Chapter 154: Sweet Sidney

Amon walked into the apartment and immediately noticed that the lights were off.

He frowned slightly before reaching toward the wall and switching them on.

The familiar warmth of the apartment returned as the lights illuminated the living room, but there was no sign of anyone.

Amon glanced at the clock. It was already past eight in the evening.

’Where did Ambrosia go?’

He removed his shoes and placed them neatly beside the entrance before walking farther inside.

The apartment was unusually quiet. Amon looked toward the kitchen before his gaze shifted toward the hallway.

He eventually stopped in front of Sidney’s room.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door. "Sidney?"

There was a brief silence from inside before she answered. "I’m coming."

Amon waited. Several seconds passed before the door finally opened.

Sidney stood on the other side.

She was wearing a loose cream-colored nightdress that reached just below her knees, with long sleeves that covered most of her arms.

The simple clothing suited her perfectly, especially with her slightly messy hair and sleepy expression making her look considerably younger than usual.

Amon’s expression immediately changed when he noticed her face.

She looked exhausted. Her eyes were slightly dull, and there was a faint flush across her cheeks.

Amon frowned. "What’s wrong with you?"

Sidney gave him a tired smile. "I’m not feeling very well."

Amon shook his head. "You should be resting."

He gently pushed her back into the room before closing the door behind them.

"Come on."

Sidney didn’t resist as Amon guided her toward the bed. He helped her sit down before pulling the blanket over her legs.

Amon glanced around the room.

Sidney’s room was surprisingly organized despite her personality.

There were several novels stacked neatly beside the bed, a few small decorations sitting on her desk, and several photographs attached to a wooden board near the wall.

A couple of clothes had been left on a chair, but even those were folded rather than simply thrown around.

Amon looked back at her. "What happened?"

Sidney shifted slightly beneath the blanket.

"I went out for a walk with some of my friends this evening." She paused and rubbed her nose. "I felt fine when I left, but when I came back, I started feeling like this."

Amon sighed. "Did you stay outside for too long?"

"Maybe."

"Of course, you did."

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing the strong lines of his forearms, and reached for the thermometer on the small table beside her bed.

Sidney looked at his arms and gluped down. "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"No." Amon replied. "Don’t think those stuff when you are like this."

He picked up a thermometer.

Sidney looked at it and then at him. "Do I have to?"

"Yes." Amon sat beside the bed and held it out. "Open your mouth."

Sidney obediently opened her mouth. Amon placed the thermometer inside and waited.

While they waited, he glanced toward the doorway. "Where did Ambrosia go?"

Sidney looked at him. "She went out for work."

"Work?"

"Yeah." Sidney shrugged slightly. "She didn’t really tell me where she was going."

Amon nodded. "I see."

He pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down. For the next few moments, neither of them spoke.

The only sound in the room was the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional noise coming from somewhere outside the apartment.

The thermometer beeped and Amon carefully took it out and checked the display.

He looked at Sidney. "You have a mild fever."

Sidney blinked. "Is it bad?"

"No." Amon placed the thermometer back on the table after cleaning it. "You should be fine by tomorrow if you rest properly."

Sidney relaxed slightly. She turned onto her side so that she could face him more comfortably.

Her eyes softened as she looked at Amon. "I’ll miss you when you go to the capital city."

Amon chuckled. He reached over and gently pinched her cheek. "I’ll still be around. You don’t have to worry."

Sidney blinked. "How?"

"It’s a secret." Amon leaned back in the chair. "I’ll visit every other day."

Sidney’s expression immediately relaxed.

"Oh." She smiled faintly. "I was being anxious for no reason."

Amon raised an eyebrow. "Why were you anxious?"

Sidney’s cheeks slowly turned red as she looked away. "You know the answer."

Amon chuckled softly. "Of course."

He leaned back and looked around the room.

His gaze eventually landed on a framed photograph sitting on the table beside the bed.

Amon reached over and picked it up. The photograph showed Ambrosia, Gordon, and Sidney together.

...They were all smiling.

Amon stared at it for several seconds as his expression gradually became more subdued. "Do you still miss your father?"

Sidney looked at the photograph in his hands.

"I used to." She paused. "Not that much anymore."

Amon’s fingers tightened slightly around the frame. He lowered his gaze.

"He could have been here with you." His voice became quieter. "If it wasn’t for me."

Sidney immediately reached one hand out from beneath the blanket. She grabbed his hand.

"Amon." Sidney smiled gently. "What happened wasn’t your fault."

Amon remained silent.

"You shouldn’t keep blaming yourself for something you couldn’t control." Her smile suddenly became mischievous. "Besides, you took care of me like a father anyway."

"I’m not your father." His voice was soft. "And neither can I love you like you father."

Sidney chuckled.

"You’re right." She paused for a moment before giving him a playful smile. "Daddy would be the right word."

Amon stared at her before a helpless smile appeared on his face. "...Stupid daughter."

He placed the photograph back on the table.

Sidney’s expression slowly became serious.

"Amon." Her voice was quieter this time. "I know I wasn’t the best sister to you during the last year."

Amon didn’t interrupt.

Sidney lowered her gaze.

"I did a lot of things I shouldn’t have." Her fingers tightened slightly around his hand. "Thank you for still sticking with such a horrible sister."

Amon smiled. "It wasn’t exactly easy."

Sidney gave a weak laugh.

"I know."

Her smile remained for a moment before her eyes began to glisten. A few tears slowly gathered beneath them.

"Thank you for being with me all this time."

Amon’s expression softened. He leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead.

"Get some rest."

Sidney closed her eyes. "Okay."

Amon slowly stood up and walked toward the door.

He paused for a moment to make sure she was comfortable before finally stepping outside.

The door closed quietly behind him. Amon stood in the hallway for a moment.

Just as he walked toward the living room, a familiar system notification suddenly appeared before his eyes.

-----

[New Wife Candidate Detected.]

[Target: Sidney Doxie.]

[Would you like to register Sidney Doxie as a potential wife candidate?]

[Yes / No]

---

Amon stared at it for a few seconds before he sighed. ’...This was bound to happen.’

The sound of the apartment door opening echoed from behind him.

Amon turned around as door slowly swung open.

...Ambrosia stepped inside.

She carried a small handbag in one hand and several documents in the other.

She looked slightly tired from the long day, but the moment her eyes landed on Amon, she stopped.

Amon looked at her and Ambrosia looked back at him.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Amon."

He immediately noticed something different about her expression. "... Ambrosia?"

Ambrosia slowly closed the door behind her. "We need to talk."