Faeralys' eyes darkened, the emotions ebbing away like a snowstorm covering the warm soil on the earth. Their ambiguous intentions did not go unbidden as soon as they stepped forward, causing Argider's expression to crumble and torn between the raging urges of fight or flight. She pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth as hard as she could to stifle a scream.
"Look at your face. Pale as a dead man." Faeralys snorted in amusement.
Argider was stunned. "Can…Can you blame me?" Her low voice rumbled, still eyeing the weapon held by the girl. "I-It's improper for a lady to be holding one in the first place!"
"And what's wrong with a lady holding a dagger?"
Argider's voice huffed in disapproval, her words laced with judgment. "It's unbecoming for a lady to wield a blade," she declared. "No man desires a woman who seeks to intimidate with steel. Such a woman's hand should be soft, not calloused from handling a weapon. A true lady embodies delicate grace, not fierce stren-" Her words abruptly broke as Faeralys launched her dagger in a flurry of motion, the blade hissing through the air as it missed its mark.
Fear gripped Argider's entire bodily muscles, as if the Grim Reaper's scythe hovered just an inch away from her neck. She slowly turned her gaze back, her pulse pounding in her ears like a drumbeat of imminent danger. Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the dagger, which had embedded itself firmly and precisely in the tree trunk. It sent a chill down her spine.
It could've been her neck.
If such a fate befell her, it would have been almost poetic in its irony. To speak with carefree spirit, only to be cut down in the blink of an eye by a blade to the throat, was a chilling thought. Her fingers instinctively reach for her neck, gingerly rubbing the exposed skin in a moment of paranoid uncertainty.
"I apologize. I do not seem to remember asking for an opinion from a whore. Although, you have spoken like a true prostitute who only knows how to use their mouth and hands on a man. I am glad you found the occupation where you belong." Faeralys went past Argider who only stood still. The latter attempted to lock eye contact with the girl, but was met with a raptorial gaze of fury. She shifted her head away from the steely expression in fear like a dog who's learned her place.
Why did Faeralys take so much offense at her words? The reaction was more fervent than she'd expected. Argider did not want to look back while there was a sharp, scraping sound, the blade being drawn out as its edges fought against the tough fibers of the tree.
Infuriated by the thought of being humiliated by a girl, Argider channeled her pride, her voice firm and defiant as she met Faeralys face to face. "Why did you do that?!" she demanded, her frustration brimming over.
"To kill you, of course." To her surprise, the girl retorted coldly.
Argider let out an indignant scoff. "Don't try to intimidate me, you pint-sized pipsqueak."
"What did you say?!"
However, that same magical hologram materialized in front of her once again. 'What now?' she lamented, her thoughts filled with annoyance. This was not a good time.
— [New Notification]
— [Sub Task: Successfully Lie To Faeralys And Go Beyond The Entrance]
— [Minor Task: Embrace Faeralys for 30 Seconds]
— [Affection Points Gain +1]
Her cheeks flushed instantly, a startled huff escaping her lips as her eyes widened in bewildered surprise. The thought of embracing the girl, a person with whom she had clear differences and who had just hurled a dagger at her, seemed utterly ludicrous. Yet, the directive was unambiguous, and it compelled her to defy every instinct that screamed against it.
She struggled to find her bearings, unsure of who she was becoming and what was happening. All she longed for was to return home, a sanctuary that seemed distant and elusive.
"Fuck..."
– [New Notification]
– [Main Task | Time Remaining: 5 hours, 10 minutes, 5 seconds]
Time ticked away, leaving no room for hesitation or second-guessing. Argider steeled herself, her ears burning with embarrassment. 'How do I even attempt a hug without getting myself impaled?' she wondered, her mind racing with uncertainty. 'Should I apologize? Will she see it as a sign of weakness or vulnerability? Her pride is colossal; there's no telling how she'll respond.' With every passing moment, her doubts grew louder, but so too did her growing realization that she had no choice but to confront this unexpected predicament.
"I...I beg your forgiveness, your grace," she apologized, her body bowing low together with her gaze in supplication.
"W-What are you doing?" The question stumbled out awkwardly.
"I'm apologizing, you-" she paused immediately, almost calling the girl a pipsqueek much to her displeasure. Did she seriously have to clarify?! This entire situation was already irksome enough. Bowing down like some pathetic beggar had already taken its toll on her self-respect.
"To you...you gorgeous thing," she continued, quickly correcting herself.
Faeraly's face turned a deep red. "What the hell...?" she was befuddled by the sudden change of tone. "Are you fooling around with me?"
"No, I assure you," the emperor replied, standing upright and moving closer. Her gaze darted intently up and down Faeralys' form, her eyes unabashedly taking in every detail. She was oblivious to the fact that her perusal could come across as rather creepy.
"Do you have to move this close?.."
"It is essential because I wish to prove my sincerity," Argider stated matter-of-factly as she extended her arms. She seemed so mechanical.
Again, acting was never their strong suit.
"Hold on a moment!" Faeralys reacted, waving her hands on the air dismissively. "How can someone undergo such a drastic transformation in the blink of an eye?!"
"S-Sometimes, it takes a moment for us to recognize the true beauty of someone!" she defended herself snappily.
"Oh, silence yourself," the shorter girl shot back, refusing to buy into the sudden change in attitude. "You obviously have some ulterior motive. You've simply forgotten what it is."
"I...I simply want to embrace you, your grace!" Argider blurted out, each syllable a struggle that sent a sharp pang of pain through her head. This felt degrading to her own self-worth.
Desperation fueling her every step, Argider raced toward the young girl, arms outstretched. Though Faeralys clutched her weapon tightly, she couldn't bring herself to draw it as she normally would. She was befuddled.
"No, stop!" With each attempt to catch her, Faeralys would leap out of reach.
"Please, your grace, just thirty seconds!" Argider pleaded, her request oddly specific.
"Why does that sound so precise?! Are you some kind of pervert?!" Faeralys dashed away, her steps frantic, but in her haste, she tripped and stumbled to the ground. "Oof!"
Taking advantage of the opening, Argider planted herself on top of Faeralys and effectively pinning her down.
"Ah!" the girl below her exclaimed with a gasp, their shoulders pressed against the ground with firm pressure.
As an arm encircled her body, Faeralys resisted, struggling to break free. "Get off me!" she demanded, throwing punches with increasing desperation. But to her astonishment, Argider simply endured each blow without flinching. Their single-minded determination to embrace her was nothing short of baffling. Despite the growing intensity of Faeralys' punches, the woman remained steadfast, seemingly unfazed.
Growing exhausted from the futile struggle, Faeralys finally yielded, her arms falling limp at her sides.
— [New Notification]
— [Side Task Complete]
— [Affection Points +1]
[Loading...]
[Processing...]
Ding!
— [New Relationship Status: Faeralys Merovia]
— [Affection ▪︎ 0]
— [Loyalty▪︎ 0]
— [Emotion▪︎ 80]
"Only zero?" she mumbled to herself, realizing that progressing the relationship level wasn't as simple as she had imagined.
Argider released her grip, and to her surprise, she noticed Faeralys' eyes welling up with tears, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and vulnerability. The girl hastily covered her face, striving to regain her composure. She sat up, her features attempting to adopt a stoic expression, her eyes tinged with a reddish hue.
"Are you satisfied now?" Faeralys snifled.
"Y..Yes..." She could sense that she had pushed things too far. Yet, the system's affirmation rang in her ears, confirming the success of her actions.
"What do you want?" she asked, the edge in her tone dulled by her inner turmoil. Her attempt to sound angry fell flat.
"I just simply wish to find my way back inside the walls.."
"And why should I offer my aid to a mere whore like you? It would only bring about ruin, trouble, misfortune... If the high lord truly pursued you far enough to be killed, do you believe there is any refuge to be found within the grand city's towering walls? You ought to count yourself fortunate to have escaped beyond the bounds. Yet even still, you yearn to return." Faeralys placed the gleaming blade back into the sheath at her hip and slowly stepped away. "Farewell. I shall be departing to my carriage."
Argider hastened to catch up to the departing figure, her slender fingers reaching out to gently grasp the hand of Faeralys. Holding it with a firm grip, she implored her, "Please, Your Grace, do not go. Know that it was not my choice to be there. I… I have an obligation thrust upon me against my will, but it is something I must do." It sounded genuine, because it was the truth.
"Something you are forced in?" she repeated, her words echoing the paradox within her heart. It was an intriguing inner tug-of-war, a battle between pity and her thirst for revenge. The dilemma gnawed at her conscience, creating a perplexing maelstrom of emotions. "Fine. Follow me."
They navigated through the cluster of trees, making their way to the cobblestone street. There, a carriage was stationed, a solitary guard waiting by its side. The guard's surprise was evident upon seeing Argider's face, but Faeralys promptly silenced them. The earlier procession of carriages had thinned out, though an underlying tension hung in the air. The bruised and beaten peasants from before lingered on the sidelines, their miserable state a stark reminder of the ongoing turmoil.
Faeralys approached the carriage, unlatching the door with one hand and lifting the edge of the seat with the other. As she did, a concealed compartment was revealed, a secret space hidden within the carriage's interior.
"Hide here," Faeralys instructed. The space was cramped, offering little room for anything, let alone breathing comfortably.
Noticing Argider's hesitation, Faeralys added, "Trust me," A smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.
Argider's face crinkled into a frown at the girl, but her options were limited. She grimaced as she attempted to squeeze into the confined space, her feet catching on the narrow surface and causing a sharp, searing pain. "Dammit..." she muttered, her voice strained and filled with distress. The electrifying pain threatened to bring tears to her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back, gritting her teeth.
"What's the matter?" The smug youngster inquired with feigned innocence. She could barely contain the glimmer of amusement in her eyes, relishing the chance to provoke the older woman.
Argider hated that smug look from Faeralys. She will pay someday. Someday.
She cautiously maneuvered herself into the compartment, her legs awkwardly readjusting to fit within the tight space. Her legs had to flex into an uncomfortable upward position, but she managed to settle in.
Then the seat was placed back in its original position, covering the hidden space, effectively concealing Argider from view.
It was just as Argider had expected – cramped, uncomfortable, and suffocating. Suddenly, she heard a thump as something heavy settled above her.
"You're sitting on top of me, aren't you?" Argider asked, her voice an exasperated tone.
Faeralys' response came in a mocking, sing-song manner. "Maybe, maybe not."