The woman with Fire Opal eyes.
Cinderella knew about this woman. As a reader of Ewen’s, she often saw this character in Ewen’s books.
Ewen’s description of her was extrely limited. In Ewen’s writing, she had no na, no specific age, no clear appearance or attire, only those eyes like Fire Opals.
She was like a ghostly character, an unknowable mystery, an unsolvable problem, interspersed within the narrative, watching the characters’ departures and returns.
Cinderella rubbed her face hard, her ears almost perked up, carefully listening to every word Ewen was about to say, afraid of missing sothing.
"Let think..."
Ewen twisted his sowhat stiff neck. The damp rain was not kind to his aging body.
"That was actually a long ti after," Ewen said, "When I woke up on the beach, I couldn’t understand where I was, but it wasn’t the first ti I encountered such a situation. I survived in the dense forest, hunting wild rabbits each day, gathering so berries, maintaining life while searching for a place with people."
It was undoubtedly a terrible experience, but Ewen spoke with a smile, as if he rembered the days fondly.
"The process was a bit bumpy, but I still found the next city. Compared to small towns, I preferred big cities, as they often co with many opportunities and never reject anyone."
Ewen gently brushed his left arm, with a deadly Short Sword strapped beneath his sleeve.
"I encountered so gang mbers. I had seen many of these types in Free Port. I knew very well what they intended to do to ."
Ewen’s words exuded a sense of ruthlessness.
"Clearly, they underestimated . After experiencing so much, I wasn’t soone who could be frightened by intimidation like a child. I beat them up and took so cash from them as my compensation for ntal distress."
His tone turned cheerful again, "I temporarily found my footing in the city and then started figuring out ways to earn money... I’m quite glad I didn’t go down the dark path. I knew I had the chance to step into it, but I declined."
Ewen felt no need to elaborate on this part to Cinderella, as it was a story originating from his darker side.
Influenced by Red Nose, Ewen desired to beco a person like him, offering his kindness to others and healing the scars on everyone’s hearts as much as possible.
But this didn’t an Ewen was excessively kindhearted.
Ewen had seen the dark side of the world and knew to whom he should show kindness and to whom he should apply violence.
Cinderella nodded softly, not interrupting Ewen’s narration, and Ewen continued.
"I lived in that city for a while longer. To make money, I worked several jobs, trying out various occupations such as a waiter, doorman, repairman, assembly line worker. Oh, I even worked as a host for a period... the kind that required taking off clothes."
"Ah?"
Cinderella felt like her mind was blown. Before she could sort out her thoughts, Ewen continued, "That was indeed quite a delightful experience!"
ntioning this part, Ewen was unexpectedly excited, as if it was so kind of glorious history.
He showed Cinderella his brawny arm with a clenched fist.
"Back then, I was very short of money. I tried every job for money. I saw that place hiring for a high salary, so I went with a mindset to give it a try."
Ewen imitated what the manager at the ti said, "This is a high-class club, everything has to be the best, even the service staff need to have a beautiful appearance and a knowledgeable mind."
"I thought I was done for. I looked like a wild man weathered by the elents and hadn’t been to school, let alone had any knowledge. The manager asked to talk about my experiences, so I told him my story after leaving ho. After listening, he was jumping and yelling like a monkey."
Ewen recounted what was said back then, "Our guests are tired of history and philosophy. Your novel type is sure to be a hit!"
"Damn, I hadn’t even signed a contract, and he was already treating like his commodity."
Ewen shook his head helplessly, "No choice, they paid too much."
"So that’s where you t that woman!"
Cinderella had given up understanding Ewen’s peculiar adventures. She just wanted to know when that mysterious woman would appear.
Could it be that Ewen t that woman there, and the difference in status caused them to part ways?
"I didn’t work there for long, didn’t even entertain drinks much. Those guests were eager to order when they heard of my unique type, as if they were perennial wine tasters wanting sothing wild.
Every ti, I turned the hosting into a storytelling session. I sat in the middle narrating my past while a group of noblewon drank as they listened. They said I was good at storytelling."
Ewen seed to really reminisce about those tis, "I felt like I wasn’t a host but rather an adult telling bedti stories, trying to lull these lonely-spending kids to sleep.
Later, I started hosting story sessions. Not only was I telling stories, but guests also began sharing their own, telling each other about their inner troubles and emotional traumas, and then everyone used alcohol to comfort each other.
Cinderella’s expression gradually beca strange, and her gaze towards Ewen was the sa.
What was Ewen doing? Had he turned a pleasure-seeking clubhouse into a trauma support group? Were they going to set goals and conduct rehabilitation training next?
Ewen sighed, "It’s a pity such good days didn’t last long."
"What happened?"
"That day, I went to work as usual, and an old client suddenly ca to find . She was flustered, and the first thing she said was ’Ewen, I love you.’"
Ewen chuckled bitterly, "I was completely stunned, and she continued to say, ’Take away,’ ’Take to the wilderness.’"
"I considered this to be the ramblings of a client who had drunk too much. It was a common occurrence, but then I saw that her suitcase was filled with money; she was actually considering eloping with ... But to , it was just a job."
Ewen said, "I was very clear about this. I was there to make money, not to seek so kind of forbidden love. My job was to entertain guests and be their amusent.
Outside of work, I absolutely wouldn’t get entangled with them. My colleagues would often keep them company to the point of going to their hos, but I always left work on ti.
They said I was a cold person, and I liked that description because it kept my personal ti peaceful. Yet, they seed to have an issue and said they liked my attitude the most, relentlessly pursuing ."
Ewen’s laughter faded away, "Her husband ca looking for . He was a local tycoon, and unsurprisingly, those people trashed my ho, beat up, and left for dead in the wilderness outside the city."
"Really unfortunate," Ewen sighed, "I just wanted to make so money."
Even though Ewen briefly glossed over this part, Cinderella could feel the sadness in his words. For Ewen at the ti, it must have been quite a blow; his life, which was finally seeing a bit of progress, returned to the starting point.
"I told myself, this wasn’t the first ti I was starting over, nor the first ti I was starting from the wilderness.
Unfortunately, it was already winter then.
I found an abandoned train station and spent a night there. I was cold, hungry, and covered in injuries. I thought I was really going to die there."
Ewen’s tone shifted, and his eyes brightened.
"Then a train broke through the wind and snow, stopping at the abandoned platform... I didn’t have a ticket, nor did I know where the train was headed, but I vaguely felt it was there for ."
Cinderella said, "You boarded that train."
"On that train, I t the woman with Fire Opal eyes."
Ewen smiled genuinely, "She found a warm blanket, brought food, and tended to my injuries..."
"I spent sixteen hours with her, and then I never saw her again."
This ti, Ewen fell silent for a long ti, watching Cinderella beside him. As mories beca clearer, Ewen realized where the familiar feeling about Cinderella ca from.
"You’re very much like her, but you’re not her."
A faint smile appeared on Cinderella’s calm face. She clasped her hands behind her back, seemingly teasing Ewen.
"Did you fall in love with her?"
Ewen remained silent, offering no answer.
Cinderella knew Ewen was imrsed in the lingering emotions of the past. She wanted to say sothing more, but Ewen interrupted her.
"Your turn now, your secret."
Faced with Ewen’s questioning, Cinderella hesitated for a mont, but then gathered her courage, preparing to confide her past to Ewen.
A deafening explosion sounded from within the ship, shattering glass along the way, causing the Paradise to shake violently as the strong wind whipped against them both.
Cinderella only felt soone suddenly lift her into the air, and the world spun before her eyes before the cold, wet deck appeared in her vision, the distance between them narrowing.
Then stop.
"Hold on!"
A shout ca from above; Ewen had half his body stretching out into the air, reaching out forcefully, catching the falling Cinderella.
Burgundy eyes gazed at Ewen, and in the next mont, raging flas were reflected in her eyes, engulfing the world.
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