'Heh~' He observed her meticulously, a scientist studying a lab rat. As he drew closer, he could almost smell the emotions emanating from her.
…
Fear, yes, that was primary. But beneath it, he detected a well of loneliness and grief, a yearning for a sense of belonging. He wasn't surprised, grasping the slightest emotions emitting from her.
Also, check them through his skills to confirm it.
[Emotional states: Fear, Grief, loneliness Curiosity, tiredness, deprivation…]
He stopped directly in front of her, her head still stubbornly bowed.
Lillian had heard his every step, as he got closer and closer towards her, her heart pounded frantically. Her grip on her dress tightened the worn fabric a little comfort against the overwhelming tide of fear.
She couldn't bear herself to spare even a single glance.
"Lillian, is it?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.
Then, a light touch on her head startled her. Asher's hand, surprisingly steady, patted her hair in a gesture that felt more like a claim of ownership than a kindness.
"Eeh…" The girl flinched at the sound of his voice, a tiny gasp escaping her lips.
"It's a beautiful name," he continued, his voice silky smooth, "but I will call you Lily!" Asher's touch sent a jolt through her, a mixture of fear and a strange calm.
Lily, as Asher had now nicknamed her, lifted her head slowly, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of fear and something else – a spark of resistance perhaps? It was a fleeting emotion, quickly replaced by a dull acceptance.
She met his gaze, and for a moment, Asher saw a reflection staring back – the same emptiness, but different from his, she had eyes similar to someone who had everyone close to her.
But the moment was short-lived. Her heart skipped a beat, not because of the love at first sight, she caught a glimpse of his emotionless eyes and the unsettling amusement playing on his lips.
He didn't look like the kind boy Sword Maiden had described. He looked and acted completely different from what she heard of him.
Where's the timid boy? This boy reeked of something else entirely – confidence, and a hint of something darker lurking beneath the surface.
Asher saw the different emotions swirling around in her eyes, as she stared at him intensely.
"Do you know my name?" He asked, a faint smile on his lips, completely harmless.
"..." Lily could only nod, a strange sense of paralysis gripping her. Sword Maiden was just talking about him before he entered.
"Good, so you must already know what your future job will be?" He asked, and received another nod from her. She already knew why she was invited from the orphanage.
"Good, I like you." He gave a satisfied nod to her, liking the obedient pet he had gotten.
He continued to touch her head, giving his new pet the light patts she needed to calm down.
But there was no warmth in his eyes as he patted her head. It was a gesture of ownership, a taming of a wild creature.
But she didn't see that, nor did she need to know.
Even then, as his hand brushed her hair, a strange sensation washed over her – a calmness, a quiet strength that soothed her.
It was a feeling she hadn't experienced since her parents held her hand.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Yet, beneath the sadness, a flicker of that fragile hope remained.
Hope that perhaps, just perhaps, she could carve out a place for herself after losing her parents.
Hope that someday, the nightmares would stop haunting her in dreams, and the emptiness in her heart might begin to heal.
The hope for a future where she wouldn't be alone, where she could find someone who cared, someone who would be there for her, the way her parents used to be for each other.
…
…
…
…
…
But the moment was short-lived, as Asher pulled his hand away, his amusement evident in the way his eyes as he watched Lillian fall back into her daydream.
"Ah~" Lillian, caught off guard, let out a small gasp. Her expression, which had softened for a fleeting moment, crumpled with confusion and a flicker of loss.
The familiar feeling – a strange sense of calm and belonging – vanished as quickly as it appeared.
She stared at the empty space where his hand had been, then instinctively reached up, her own hand brushing against the spot on her head, where Asher had touched.
'It isn't the same,' she thought with a pang of something she couldn't quite name.
Lost in her world for a fleeting moment, a strange loneliness washed over her.
A childish pout formed on her lips, a reaction that felt out of place in the tense atmosphere.
Soon reality crashed back down, reminding her where she was and who she was with, when Asher called her out.
"Is there something you want to say?" Asher's amusement deepened. He'd stopped halfway through a silent conversation with himself, turning back to her with a raised eyebrow.
Lillian flinched, startled. Shame flushed her cheeks as she realised she'd been caught lost in her own thoughts.
"No... nothing..." she mumbled, cheeks burning with embarrassment. How could she have been so careless?
"Then… it's settled?" Scarlett asked, a hint of relief laced with a strange sense of unease when she saw Asher gave Lily pat. It was a feeling she couldn't quite place.
"Mmm…" Asher hummed nonchattally, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He walked back to her, picking up the glass of juice and taking a slow sip.
"Stella, Can you show the room Lily is going to stay in?" He asked, but it was more like an order than actually asking.
"... Yes, young master," Stella, ever perceptive, bowed her head slightly.
"Please, follow me." she murmured, before turning to Lily, leading her towards the one of the maids' rooms.
Lillian followed Stella out of the office, casting a single, hesitant glance back at Asher before disappearing down the hallway.
Asher watched her go, the faint smirk on his lips turning into a satisfied smile, not just for her but also for her status.
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[Character Data]
Name: Lillian
Nickname:
Age: 11
Anima: Whip
Talent: Solid-Grade
Titles: Orphan
Stats:
Soul Power: 82
Strength: 6
Agility: 4
Vitality: 4
Stamina: 3
Dexterity: 3
Intelligence: 9
Constitution: 7
Charm: 57+
Luck: 63
SP(Stat Points): 03
…
Role: Support Character(Villainess) for Asher Agnes.
Past: Orphaned after a monster attack a year ago. Likely experienced hardship and poverty.
Description:
-She is easily startled and mistrustful. However, she also possesses a deep well of loneliness and a yearning for a sense of belonging.
-Lillian will need support and guidance to overcome her past.
-Easily startled and mistrustful.
Has a well of loneliness and a yearning for a family and home.
Note: Lillian is deeply traumatised by the loss of her parents. She is fearful and withdrawn but possesses a spark of defiance and a deep yearning for a sense of belonging.
Favorability: 15% (Strangers)
Emotional states: Fear, Grief, Loneliness, Curiosity, Tiredness, Deprivation, Yearning(Hidden)
Total Character Value: SR+
Evaluation:
-Difficulty: C- (Vulnerable and easily manipulated due to her age and lack of training)
-Vulnerable and easily manipulated.
Chances of Survival: 99.99% (She is weak)
Hidden:
Title: Survivor
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