The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy!-Chapter 666: When Do Duties End?

Meanwhile...

"You should eat plenty." Himari chuckled as she placed more food on Scarlet’s plate and served more soup and bread.

She looked at Scarlet gleefully, nodding in satisfaction. "You’ve been working hard, so do not forget to eat plenty and hydrate."

"..." Scarlet pursed her lips as she glanced at the food and side dishes that the rest didn’t have. She smiled briefly at Himari, then nodded. "Thank you, Himari."

"Mhm. Just eat while it’s still warm," Himari encouraged her, and Scarlet nodded awkwardly.

As for Haji, who was at the end of the table, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Damn it," he hissed, glaring at Billionaire, who was watching this unfold so happily. "It’s this damn guy’s fault."

Haji kicked Billionaire’s chair, but the latter simply laughed and even dragged his chair closer to him.

"Haha, why are you so angry?" Billionaire squeezed his side against Haji’s. "Granny is just being nice to her future granddaughter-in-law."

"Shut up, you little shit." Haji pinched Billionaire’s ear and shoved him away. "That lady... nah."

"Ahh—I get it! I get it now!" Billionaire rubbed his ear when Haji finally let go. He glared daggers at his friend, his heart swelling with disappointment.

"Damn," he huffed. "If you’re not into her, then so be it. The more defensive you are, the more it looks strange."

"I am defensive because, first, I don’t want the both of us to get embarrassed," Haji listed, remembering how Billionaire got rejected so pathetically. "Second, you’re dragging my grandma into this. And last but not least, she’s not my type."

Though the dining area was loud and full of chatter, Haji’s voice still caught the attention of those nearby. At this point, some members of the Order felt relaxed and more comfortable around him.

One of them dragged his chair from the table behind Haji and asked, "If Scarlet is not your type, then who is?"

"Who?" Haji’s face twisted. "What do you mean, who? Goddamn it. You’re all male here. I’m not into that shit." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Then what’s your type?" another asked out of pure curiosity.

The curiosity stemmed from Haji being able to get away after poking Scarlet’s nerves even before the mission, and even after. They ended up working together, so the interest somehow grew.

Haji paused and looked around at the guys staring in his direction. Even those at other tables were looking at him, waiting for his answer.

"Let’s see." He rubbed his chin, realizing he hadn’t ever thought about it before.

What he hadn’t known was that even while everyone else was busy, the attention around him was enough to catch Himari and Scarlet’s notice. Actually, Scarlet didn’t show interest until Himari suddenly grabbed her arm while the old woman eavesdropped.

"I like someone who is... cute," Haji shrugged as he looked at the others. "Someone gentle, soft-spoken, and very kind. I guess someone who’s also pretty when she cries. Yeah, something like that."

"Cute, gentle, soft-spoken, and kind? Someone pretty when she cries?" the others repeated quietly, looking up as they imagined what Haji described. After a moment, they all looked at him with mild disappointment.

"What kind of fetish is that?" they asked, disgust clear on their faces.

"What?" Haji furrowed his brows, catching their conflicted looks. "Is that too much to ask?"

"Man, before you look for someone cute, gentle, soft-spoken, and kind who’s very pretty when she cries... look at yourself first," one mocked. "Before you find someone like that, you’d scare them off."

"Or are you saying you want someone who cries instantly when she sees you?" another asked for confirmation.

"Shut up!" Haji hissed, waving them all off. "Why are you all suddenly so interested in me—what the hell?!"

Meanwhile, Himari shook her head as she looked at Scarlet.

"I am sorry about him," Himari said gently. "My Haha may have the body of an adult, but he can be quite childish. Do not take his words to heart. He’s lying."

Scarlet chuckled. "You don’t have to apologize because... I’m not interested in their conversation."

"And yet, you were listening," Himari teased, chuckling as Scarlet looked at her in disbelief.

If it were someone else, Scarlet would’ve slammed the bottom of her fist down and chopped the back of their neck to knock them out. However, Scarlet had rules she set for herself. Beating a senior citizen was too low, even for someone like her.

"Your name is Scarlet, isn’t it, young lady?" Himari tilted her head, facing Scarlet squarely. "I am not one to poke my nose into young people’s business, but... if I may, just once—please be patient with him. He is reckless and acts like a child. He complains a lot, and he is very loud, too."

Her expression softened as her smile widened. "But he is a very kind person. It’s just that he never knew how to show it properly, and that is our fault."

"We raised him in a harsh environment, and we failed to let him enjoy being a child. We hurt him more than anyone," she added. "I am saying this to you as his friend."

"..." Scarlet pressed her lips into a thin line and glanced toward Haji. He looked utterly irritated while everyone around him laughed and teased him.

A shallow breath escaped her as she refocused on Himari. "Don’t worry about him," she said. "It seems... it seems he’s getting along with everyone just fine."

"And that’s why I’m glad." Himari slowly looked away, watching her grandson bark at everyone else. "Seeing him surrounded by friends... I’m truly grateful."

Scarlet stayed quiet for a moment, staring at Himari’s side profile. "Himari," she called. "Aren’t you going with us once we leave Ravah?"

The question made Himari raise her brows and look back at her.

"When do duties end?" Himari asked. "Ravah is the only place I know, and the duties I’ve lived to fulfill are the only things I know. What can an old woman like me do outside this territory, aside from burdening my grandson as he finds his own path?"

She chuckled, but Scarlet briefly frowned.

"But he will..." Scarlet trailed off, only for Himari to hold her hand.

"He will be upset, maybe," she said. "But I know he will not be sad with his friends around him."

Scarlet opened her mouth, but in the end, she kept her thoughts to herself and simply nodded. Even so, Himari’s words resonated with her.

When do duties end?

Strangely enough, it reminded her of Lola’s words back in the car. Two different people saying two different things, yet somehow delivering the same message.

Duties could also be someone’s prison.

Some managed to crawl their way out, like Lola. But others... were trapped in it forever, like Himari.