491: Food thief

Food thief

1Just like everyone, the truth was something that was hard to swallow. Who would believe that someone who was already dead would wake up in another person's body? That was unheard of. It was pure fantasy. Not that Fig wasn't happy that Hera returned, albeit in Heaven's body, it was just... crazy. 

Unbelievable. 

However, he was grateful that he found out the truth without anyone knowing. Fig was able to investigate on his own, observe the young madam from afar, and make a connection. Bear was the only fool in their group who would believe someone's claims through a dish. Even Fig wouldn't believe that, no matter how much he loved eating. But then again, Fig didn't know everything that happened that led Bear to immediately believe Heaven was Hera. 

Heaven wasn't very careful. She had a lot of previous habits that she would do in this lifetime, complacent no one would find out. 

[PRESENT TIME]

"You said you don't want to tell us." Fig spun the pistols around his index, putting it down as Princess and Gray backed down. "So, I thought it is much better not to mention it."

The corner of his mouth curled up into a kind smile, eyes fixed on Heaven. "I'm just glad that you are back and that I can be with you even at arm's length."

"Fig..." Heaven's eyes softened after listening to Fig's short yet precise summarization of what happened. 

It almost concerned her that she revealed everything to Bear, not knowing there was another pair of ears who were listening. But if it was Fig, that was understandable. Fig was the best assassin there was in the Reapers. Therefore, he was the only person who could pull that stunt without alerting Heaven and Bear. If it was anybody else, they would've known for sure. 

"Holy fuck..." Gray staggered back, head filled with nothing but confusion. 

"Impossible." Princess shook her head, eyes on Fig's side profile, and then her gaze veered at Heaven. "You are... no."

Hearing Princess and Gray's disbelief tone, she peeled her eyes from Fig. She looked from her side and then to the other side, sighing. 

"You can believe it or not." Before she could speak, Fig spoke once again. "But don't you dare try to hurt her again because the next time you do, your brains will come out of your skulls even before you realize."

"You don't have to be so harsh." Heaven couldn't help but chuckle, darting her eyes between Princess and Gray. "You can ask me anything you want. I'll do my best to answer all of them."

Her gaze slowly settled on Princess. "Even your darkest secrets that only Hera knows."

"..."

Princess and Gray could only stare at the young madam blankly with wide eyes. They heard her, but somehow, they had no words to say to her. Their voices weren't even stuck in their thoughts. It was as though their voice simply disappeared. 

What was going on?

"This is one of the reasons I didn't want to tell you, knowing it could or could not benefit me." Heaven let out another deep exhale as she sat down on the chair she had initially sat in. "But I guess it's a good thing that Fig already knew. It'll be much easier."

She then turned her head back to Fig. "By the way Fig, so you're the one who steals the extra portion I set aside for Bear?"

"No." Fig didn't even need a second to lie. "It's definitely not me. I never ate the porridge, the stew, and the usual dishes you cook for your family."

"Goodness." Heaven laughed and shook her head. 

"By the way, Boss. What would you do if I didn't know about you?" Fig inquired as he placed his pistols back into his body straps while he casually walked toward the bed. He acted as if Princess wasn't there, sitting on the edge of the bed, ready to chat with his boss. He did a lot of holding back since the time he made peace with the truth. 

"Well..." Heaven hummed a long tune. "How else would I deal with you guys if you didn't know as well?"

Heaven glanced at Princess and Gray before gazing back to Fig. "I'll admit you all here, paralyzed temporarily, and maybe use that time to read your stories to convince every single one of you."

"That's something... you'd surely do." Fig rocked his head, imagining what could've happened if he didn't step in. 

Fortunately, Fig already had an idea when he heard Heaven come to visit Princess. Since their employment, the only time they actually had direct contact with her was when Dominic introduced them to his wife. After that, Heaven didn't avoid them, nor did she purposely get close to them. 

Their relationship with the young madam wasn't close enough to casually chat with her, but at the same time, they were close enough to protect her. In other words, there was only one reason Heaven would visit Princess personally. That was to thank Princess for what she had done. But considering what happened, deep in Fig's heart, he knew Heaven wouldn't just express gratitude toward Princess. 

The Zhu family was in a crisis, and knowing Hera, she definitely understood the assignment. 

"Hey, move aside." Fig and Heaven snapped their eyes up, watching Gray listlessly drag his feet toward the bed. "I'm going to admit myself."

"..."

When Gray reached the bed, he sluggishly collapsed on it, face first. His head throbbed and some parts of the truth were something he had yet absorbed. 

What the hell?

"I'm sorry, Gray. I didn't want to put you through this stress, but I had no choice." Heaven sighed, shifting her eyes to Princess, who stood a few steps from her chair. "Aside from Princess, you guys have been doing a half-ass job. Although I'm grateful you helped us out in the rescue, I'm afraid I need more than a few percent of your dedication."

Princess and Heaven stared at each other with the former assessing the young madam's countenance. For some reason, in Princess's eyes, she could see Hera's face overlapping with Heaven's. Especially with those pair of phoenix eyes burning like how she remembered them.

"This is not true," whispered Princess. "How… did this happen?"

"I don't know." Heaven shrugged. "But what I do know is that when I lost my mother, you were there to console me, Sofie."

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