The Damned Demon
chapter-613

Arthur arrived at the largest estate in Britain, the mansion before him standing as a monument to opulent, classical architecture. The structure, clothed in white stone and marble, seemed to rise majestically from the verdant landscape that enveloped it, with ivy crawling up its walls, marrying the man-made grandeur to the natural world. The reflection of the lush surroundings twinkled in the numerous windows, making the manor seem alive yet carrying it with an olden charm.

Dressed in casual attire, Arthur approached with a light-hearted demeanor, nodding and smiling at the guards and servants who greeted him along the path. As he ascended the steps to the mansion, the grand doors swung open, revealing an old man, the head steward dressed in a neat black suit, his white beard and mustache meticulously groomed, framing a stoic expression that softened upon seeing Arthur.

"Good afternoon, young master. I hope you are well. Forgive me for not preparing for your—" He began, his formal tone echoing the prestige of the manor.

"It's all good, Henry. I know this is a sudden visit. So don't worry about it. How have you been doing? I wanted to visit earlier but I got caught up in things," Arthur interrupted gently, his smile easing the formality of their interaction.

"Thank you for asking, but I am fine, sir. Please come in. I presume you are here to see your father?" Henry responded, his manner polite yet tinged with the warmth of familiarity.

Arthur nodded, "Is the madam present here too?"

"Of course. Both of them now happen to be in the same hall, having their lunch. They will be glad to see you," Henry informed him, making Arthur wince as Henry led Arthur through the opulent corridors of the estate.

As they approached the dining hall, Arthur looked around with a somber expression, sensing the gloominess that seeped through such a beautiful place.

He knew the cause very well. But alas, he still had yet to find a way to make things right.

The dining hall itself was a display of understated elegance, dominated by a large oval table. Sitting at the table was a middle-aged man with a serious demeanor, his thick black mustache and neatly combed auburn hair, streaked with strands of white, framing a face lost in thought. His hazel eyes, though glazed, hinted at a mind burdened with matters beyond the food before him.

Arthur's expression became warm upon seeing this man, his father…Edward Evangelion, the patriarch of this family and an ex-member of the Guardian Council.

However, his expression became a bit complicated when he looked at the figure seated opposite his father…A woman looking in her mid-forties possessed a sharp yet cold beauty...Alice Evangelion, the matriarch of this family.

Her chest-length silky auburn hair framed a face that held no trace of emotion despite the well-prepared food before her.

She sipped elegantly from a tea cup, her hazel eyes momentarily detached from the world around her until the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention.

As Arthur stepped into the hall, the atmosphere subtly shifted. The couple's gazes snapped towards him, a flicker of recognition—and perhaps something deeper—crossing their features.

Edward, seated at the head of the ornate table, exuded a paternal warmth as he gestured toward the chair beside him with an inviting smile, "Arthur, this is a pleasant surprise. Come, sit with us, son," he encouraged, the lines around his eyes softening as he spoke.

Alice, however, remained distant and cold, her expression unreadable as she abruptly stood up, her chair scraping slightly against the polished floor, "I am done. I have someplace to go," she declared, her voice devoid of warmth. "Ma'am, Good-"

Without a backward glance at Arthur, whose arrival seemed to have stirred something unresolved within her, she walked briskly away from the table, ignoring his attempt to greet her.

Arthur watched her departure, his eyes flickering with a mix of guilt and unresolved pain as if he couldn't get used to this, no matter how many times it had happened before.

"Don't give too much meaning to it. It will take some while for your stepmother to warm up to you," Edward said, trying to ease the tension with a strained smile. As Arthur slowly took his seat, a heavy sigh escaped him, the burden of years hanging between them, "But it's been years, and I still feel responsible that I might have affected your relationship with her. I don't know how I can make up—"

"It's not your fault, son. Never think that," Edward interjected quickly, his voice firm as he reached across the table to grip Arthur's hand reassuringly and added with an apologetic look, "It's mine. So, never blame yourself. This is my sin to bear."

Arthur pressed his lips together before looking down, his voice barely above a whisper, "I promise... I will bring her back no matter where she is."

Edward's expression softened, a mix of sorrow and fatigue lining his features, "Son... It's been a couple of years. At this point, you don't have to—"

"No. I will never believe that she would end her own life. As far as I remember, she is stronger than anyone I know. I won't give up on family even if things might seem bleak," Arthur declared, the determination in his eyes unyielding, his jaw set in hard resolve.

"You are... just like her..." Edward remarked, a wistful smile tugging at his lips, recognizing the same stubborn spirit that had defined his only daughter.

Arthur managed a small smile, a glint of hope sparking in his gaze, "I wish that's true. I want to be a hero like her."

"You are, son. You are better than any of us combined," Edward responded, his voice thick with pride as he patted Arthur's hand. He then shifted the conversation, a hint of curiosity in his tone, "So...did you take a leave, or is there any urgent purpose behind your visit?"

"It's a bit of both," Arthur admitted, his smile strained as he took a deep breath, steeling himself for the question that felt like it had lingered for an entire lifetime, "I just wanted to know something, and I don't know why I never bothered to think too much about it before."

"What is it?" Edward leaned forward, his brows furrowing in concern at the seriousness of Arthur's tone.

"Who is my mother, father? Do you know why she...abandoned me?" Arthur asked, his voice laden with a mixture of curiosity and pain, his eyes searching his fathers' for answers.

Edward's features tightened, a visible clench to his jaw as he heard Arthur's question—a query that seemed to make him hesitate for a second.

"Why are you asking about your mother all of a sudden? Did something happen?" Edward asked in a mix of concern and seriousness.

Arthur's hands curled into fists, then relaxed as he navigated his swirling thoughts, "I... I don't know. I suppose I should have asked earlier. I mean, I know you told me that she disappeared because she couldn't look after me. But... you never told me who she was, what kind of person she was, or if she... loved or hated to have me."

A heavy sigh escaped Edward as he shook his head, his expression one of somber resignation, "I have no doubt that your mother loved you, Arthur. But sometimes circumstances make it hard for someone to protect their love. That is why she entrusted you to me. So that I could protect you. It's best that some things are better left unknown than cause you more pain. That's what she wanted me to do. So I am sorry, son."

Arthur's gaze faltered, clouded with a mix of confusion and the sting of old hurts, "My mother told you not to tell me anything about her? It doesn't make sense... You are a powerful man. No matter how difficult her circumstances were, you could have helped her... right?" He paused, the weight of his own unspoken thoughts palpable, "I haven't seen her or known her in my life. But... this feeling inside me... it's hurting me whenever I think about it. I have never met her or seen her, but...I could remember her warmth. This feeling only seems to get stronger as time passes and the more I think about it. It's strange, but I-"

Edward's eyes momentarily quivered before meeting Arthur's searching gaze again as he said in a serious tone, "Don't ever try to remember or even tell anybody else about such things. It will only make it worse and bring you more pain."

Arthur became confused by his father's reaction, "What...But-"

"No matter how powerful someone is... there can always be something that can be beyond their abilities. And this one... was beyond my hands, son. You will just have to believe me on this," Edward said with a firm yet pleading gaze.

Arthur remembered Advisor Ash's bitter words about belief and trust, which now echoed through his mind, stirring doubts he wished he could silence, "Okay..." he mumbled, the words barely a whisper, as he forced a smile and stood, "I should get back now. I will see you again soon, Father. Please take care."

"You too, son," Edward replied, his smile laden with a quiet sorrow as he watched Arthur depart.

Moments after Arthur's departure, the air in the dining hall seemed to thicken with unspoken words and stifled emotions. All of a sudden, Alice re-entered the room through the corridor, her presence immediately filling the space with a palpable tension.

"Do you really have to ignore him like that?" Edward's voice was weary, as if each word weighed heavily on him.

Alice's chin quivered, betraying a moment of vulnerability before she recomposed herself with a brittle facade of indifference, "Every time I look at him, I feel like I am dying from within. You... Do you really feel fine with all this? We are the Evangelion Family and yet...look at us now...is this how you wanted things to be?"

The question hung between them, heavy and accusing. She went on with her jaw clenching even more, "If you are expecting that boy to turn things around then don't. You should know better how hopeless that is. We will never be better again."

Edward's gaze dropped again, laden with an unspoken sorrow. He rose slowly, his movements stiff with unspoken burden, and walked away from the table.