Everyone Else Has a System

"I… I… I don't know," Irene expressed her true feelings as she continued,"I do want your help at any cost but… when I realise that my whole family might be under your control… How do you expect me to be fine with it?"

Well… I never asked her to be calm about it. In fact, it would make me more uncomfortable knowing that she is calm despite her family being in my control in exchange for what she wants to know.

"Well… there is something I need your family and you to help me out with later," I looked at her before looking at Linda, who was keenly hearing everything I was saying. I don't really mind her prying. In fact, I kind of expected this to happen sooner or later. People will always be curious about mysterious things and secretive individuals… It fascinates them and deep down everyone is curious, no matter how uncaring he or she is.

"It is not just you… and I don't know how much my words are worth to you, but… I am not planning anything terrible. It is just my own selfishness but I promise you it is not bad… that is all I have to say," I speak as I turn to Irene again and she stares into my eyes with a tense expression before nodding.

"Okay… if it doesn't harm my family… I think I can be satisfied with that. Even though I can never be comfortable knowing my family is under someone else's control, if my family members themselves are giving you the control over their lives, just like I am, I guess there is very little I can do about it," Irene speaks as her expression relaxes and then giving me a slightly sad but relaxed smile.

I could see her face refreshen and I smiled at her before giving Linda a slight glare at which she chuckled before all three of us moved to Irene's car.

…

About an hour later, we finally reached the castle before moving towards the main gate. However, before we could even get out of the car, we saw another person going outside the castle.

'Not just one… but there are two of them,' I thought as I observed the couple coming towards us.

Irene was the first one to get out and greet them with a smile while Linda slowly followed behind Irene. I was the last one to get out.

Looking at me, one of the black-haired men with azure coloured eyes smiled at me with a bright smile. He was wearing a sleek black formal suit, as if going to attend a party with his partner.

"How are you Zero? I see that you have bonded with Irene. I am really happy to see that, you know?" spoke Rheo as he looked at me with a bright smile and I smiled back before looking at the beautiful lady standing beside him.

"Freya Leeway, daughter of Elric Leeway and fiancee of Rheo Delacruz," she said as she bowed to me with a kind and warm smile.

Blackish brown hair that reached upto her knees and tied elegantly making her look like a queen or perhaps a princess, along with that graceful green long one piece, that enhanced her already charming presence, she stood there beside Rheo with a smile placed on her small lips.

She is the elder sister of Irene, and also the fiancee of Rheo, as she just said. The second child of Elric, younger sister of Elaric she was the most powerful person in the entire family after Reeve, within her generation.

'Though there is more to her than meets the eyes… it was not the time to meet her,' I thought as I looked into her deep red eyes that made my defence go up by two notches. While it was true that she was smiling brightly, I could sense a certain danger emanating from her, which made my instincts scream danger and I just thought that I should deal with her more carefully than the other members of the Leeway family.

"I am fine. Miss Freya, nice to meet you. I am Zero, as you would have already known. Are you both leaving the castle?" I spoke with a humble yet formal tone, making Linda and Irene gawk at me blankly. Though Freya just chuckled a little before moving from there along with Rheo.

Rheo looked like he wanted to speak something but in the end he decided not to say anything and just bowed as he bid farewell to us and followed Freya with slight hurried steps.

We just stood there until the car taking Freya and Rheo left from there and finally I took a deep breath before looking at Irene as I said,"she is the most dangerous in this family, isn't she?"

Irene, who looked confused before, changed her expression immediately with a smile as she spoke,"you can tell?"

I nodded, making Linda confused about it. Though I decided not to speak anything more about it as I just began walking inside the castle. Irene followed me and Linda, who looked like she wanted to ask what was happening, also moved behind us but did not speak anything.

Inside the castle, I asked Irene to take me somewhere where no one would hear us and she said that her room would be perfect for it, as no one else would be there. I nodded at her before following her.

We saw Elaric, who narrowed his gaze at me but did not speak anything. Then later, I also saw Bernette sitting near the veranda, who seemed to be thinking about something on her own. I kinda wanted to know what she was thinking but then I let that thought go as I saw Britney, her mother, approaching her from behind with a small smile as she hugged Bernette from behind, making her smile as well.

I could sense Mark Leeway somewhere around but couldn't exactly pinpoint where.

A few minutes later, we reached Irene's room and once the door was closed, Irene sat on her bed as she finally sighed before speaking.

"So… tell me everything."