Morgianna sat at a table with Olive not missing the glances that Angeline threw her way every now and then. To the "Heroine" the story was progressing just as it should. The villain had met her sidekick and the world would tremble at their petty meddling just so that she could save the day. Save the day AND win the hearts of the handsome capture targets.
However, unbeknownst to Angeline the story was far from where it was originally supposed to be.
"That two-faced fake hero keeps looking at us as if she expects a show." Olive huffed in annoyance sending a glare in Angeline's direction. Which earned her a smirk in return. She couldn't believe that she was excited to meet her only to have one of the biggest disappointment in her life. 'Oh well, at least I got to meet a real-life hero like Morgianna'.
The object of Olives adoration could still see the stars twinkling in the young girls' eyes but chose to ignore it. She knew what the girl was thinking and she was no hero. She saved Liza for her own selfish reasons for not wanting to see someone she cared about die. "Pay no attention to her, it's much too soon to put forth any effort into her." Morgianna wanted to say more, but this was not the place or time.
Olive could only nod, thinking of how smart and mature Morgianna was. In her past life Olive was already an adult, even if only by a couple of years, working hard for meager checks and an unforgiving boss. She knew from the news that the girl in front of her had not even reached adulthood before her life thread had been cut yet she acted as if she had lived for decades more.
Myra stood off to the side her green hair almost blending into the majestic garden, her purple eyes trained on her surroundings. She kept her ears open to all the conversations around her, though she would not deny that she hoped to hear more from Morgianna and Olive.
For the most part they stayed like this for several hours letting the other ladies tire of social interactions before leaving. There were a few times when Olive would need to walk around and converse with other girls, but she always returned swiftly as if she feared Morgianna would disappear if she left for too long. Angeline was among the last to leave, her face blessed with an angelic smile. Those that saw it would believe that this was the best day she had ever had. Her eyes told a different story though, they held unpleasant darkness as if she had been wronged. For what, nobody would know.
As she left she cast one last look towards Morgianna and Olive, this time not even bothering to hide her displeasure. Nobody but the two recipients saw her look and only one was even bothered. Morgianna sat uncaring of the hateful look, still enjoying the sweets that had been placed on the table before her. She did not care what Angeline thought of her as long as she did not act on those feelings.
Another 20 minutes and it was only Morganna, Myra and Olive left in the garden. Olive stretched like a lazy house cat before slumping back in her chair. "Phew I am so glad that is over. I would have never even had this party if mother had not forced me to." When olive said the word mother she scrunched her beautiful face up as if she had eaten something unpleasant.
"You don't have to explain. I may not have played the game, but Liza told me things..." Morgianna let her words trail off. She could see Olives face blush in embarrassment and did not want to make her feel uncomfortable. "Besides, I have never been a big fan of parties. Too many people and you never know the real reason they are there." She tried to force a little smile with her subject change.
Olive felt grateful for the chance to escape her thoughts. If she had fallen into the rabbit hole that was her past she feared she would never return. "Would you like to talk here or go somewhere else?" She knew Morgianna probably had many questions and it would be a lie to say that she herself did not have any as well.
"Myra, keep a watch out. I know you will be curious about our conversation but I will speak to you on our way home." She looked to the older woman and saw her nod before backing further into the garden and disappearing. "Now that we will not have any surprise guests I would like to just stay here so I can still enjoy snacks." She smiled taking another bite of cake. Her smile dipped slightly as she thought of what she already knew. "So tell me the likelihood of me making it to old age."
Olive winced at the blunt sentence coming from her new friend's mouth. "I'm, well you see... I played most of the routes and Morgianna almost always died shortly after graduation... But that doesn't mean you will! Like you are nothing like the Morgianna in the story or else you would have thrown a for at my party and got Angeline covered in her drink." She was frantically flailing her arms around as she spoke. Her facial expressions shifting between worry and sadness.
Morgianna smiled a bitter smile. "Ahh I see, so she really was expecting me to do something. Can you tell me when I am expected to meet her again?" She sat twirling her fork as if she had no care in the world and this only made Olive more worried.
"After this party the villainess would be scolded by her family for embarrassing them. Her brother disliked her because she was always mean to him and her parents were treated badly by her but they had still tried to love her the best they could. This party was kind of like their last straw and it all went downhill from here. Morgianna would then seek out an audience with Angeline and tell her that it was all her fault for getting her in trouble." Olive was deep in thought trying to remember the plot. It was told from the heroines perspective so she only knew what the villainess did and said when around Angeline.
"We have no strain between my parents and me other than the constant etiquette lessons. Also, as far as my brother and I, I know he loves me too even if I do not spend as much time as I would like with him. I'm working on it." Morgianna put her hand on her chin in deep thought. "Since I did not cause a scene Angeline may realize something is off, however, I have no intention of acting a fool in front of her or anybody else. My pride would not allow me to lower myself to such a level of shameful actions. She may try to initiate contact herself, be prepared for an invitation." A smirk formed on her face as she calculated the next few steps that would need to be taken.
Olive was confused. "How do you know she will invite us somewhere?" She cocked her head to the side as she started at Morgianna
Morganna's smile grew into one that fit her title of a villainess. "She did not get the desired effect of today's get together. She needs the world to see me as the bad guy, or how else could she be the hero? She will invite us and then try to embarrass us by doing something to herself. I would almost bet my family's entire fortune on it." Her smile changed to a softer more natural one as she looked into Olive's eyes. "I won't let her hurt you though. Stay in large groups of other people and stay on your best behavior. She will try to bait you to get to me and for that I am sorry."
Olive was just about to say something when Myra came back into the clearing. "Miss there are several people heading in this direction. Would you like to head to another location?"
With a sigh Morgianna stood. "No, that will be all today. Olive, I will send an invitation for you to join me for tea at my home. I hope you will accept it. I know you have lots of questions yourself and I will try to answer them if I can." She offered the girl one more smile as she turned to leave with Myra, wanting to leave before she saw the woman whom she felt was on her way. If Morgianna stayed she would give Olive's adopted mother a stern talking down to and at the age she was now she could not do that just yet.
The trip home was silent. Morgianna could tell that Myra wanted to ask her questions but the woman never spoke. As they neared the wall Morgianna called for the driver to stop earning her a weird look from him and Myra.
"I promised you a talk, so if you would go on a walk with me I would be grateful." Myra knew what Morgianna was saying and nodded in agreement, both of them exiting the carriage. "You may return to the castle, inform Fafnir and Alnwick that I will return shortly and that there is no reason to come." The driver nodded and left without a backward glance, it was not his place to ask questions.
"I know I told him to tell them not to come but we both know they will not listen so shall we get right to the point?". Morgianna's words were not rushed despite what she said. She did not even wait for an answer before she began walking into the surrounding forest and continuing to speak. "This is not my first life, I have lived before, and therefore died before." As she said that last part her eyes met Myra's causing the older woman to feel uncomfortable. "In my past life it is true that I pushed a friend out of the way of a truck, imagine a carriage made of metal without horses that can move at a much higher speed. Anyway that's beside the point, the point is I am here for a reason. A mission to help this world..."
Myra's face was paler than usual as she looked at Morgianna. She had always felt the girl was older than she appeared but she never imagined this. "So you died and came here?"
Morgianna nodded. "And you have some mission to save people and you have not told Alnwick or Fafnir? At Myra's question she once again nodded. She knew it was hard to believe, she herself would not have believed it if it had not happened to her.
"I know it seems out there and untrue. This is the main reason I have not told the others, but I am so tired of hiding. So tired of pretending... I do not like to lie and I trust you... I trust Fafnir and I trust Alnwick. I am just afraid." She bared her soul so that Myra could glimpse the raw edges that had not healed around her wounded heart. She had dealt with her own death over the years and even accepted that she may die again trying to fix this world. She had not begged to continue living, quite the opposite, but now that she had this life and these friends and had no intention of going down without a fight.
Myra and Morgianna could feel the others getting closer. "I will not say anything, but I think you should." The words were spoken softly so only Morgianna would hear, and Morgianna couldn't help but smile a sad smile and nod her head. She would tell them. Just not today.
As Fafnir arrived he saw Myra and Morgianna smiling at each other and frowned. 'Since when we're they this close?' His thoughts shown clearly on his face causing Morgianna fo sigh. The man could hold a grudge, that was for sure. Alnwick was all smiles as he entered her line of sight. He knew Myra would not hurt Morgianna as he had known her the longest. He admitted to feeling distant and guarded towards her in the past, but the woman was too honest to stab someone in the back. She would have done something years ago if she was going to.
"Hello ladies, shall we return to the castle?" Alnwick gave a mock bow and thrust his elbow out in an exaggerated manner. "I shall escort you and be the envy of all of my peers." He gave a toothy smile not even slightly deterred by their eye rolls.
Fafnir quickly stepped forward taking Morgianna's hand and placing it at the crook of his elbow. Shooting a disapproving gaze at the other man. Alnwick didn't even acknowledge it as his sights then shifted to Myra, wiggling his eyebrows his elbow still offered.
She sighed and stepped past him as if he was air causing Alnwick to chuckle. He retracted his elbow as the four made their way back home.