Chapter 4 — A Place That Isn’t Temporary

After the meal came to an unhurried end, the atmosphere lingered in that same light, easy warmth it had settled into. Aia leaned back against the sofa with a quiet, satisfied sigh, her body finally relaxing in a way it hadn’t all day. “Okay… I can function again,” she said, her voice carrying a soft relief that wasn’t exaggerated, just honest.

Ash stretched out casually, glancing at her. “Barely.”

She turned her head toward him, unimpressed. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he replied without concern.

Their bickering resumed naturally, slipping back into its usual rhythm as the staff moved quietly around them, clearing the table with practiced efficiency. Archer, as always, finished his meal in composed silence, every movement precise and controlled before he rose and moved toward the living area without drawing attention to himself.

They settled soon after. Aia curled into one side of the sofa as though it had always been hers, her posture loose and unguarded, while Ash dropped into a seat across from her, just as at ease. Archer remained slightly apart, his posture straight, his presence quieter, but no less aware of everything around him.

Uncle Han entered with a file in hand, his steps measured. “Miss Aia,” he said respectfully, “your admission status has been confirmed.”

Aia straightened slightly, her attention sharpening. “Already?”

“Yes. Master’s in Business Administration.”

Ash blinked, caught off guard. “MBA?”

Aia nodded. “Yeah.”

Uncle Han then turned toward Archer. “Young Master Archer has also been enrolled in the same program.”

For a moment, the room stilled.

Aia paused, processing it. “…Same course?”

Archer gave a calm, simple nod. “Yes.”

She leaned back slowly, letting the information settle without overreacting. “Okay…”

He didn’t respond further, his gaze steady, observing rather than engaging.

“There will be a time before classes begin,” Uncle Han continued. “Orientation and schedules will follow next month.”

“Right,” Aia said, nodding. After a brief pause, she added casually, “My friend already has a place off-campus. I was supposed to stay with her, but she’s out of town for a week.”

A quiet moment followed before Uncle Han spoke again, carefully. “If it is inconvenient, Miss Aia, you are welcome to stay here until then.”

Aia blinked. “Here?”

Ash shrugged lightly. “There’s enough space.”

Her gaze drifted across the mansion, slower this time, more aware. It didn’t feel unfamiliar anymore. Not entirely. Her eyes briefly settled on Archer. He hadn’t spoken, but he was listening, as he always was.

She tilted her head slightly. “…You don’t mind?”

There was a small pause.

“No issue,” Archer said.

The answer was simple, final, without hesitation.

Aia smiled faintly. “Okay then. I’ll stay here for a week.”

The decision settled without resistance, as if it had always been the easiest outcome. And yet, something quiet shifted beneath it. This wasn’t just convenience anymore. It meant proximity. Time. Presence. Neither of them acknowledged it aloud.

Ash’s phone buzzed, breaking the stillness. He glanced at the screen and exhaled. “Parents.”

Aia’s eyes lit up instantly.

Ash answered, “Hey, Mom.”

The screen flickered to life, filling immediately with warmth. “Ash!” the woman’s voice came, soft and bright. “You finally picked up.”

“I was busy,” he replied.

“Busy ignoring me?”

“Not intentionally.”

Then, almost casually, “Aia’s here.”

That was enough.

“Aia?” Her expression changed instantly, lighting up. “She’s there?”

Before Ash could say anything else, Aia leaned forward and took the phone from his hand. “Beauty!”

Her voice softened immediately, bright and affectionate. “How are you? I miss you so much…”

“I miss you more, baby,” Gia replied, her expression melting. “You never come to see me anymore.”

Aia pouted slightly. “That’s not true… I came last time.”

“Last time was months ago,” Gia said, narrowing her eyes playfully. “You come, stay for a day, and disappear again.”

Aia smiled sheepishly. “Work…”

“Hmm,” Gia hummed, unconvinced. “You’re overworking again, aren’t you?”

Aia didn’t answer, which answered everything.

“You don’t take care of yourself at all,” Gia said gently.

“I’m okay…” Aia replied, though her voice softened.

A man leaned into the frame, his presence calm and grounded. “She doesn’t listen,” he said. “Never has.”

Aia’s face brightened instantly. “Uncle!”

He gave a faint smile. “Still causing trouble?”

“Always.”

“Good.”

Ash groaned from the side. “Why am I even here?”

“Background character,” Aia replied immediately.

Gia leaned forward again. “Did you eat properly today?”

Aia hesitated for just a second.

Ash didn’t. “She hadn’t eaten all day.”

“Ash—!”

“Aia.”

That one word carried both softness and quiet authority.

Aia looked down slightly. “I was busy…”

“You always say that,” Gia replied gently. “And then you collapse.”

Aia didn’t argue this time. “…I’m fine now.”

“You don’t have to prove anything by exhausting yourself,” the man added, his tone calm but firm.

Aia blinked, then gave a small smile. “Okay…”

Ash crossed his arms. “You guys never talk to me like this.”

“Because you don’t need it,” Gia replied immediately.

“That’s favoritism.”

“Obviously.”

Aia laughed softly.

Then her tone shifted, light again. “Uncle… what are you bringing for me?”

“Anything my baby asks,” he said without hesitation.

Gia shook her head, though there was no real disapproval. “You spoil her too much.”

“I know.”

Aia leaned closer, her eyes bright. “I want something new.”

“What kind?”

“Knives. Or swords. Something rare this time.”

Ash choked. “You’re saying that like you’re asking for chocolate.”

Gia sighed softly. “She and her collections…”

“I’ll see what I can find,” the man said.

Aia smiled, satisfied. “You’re the best.”

“You already know that.”

Gia softened again. “Stay there properly for a week. Rest. Eat on time. Don’t disappear.”

Aia nodded obediently, rare for her. “I will.”

“And call me.”

“Every day?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

Ash leaned in again. “Hello? Your actual son is still here.”

Gia waved him off. “Take care of her.”

“I am!”

“Do it properly.”

“…Wow.”

Archer hadn’t moved.

His gaze remained steady, but something beneath it had shifted. What he had just witnessed wasn’t structure, wasn’t obligation, wasn’t measured interaction.

It was effortless.

Unfiltered.

And unfamiliar.

His family cared—he knew that. But they had never sounded like that. Never spoken with that ease. Never felt like that.

Without realizing it, his gaze drifted toward Aia.

She still carried that warmth so naturally, as if it required no effort at all.

And for once, he didn’t look away.

Ash was still holding the phone when Aia leaned forward again suddenly. “Oh—wait,” she said, turning the screen slightly. “Arc is here too.”

Archer’s eyes lifted, a brief flicker of surprise passing through before it was contained.

Before he could respond, Aia stood, walked over, and sat beside him, close enough that it didn’t feel like a decision—just something that happened. She nudged Ash aside lightly. “Move.”

“Hey—this is my call—”

“Not anymore.”

Ash scoffed but leaned away, watching with a faint smirk.

Now the screen was angled toward Archer, Aia holding it between them as if this arrangement had always existed.

Archer stilled for a fraction of a second before composing himself. “Mother,” he said calmly. “Father.”

Beauty’s expression softened. “Archer.” Her tone was gentle, but more restrained. “How are you?”

“I’m well.”

“You’ve settled in properly?”

“Yes.”

She studied him briefly. “You should take care of yourself.”

“I will.”

His father stepped forward slightly. “Be careful.”

Archer met his gaze. “Yes.”

The exchange was short. Controlled. Familiar.

Then Aia leaned back into the frame, smiling. “Don’t worry, Beauty. I’ll take care of your puppies.”

There was a pause.

Ash snorted. “Excuse me?”

But Aia didn’t look at him. “…Both of them,” she added casually.

That was when it settled.

She hadn’t just meant Ash.

She meant him too.

Archer’s gaze shifted toward her briefly, something quiet flickering beneath the surface.

Gia laughed softly. “With you there, I can rest assured. Take care of them.”

“Always,” Aia replied easily.

Ash leaned back. “I’ve officially lost my position in this family.”

“You never had one.”

“Wow.”

The call came to an end soon after. “Call me tomorrow,” Gia said.

“I will.”

“Take care,” his father added.

“Yes.”

“Love you,” Gia said softly.

“Love you,” Aia replied instantly.

Ash echoed it.

There was a small pause before Archer spoke. “…Take care.”

It wasn’t the same.

But it wasn’t distant either.

Something had shifted—subtle, but real.

The screen went dark.

Silence returned once more, but this time it carried something different with it.

Aia leaned back casually, completely unaware of what she had just done.

Ash stretched. “I need to recover from that emotional damage.”

“You’ll survive.”

“I doubt it.”

But Archer didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

Because something unfamiliar had settled quietly within him—not overwhelming, not loud, but undeniably present.

A warmth he didn’t recognize.

A sense of inclusion he had never been given so easily before.

His gaze drifted back to Aia, still relaxed, still smiling faintly as if nothing had changed.

And that was what unsettled him the most.

Because for her, it hadn’t.

But for him—

it had.

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