After that night, Rena had wanted to know what happened to the girl. But, she never thought that she would meet the girl in front of Saola's residence with Sebastian accompanying her. It was because this girl was part of the group who kidnapped her.
They stared at each other before Rena initiated the conversation.
"Hi, how are you?" She showed a friendly smile to her.
"Idiot."
"Huh?"
"I'm fine but how about yourself?! Doing something careless like that, don't you have a survival instinct?? It's all thanks to you that I'm saved..." Mirra hung her head down.
"...Thank you." The words still could be heard even when she said it weakly.
Although she didn't know what had happened this girl must have it tough, that much she could understand. A hint of sorrow could be felt from her voice.
Following her instinct, Rena approached her and wrapped her arms around her petite body, giving her a warm hug.
"It's good that you are safe. I'm happy." She said.
Mirra startled, she didn't move, she didn't hold her back. But the lock inside of her finally broke, and she couldn't hold it anymore, feeling her embrace, the warmth she hadn't felt for years, tears started flowing from her eyes. Rena rubbed Mirra's back gently trying to comfort her. When she had calmed down, Rena let go of her.
"Are you alright?"
"...Mm." Mirra only gave an ambiguous reply.
"I think we haven't introduced each other, right?"
"My name is Rena... Ouch!" She was pinched.
"...Serena." Rena corrected herself while grumbling in her heart.
(This guy didn't let go stuff like this easily, huh.)
"You are Mirra, right?"
"Mm." She nodded.
"Nice to meet you, Mirra! But if I may know, why are you here?"
Mirra gave a difficult expression, she didn't say a single thing. Her hands clenched a little, before she lowered her gaze, avoiding Rena's curious look.
Watching the girl, Frei spoke, "About that, it's a long talk. Let's talk about it in the carriage, okay? Saola is also waiting."
Rena followed his suggestion since it was the only option. Frei instructed Sebastian to help the girls got on the carriage. After all the passengers were inside, Sebastian went to the coach seat and drove the carriage.
Inside, Frei who was sitting next to Rena, was the one who opened the talk again.
"So Rena, long story short, Mirra doesn't have anyone to take care or her anymore, her family members are long dead and after the village was burned to ash, she didn't have any place to stay."
"I haven't told you about this, but when you were unconscious, she protected you from the bad guy, she also helped carrying you back here. When I found out that she didn't have anywhere else to go, I decided to take her with us, with her consent, of course." Frei explained.
Rena watched Mirra's small figure sitting in front of her. She really had been through a lot of sufferings, her heart ached for Mirra.
"It seemed I also owe you thanks too." Rena said to Mirra.
"It's nothing, that's because you saved my life." Mirra looked away, directing her gaze outside the window.
"By the way, what happened to that guy?" Rena remembered about the guy who tried to hurt Mirra.
"He's dead, they found his burned body in the village." Frei said. "He was the one who started the fire, causing many deaths, ironically, he was also part of the victims."
Ironic or not, Rena only felt relieved she didn't get bought by that guy.
"Oh..." Rena almost forgot.
"Is Blippe okay? When I was looking for Frei, I met him. That boy was really worry about you."
Mirra's eyes widened but she kept her lips sealed.
"It's too bad but after that fire incident, those villagers got scattered. She still doesn't know his whereabouts." Frei answered her.
Rena frowned, she felt something a little off here. "I see. Then, is it fine for you to go with us? Your friends might be worried about you."
There was a moment of silence before Mirra opened her mouth, "Yes, it's fine. They aren't worried about me anymore."
Rena scratched her heart, not sure what to say. The situation was odd, but she didn't want to pry if the other person unwilling to speak about it. Facing the fact, she would be acquainted with Mirra now. She didn't know what kind of person this girl yet, but she didn't feel that she was bad. She wanted to be her friend.
"Then, let's be a friend from now on." She smiled at her.
Her face facing the window was supported by her hand. With only her eyes moved, looking at Rena from the corner of her hazel eyes, she said, "We'll see."
(So cool...)
"Good luck, I'll leave her with you."
"Leave her with me?"
"Since both of you are alone, isn't it fine to work together? I'm sure both of you can benefit from that, especially you."
"What do you mean by that?" She knitted her eyebrows.
He only gave her a meaningful smile.
Looking at his expression, she somehow got an idea of what he meant. She certainly could learn from the girl who had experienced the worse of the world.
She was someone who never led a life of suffering, hunger, or danger. It wasn't a perfect life, but it was better than the life of most people in this world. Would they be jealous if they knew the kind of lifestyle she had before? Only thinking what kind of food she wanted to eat from many available choices, picking a place to hang out with her friends, working diligently in her part-time jobs so she could have fun traveling around the world, she could sleep all day in the weekends if she wanted to, or she could choose to entertain herself with her hobby. Even a princess in the castle couldn't live a life full of freedom like that.
She missed her old life.
Suddenly, the face of her friends, her father, and her dead grandmother appeared in her mind.
(You never know what you have until you lose it, eh...)
She smiled bitterly.
---
They got off from the carriage in front of Saola's Garment Shop. They were standing in front of the door when Frei spoke to her, "Just think of this as a little favor of what she had done for you, 'kay?"
"What's exactly the content of that favor?" Rena couldn't help but wary.
He only smiled while guiding the girls to the entrance door. Before pushing the door, he stopped and turned around, whispering in her ear. "I said I was gonna give you a punishment before."
She turned blue.
He opened the door and shouted, "Saola, we've come!"
Her shop still looked the same as the last time Rena visited here. The odd mannequins dressed in weird costumes filling the place. Rena looked at Mirra who made a scrunching expression.
"Aaah, I've been waiting for you guys!" Saola rushed over, hearing Frei's voice.
Her appearance looked messy, her platinum blonde hair was tangled and her dress was a little wrinkle, still wearing yesterday's clothes. Rena was concerned.
"Hi, Saola. Are you alright?"
(As I thought, I need to apologize to her.)
"Umm, about yesterday... Aw!" She got pinched in her waist, it felt ticklish.
"Please, don't mention anything about yesterday matter to her." Frei was behind her, speaking in a small voice close to her ear.
"Eh? Why?" Rena spoke slowly that only Frei could hear.
"She had forgotten about it. Unless you want to listen for her hours-long rant, please do."
Rena stole a glance at Frei, he maintained his gentleman smile looking at Saola. She decided to trust his words.
"What are you talking about secretly like that?" Saola moved closer to them.
"Eh, nothing!" Rena quickly reacted.
"Hmm." She looked at Rena closely. "Who cut your hair?"
"I asked your maid to do me a little favor. I hope you don't mind." Rena said.
"Heeeh?!! I didn't know Nann has such talent!"
"Serena, you look cute!" Saola praised her.
"Hehe... Thank you." She blushed a little.
And then Saola noticed a small figure who stood behind Frei and Rena.
"Oh... You are from that time, right? Didn't you return to your village?"
They met for a while when Mirra brought Rena to Tawarr.
"Since her village was burned to ash and she doesn't have any relatives. I'm taking her back with me to Ardia, Saola." Frei explained it to Saola.
"Eeeeh, isn't she too young? I didn't know that you like a loli."
Suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped. The chill breeze was blowing from Frei, who gave an icy look and frozen smile to Saola. He approached her who was quivering like a squirrel failed to hibernate during winter.
"Stop twisting the situation, Saola. Don't you have something else to do? I've brought Serena here for you." His tone as calm as a freezing pond, as sharp as an icicle.
"Yes, yes!" She nodded multiple times.
Turning around quickly to Rena. "That's right! Serena, I want you to try something for me. Come with me!"
She grabbed Rena's arms and pulled her away from Mirra and Frei. Rena was panicking.
"Eh? Wh-what? What do you want me to try?"
Mirra and Frei watched those two figures going away, and then she glared at the blonde guy standing next to her.
"I'll kill you if you dare to touch me."
"I swore I don't have the intention that way." Frei sighed, lightly shook his head.
"I only want you to guard her. I've seen what you can do that night. Despite your age and stature, you are pretty skilled, aren't you? I told you, I need someone who can watch her closely and report to me." His gaze staring at the place where Saola and Rena were inside.
"Well, it's not like I don't understand. Purple sis definitely needs someone to watch her, she is reckless and too trusting. I don't mind really, I owe my life to her."
He only listened to what she said, not bothering to correct or deny her words. Actually, the reason he couldn't leave her behind was that she reminded him of himself.
Mirra sneaked a glance at Frei, "You are surprisingly protective, huh."
"Isn't it normal to guard your important property?" Frei said, showing up his usual compose smile.
Meanwhile, in the other part of the shop...
"So, this is your workshop..." Rena's eyes wandered around.
Tens of boxes stacked together, unorganized. Some didn't have a lid on it, so the stuff inside could be seen, animal fur, silver scales, rainbow color horns, and more stuff jumbled together. Colorful rolled fabrics, button, threads, ribbons were scattered on the floor. Sewing patterns, scissors, needles, and other sewing kits were on the table. It looked like a normal designer's workshop, except there was a glowing circle on top of the table.
She blinked a few times, watching the magic seal. "Saola, are you a magician?"
Rena touched the seal, tracing the line with her finger, the circle glowed brighter when she touched it. A little surprised, Rena withdrew her finger.
"Ah, yes. But I can only do basic spells which useful for creating clothes, unlike Jean."
"It's still amazing though."
"Hoho, thank you." Saola said. "Then, can you be my model?"
"Eh?!" Rena turned around quickly, her eyes widened.
"Model? Me? Why?"
"Well, I'm planning to open a new shop in Ardia Kingdom this year. I need someone who will wear my collections." Saola blushed a little.
"But, I'm not the right person to do this kind of stuff..."
"I think you are the perfect person for that! That purple eyes will definitely attract attention! And also, Frei has given me his permission!" Saola's eyes sparkled.
(Frei...)
"Oh, even if you do me a favor, I won't let you do this for free. I'll pay you."
"Ok."
Rena didn't need to think when she heard that last sentence. She was now very motivated, all gone her resistance from earlier. She was reminded that she must earn money to get her freedom back. She didn't understand why Frei called this punishment anymore.
"Yaaay! Thank you, Serena!" Saola hugged her, soft cushions stuffed between them.
"I'll definitely make a stunning outfit for you to wear!" Saola declared happily.
"Thank you too, Saola!" Rena gave her a wide smile.
"Then, let's start taking your measurements first. And after that, can you wear this for me? I'd like to see how it looks on you."
"Yes, ma'am!"
After 15 minutes, Saola came out from her workshop.
"Hehe... Thank you for waiting!"
"How's it?" Frei asked.
"Yeah, Serena agreed to be my model! I'm so happy! Now it's time for her first appearance, aren't you curious?"
"Come here, Serena!" Saola waved her hand, instructing Rena to come out.
But nobody came out.
"Serena?"
Saola pulled her, Rena tried to hide behind the door, she appeared wearing a thin layer of white spaghetti straps dress, cut high above her knees. Wearing a blue garter belt in one of her thighs. Soft colored flowers decorated her hair.
"Taadaa!! How is it? Isn't she cute?" Saola said.
She covered all her front parts and her face beet red, she couldn't lift up her face. She wore something that started with L in her world, a nightdress. Wearing this stuff was definitely the kind of punishment Frei enjoyed. She's completely done in.
"This is a part of my collection series called Magical Dream of The Night, color also available in red, green, blue, and yellow. The basic material was Goliath Spider Silk, but those flowers on her hair, I made from the silk of Argus Pink Giant Silkmoth, so I made the ribbon bow just like the shape of that silkmoth. Also that..."
"That's wonderful Saola." Frei stopped her words.
He chuckled, watching Rena's flustered reaction. "Saola, I'll buy this."
Rena shouted, "No!!" At the same Saola said, "Yaaay! Thank you for the purchase!"
Mirra rolled her eyes, watching the behavior of the adults.
"Oh, I also have some outfits that match Mirra's size. Wanna try it, Mirra?" Saola's made a pleading expression with sparkling eyes.
"Hah, there's no way I would!" Mirra shouted with a disgusted face.
"C'mon, pretty please??"
"No way! Never! You pervert old lady!"
"What?!!!" Saola shouted with a face of raging bull.
"Pervert old lady!"
Suddenly, Mirra regained her spirit and energy, there was no trace of aloofness and sadness anymore. She ran around the shop, trying to escape Saola who chased her with a determined look, wanting her to try her collections.
Frei who was standing next to her watched the two with a relaxed expression, a faint smile appeared on his face. When Rena saw that expression, she thought maybe he did this trying to cheer up Mirra, who knows, she didn't know what he was thinking. She used this opportunity to sneak away quietly, changing her clothes when nobody was paying her attention. She was thankful to Mirra who distracted Saola. Because of her, she didn't need to continue this costume role play.
"Thank you, Mirra!"
---