Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Nearly two hours he spent standing on the balcony of the second floor of the Umberbridge residence, enjoying the view of the backyard of the house surrounded by a vast garden of mazes after he investigated the attack. He tapped the rest of his cigarette on the ashtray which he placed to his right on the back of the balcony.

'Do you like the view?'

Raymond was surprised, immediately turned to face Thyme walked with their hands behind their back, approached him with a straight gaze looking at the labyrinth garden, making him look like a middle-aged man enjoying his retirement age.

'In the past, when my mother was still alive, she always took me to this place every night. My father said when I was still in the womb, my mother asked him to make a maze for her. She said so that my father and I would not be sad when she died.'

'What cause did your mother die?' asked Raymond, carefully. Thyme shrugged their shoulders.

'I don't know. Dad didn't tell me much. All I know, my mom died when I was 6 years old. So my memory about her is now a bit vague.'

'Oh,' Raymond muttered softly, smoking his cigarette again. 'At least you still have your father.'

'You?'

'Me?' Raymond pointed to himself, then waved his free hand up into the air. 'It doesn't need to be discussed. Why are you here?'

'Calm my mind,' Thyme replied, relaxed.

'Then we are on the same page,' Raymond turned around, facing them. 'While you are here, I have a few things to discuss with you.'

'About what?'

'The assault,' Raymond stubbed out his little cigarette in his cigarette ashtray, then leaned his elbows against the back of the balcony. 'Maybe we should just postpone tonight's attack plans.'

'Is there any problem?'

Raymond nodded. Then his right hand grabbed the smartphone that was in the pocket of his military jacket, opened the smartphone screen and showed the results of the investigation he had carried out earlier while he was smoking. 'There was something wrong with the infiltration incident earlier.'

'I feel the same way. How strange, considering that the security in this place has been tight. But earlier that woman named Hazel said the same thing,' Thyme took Raymond's smartphone, had a quick look, and then returned it to him. 'I don't like to say it, but I have to admit, I also feel like there's a traitor in my place. Those people can't enter freely into this house without the knowledge of my subordinates, so it's clear that there are people who are very familiar with the structure of this house helping them.'

Raymond gripped the smartphone. 'There are some people I suspect.'

'I'll leave it to you. Interrogation is not my speciality,' Thyme shrugged, then smiled back at him. 'By the way, I have a surprise for you.'

'Surprise again?' Raymond raised an eyebrow. 'What is it, this time?'

'You'll find it out later. It called surprise because we can't tell until the person has seen it by themselves.'

'Okay, I understand. Where's my surprise then?'

'In the living room. Well, I'll call Verdict about the delay this time. See you later.'

They walked away from him, again with the attitude of a middle-aged old man. He sighed softly, leaving the place into the living room, just as Thyme had told him earlier. He could not understand Thyme's thought. Curiosity enveloped him. Question after question began to appear and filled his head as he walked down the corridor. As soon as he arrived in front of the living room, his feet stopped walking. He chuckled, shaking his head lightly, realizing how annoying Thyme's interference was.

The surprise that Thyme meant seemed to be looking closely at the piano in the living room, paying attention to every detail of the object as if it was the first time seeing it.

'Edward? Why are you here?'

The man gasped in surprise, immediately turning his body towards him. Then before he could speak again, the man immediately ran over to him, hugged him so tightly that he almost fell over it. Not uttering a word at all, burying his face into Raymond's shoulder. He laughed softly, letting the man hug him until he was satisfied. Being able to enjoy Edward's calming scent was more than enough for him. In fact, to be honest, he needed Edward by his side. He did not know since when he became dependant on this man.

'I miss you.'

He could hear Edward's heart-pounding, along with his own. He could not believe what he had just heard from Edward earlier. His eyes flickered, and he immediately pushed Edward's body away from him.

'What did you just say?'

Edward smiled, then landed a quick kiss on Raymond's lips. 'You heard it right. I told you before. The person I like isn't Hazel. You, Raymond Cooper.'

Raymond froze, increasingly unable to believe what Edward had just told him. The man smiled at him again, then hugged his body tightly and rubbed his head.

'I'll say to you as many times until you are sure what you heard earlier was not a dream. So what is your answer?'

Raymond pulled Edward a little away from him, then returned Edward's kiss. 'Is this enough?'

The man was momentarily stunned after getting a return kiss from him, buried his face in Raymond's neck, muttered softly, then let go of his embrace and took a hard look at Raymond. 'I'm not letting you go, Raymond. I promise.'

'Yes,' he said, then looked around. 'Then, why are you here?'

'I nearly forgot. Do you know where Hazel is? Earlier she said she wanted to come here.'

'Hazel?' he repeated. There was a slight feeling of disappointment when the man said Hazel's name. 'She's sleeping, tired. What's the matter?'

'I'll tell you the details later. Then where is the blonde-haired kid who asked me to wait here?'

'You mean me? Over here.'

Raymond turned his body to find Thyme walking into the living room, looking calmly, approaching them even though he saw a slight trace of anxiety on their face. Behind Thyme, he saw the figure of a man who was about forty years old. From his stature, he suspected that the man used to serve as a military doctor. His upright and steady stance, the look in his sharp and confident eyes, and the aura that the man created said it all.

'I called dr Severus just in case. Is Hazel still in the room?'

Raymond nodded. 'She's still sleeping in her room.'

Edward tapped him on the shoulder, looking very worried. 'Did something happen to Hazel?'

'Why? Are you worried?' Raymond replied, sarcastically. He did not know why he felt a little irritated when he was worried about Hazel.

'I ...' Edward paused, then finally gave up. 'Please don't get me wrong. I'm here at my uncle's request.'

'Do I look like misunderstanding something?' he said again. He hated himself for not being able to control his emotions.

'Can we go to Hazel's room soon?' Thyme looked impatient because their conversation had delayed Thyme from taking the doctor to Hazel's room.

'Sorry. Over here, 'Raymond said, walking ahead of Edward, leading the doctor to his room. Thyme and Edward followed behind.

***