***
"Stephanie, are you in there?" Emily said as she knocked on the door of the room. She turned to Eddy who shrugged. This was not the first knock since they came.
"What's going on?" Stephanie replied with a buzzing voice coming from the opposite direction.
Eddy and Emily immediately turned to face the woman who was walking with one hand on her waist and limping. Stephanie's face was gloomy, especially her puffy eyes and red nose because of crying.
"Oh my," Emily walked over to her and helped her to walk, "where have you been? Why do you look so messed up?" She asked worriedly.
Stephanie just smile. She looked alternately at the married couple who had just married a few months ago. "Why are you guys waiting in front of my room?"
"Daphne asked us to call you to her room," replied Eddy looking at her while examining the condition of the woman's body.
"Oh, she's in her room already?" Stephanie looks happy. "How is she?" She asked again.
Emily shook her head slowly while sighing in frustration. "Too bad, even if she doesn't show it. Well, she's still talking as curtly as ever," she replied which made Stephanie's expression turn gloomy.
Emily and Eddy looked at each other, then Eddy cleared his throat.
"If you're not fit, I can tell Daphne. She mu--"
"It's okay, Eddy." Stephanie forced a smile. "It just hurts a little. I can walk to her room," she continued.
Emily took a deep breath. She had indeed met twinnie apart from Stephanie and Daphne, but she had never met twinnie who had almost the same nature and character as the two.
"I'll take you there," Emily said worriedly.
"Ah, you have a lot of work. I heard on the way here, that the people who were punished have already been released by the master." Stephanie swallowed heavily at the mention of the master, not Edgar. "They need treatment, Emily."
"Hey, the doctor in this base isn't just me. Eddy is still here and the other doctors are here too," Emily replied holding Stephanie's arm wrapped in a wrinkled black satin shirt. "We have no shortage of medics, Stephanie."
Stephanie glanced at Emily and Eddy briefly, then nodded slowly again. "Okay. Please take me to Daphne's room," she said with a faint smile.
Emily gave her husband a wink, ushering Stephanie through her bedroom door to Daphne's room which was at the end of the corridor.
"Stephanie," Eddy called making the two women turn around.
"Yes?" Stephanie replied.
"I'll prescribe some salve for you," said Eddy waving his hand to which Stephanie answered with a small nod.
The two of them walked back to Daphne's room. Once in a while, Emily would talk to Stephanie and she would answer nicely, except for the reasons that made her walk so limp.
***
Knock knock
"Who is that?" Daphne asked turning her head from face down.
"It's me," Stephanie replied.
Daphne's eyelids opened wider. The girl got up from face down and sat, covering her bare breasts with the blanket "Come in," she said.
The door opened slowly, revealing Daphne's room which was the most spacious than any other mafia member because she was very special in Edgar's eyes.
Emily glared when she saw Daphne sitting with an expression like she was fine. "Daphne, you're still sick! Why are you being treated if you're being reckless like that?!"
"Sorry, Emily. I couldn't welcome Stephanie while facing down. I'm not leaning on the dashboard of the bed, so don't worry. The wound is untouched and still fine," Daphne explained.
Emily took a deep breath, shaking her head in frustration. Facing the stubborn Daphne only made her head dizzy and her mouth tired.
"You should have listened to her, Daphne. You're not a child anymore," Stephanie protested, removing Emily's hand from her arm, and turning to Emily with a smile. "Thank you. I will take care of Daphne next time. You don't have to be frustrated anymore to deal with her."
"Yeah, but you're sick too, Stephanie. Oh my God... I don't know who I'm worried about here," Emily said with another exasperated breath. She looked at the two women who had identical faces. "Looks like I'm the one to worry about here."
Daphne gave a small snort and Stephanie giggled at that.
Stephanie patted Emily's shoulder lightly. "Thank you very much. You can leave us," she said.
"Yes, glad to help you." Emily looked at Daphne who also looked at her dryly before leaving. "You...! Don't let your wound widen and stitch up. If your wound stitches up, I won't inject you with anesthetic," she continued threateningly.
"That's against the code of ethics for the patient." Daphne gave a devilish smile, made Emily who works as a deputy doctor at Edgar's headquarters ruffle her hair, then looked at Stephanie with a tired expression.
Stephanie chuckled. "I'm sorry again, Emily. You better get out now before you hear any more annoying things from her," she suggested.
"Okay." Emily felt calmer. "At least you're much better off than Daphne," she continued, glancing at Daphne who was glaring at her, then walked out of the girl's room.
"Exaggerating. This isn't the first serious wound I've had," Daphne mumbled as she watched Emily leave. The girl turned to Stephanie who closed the door and walked over to the bed carefully. "What did you do to Edgar to make him stop my punishment? Are you confess your mistake to him or sleep with him? Which is your reason?" Daphne asked a little curtly.
Stephanie just smiled. The only one who could deal with that stubborn girl was herself who was also stubborn. "Both. I did for you. But, master already knew that I'm a real charge," Stephanie replied, sitting on the edge of the bed. She noticed Daphne's face looked a little pale from losing quite a bit of blood. "You don't look fine, Daphne." Her hand reached out, stroking her twin's face.
"It's nothing. As far as I can see, your condition is even worse than mine." Daphne's expression turned sour. "You are a fool. I deliberately bore the punishment, but why are you messing with it instead?"
"I did the same as you, Daphne. Can you see me being punished by the master?" Stephanie asked. She lowered her hand that was perched on Daphne's face onto the bed.
Daphne just looked at her with furrowed brows. She broke eye contact and looked the other way. "You can't do it again next time," she warned firmly.
"Okay," Stephanie smirked. "But, you shouldn't do that either," she continued which made Daphne roll her eyes. "What did you call me for?"
"I have to get revenge on Manston."
"This fast?" Stephanie asked surprised. "But you're hurting. How did you do that?"
Daphne chuckled wryly. "You're the only one worried about me, Stephanie. Even Eddy said it's my brain that's needed, not my body."
"I'll scold Eddy later," Stephanie responded. Coincidentally because she will meet again with Eddy who will give her the salve.
Daphne chuckled again. "I have to meet with Edgar, but Emily won't let me clothing for the next five days." She noticed Stephanie's quivering eyes and her expression turned more serious.
"You want me to take your place?" Stephanie asked her.
Daphne nodded slowly. "Or were you with me in this room when Edgar came? Which one do you want?"
Stephanie was silent for a moment as she looked Daphne straight in the eye. She swallowed nervously. "I'll replace you in a meeting with Edgar. Tell me what you're going to do, but before that... may I ask you something?"
"Okay." Daphne nodded. "What's that?"
"Do you have feelings for master?" Stephanie asked bluntly.
"No," Daphne answered immediately firmly, causing Stephanie to snort immediately.
"You answered that with great confidence," Stephanie replied with a shrill laugh.
"Well, because he's only my master." Daphne shrugged her shoulders with a small smile. "You love him, right?" asked Daphne in turn.
"Yeah, I love him so bad," Stephanie replied as sure as Daphne's.
Daphne took a deep breath as she shook her head slightly and smiled bitterly. "Don't get your hopes up, Stephanie. I'm warning you--"
"Casillas and Edgar, two men you shouldn't fall in love with," Stephanie interrupted seriously, causing Daphne to tilt her head in surprise. "I heard it faintly when I was sleeping," she continued with a small smile.
"I've already told you and will continue to warn you in the future," Daphne insisted. "Now, listen to my plan for revenge on Manston. You must present it very well at the meeting with Edgar."
———