"Lord Shin."
The young maid knocked on the study door and called softly to the person inside.
"Dinner is ready."
Only a calm response came from the study. Hearing it, the maid withdrew on her own.
Shin sat in his chair, feeling slightly tired. On the desk lay a book that delved deeply into the seven Chakra attributes.
Looking out the window, moonlight shattered the tree shadows and spilled silver-white across the ground.
He left the study. The vast living room was cold and empty; unless Shin summoned them, the servants were nowhere to be seen.
He looked at the exquisite dishes on the dining table, but had little appetite.
In the end, Shin left the house and followed the clan's covered corridors all the way to Ayari's residence. The lights were still on inside.
He went up and knocked. When Ayari opened the door and saw him, her expression immediately grew tense. "Y-you... why are you here?"
Shin could not help but ask, "Am I not allowed to come?"
Without waiting for Ayari to invite him in, he walked straight into the room.
"Have you eaten?" Shin asked.
"Mm."
"I'm hungry. Can you make me something to eat?" Shin said as he sat on the sofa.
Ayari helplessly replied, "Don't you have food at your place? I already ate and cleaned up. There's only instant noodles."
"Instant noodles are fine."
Ayari looked at Shin teasing Sibi on the sofa, then went into the kitchen.
Everything in the living room was still familiar. Shin even saw the short blade he had given her displayed there.
Less than ten minutes later, Ayari came out carrying a bowl of cooked instant noodles, with a fried egg on top.
Shin immediately dug in with gusto, the room filled with the slurping sounds of