"Exactly. That's why Sophia is so dangerous," Odalys said, her voice steady, but the weight of their predicament evident.

Chapter 187

Sometimes, no material possessions are needed between people; a simple talisman is enough. This is the terrifying power of black magic. A careless person will inevitably fall victim to it.

"She keeps opposing you at every turn, making things difficult," Percival said, his voice low and serious.

Odalys laughed softly, amused. Reaching out, she cupped his handsome face in her hands and looked into his eyes. "What's this? Are you worried she's going to bully me?"

"I've already taught her a lesson. She's covered in bruises and hasn't dared make a sound since. Plus, with that giant snake crushing her, she's been internally injured. By the time she's done with the variety show and goes back, she'll probably end up in the hospital. So, no matter how much she bothers me, what's the worst that can happen?" Odalys said with a carefree smile.

Percival's face, still held in her hands, flushed slightly. His deep eyes flickered, avoiding her gaze as he turned his head away, his large hand instinctively clenching into a fist.

"As long as you're sure. But if you really can't take it anymore, tell me. I'll have someone take care of her, and you won't have to endure her anymore," Percival said, his voice low but his concern clear.

Odalys, not reading too deeply into it, found Percival amusing. She held his face a moment longer, enjoying the moment. Unbeknownst to her, his heart was racing wildly under her touch.

"Alright. I got it," she said, pulling her hands away.

She glanced down at their intertwined shadows on the ground, then playfully stepped on his. Percival, noticing her move, instinctively shifted, allowing her to step on his shadow with each step. He watched, amused, as she seemed to take great delight in this, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"By the way, how's your grandfather doing? Is he alright?" Odalys asked, her thoughts shifting to Evander. She remembered the huge box of jewelry he had given her, which had touched her heart. Money didn't move her, but gold held a special place.

"He's doing well. Ever since you treated his leg, he can't sit still. When no one's around, he gets up and tries walking, but it's like he's holding back, wanting to show off but can't quite bring himself to," Percival chuckled softly. He found Evander's behavior almost childish.

"Let him hold off a bit longer. After a few days, when I get back, I'll publicly announce that I treated his leg, and we'll say he's fully recovered," Odalys said with a faint smile.

They continued chatting for a while, then Percival moved ahead. A car had pulled over to the side of the road. He opened the door and stepped out, holding a food container.

"I noticed you liked these when you were at the house, so I brought some over," he said, his voice low and soft.

Odalys opened the container and found it packed with chocolates on top, her favorite meats in the middle, and pastries on the bottom. "Thank you!" Odalys's eyes lit up. She had been craving them.

"I'll take the stuff back and dump it out. You can take the container later, but don't let anyone see it tomorrow. It could cause trouble," Odalys said, quickly jogging back.

Percival watched her run off, feeling a lightness in his heart. Once Odalys had removed the contents, she returned the container, whispering, "Thanks again."

"It's getting late. Are you going to rest?" Percival glanced at his watch and asked quietly.

Odalys took a small step back, waving her hand. "I'm heading to bed now. You drive safely. Take it slow on the road."

"I'll watch you get home," Percival replied, his voice warm, still standing where he was.

6:44 PM

Chapter 187

Odalys said nothing further. She turned and walked toward the door. As she entered the room, she saw Percival still standing there, watching her. When their eyes met, he waved. Just as she closed the door, Percival turned and got into his car, holding the food container.

Orson had been silently observing. When Percival got into the car, a mischievous smile crept across his face. "I knew you were bringing chocolates," he said in a low voice. During the drive, while Percival was handling business, he had bought a large quantity of chocolates, which completely shocked Orson.

"That day when we were heading home, she saw some chocolates she liked. Grandfather had someone pick them for her to take back, but she left in such a hurry for the show that she forgot them. So, I brought them to her," Percival said calmly.

Orson was stunned. This was such a small thing—normally, Percival wouldn't have bothered. But now, he was making the effort for Odalys.

"You can't even cover it up?" Orson teased, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "You could've just said it was a coincidence. No need to explain so much."

"Why cover it up? I'm telling the truth. She liked them, and they were something she wanted," Percival replied, his voice quiet but firm.

Orson fell silent, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. You're right. So, should we head back now?" Orson asked, still a little disoriented.

But Percival didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced around the village thoughtfully before getting into the driver's seat and driving off. His car disappeared into the night, as if it had never been there.

That night, everyone slept soundly, unaware of what had passed.

The next morning, Selah and Freya nearly screamed when they opened the food container, startling Stellan, who immediately rushed out in his pajamas, a broom in hand. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice groggy.

"Nothing, nothing!" Freya quickly stepped forward, gently pushing the broom away. "We're just a little surprised, but nothing happened. You can put the broom down now."

Stellan looked down at his hand, still holding the broom awkwardly. He quickly set it aside and stepped closer, eyes on the food.

"Smells good, huh? Definitely Odalys's doing," Selah said, eyeing the meat and pastries hungrily.

"Let's go wash up first," Freya said, pulling her away before she could steal a bite.

Stellan stared at the food thoughtfully, a hint of curiosity in his expression.

Later, as Odalys entered the room, Stellan looked up and greeted her, "Good morning, Odalys!"

Odalys gave him a knowing look, stepping forward with the food and saying casually, "The neighbors sent it over. They must've noticed how hard we've been running around the woods."

"Are we going outside again today?" Stellan asked.

Odalys set the food down and replied, "We'll see. If it doesn't rain, we might still have some tasks to complete."

"Alright," Stellan said, nodding. As he went to wash up, he noticed Francis was already awake, something quite rare. It seemed like he had been waiting for the right moment.

Calro Check-in (This seems like a separate note and should likely be handled separately)