~Chapter 64~
Eileen still had one more thing to take care of. In her rush, she had unknowingly shared too much information with the man in front of her, and now she had no idea how to recover from it.
“Thank you for helping. And for protecting Cedric,” Eileen said, watching Cedric and his uncle prepare to leave in the distance.
“I didnât really have anything to protect, and Iâm not sure if I was much help,” Chester replied.
“Well, maybe because you were here, nothing happened,” Eileen said, though she wasnât entirely sure of that herself. Perhaps it had all been an overreaction on her part. But she was satisfied knowing she had taken every precaution and avoided any potential complications.
âThe tree will heal with just a few drops of blood,â Eileen continued, trying to focus on the task at hand.
âBlood?â
“Not asking for a sacrifice or anything, just your blood. You and the tree are connected, after all,” Eileen explained.
In truth, this was something Theo would have found out on his own eventually. It was unnecessary suffering to have her nosebleed while trying to heal the tree, but she had managed to gather that information.
âItâs something heâll know soon enough, so using him like this might seem heartless,â Eileen thought, but she decided to look at it positively. Time was saved, and ultimately, it would help.
Lady Ribbonshire’s words rang in her head: sometimes, acting selfishly was necessary. Right now, her primary concern was her own well-being. More specifically, Cedricâs well-being. For now, they were tied together in this fate.
A thought suddenly intruded into her mind. “Fate? Is that what I want to think? Itâs just that I worry so much about Cedric…”
Eileen ignored the inner voice urging her to face the reality of her feelings and emotions. She had bigger things to worry about.
“You canât just heal it with your abilities. It requires blood,” Eileen explained again. “Itâs in the myths, too. The goddessâ noble blood is said to bring life to the tree when it touches the earth.”
“And we are called descendants of the goddess,” Theo replied, knowing well the significance of what she was saying.
Eileen fell silent at this point. She had been ready to push Theo to act, but now that he had asked, she was reluctant to give him more information unless he pushed for it.
Theo then asked a surprising question.
“Donât you have something youâre curious about? Arenât you going to ask?”
“Isnât there some price to pay for that information?” Eileen asked, already sensing there would be a cost.
“Well, it depends on the question,” Theo replied, his gaze shifting behind her. Although partially obscured by tree branches, Cedric was watching them intently.
“But it seems someone is losing patience,” Theo remarked.
“Can the goddessâ power have an effect outside of Arwyn?” Eileen asked, picking a question she had wanted to know for some time. She had been wondering if her birth had been influenced by the goddess or if it was something planned for another purpose, but she couldnât reveal everything just yet.
“The restrictions are on us, not on the one who gave us the power,” Theo replied. “If youâre curious, you can always ask directly.”
“Where would I ask?” Eileen asked.
“In Arwyn. The goddess still gives oracles every now and then when she gets bored.”
Eileen understood now. Theo had let slip that he had his own reasons for helping herâhe had received an oracle from the goddess. That was why he was so willing to assist her.
“Have you ever received an oracle?” Eileen asked.
“Maybe,” Theo replied vaguely, avoiding giving a direct answer.
Eileen sensed he was deliberately being evasive, but she didnât press further. Instead, she decided to give her own answer to a different matter.
“I canât go to Arwyn right now. My duties are with Lowell,” Eileen said, her voice steady.
“Thatâs a shame,” Theo said, leaning forward slightly. “The goddess seems to want us to meet.”
Eileen was taken aback. “What do you mean by that?”
“She wants us to help each other,” Theo said with a shrug, as if it were no big deal. “She hopes we can support each other.”
Eileen couldnât tell if he was joking or serious. But he didnât seem to care to explain further.
“Anyway, right now neither of us seems to need any help,” Theo continued, offering her a small carved wooden bird.
“Whatâs this?” Eileen asked, surprised by the gift.
“Itâs a messenger bird,” Theo said with a small smile. “Its name is Whikan. You just say, ‘Whikan, deliver the message,’ and it will do so.”
“Whikan…” Eileen repeated, unsure of what to think.
“Donât speak to it yet,” Theo cautioned.
She was slightly baffled by his behavior. It seemed he had no problem acting however he liked, and it felt almost annoying that he had become this carefree with her.
“Itâs been an interesting and enjoyable meeting, Lady Cashier,” Theo said, preparing to leave.
“I hope this is the last time we meet,” Eileen replied. If she ever needed his help again, it would be in the worst of situations, one she didnât want to imagine.
“The goddess must have some purpose for it,” Theo said with a smirk. He clearly didnât believe in the goddess much, but he liked to tease Eileen about it.
Eileen let out a sigh once she was alone again. She had to return to her duties, and whatever was coming next, she had to face it.
***
“Cedric, what do you think of your fiancĂŠe?” Chester suddenly asked, catching Cedric off guard.
It was an odd question, so Cedricâs answer was a bit dismissive. “Sheâs just my fiancĂŠe.”
His mind was filled with thoughts about what Eileen knew and why she had been so vague when talking to Theo Arwyn.
âItâs no big deal. I know the information she shared with Theo,â Cedric thought. ‘If it wasnât a big deal, why didnât she tell me?â
Before Cedric could dwell on it too much, he noticed Eileen had a rare, almost uncomfortable expression when talking to Theo, unlike her usual composed demeanor.
Eileen hadnât been nervous or embarrassed, but Cedric felt that there was more beneath the surface that she wasnât revealing.
“Do you trust her?” Chester asked again, pressing the matter.
“Why are you asking me that?” Cedric responded, growing a bit frustrated.
Chester, always the one to watch carefully, let out a small sigh. “You shouldnât trust someone from outside the North too easily, Cedric.”
“I trust Eileen,” Cedric replied confidently. He had his doubts about many things, but not about Eileen.
“Even if Diana feels uncomfortable because of her?” Chester continued. “Diana has been a long-time friend of yours.”
“Eileen doesnât dislike Diana,” Cedric said, reassuringly. “They actually became friends.”
“Thatâs how it may seem in front of you,” Chester said, eyeing Cedric. “But Eileen Cashier is skilled at hiding her emotions. Sheâs remarkably calm, almost too much so.”
Cedric didnât like where this conversation was going. He didnât think Eileen had any hidden motives. She was just someone who kept things to herself.
***
“Word has come from the palace that an administrator will be sent,” Chester said suddenly, changing the subject.
“An administrator? Why?” Cedric asked, confused.
“Iâm not sure. Officially, itâs about the inheritance youâre supposed to receive from the royal family,” Chester explained, though it seemed unnecessary for someone from the palace to come all the way here for something like that.
“The royal family is cautious, Cedric. Even if Eileen is only distantly related to them, she is still part of the royal bloodline.”
“Eileen has never even been near the palace,” Cedric countered.
“Thatâs true,” Chester replied, “but the royal family is always cautious, even with people like her.”
“Iâm sure itâs nothing. If they need something, they can just send papers,” Cedric muttered, clearly uninterested in discussing it further.
He didnât want to think about the royal family right now. There was enough going on in his life with Eileen, and he didnât want to add unnecessary complications.
As Cedric turned to leave, Eileen approached him.
“How are you doing?” Cedric asked, concerned.
Eileen looked at him quietly, her face showing both warmth and worry. They both had their own burdens to carry, but together, they would face whatever was to come.
