Vanessa's eyes did not move away from the boy. After a moment of silence, she turned to Lily.
"I would like to take him."
Lily blinked, slightly surprised at how quickly the choice was made. Before she could respond, Amaya stepped forward, pulling out the neatly prepared documents she had carried.
"These are the papers for adoption," Amaya said, handing them over.
Lily accepted the documents and quietly began the process. She had done this before, though not often. Adoptions were rare in this small city. The children under her care were treated well, not only within the orphanage walls but by the townspeople outside as well. For most of the children, this place was their family. They rarely worried about being chosen.
When the paperwork was complete, Lily looked at the boy who still stood before Vanessa.
"Little one," Lily said gently, "go pick up your things from your room. You'll be leaving with them."
Es gave a small nod before walking back inside. His steps were quiet, steady.
Not long after, he returned, holding a simple bag with a few clothes and books. Around his neck hung a small necklace, its chain worn but carefully preserved.
The group walked outside. The other children had already gone back to play, their laughter echoing faintly, but Es paused midway to the car. He turned back to Lily, his eyes lowering slightly.
"Thank you, Aunt Lily. I will miss you."
He stepped forward and hugged her tightly. Tears slipped down Lily's cheeks as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Me too, little one. Me too."
After a long moment, Es released her and climbed into the car's passenger seat.
Amaya shook Lily's hand once more.
"Thank you, Miss Windshell."
Lily wiped her tears with the back of her hand and smiled faintly.
"Please take care of him."
This time, Vanessa spoke, her tone steady and certain.
"I will."
She slid into the seat beside Es, and Amaya settled into the driver's seat. The car started, its hum carrying them away from the orphanage.
Inside the car, Vanessa turned slightly toward the boy.
"Es," she said calmly, "from today onward, your name will be Es Gray."
Es met her gaze briefly before nodding.
"Yes."
The journey lasted two to three hours. The countryside slowly gave way to modern roads and taller structures until the skyline of the capital loomed ahead. Vane, the capital city of Ark El nation, was vast and alive. Ash City had been a quiet corner of the country, but here skyscrapers rose like silent giants, their glass surfaces glittering under the setting sun.
The car stopped in front of one such towering building. The three of them stepped out, their reflections stretching along the polished walls of the structure.
Vanessa reached for Es's hand and led him inside. They entered the lift, ascending swiftly until the doors opened on the thirteenth floor. The corridor was quiet, and at its end stood a single door.
Vanessa walked forward, entered a passcode, and the lock clicked open. The door swung inward, and the three stepped inside. The door closed behind them with a soft thud.
The apartment was spacious, its design simple yet elegant. Vanessa pointed toward a hallway.
"That is the bathroom," she said evenly. "Go and take a bath. After that, come to the dining hall."
She gestured toward the dining table that stood neatly prepared in the center of the room.
Es nodded silently, clutching his bag as he walked toward the bathroom.
The sound of running water echoed softly through the bathroom, mixing with the faint hum of the city outside. Steam curled around the edges of the mirror as Es finished washing himself. His hands trembled slightly as he dried off and changed back into the clothes he had brought from the orphanage. They smelled faintly of old soap and sun.
He stepped out and walked toward the dining hall.
The table was small, crafted from dark wood, just enough for two or three people. Yet it was covered with dishes unlike anything Es had seen at the orphanage—steaming bread, roasted meat glazed with spices, fresh fruit, and bowls of golden soup. The aroma filled the room so richly that his stomach betrayed him with a low growl. He flushed, pressing a hand against his belly, and sat down hesitantly.
Vanessa appeared from the kitchen, her black hair neatly tied back, carrying a bowl of soup. She set it down before him and looked at him calmly.
"I'm sure you're nervous," she said softly. "But there's no need for that. Feel free to start eating."
Her tone wasn't unkind, but it carried a certain weight—an expectation. She served food onto his plate herself before sitting across from him.
Es muttered a soft, "Thank you," and began eating. The food was warm, rich, and filling, and for a moment he forgot everything else. Vanessa ate quietly as well, her red eyes watching him in a way that made his skin prickle, though he didn't know why.
When they finished, she rose without a word, collected the plates, and carried them back into the kitchen. The faint clatter of dishes drifted from the sink.
Then she walked back into the living room and sat on the wide couch, legs crossed, her posture perfectly composed. Her voice broke the quiet:
"Come and sit."
Es hesitated, then obeyed, moving to sit beside her. He clutched his necklace unconsciously, eyes lowering to the floor.
Vanessa looked at him for a long moment before speaking, her tone soft but deliberate:
"Es," she began, "I adopted you not to raise you as my son…but as my husband."
His head snapped up, eyes widening in disbelief.
"I will take care of you for the rest of your life," she continued. "I will give you everything you desire—wealth, luxury, influence, even pleasures you cannot yet imagine. All I ask of you is to remain by my side."
Her red eyes held his, unblinking.
"Do you understand?"
Es's mind spun. The words felt heavy, strange, and terrifying. He had been brought here believing one thing, but now… this.
He wanted to speak, to ask why, but his voice caught in his throat. In this vast city, in this strange apartment, he had nowhere else to go. Slowly, nervously, he nodded his head.
Vanessa's lips curved into a faint smile—not cruel, not kind, but satisfied.
"Good," she whispered.
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