Rory entered the house, he has experienced fewer nightmares and occasionally thinks of her. Normally, he would have been depressed before going to bed, but he now had someone with whom he could tease and who made him laugh without even realizing it.

Pretty strange.

Taking Eren's two hands, Rory sat down on the bed. She placed his hands on her cheeks so he could feel her face. She was a few inches from his face and had a clear view of it. He was a handsome man, and if he didn't let go of her, she would be tempted to do something he wouldn't like. She was going to kiss him and he was going to kiss her back. He could feel it in his bones, but he wasn't sure if she felt the same thing considering the fact that he couldn't see her face. What was he actually feeling? Love?

Nonsense.

Love is not something Eren understands. His heart ached despite never having experienced love. He could feel his heart racing as he moved his hands around her face. Eren is unsure of what all of this means. He only felt a chemical of some sort rushing down his spine.

His hands never left Rory's face as she turned her head away from him.

“Rory,” he called her name and she turned to look back at his face. She awaited his next words. “You are stepping on my feet,” he continued.

She noticed it all of a sudden, removed her leg, and got to her feet. “Sorry, young master.”

“It's okay. Even if today doesn't work, tomorrow might.”

“Tomorrow?” asked Rory. "You mean, tomorrow we're going to try to sneak out? Again?"

“You are very smart,” Now he was encouraging her. What occurred recently—a few days or weeks ago? “Rory, you are a fool.” He would say.

Eren returned to his pillow and motioned with his hand for her to leave his room. “Come back after two hours.” They’d just finished eating breakfast not long ago, so he could tell it was still morning.

The events that were supposed to take place in two hours were unknown to Rory. “What is happening in two hours?” She asked. She had stopped reading the instruction manual about him. Since she realized his personality was shifting, resembling the mood swings pregnant women experience, she had given up on it. “What purpose did it serve?” She had asked herself. “He will bring out a new behavior today.” And so he did. Today's calm, tomorrow's craziness. Who does that?

He didn't realize that every time he insulted her to the point of indifference, she understood why he felt that way and did not hold it against him. For a while, she believed he was doing it on purpose to make her hate him. He had grown up in that manner. He always aimed to inspire fear in others, despite the fact that she had seen some aspects of him that suggested the opposite.

"Didn't you read the instructions?"

"I-I couldn't." She stuttered, which made him sigh.

"You weren't even going to lie about it?"

"Lying is something you detest." Out of all the rules, she had only remembered this one. As long as she continued to live with him in the mansion, it was one rule she would steadfastly adhere to.

“I will be going for a medical checkup.”

“At the hospital?”

“No, not in a hospital. I visit a particular room once a month to assess my mental health. A doctor will be coming to check on me in addition to the items Mr. Lewis had assigned to the room.”

Why was it that she was unaware of any of this? Probably because she was still new to the house. How many rooms does this mansion have? Rory attempted to maintain concentration as random questions started to flood her mind. “Since you're still a newbie around here, you don't know anything about any of this. He is constantly interested in my mental well-being.” Eren added.

“And what about your nightmares? Is he aware?”

"You cannot discuss that with him. Never bring that up with him.”

“But why? He will try to help you get rid of the pain.”

“Exactly. I don't want the pain to go away. I won't be able to remember my parents if I take the pills he gives me or if he makes me go to the hospital.”

Rory took a moment to think things over. He kept his composure the entire time because he wanted to try to remember his parents, but those pills made it impossible for him to do so.

What if the examination results are disclosed? It would demonstrate that Eren had been struggling with his mental health. The scan is incapable of lying. Then she asked him, “What about the scan result? What will you do if the scan results reveal that you are actually experiencing mental difficulties?”