Across the table, Amos blinked once, twice and then paused.
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
Ambrosia froze.
“No?” she repeated.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said.
His voice had changed. Still calm, but softer, less defined.
“Then why...” she whispered.
Amos leaned back slightly.
His expression was simple. Like he didn’t know how to answer.
Behind him.
“Please elaborate, Young Master,” Elena said helpfully.
“Don’t pressure me,” he muttered.
“Elaborate.”
“I will.”
Ambrosia blinked. She is talking normally to him, even pressuring her own Master. That wasn’t what she expected.
Amos exhaled softly.
Then, after a pause,
“You looked uncomfortable, simple.” he said.
No hidden meaning, no complex reasoning, just that.
Ambrosia’s eyes widened slightly.
“Uncomfortable?”
“With the knife,” he added, glancing briefly at it before looking away again. “So, I moved it away.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
Silence.
Ambrosia stared at him.
That’s all?
He had already gone back to eating. Like the conversation was over. Like it wasn’t something worth thinking about. Her chest felt strange.
“I see,” she said softly.
Her hands relaxed. Just a little. She picked up her fork again.
He’s strange.
That was her conclusion, neither kind nor cruel, not yet. Just plain strange.
Her gaze lifted once more, briefly. Amos E. Kyros. Her brother who looked like a villain. Spoken like a villain. Felt like a villain.
“Thank you,” she murmured again, almost too quiet to hear.
Amos stiffened slightly.
“It’s nothing,” he replied.
This time, Ambrosia didn’t feel as stifled sitting across from him. Somewhere deep in her guarded heart, a tiny thought surfaced. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t so bad after all.
(Amos Pov)
Amos E. Kyros was calm.
Outwardly at least.
Inwardly?
A completely different story.
I did it.
He kept his expression neutral, eyes focused on his plate, movements measured and elegant—perfect noble etiquette.
But inside—
I ACTUALLY DID IT.
A silent explosion of victory echoed in his mind. Did you see that?! Of course you saw that. You were there. I moved the knife. She thanked me. THANKED ME.“Yes.”
“She did.”
“Stop responding to the things I say in my heart.”
“You think it too loudly.”
“I didn't even make a sound.”
“Then maybe you should stop keeping things to yourself, Young Master.”
“Maybe you should stop reading my mind, my Dear Maid.”
“Refused.”
Amos took a sip of water. Even such simple action, I done it gracefully. Refined like a polished porcelain. Absolutely not the posture of someone internally doing victory laps.
Step one: kindness. Executed. Step two: reduce fear. Executed. Step three: celebration. I should steal a bottle from my father's secret stash.
He paused mid-thought.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“Where is my father?.”
“Away to his usual business, he probably won't be back for another month or so.”
“Already? so, he basically thrown away his problem of adopted daughter to me...”
“The duke truly loves and trust his one and only child.”
“More like running away from responsibility.”
“The apple doesn't fall far from its tree, the saying goes.”
“You are fired for disrespecting the lord.”
“Refused.”
Amos resisted the urge to click his tongue. Barely.
Still—
He could feel it. The atmosphere had been lighter. Before, the air between them had been tense. Tight. Like a stretched string ready to snap.
Now?
It was… looser. Softer. Not friendly. Not warm.
But not hostile. That counts. He glanced up briefly. Ambrosia was eating. Carefully. Quietly. Kinda cute, like a hamster I used to have before. Such a small bites.
But—
His lips almost curved upward.
He immediately suppressed it.
No smiling. Smiling equals villain smirk. We learned this.
“…Elena.”
“Yes.”
“She is very cute, don't you think so too.”
“Scum.”
“For what reason?!”
“... Even though you already have...”
“What did you just said.”
“Scum.”
Amos inhaled slowly. Focus. Stay composed. This was just the beginning.
At this rate…
His eyes sharpened slightly. I can save myself. I can absolutely fix this. He placed his utensils down gently. Then—
“Ambrosia.”
The girl across from him stiffened slightly but didn’t shrink like before. Nice. Very nice.
“…Yes, Lord Brother?”
We’ll fix that title later. Amos nodded once, calm and dignified.
“…If you encounter any difficulties in this house,” he began. Ah, yes. Classic reliable older brother line.
“…you may come to me.”
Ambrosia lowered her gaze slightly.
“...Yes.”
Good response.
“…Also,” Amos continued, riding his momentum, “if you are bored, you may—”
“You should think before completing that sentence,” Elena whispered. Amos pressed on anyway.
“…You may visit my room.”
There. Friendly and approachable big brother.
Ambrosia froze. Just for a second.
Then—
“…Yes, Lord Brother.”
Same tone. Same polite response. Same distance.
Amos blinked.
…Eh?
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“I was too hasty, wasn't I?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you stop me.”
“I did.”
“TRY HARDER!”
Amos felt something crack internally.
No. No, that’s not right.
He glanced at Ambrosia again.
She was still eating. Still very cute.
…Wait.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
This…
This wasn’t progress.
This was stalemate.
“…Elena.”
“Yes.”
“This is all your fault. My death is on your hands.”
“Sure.”
“I am gonna haunt you until the end of your life.”
“Sure.”
“Be a little afraid.”
“I am.”
“This is a scam.”
“It is the consequence of your impulsiveness.”
Amos stared at his plate. No, I had it. I definitely had it. She even said thank you twice!
“…Elena.”
“Yes.”
“Recovery plan.”
“Good luck.”
“I was asking for ideas”
“Moving objects silently.”
“Stop joking around.”
“I was not.”
“I refuse to accept that.”
Across the table—
Ambrosia carefully took another bite.
Her posture was still proper. very still, very distant.
But—
Her grip on her skirt hadn’t tightened again. She wasn’t trembling. Not anymore.
Amos didn’t notice.
Instead—
He straightened slightly.
Alright.
So direct conversation is high risk.
Understood.
Then I will have too adapted, adjust strategy, I needed time to prepare, time is still on my side.
His eyes gleamed faintly.
Gradual trust-building.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“New plan.”
“How neat.”
“Shush.”
“Refused’” Amos ignored her. Completely.
Because in his mind—
Everything was under control. Absolutely under control.
This is fine. I’m fine. She’s fine. Elena's fine.
Nothing is going wrong.
And somewhere across the table, Ambrosia quietly ate her meal misread the situation.