"You're so curious? You don't think we're talking business?" Anna said deliberately fishing, wanting to know how Alice would react.
"Oh, just a business matter. You don't have to talk to me about that." Alice replied nonchalantly.
"Then what if we turn out to be talking about you?" Anna raised one eyebrow, teasing Alice.
"I-me? Are you serious?" Alice asked suddenly nervous.
Anna laughed amused seeing Alice who was already nervous. Anna cupped Alice's cheeks and shook her fondly.
"Aw aw aw, it hurts. What did you do to me, Anna?" Alice said annoyed.
Anna was still laughing.
"You're so cute when you're nervous like that." Anna said.
"Don't tease me! Tell me what you're talking about me, can't you talk about me being ugly?" Tuding Alice felt Anna was a little suspicious.
"Absolutely not, dear Alice. How could I speak ill of my brother-in-law."
"Stop teasing me, Anna!" Alice said quickly. She immediately looked away because she was too embarrassed to show her red cheeks to Anna.
Ignoring Alice who was still blushing, Anna had fun laughing at Alice. outrageous.
"Alice, do you think you've managed to get Axel's attention?" Anna asked starting a conversation that led to what they were going to discuss.
"Anna, I feel like everything I've been doing isn't paying off. Am I not working hard enough?" Alice asked gazing off into the distance.
"You do have to work harder, but I have good news for you, Alice."
"What news is that?"
"Axel has cared for you enough. He was talking about you earlier and he is very considerate of you. I'm pretty sure he'll be able to accept you soon enough." Anna said with a smile.
"You don't make me feel like I'm being flown, Anna. It'll hurt if I fall from a height because my imagination is too high."
"You're not dreaming, Alice. Try to be confident. Don't put yourself down too much."
"Anna, you're not lying, are you? You're telling the truth, aren't you?"
"Alice, you were so confident when you said you didn't need your help, when you said you were going to work on your own. So where is your confidence now?" Hardik Anna.
"I'm just afraid I'll be disappointed in my own imagination, Anna."
"Yes-yes-yes I understand. But believe me, hard work accompanied by sincerity will yield maximum results."
"All right." Give up Alice in the end.
"Oh yes, Anna."
"Yes, what is up?"
"How about you tell me about your relationship with Ed too? I'd like to hear your story too." Alice said showing her puppy eyes.
"I-me?"
"Yes. You and Edward."
"Hmm, looks like there's nothing to tell. We don't have any interesting stories to hear."
"No! You have to tell me anyway. You can't refuse or keep anything from me." Alice insisted.
"Should I?"
"Yes, from now on we must be both open to each other. Let's continue to exchange stories for the future." Alice said enthusiastically.
"All right." Give it up.
"Looks like you came here to have a girls party?" Anna jokes.
"Haha, that's right. Let's just say so." Alice replied with a laugh.
"So, let's talk."
"Okay-okay I'll start the storytelling." Anna chuckles.
"But first, how about we move to a room instead? You're not thinking of not staying over, are you?"
"Of course I'll stay if you insist."
"Okay, let's just say I'm forcing you."
"Then I'll stay. Let's go to our room."
"Come on."
***
A man covered in blood and blue-purple bruises almost covered his entire face, staggering into the private elevator. It was Edward, crawling inside the Emperor's building. He didn't care about his own situation, forgetting the pain and soreness all over his body which was wrapped in a torn suit.
Ting.
The elevator had stopped on the floor he was going to. Now Edward walked closer to the room across from his room, namely Anna's room.
He knocked weakly on the door.
Knock knock!
From the inside, Anna walked quickly to open the door.
The door opened and,
Bruck!
Edward fell helplessly.
"EDWARD!" Anna screamed hysterically.
Anna crouched down, grabbing Edward's body in a determined motion. She did not feel betel or disgusted at all even though the blood covered several parts of Edward's body. She kept Edward's head up to rest on his thigh.
"Are you all right, Anna?" Edward asked in a very weak voice.
"Stupid! What are you talking about? I should be the one asking you that." Anna exclaimed hysterically. She cried, her tears dripping mixed with blood on Edward's face.
"I'm glad you're okay, Anna." said Edward who had almost lost consciousness.
"Stupid Edward! Hang on, I'll take you inside."
Anna struggled to support Edward's stout body which was now covered with cuts.
Anna took Edward and laid him on the sofa. Anna's tears could not be prevented from falling.
Anna quickly took the first aid kit. Anna started the action. Starting from wiping blood, cleaning wounds, giving anti-bacterial medicine, to dressing Edward's wounds with bandages.
Not infrequently Edward grimaced in pain and pain when Anna executed him.
"Thank you, Princess Annalise." Edward said gratefully. His energy was starting to fill up, plus seeing Anna fine was a source of energy in itself for Edward.
"Ed, why is it like this? What happened?" Anna started attacking Edward with questions.
"It's my own fault, Anna. Harvey's men came attacking me out of the blue. They immediately aimed their knives at me. All those people, they each carried one knife. I didn't stand a chance. In the end I chose to pretend." died when I happened to fall. They kicked me, stepped on my face and they kept on stomping on me as if even when I died they wouldn't just let me go." Edward said in a slightly hoarse voice.
Anna had covered her mouth in shock. She was speechless. She really didn't expect Harvey to act this cruel.
"Luckily they left quickly so I was able to crawl here before I lost consciousness. All I can think about is you, Anna. I want to make sure you're okay."
"Edward, you idiot. I hate you." Anna pout.
"Y-you, why do you suddenly hate me, Anna?" Edward asked frantically. Didn't he do anything wrong?
"Because you are stupid! I hate you because you are stupid!" Anna said emphatically.
"You should have put your safety first! You should have gone to the hospital instead of limping off to see me." Added Anna.
"Anna, you don't know."
"What I don't know, Ed?"
***