Chapter 14

I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. Elliot and Isadora followed behind me as we made our way out of the party.

The maid, Clementine, escorted us to the main entrance. Beads of sweat drip from my face. I still haven't recovered as I step foot out of that place.

Had I been the one in Rhys' place, I think I would have collapsed on the spot.

"Here we are," Clementine came to a halt. We were standing in front of the carriage.

My eyes were lifeless as the carriage doors opened. My body feels heavy as my fingers twitch. Looking at me, Clementine narrows her brow.

"Despite my Lady's appearance…" Clementine pauses to study my expression "Lady Marian is not as cruel as the rumors say,"

Yeah right.

I was not going to entertain the idea that Marian is someone rational. I will find a different method. Afterall, why try to reason with someone who will murder me in the end?

"My apologies, but let us stop the conversation," Elliot chimed in, "My lady is tired, she does not wish to stay for any longer."

Clementine didn't argue back. Instead, she pinch her dress before bowing to me "Have a safe trip."

☆✧—-*--✪–*----✧☆

I didn't even put an effort to raise my head up during the ride home. Once we arrived, I immediately made my way to my room. My hair fell to my face as I maneuvered out of everyone's way. My body language alone should be enough to tell everyone at the estate that I want to be left alone.

Yet, I still hear someone walking behind me.

"L-lady Violette," Isadora grabbed my dress before I could enter my room. I turn to her silently. Upon seeing her worried face, I felt a terrible feeling in my stomach.

"I-I'm sorry… I was the one who got into a fight with Sir Rhys at first," She admitted. At least she was self-aware.

However, that didn't alter the events just now. My plan failed, so I don't feel so determined.

Tugging my dress away, I enter my room. I shut the door behind me. I could hear Isadora walk away, her light footsteps slowly fading away. Now I'm left alone as I want to be.

My feet dragged me onto my bed. I lay down, pressing my face against the pillow. My hands gripped the pillow in anguish. I thought Marian could be 

I guess he deserved it. He was acting all high and mighty after all. But Marian… She was on a different level. She tore him down with no room to argue.

It always goes wrong at gatherings. When everyone is there, something goes wrong. All the time. Someone always gets hurt in the end. In some way.

Memories of my past life flooded in like mighty waves. All the gatherings I've been to, family gatherings, parties, get together, all of it has gone wrong when I'm around. I feel a familiar pain in my stomach. My very core quivers thinking about my past life.

"It's like whenever you're around, it's kind of boring. Ahaha."

"God, you really are uninteresting, aren't you?"

"I don't think there's anything you're good at…sorry."

"Why can't you be more like your sister?"

I turn to my side. My hands reached for my face, fingers touching my eyelid as I recall the past.

So what if I'm in a different world? Nothing has changed.

I close my eyes, praying that this day passes quickly. Soon, when sleep came all my troubles went away.

☆✧—-*--✪–*----✧☆

Ah. I'm back here again.

This strange landscape within my dreams. It still looks the same as last time. A silhouette in the distance approaches. 

Once more, I am face to face with the ghost of my past.

"You don't look so good," Ayame comments.

I sat down on the floor, looking down at my feet.

"She yelled at someone at her own party. I don't want to be friends with someone who can say such harsh things," I explained briefly. 

Ayame sighs. She puts her hands on her hips while looking down at me.

"If you are going to give up now, what other options do you have?" She asked, her voice soft.

I clenched my hands tightly, as if it's the only thing keeping me sane. "I tried to get on her good side. I tried to do something nice for her, but she's just terrifying. One wrong move, who knows what she'll do or say?"

"I said befriend her. Not become a doormat. What if she starts using you to bring her what she wants?" She clarifies herself.

"Hey hey, at least that's a good relation,"

"No it's not, have some dignity. It's pathetic for an Itzal to become nothing more than a yes man."

I can't argue with that. Sure I'll survive, but it'll probably be a miserable life.

Pondering my circumstances, I relax my muscles. Right now I want nothing more than to deflate and stop this madness. I'm sure Ayame was feeling like I'm slacking off. And she'd be right. I'm not pulling my own weight between the 2 of us.

While I remained silent, Ayame began pondering different possibilities. There was this look on her face, like she wanted to beat me over the head with a book. But she couldn't do that considering this weird realm didn't have anything to hit me with.

"Getting protection from one of the male leads could be a good alternative," Ayame crossed her arms.

The male leads? As in Isadora's love interests?

Well, I guess that's an option. Though, since they're all Isadora's love interests, I need to find a way to get them on my side as Violette.

Since I've already met him, the best option for me would be Lance.

"Personally, I would put my money on the Count." She puts up a finger.

Oh.

"Count Emory Zephyr?"

"Since he's the strongest mage in all of Cresia, having him at your aid would be the best bet," Ayame explains "It's the safest option in my opinion."

It's true. He's not only strong, but he has a lot of influence due to his reputation and status.

"That could work, but should I put all my efforts into Emory?" I asked, to which Ayame tilts her head in confusion "I mean, I'm beginning to get close with Lance a while ago,"

She shrugs "Keep him around I guess. He's definitely a good option, but his family has serious conflicts with Marian. Lance isn't anything special compared to Emory,"

I raised a brow "Lance is awesome! He's the best male lead in the book!" 

Ayame rolled her eyes "Seriously?" Her tone was irked. She didn't like the way I described him as a "male lead", as she scoffed in my direction.

"The way the events are written in that book…" She pauses, placing a hand on her head "I don't get it, the way the book is written… it's nothing special."

It felt like a blood vessel popped. I was just left stunned.

"Huh?!?! No, you don't mean that!" I protested. How can she not like her own story?!

"Don't get me wrong! The novel is very fun to read," Ayame "But it still had many problems! Plot holes, and most of the people…Well I don't remember them being that boring compared to when I was living in Cresia!"

"What?!" My jaw dropped "You take that back! It's the perfect novel!"

"There's nothing wrong with admitting it was a guilty pleasure. There are much better stories out there!" She retorted. 

HUH?! Guilty pleasure?!

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You can't seriously be… nevermind!" Ayame had an annoyed look on her face. She spun her heels, and was ready to walk away. But she took a breath and stopped herself from taking a step. "You truly are strange, and I don't mean that in a good way."

I felt a pain in my chest when she said that.

"I didn't mean to offend, but you have to remember what you are to me. Do you know how bizarre it is for me to realize that you actually exist?"

Ayame rolled her eyes, then placed her hand over her face "God, you're unbearable…" Her eyebrow twitched as she muttered those words "Go do your own thing, I want to be left alone."

I clenched my hands. Her words brought back painful memories of my past life. I recalled not fitting in and not being important to anyone. How I was not special in my old life, and how I was unable to belong. I bite my lip hard.

Determined as I was to make my stand, I kept my mouth shut to stop annoying her. Clearly I didn't understand her, nor did she understand me. With what happened today, I need to focus on 1 thing, and 1 thing alone.

"I'll make sure to survive, no matter what."

I stared at her back, feeling myself wake up in the real world, "I'll make things right."