Nia'le was taken aback by Vilyn's youthful appearance, unable to fathom how she could look so young. Despite his reservations about accepting her as his mother, Vilyn wholeheartedly embraced him as her son. In the kitchen, Vilyn diligently prepared a meal for Nia'le, while he retreated to his room, engrossed in reading a newspaper. As Vilyn contemplated whether Nia'le enjoyed spicy flavors, she decided to add a sprinkle of spice to the dish, hoping it would suit his taste.
However, as Vilyn reached for the spice bottle, the cap slipped from her fingers, causing a cascade of spices to spill into the dish. Shocked by the accident, Vilyn hadn't anticipated such a mishap. Nevertheless, she maintained a positive outlook, murmuring to herself, "Well, men do like spices. I'm sure my son will love it regardless." Determined to present the meal to Nia'le, she entered his room with a bowl of soup in her hands, her excitement palpable. "Nia'le, honey dear, Mama has cooked for you," she announced with a warm smile.
Nia'le, absorbed in his newspaper, chose to ignore her presence. Frustration welled up within Vilyn as he closed the door and turned his chair away, seemingly disinterested in her efforts. Unwilling to accept his indifference, Vilyn utilized her teleportation abilities to appear directly in front of him, her tone laced with anger. "How dare you shut the door in my face!" she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with indignation. Nia'le, however, remained nonchalant, attempting to stand up and leave the room. Vilyn swiftly intercepted him, her voice dripping with authority. "You will eat this, Nia'le, or you will face my wrath," she declared, her gaze piercing into his soul. A menacing aura surrounded her as she continued, "Do not wait for me to be a parent to you. Now eat this!"
Nia'le's body trembled slightly, a sense of fear creeping into his skin. He stammered, desperately searching for an excuse, "But I can't... because... I'm full." Vilyn, taken aback by his unexpected response, pressed him further, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Full? Full of what?" she inquired, her tone demanding an explanation. Realizing his mistake, Nia'le quickly corrected himself, his voice filled with a mix of nervousness and affection, "Full of love, from my mother, of course." His words instantly transformed Vilyn's mood, a rosy blush spreading across her cheeks. She gently placed the bowl on the table, her hands instinctively moving to rest against her flushed face. "Really?" she whispered, her voice filled with joy and disbelief.
Unable to contain her excitement, Vilyn took the bowl and scooped a spoonful of the soup, urging Nia'le to open his mouth. "Now eat, my son. Say 'ahhh'," she cooed, her eyes sparkling with maternal pride. Nia'le reluctantly obliged, hoping to avoid further conflict. However, as soon as the spicy liquid touched his tongue, an intense heat spread throughout his mouth, turning his face a deep shade of red. Desperate for relief, he frantically searched for water, his accusatory words slipping out before he could think, "You... you bitch! Are you trying to kill me?"
Vilyn, caught off guard by his outburst, quickly defended herself, her voice tinged with surprise and confusion. "I thought men loved spicy food. I only added a bit of spice," she protested, her eyes widening in disbelief. Anger surged within Nia'le as he retorted, "A bit? I bet you poured it all in!" Vilyn, unwilling to admit her mistake, turned away, her voice growing defensive. "I did not! Just be honest with yourself. You're not man enough to handle it. A real man would love spices," she declared, her words laced with a hint of mockery.
Nia'le rolled his eyes in exasperation, his frustration mounting. Grabbing the newspaper, he plopped himself back down in his chair, determined to ignore Vilyn's presence. "Well, I beg to differ!" he exclaimed, his annoyance apparent in his tone. Unexpectedly, Vilyn let out a scream of pure joy, her voice echoing through the room. "You know, I know something that can counteract the spiciness, milk! Do you want some of Mama's milky again, baby?" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling mischievously. Nia'le's face turned even redder, his discomfort evident as he vehemently refused her offer. This time, Vilyn didn't push further, instead gazing down at her own chest with a hint of disappointment. "Well, you're right. Mama doesn't have milkies yet. That's too bad," she murmured, her voice filled with a tinge of regret. Meanwhile, Nia'le's mind raced with disbelief, questioning silently, "Is she trying to molest her own child?"
"So this is what the world looks like now. It still looks so beautiful, Xart," Tassa remarked, her eyes filled with joy as she gazed out of her window. Ixartxist, standing beside her, couldn't help but smile at her infectious happiness. "If you'd like, Tassa, let's take a walk outside. Would you enjoy that?" he suggested, hoping to spend more time with her. Tassa's face lit up with excitement, thrilled by the idea of exploring the world beyond her window. But there was something more to her eagerness—it was the chance to be with Xart, someone she had developed feelings for. With a playful tone, she asked, "But that would be a date, right?" Ixartxist found himself momentarily speechless, unsure of how to respond. He knew that if he admitted it was a date, it might push Tassa away, as Calguas had warned him that girls didn't appreciate being liked too soon. So he opted to play it cool, looking away without displaying any emotion, and replied, "It's not a date, my Tassa, just a little tour." Satisfied with his response, he turned his back, believing he had handled the situation perfectly. Unbeknownst to him, Tassa felt a pang of disappointment. She had hoped that she stood a chance at dating him, but Xart's clarification that it was just a tour dashed her hopes. Xart glanced back and noticed the gloom on Tassa's face. Concerned, he questioned, "What's wrong, my love?" Tassa, not wanting to reveal her true feelings, simply smiled and replied, "I want to see the whole house, Xart. Can I see it?" Ixartxist agreed to her request, taking her on a tour of every room in his magnificent mansion. Tassa was overjoyed, relishing the opportunity to walk alongside him. As they continued their exploration, she couldn't help but ask, "Where is your room, Xart?" Curiosity tinged her voice, and Xart couldn't help but wonder if she doubted him in some way. Nevertheless, he answered her, "Why do you want to see my room, my love?" Tassa, trying to hide her true intention, replied with a mischievous smile, "I just want to compare which one is bigger and which one is smaller." In reality, she was eager to see what Xart's room looked like, hoping to find it clean and tidy. You see, Tassa had both OCD and mysophobia—an obsessive fear of dirt and a strong aversion to uncleanliness. She couldn't resist the urge to check Xart's room for cleanliness. On the other hand, Ixartxist interpreted Tassa's request differently, thinking she doubted him about something. Believing he had nothing to hide, he agreed to show her his room. As they arrived, Tassa's eyes widened in amazement, and she exclaimed, "This is wonderful, Xart! Your room is so tidy. Did your maid clean this for you?" Ixartxist quickly hid all of Tassa's old clothes that he used to embrace when she was not around, and swiftly threw them into a black hole that he suddenly opened. He replied, "No, my maid can't enter here. No one can access my room except me. And of course, you, Quart." Tassa's heart swelled with joy upon hearing those words. Curiosity piqued, she asked, "Why wouldn't you let them in, but you let me?" Ixartxist, looking into her eyes, confessed, "Because I love you, my Tassa." Shocked by his admission, Tassa's mind raced. "Did he really just say that? Does Xart love me too? After all these years, finally," she thought, overwhelmed with happiness. Unable to find the right words, she simply smiled at him, unable to contain her joy. Sensing her elation, Ixartxist panicked, fearing he had made a mistake. "Does she think it's wrong? Maybe Calguas was right. Confessing your feelings to someone can only make it worse. We've been together since she was a child. Oh no! She might view it as child abuse, or worse, grooming," he fretted internally. Looking at Tassa, he noticed her blushing cheeks and sparkling eyes, causing his worry to intensify. "Her face turned red; it only means she's getting angry with me. What am I going to do?" he pondered anxiously. Meanwhile, Tassa locked eyes with Xart, her gaze filled with determination. She mustered the courage to confess her own feelings for him. However, before she could speak, Ixartxist swiftly interjected, "As a family, I love you as my family, Quart. Just family, okay?" Tassa's eyes widened in disbelief, her heart sinking at his words. "Family? Just family?" she repeated, her voice filled with disappointment. Ixartxist, confident in his decision, smiled at her and reiterated, "Yes, just family, and nothing more." Tassa forced a smile, her heart aching as she turned her back to him. Bowing her head, she walked away, muttering under her breath, "Family, of course. Of course."
Tassa suddenly felt a wave of disappointment wash over her once again, causing her to apologize and excuse herself from Ixartxist. She hurriedly made her way to her room, leaving Ixartxist speechless and bewildered. He took a deep breath and leaned against the window, reflecting on his words. "What on earth did I just say? I shouldn't have revealed my true feelings in front of her. Now she'll keep her distance from me forever," he murmured to himself.