30
Brandon chuckled at her childish rant.
"It's a dream. No bad guys will chase you here." Brandon patted her head lightly.
"See that man over there, he will chase the bad guys and punish them for you." Brandon pointed Augustus who was sitting on the sofa silently.
"Is that so? Just like daddy?" She asked. She didn't know where she got this thought but she felt that she had a father whom doted on her so much.
"En. Just like your Daddy. He will protect you." Brandon coaxed her.
"Yay! That's great. But, where's Daddy?" She suddenly asked.
Brandon stumped. Not knowing what to do. Lucia started to cry on the side and Augustus clenched his fist.
"Well, your Daddy is busy fighting the bad guys so he's not here. He became your guardian angel instead." Brandon said.
"Daddy became an angel?" She asked innocently.
Seeing her like this, her intelligence now is in between 8 to 10 years old.
Brandon could not go on with this topic as it touches a deep wound in her.
He diverted the conversation remembering the occasion.
"Merry Christmas Louise." Brandon greeted her and gave a small and exquisite box.
It is Christmas eve.
"Is it Christmas?" She asked again. "Thank you. But I didn't prepare my gifts for you." She said sadly.
"You can give me your gift anytime. Gusti, prepared something for you too and even that Pretty Sister over there." Brandon said as he glanced at the man subtly.
The man walked towards her and forced a smile.
"Don't smile like that Handsome Brother, it's scary." Louise buried her neck like an ostrich.
With that being said, Augustus retained his poker face. He slightly bent down and grabbed her hands.
"I already gave my present to you." He said with a low voice.
"Where?" She asked back.
Augustus grabbed her left hand and lifted it on her eye-level.
"This is ring is pretty so, I will give it to you..." He said lightly.
Brandon recognized it in a glance. It was such an important item to his family yet he easily gave it to her. This made him stunned.
"Wahh! It's so pretty. I like it Handsome Brother..." She smiled sweetly while caressing the bloodstone ring on her middle finger.
"Just call me Gusti if you like..." He said.
"No. Your handsome and a friend so, I will call you Handsome Brother." Louise insisted.
Augustus didn't pursue it. Anyway, it was fine as long as she's happy.
"Okay. If that's what you want, Pretty Baby." He said with a hint of tease.
Louise blushed. Nobody called her like that.
"Pretty Sister, do you have my gift too?" She asked and looked at Lucia.
"Yes. I will get it. You will see it tomorrow. " Lucia's voice became hoarse as she cried silently on the side.
" Yay! So many presents!" Louise looked happy.
***
It was past two when Louise slept. She was so happy that she was still smiling in her sleep.
Augustus walked towards the study followed by Brandon and Lucia.
When they arrived at the room, Augustus picked up a bottle of an aged wine.
He got a glass from the cabinet and poured a little wine in it.
The two were silent. The heavy atmosphere inside the study room permitted until Brandon spoke.
"During my observation, her intelligence returned to an 8-year old child."
This made Lucia cry again. Her Miss suffered so much.
"I suggest that we bring her to the hospital for a thorough exam and also for her rehab." Brandon suggested even though he knew that Augustus had started planning given his personality.
Aside from that, Louise is the chosen owner of the bloodstone ring.
Augustus drank the wine in one go and placed the glass heavily on the table.
He looked at Brandon then at Lucia.
"I will see to it tomorrow. Don't worry." He said after a long time.
Lucia nodded as she wiped her tears away. Brandon wanted to drink but thinking about his plans tomorrow, he decided against it.
"The ring chose her?" Brandon asked.