Free Web NovelChapter 104: [Bonus Chapter] Home, Sweet Home (2)
Golden sunlight poured into the room, chasing away the remnants of the haunting dream. She touched her face, trying to make sense of the peculiar dream that felt more like a distorted memory.
Deep in thought, her mind drifted back to the cave where she was trapped by the illusion from the glowing crimson egg. She was sure that the twisted scene from her dream wasn’t part of that experience.
Kestrel pressed a hand to her chest, taking comfort in the fact that such a bizarre dream was a secret she could hold close, hidden from others like... Ren.
The next morning, after a hearty breakfast and a chat with Locky, Kestrel made her way to the annex building to meet the recently hired gardener.
Kaworu’s room was adjacent to a balcony bathed in sunlight. Kestrel’s expansive home had a primary building and an annex, both echoing with the hollowness of countless vacant rooms. The sheer size made the house feel almost ghostly, with just a handful of souls dwelling in its vastness. It took Kestrel a good while to navigate through the corridors and finally reach Kaworu’s quarters.
Once confined to a box and brought home like an object, Kaworu now lay sprawled on the balcony, cocooned in a cozy blanket, soaking up the sun’s warmth.
Kestrel decided to spend some time with him.
From their spot, the sprawling courtyard stretched out. The sky dazzled in its brightness, erasing days of overcast gloom. Sunbeams danced on the untamed courtyard, serenaded by birds and the quiet hum of insects. Various critters rustled through the thickets.
A cheeky groundhog peeked out from a tree base, cleaned its tiny paws, and quickly darted out of sight.
Kaworu, ensconced in his thick blanket with strands of his silvery hair glittering in the sunlight, lay still. Underneath the blanket, there was a hint of his limps reforming, suggesting he was recovering.
Mesmerized, Kestrel sat, her gaze following the groundhog as it darted above and below the ground.
"Don’t you think I’m... filthy and sinful?" A resonant voice emanated from beneath the blanket.
"You’re looking at it wrong," Kestrel mused, then said, "It’s not you that’s tainted. It’s those people, that world."
She let silence follow. Reaching into her pocket, she produced a gleaming golden necklace and hung it by the window, its luster catching the sunlight, before she left the room.
The necklace sparkled brilliantly as sunlight danced off it.
With Kestrel back, the house began seeing more visitors. Nicole and a group of beta friends were among the early guests.
Greeting them at the door was the new gardener, Kaworu.
"Wow, where on earth did you find such a unique gardener?" Nicole gushed, her gaze lingering on him even as she settled into the guest room.
Kaworu’s eyes were hidden behind a silver mask, leaving only his strong jawline and thin lips visible. His silver hair, styled with precision, added charm to his mysterious persona. His attire was impeccable, from gloves on his hands to a scarf gracing his neck. Instead of looking like someone who tended gardens, he exuded the grace of a vintage nobleman, reminiscent of an era long past.
While he carried himself with an air of detachment, not really mixing with others, he did his duties impeccably. After showing the guests into the living room with a subtle bow, he headed straight back to the garden. There, he playfully coaxed a groundhog from a tree hole using some treats.
"You’ve got a gem there. Your garden, even with its wild touch, looks way better than before. It has this charming, rustic vibe now," Serge remarked.
"I’m so lucky to have met him. Otherwise, a talent like that would’ve slipped through my fingers," Kestrel shared.
Shortly after, Kestrel’s colleague from SRD, Roy, dropped by.
"Hold on, I can’t believe what I’m hearing!" Roy said, his face a mix of shock and glee. He was almost bursting with the news, "The buzz at ’the Tower’ is real? Polluted Zone 77 has gone down... A beta opened the exit portal, and she triggered its downfall, too!"
"The minute I got wind of this, I had a hunch it was your handiwork. Honestly, I can’t think of any other beta pulling off such a feat."
"It’s made headlines! Everyone’s in a frenzy discussing it. Heck, even the Queen took notice and reached out to SRD," Roy added, pausing to savor a sip of tea handed over by Locky. "This tea’s spot-on. But Kestrel, your yard looks like it’s seen better days. Honestly? Looked like a scene straight out of a spooky movie."
Kestrel assured, "I’ve got someone on it. Things will shape up soon." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Roy, being the scatterbrain he was, shifted his concerns to Kestrel’s seemingly lonely living arrangement, "It’s way too quiet for such a massive place. Why not bring in more people? It’ll buzz with life, and you’d feel safer. Think about it: housemaids, male attendants, a trusty butler, security detail, maybe a chef..."
"But hold on a sec, didn’t you swear off visiting Polluted Zone 77? Why’d you go sneaking in there? You realize how dangrous that place is, right? Are you okay? Look, I’ve set up some benefits and time-off for you. Lay low for a bit, join some social gatherings, rub shoulders with some influential alphas, and stop playing hide and seek."
After the rather animated exit of Roy, Kestrel prepped herself for another guest.
A tall, slender alpha stepped in, with one arm notably absent. He looked lean but the fire in his eyes was unmistakable. Spotting Kestrel at the entrance, he went down on one knee, delicately taking her hand and gracing it with a kiss.
"This gesture is revered in my family," the alpha said, rising. "I’m Rakan. Rings a bell?"
Kestrel’s mind darted back. In Erdtree’s Polluted Zone, she had freed him from captivity. At that time, he was battered and bruised, seemingly fragile, bordering on the edge. Today, however, he was a changed man, reflecting the resilience typical of an alpha, standing tall and confident.
Recognizing him, Kestrel reached out, "Of course, I recall. We promised to see each other again if we both made it out in one piece."
They smiled at each other. The warmth exchanged was undeniable, a symbol of their mutual survival against the odds. It was a testament that neither had succumbed to the terrors of that place, and they had held true to their word to meet in brighter times.
Noticing Rakan’s missing arm, Kestrel couldn’t help but ask about it.
"It’s just a scratch in the grand scheme of things," Rakan shrugged, flexing the remaining bit of his limb. "With the right funds, I could snag a techy mechanical arm. After making it out of there, this seems pretty minor."
Before leaving, he handed Kestrel a thoughtful present and slipped her a note with his address, hoping she might pop by his place sometime.
What followed was unexpected. After Rakan’s visit, a flurry of alphas came knocking. Some were fellow escapees of the dreaded Polluted Zone 77, stopping by to share their appreciation. Meanwhile, prestigious families, probably sparked by the recent buzz, sent invites to fancy parties, eager to lay eyes on the legendary beta rumored to have unlocked a Polluted Zone that had stood firm for ages. ƒreewebɳovel.com
With the never-ending parade of guests, Kestrel grew exhausted and started sending away visitors. She found peace in her cozy living room, indulging in an assortment of sweet treats stashed around and savoring tea made by Locky.
Locky’s tea-making game was on point, and the snacks? Simply divine.
Outside the window, Kaworu was in his element, carefully setting a rose plant — from tilling the earth to planting and watering it. Under the moon’s gentle glow, the rose seemed to sparkle. Its fresh shoots looked as though they’d taken hold and sprouted in a heartbeat, promising a bloom in the near future.
Wrapping up his gardening stint, Kaworu peeked at Kestrel, who was nestled in the living room, her teacup in hand, and posed a question, "Didn’t something catch your eye?"
Munching on cookies, her cheeks stuffed, Kestrel managed a muffled, "Catch what now?"
Kaworu let out a soft sigh, "You really should’ve felt his presence. He’s been around a couple of times, always lurking in that same spot, just observing the comings and goings. I actually felt sorry for him."
"Yes," he added with a certain emphasis, "I mean that orca."
