Mathias grew more serious when Evon mentioned him doing all of this for her again. She wouldn't let the topic go, it seemed. And with good reason. As things couldn't be as simple as what she had been told. That would be too simple. "Well, I wouldn't mind you staying, no. I'd even like it. But that's not what I meant. I can get you a card without you having to stay with me, if that is what you want."

He took a deep breath, hearing her trying to make light of the matter. But he figured that, by now, Evon deserved to know the truth. "I guess I should tell you the truth about why you are staying to me. Or at least what your parents' plan behind it was. You see, back then they were worried about me becoming lonely. Yet they also saw no solution. Once you were born, well...they tried to hide it, but I still noticed what they were up to. They tried to get us two together, Evon. they hoped that one day we would become a couple, so that you could live your life without having to worry about things like bills or feeling safe. That, and as I said, they hoped that if this happened, I wouldn't be as lonely anymore either.

He quickly continued, not wanting to be interrupted when she only knew half the story so far. "However back then I refused. Arranged marriages, even if done sneakily, are supposed to be a custom of the past. They kept on insisting time and time again. But then one day they came with a different idea. If something ever happened to them, that I would become your guardian if needed. I don't know why they chose such an arrangement. But I figured that with this idea, if that time did come, I could at least get to know you under normal circumstances. To be honest, I wasn't planning on telling you at all at first. I just wanted you to live the best life I could give you, to respect your parents. But I guess my thoughts on that have changed. Maybe the last few days have made me realize that at least you staying in the mansion with me, might not be such a far fetched idea after all."

Now Mathias hoped she wouldn't get angry with him for keeping this all a secret. He really did have the best intentions in mind. But sometimes it didn't go the way you wanted it to go, sadly.