Chapter 207 - Question for a Question

Dinner was great even though it was simple. Scarlet felt slightly guilty for not helping out much. Edward didn't mind and told her to go shower while he cleaned up but Scarlet refused. Her reason was that it was only fair for her to clean up since she didn't do much with dinner preparations.

Seeing that Scarlet was obstinate about it, he let her do as she pleased. It wasn't wise to fight with her over such trivial things. Besides, he had a feeling now that she was finally out of the zone, there would be something interesting coming up. With only two more days before the wish expired, he was looking forward to seeing what Scarlet had in mind. Surely it wouldn't be anything ordinary.

Indeed, Scarlet sent Edward away with the pretext of cleaning up silly because she wanted to mentally adjust herself. This wish couldn't be as straightforward. While Scarlet didn't feel comfortable about telling Edward just about everything, she didn't want to keep him in the dark. She convinced herself that if he asked, she would answer as truthfully as she could. At the same time, she wanted to get to know him better on a deeper level. Hence, what would be a better way than to have a little game?

There is a popular game called Truth or Dare but Scarlet didn't want that. She wanted more questions than dares so she decided to modify the rules a little. Searching through the cupboard, she found what she was looking for. It was a bag of tea leaves that neither of them touched because this was something Alex gave them as a welcoming gift when she saw the couple mugs.

The electric kettle went off just as Scarlet finished washing the plates. She poured some tea leaves into a filter sachet and threw the bag into the electric kettle. It didn't matter if they finished the tea. It was only a last resort since she was too young to drink anything alcoholic. If it were Alex, her sister would have just taken all the vodka out without a care for age limit but Scarlet was more law-abiding. She wouldn't drink until she was eighteen.

The set up was simple. Scarlet tried to make it cosy and dimmed the lights. It looked slightly funny to see an electric kettle on a coaster with two empty mugs on the table but Scarlet ignored that. She drew the curtains shut and put on some random movie in the background, playing it softly so that there wouldn't be a horrible awkward silence when they started. Edward would soon be out so Scarlet ran through her mind the things she planned to ask him and the rules of the game.

When Edward left the showers, he was surprised to see the lights dimmed. They only did this for movie nights and he heard something playing softly. Could this be Scarlet's wish? A movie marathon? He grinned. All that zoning out for a marathon seemed odd but he wasn't going to complain if it was. Still, he had better put on a shirt before the guards outside reported his indecency to Claire who was already unhappy with him about kissing Scarlet. The head maid might be overseas but she still contacted him daily and demanded a report. Although she didn't tell him directly, her interrogation was twice as long on the day he shared a kiss with Scarlet.

Scarlet was seated on the floor by the tiny coffee table with cushions all over the floor. Edward was slightly surprised that she wasn't looking at the screen but he also noted that there were a kettle and their cups on the coffee table. He wondered what she was up to this time. It wasn't a setup he was familiar with.

"What's this?" he asked and Scarlet glanced up.

"This is my wish. We're going to play a game. I'm sure you're familiar with Truth or Dare. However, I'm going to make some modifications. The game goes on until both of us run out of questions for each other or the tea is emptied, whichever first."

Edward grinned. Leave it to Scarlet to do such a roundabout thing. He honestly didn't think there were many things he wouldn't tell her if she genuinely wished to know. Maybe the thing regarding his true identity and job had to be a secret but if she was curious about him as a person, he would never hide anything from her.

"Sounds interesting," he said and sat down opposite of her. "How do we play this? Also, do I smell rosehip tea? Isn't this the one your sister mailed?"

Scarlet laughed. "I didn't think you would be familiar with tea but yes, this is the one Alex sent. I only drink coffee so I don't know what this would taste like."

They got comfortable and Edward glanced at the screen. It was an old movie that he didn't watch. It was something that his father liked and he didn't think it was something that Scarlet would be interested in either. Why did she choose this of all the films he had?

"The rules are simple. I figured out that there are many things I still don't know about you even though we've been dating for a while so I want to take this chance to ask you all the things I never had the chance to ask you. You can tell the truth or you can lie, whichever it is, I wouldn't know better. However, if you feel uncomfortable about answering now or would like to postpone answering a certain question, you can choose to drink tea. That's the game I want to play using my wish. Are you regretting it now?"

Edward scoffed. "Me? Never. In fact, this would be great. I've been dying to ask you a few questions of my own. Let's do this instead. A question of equivalent value with another question. If the answer isn't satisfactory the other person can go for 2 questions instead."

Scarlet didn't find any problems with it so they sat down and started the conversation light.

"What's your favourite colour?" Scarlet asked and Edward grinned.

"Black. I know, it's technically a shade and not a colour but that's what I like. What about you?"

Scarlet nodded. "I'll accept it. I like red, purple, blue and silver. I can't choose a favourite but I tend to waver between these colours."

Edward laughed. That was something he had already long realised but he didn't think Scarlet was aware of it. Still, they asked for more questions. Scarlet moved to the what-of type of questions and that was where things started getting interesting. So far, nobody has drunk any tea.

"What if I didn't have a panic attack that day? Would you still have revealed to me who you were?"

The question was so serious that Edward could no longer take it lightly and tease her. He looked at her in the eyes and wondered if he should drink some tea instead. He didn't intend to tell her about him because it would have been better that way. Jedd77 could have just been another friend that came and went like everyone else and there would only be Edward Bayon who might also disappear, depending on circ.u.mstances. However, things were what they were now. Would she hate him if he said no?

Scarlet was slightly afraid because this was the first time Edward hesitated after they started the game. Whichever answer he had prepared for her, she would accept it. If he would have never told her at all she wouldn't pursue it. If he said that he would still tell her eventually, she would still understand it. It was just something she wanted to confirm about his personality. While she knew Edward would never harm her, she didn't know if he wouldn't lie to her.

Edward reached for the cup and Scarlet felt her heart breaking a little. Was he that reluctant to tell her?

He was judging her expression when he reached for the cup and knew at once whichever answer he gave her, it wouldn't have mattered. Reaching for the cup and not answering her was the one thing he shouldn't be doing. Hence, the cup was at his side but Edward didn't reach for the kettle.

"What kind of answer do you want to hear? Any answer I give now would only hurt you either way. The reality remains that I did what I did. Nothing can change that now."

Scarlet looked at Edward who didn't pour the tea. "Do you regret telling me?"

Horrified, Edward reached for her hand. "No, never. I don't want to deceive you if I can help it. More than anything, I don't want to hurt you."

Scarlet felt touched by those words but another bagging worry surfaced. What if she was the one deceiving him instead? Would he still say the same thing?

"Then have you ever deceived me from the time we started dating until now?"

Edward didn't even lie when she asked this question. Alex's advice remained deeply ingrained in his head. If Scarlet was asking questions, it meant that she already had suspicions. It was best not to lie to her because she was a smart girl and she will find out. He couldn't let her be betrayed like this so he admitted it.

"Yes. However, I can't let you know about some of the secrets I Harbour. I know it isn't fair and I cannot promise you that I will ever tell them. However, the only thing you need to know would be that I wouldn't waver in front of you, your family or the world."

Scarlet teared up a little. Edwar wasn't lying when he said that and it made her feel horrible inside. "What if I've been lying to you and hiding a huge mountain of secrets? Will you come to hate me if you find out one day or will you not want me anymore because I won't tell you any of them even though they come to haunt me?"

Edward didn't know which secret Scarlet was referring to. Was it the secret of her identity, her agenda with Anastasia or her feelings with the past that traumatized her? Yet, he was firm with his resolve.

"I won't ever be mad at you but I will be displeased if you suffer alone. You don't have to tell me if it is too painful for you, I won't ever blame you or it. However, I don't like it if something troubles you and you don't come to me for it. I might not be able to help you fight your battles but I can comfort you and lend you my strength in whatever form that it comes in. Even if everyone else deserts you one day, I will always be your ally. That's crazy coming from someone who you haven't even known for a year but this is how crazy I am for you."

Letting the walls around her collapse, Scarlet started to cry, forgetting all about the game or the tea. Edward held her tightly without a word and neither of them moved even as the credits of the movie started to play. As a psychology student, he was happy at the signs that Scarlet was finally starting to open up to him. However, as a spy, he felt pained that he might not be able to keep his promises to her depending on the situation. Still, he meant every word he said. Even if he had to leave her one day or hurt her, it would be to protect her.