Without thinking twice, Arthur picked up his phone and dialed the number he had received earlier.
After a few rings, a calm, professional male voice answered on the other end.
"Hello, is this Silverline Studios?" Arthur asked evenly.
'Yes, that's correct. You must be Mr. Arthur Morgan, right? It's a pleasure to finally speak with you.'
'I heard from your editor that you prefer not to receive visitors at home. We'd like to know if you're available to come to our company today for a more detailed conversation. We could have lunch while we discuss the project.'
Arthur blinked and glanced at the clock — the man was right. It was almost noon.
The clock on the wall read 11:47 a.m., and sunlight filtered lazily through the curtains, warming the room with a soft glow.
"Sorry," he replied without hesitation, "but I don't have time right now."
'I see… well, it is a perfect time for lunch,' the man said politely, though his tone carried a hint of expectation.
"That's not the problem," Arthur replied in his usual calm manner. "It's just that it's almost time for my nap."
A pause followed. Arthur could practically imagine the bewildered expression forming on the man's face.
When the voice came back, it sounded slightly stiff — and maybe a little annoyed.
'Ah... of course. A writer like you needs rest to refill your creative energy, right?'
Arthur scratched the back of his neck, smiling faintly — a mix of guilt and amusement. "No, not really. It's just a personal habit."
On the other end, he clearly heard the subtle click of someone clicking their tongue — the universal sound of professional frustration.
'Alright then… in that case, we can schedule it for later today.'
"Three o'clock works for me."
'Perfect, Mr. Arthur. We'll send the details via message. See you soon.'
They exchanged a few last words, confirming minor details, before Arthur ended the call.
A second later, a muffled THUD! echoed faintly through the speaker — probably the sound of the man slamming his phone down in frustration.
Arthur chuckled softly, shaking his head with a weary smile.
"Just as I thought… there's definitely something strange about that studio."
He stretched, glancing at the couch. Gwen was still sleeping peacefully, her face resting gently against his shoulder.
Arthur smiled faintly, watching her.
"Ahh… I'll take that nap now," he murmured, reclining back into the cushions.
---
Two hours later…
A faint movement made the blanket slip off the couch. Gwen's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, blinking several times before adjusting to the soft afternoon light.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes with both hands, and looked around — Arthur wasn't in sight.
Her gaze fell on the half-full glass of water sitting on the coffee table, and she couldn't help but smile.
"...Your cheap philosophy somehow always works," she muttered to herself with a laugh.
She picked up the glass and held it up to the light, watching how it refracted and shimmered across the clear surface.
"Just like this water, I need to adapt... to change according to my surroundings," she said quietly. "If water is poured into a glass, it takes the shape of the glass. If it's poured into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. But it's still water — always the same essence."
She sighed softly, thoughtful. "So that's what you meant… I shouldn't panic. I just need to adapt, learn to use these powers, master them — and turn them into something good."
For a while, silence filled the room, broken only by the soft rustle of wind against the window.
Then Gwen chuckled again, shaking her head. "You're an idiot… but sometimes, a wise idiot."
After stretching her arms lazily, she stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
That's when something caught her attention — a warm, mouthwatering scent wafting through the air.
"Mmm... what smells so good?" she exclaimed, following the aroma toward the counter.
Arthur, wearing an apron, was stirring something in a pot as thin trails of steam curled upward.
"Oh? You're awake, sweetheart?" he said with a casual smile.
"Yeah," Gwen replied with a curious grin. "What are you cooking?"
Arthur chuckled. "Sit down — it's almost ready."
"Got it!" she said playfully, giving a mock salute before sitting down, watching him with eager eyes.
A few minutes later, he set a bowl in front of her — rice topped with chicken and eggs simmered in a savory broth.
"It's called Oyakodon," he explained.
Gwen immediately frowned, repeating the word slowly. "Oyakodon…?"
"Yes. Why?" Arthur asked, puzzled.
She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Are you trying to tell me something by making me a dish called 'parent and child'?"
She pointed dramatically at him — in perfect imitation of a certain blond, gender-confused vampire.
Arthur blinked, completely lost. "...I'm not implying anything. It's just a traditional dish from my homeland."
He raised an eyebrow. "Gwen… what have you been reading lately?"
Her face flushed as she looked away.
"It's not like that! I just… saw something similar in one of the animes you made me watch, and—"
Arthur gave her a deadpan stare. "So what you're saying is… this is my fault?"
"Yes! It's all your fault!" she blurted out quickly, grabbing her chopsticks and digging into the food as fast as she could — clearly trying to change the subject.
Arthur chuckled quietly, resting his chin on his hand. "For the record, nothing like that happens in any of the animes I've recommended."
Gwen mumbled something incomprehensible through a mouthful of rice, refusing to meet his eyes.
A few minutes passed before she looked up again with a smile. "By the way, I figured out what you meant with the glass of water."
Arthur arched a brow. "Hm? Was there something to figure out?"
"Hahahaha!" Gwen burst into laughter. "Just as I thought — even you didn't know what you were talking about!"
Arthur feigned offense. "If you keep laughing, I won't let you have seconds."
"Don't you dare!" she warned, brandishing her spoon like a weapon.
Arthur couldn't help it — he burst out laughing too.
For a few blissful seconds, the house was filled only with the sound of their laughter — light, genuine, and warm.
---
A few minutes later…
"I have to go now, Arthur," Gwen said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I've got rehearsal this afternoon."
"Alright," he replied, standing up. "I've got an appointment too. I'm meeting some people from a studio."
She turned to him, surprised. "Really? One of your books is finally getting a film adaptation?"
Arthur smirked faintly. "That depends on the book... and the contract."
He added jokingly, "Hopefully, not one of my sci-fi stories."
"Still, that's amazing!" she said brightly, genuinely happy for him.
"I hope so," he replied, brushing his hand gently through her hair — a gesture that came naturally to him, filled with quiet affection. For some reason, he always found comfort in it.
"Okay, I really need to go now." Gwen leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss before heading for the door.
Arthur watched her leave, a small, content smile on his face. When the door closed behind her, he shook his head and sighed softly.
"This girl…" he murmured, amused.
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."