“So, what brings you here?” Grandma asked, her voice calm but curious, her eyes steady as they took in the couple, “This is the first time we’ve ever had guests, you know. Usually, it’s just abandoned children.”
Ether sat quietly on her lap, his small frame tucked into her embrace as his wide eyes remained fixed on the golden-haired woman. He seemed entranced, unable to look away from the radiant beauty before him.
Across from them sat the striking couple: the beautiful woman with her golden hair cascading down her back and the tall, white-haired man.
The white-haired man offered a charming smile before speaking, “Nothing too remarkable, Miss Elder. You see,” he gestured lightly toward the woman beside him, “this is my… wife.” The woman nodded gracefully, offering a small but polite smile. He continued, “We’re travelling across the Empire, documenting peculiar and infamous places.
It’s a passion of ours—you might say we have a taste for the strange and unusual.”
The Grandma nodded thoughtfully, her eyes flicking between the man and the woman. But then her gaze shifted to Ether, who was staring, almost mesmerized, at the golden-haired woman.
It wasn’t just him….. I, too, found myself staring at her, captivated in a way I couldn’t explain.
‘Hm… she looks so familiar, but… from where?’ I furrowed my brows, trying to pull a memory from the recesses of my mind. There was something about her that tugged at me, as if I had seen her before, yet nothing concrete surfaced. Still, one thing was undeniable: she was beautiful, with a kind of beauty that felt… familiar.
But who could she be?
‘Argh!’ I clenched my fists in frustration, gritting my teeth. No matter how hard I tried, the connection between her face and my vague feeling of recognition slipped away from me, always just out of reach.
Unable to resolve that mystery, I shifted my focus to the man instead.
For reasons I couldn’t quite understand, just looking at him irritated me.
“Yeah, I don’t know why, but whenever I see his face, I feel… annoyed. It’s like something about him just makes me want to punch him,” I muttered under my breath, scrutinizing his face more closely.
While Ether continued to silently gaze at the woman, I kept my eyes locked on the man, my irritation bubbling under the surface.
“Of course, you are more than welcome to stay here as long as you need,” Grandma said kindly, her voice cutting through the tension I felt. “What did you say your name was, young man?”
The white-haired man smiled again,”Ether.”
Both Ether and I flinched at the same time, shock spreading across our faces. His name was Ether? Was this some kind of joke?
Even Grandma seemed taken aback, blinking in surprise before a chuckle escaped her lips.
“Is something the matter?” the golden-haired woman asked, her voice as smooth and sweet as honey, her head tilting slightly in curiosity.
Grandma waved a hand dismissively, still chuckling. “Oh, nothing, my dear. It’s just… well, the boy here,” she patted Ether’s back fondly, “his name is also Ether.”
The couple exchanged a glance, clearly surprised, before the man, Ether, looked at the boy with renewed interest.
“Well, isn’t that quite the coincidence?” the white-haired man said, his tone thoughtful as his gaze fixed on the young boy.
Ether, the child, flinched again under his gaze and quickly turned to hug Grandma, burying his face into her lap as if the man’s stare was too much for him.
The woman laughed softly, playfully nudging the man. “See? You’re scaring the poor child.”
Meanwhile, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the man. ‘Ether…?’ I repeated the name in my head, a strange feeling of unease creeping in. My gaze darted between the boy Ether, with his soft white hair and piercing blue eyes, and the man, who shared the same snow-white hair… But something was off—there was a difference.
I squinted, trying to focus on the man’s eyes. The child’s eyes were a bright blue, but his… they were a silver so striking, it felt unnatural.
“Hmm… not blue…” I mumbled, leaning in slightly to get a better look at him.
Just as I moved closer, his silvery pupils seemed to contract, as though they locked onto me for a brief, chilling second.
“What the—” I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest.
‘Did he just… see me?’ The thought raced through my mind, sending a shiver down my spine. I waved my hand in front of him to test his reaction, but this time, his eyes showed nothing, as though that strange moment had never happened.
‘Something’s wrong here. Did he see me or not?’ My thoughts churned with suspicion as I watched the couple rise to leave.
Before they exited the room, Grandma’s voice broke the silence. “Please, whatever you do, don’t wander too deep into the forest,” she warned, her usual kind expression replaced with one of stern seriousness.
….
…..
A month had passed since the strange couple first arrived in the village.
In that time, they had charmed the children, especially the woman, who had quickly become a favourite.
“M-Miss! Please take this!” one child called out, holding a small bundle of flowers up to the golden-haired woman with a shy, adoring expression.
She smiled down at him, her beauty glowing as she knelt to accept the flowers. “Thank you, sweetheart,” she said softly, her warm, gentle voice nearly causing the poor boy’s heart to burst.
“The children have really taken a liking to her,” Grandma observed, watching the interaction with a smile. Then, her eyes drifted to Ether, who was standing a few feet away, watching the woman from afar. “Don’t you want to be friends with her too?”
Ether shook his head vehemently, pressing closer to Grandma’s side, “No. I don’t want friends with anyone but Grandma,” he muttered, hugging her leg tightly. Grandma couldn’t help but laugh at his stubbornness.
The golden-haired woman noticed Ether’s distant behaviour and pouted slightly, calling out in a sweet, coaxing voice, “Come on, Ether~ I’ve got something special for you.”
But the moment the words left her lips, Ether bolted, running off like a startled animal.
The woman’s face fell, a look of disappointment crossing her features. Grandma patted her shoulder gently. “Don’t take it personally, dear. He’s not good with strangers.”
The woman nodded, though her longing gaze remained fixed in the direction Ether had fled…
The golden-haired woman had tried several times to win over little Ether, her determination unwavering.
“Hey, Ether, I’ve got some cookies~ Do you want some?” she called out sweetly, waving a small basket in his direction.
Ether, without a word, dashed away at full speed, not even glancing at the offered treat.
“Who wants to play?” she tried again, this time holding up a brightly coloured ball, “Look, Ether! It’s a big ball! Come on, let’s play!”
“…I…” Ether hesitated for a brief moment, his eyes drawn to the ball as it rolled gently in her hands. But after a pause, he shook his head and bolted away once more.
Despite his constant rejections, the golden-haired woman remained resolute. She would not give up on him.
Her determination only grew stronger with each passing day!
A week later, after countless failed attempts, her patience began to wane. One afternoon, she reached her breaking point.
“Come on, Ether! Please, just play with me!” she shouted in frustration, her voice cracking. Her eyes grew glassy as tears welled up, shimmering in the afternoon light.
Ether, watching her from a safe distance, noticed her tearful expression and immediately felt a pang of guilt in his chest. Slowly, cautiously, he began to shuffle toward her, unsure but driven by the sight of her sadness.
Seeing him approach, the woman smiled inwardly, feeling triumphant…. Her plan was working!!
As Ether drew close enough, she pounced…. scooping him up in her arms in one swift motion and pulling him into a tight hug. “Caught you~” she whispered playfully, snuggling him into her soft bosom.
Ether’s face was immediately squashed between her mounds, causing him to squirm as he gasped for air. She giggled and planted a gentle kiss on his flushed cheeks.
Meanwhile, I stood there, watching the scene unfold with a strange, simmering irritation. ‘Why do I feel so… annoyed right now?’ I thought as I stared at Ether, his face buried between her breasts. A part of me felt like it must have been a pleasant experience for him, but still… for whatever reason, I found myself wanting that.
Yes, I wanted to be in his place. Badly!!
‘Am.. I a pervert?’ I wondered.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the moment.
“What are you doing?” The white-haired man appeared, his face stern and his tone laced with irritation as he looked at his wife with disappointment.
I clenched my fists, my eyes narrowing at him. ‘I really want to punch him in the face,’ I thought darkly, my muscles tensing.
“Just playing around,” the woman replied nonchalantly, shrugging as she continued to hold Ether tightly, though a playful smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.
Finally, she released the boy, whose face had turned beet red, both from embarrassment and lack of air.
Ether glared at her with fiery eyes. “Y-You… you…!” he stammered, struggling to find words as his tiny body trembled with rage.
The woman, seeing his angry little face, couldn’t resist teasing him further. She puckered her lips and blew him a playful kiss. “Oh? And what are you going to do about it, Ether?”
Ether’s face turned an even deeper shade of red as his eyes filled with tears of frustration. “I-I’m going to tell Grandma about this!” he cried, his voice cracking before he turned on his heels and fled, his tiny feet pattering against the ground as he ran.
The woman laughed, clearly enjoying herself. But the white-haired man stepped in front of her, his expression unreadable as he whispered, “We didn’t come here to play… let’s get started.”
I frowned at his words, my attention sharpening, ‘Let’s get started? What the hell does that mean?’ I edged closer, trying to eavesdrop. Just as I was about to catch more of their conversation, my body began to drift.
‘Wait, wait—no! Ah, fuck!’ I cursed inwardly. Being bound to Ether meant that wherever he went, I was pulled along with him. I had no choice but to follow, even though I desperately wanted to hear what they were planning.
As I drifted away with Ether, I cast one last glance back at the couple. Their faces had shifted, the playful veneer stripped away to reveal something darker, something sinister. Their expressions grew cold and serious.
…..
…
The next morning, chaos erupted in the village.
“Elder! One of the children is missing!”
Upon hearing the words. My face paled as dread washed over me. I knew, deep down, what had happened—or at least, I had a gut-wrenching suspicion.
The shit had hit the fan.