"Do you want to become Lady Evalyn?" Lord Drachenstein asked Maki with a smile.
Maki stammered, "Wha... What?" Leaning closer, her gaze locked on his striking silver eyes. Lord Drachenstein chuckled softly, like leaves rustling in a spring breeze.
"Indeed, Maki. There's a certain charm in that idea, isn't there? If you want to know the end of the novel, why not step into it and change the narrative?" Maki's heart raced, her curiosity piqued by the glint of mischief in Lord Drachenstein's eyes.
"But… but why me?" she managed to whisper, feeling the weight of his suggestion swirl around her like uncharted waters.
"Why not you?" he countered, his voice smooth as velvet. "You possess a spirit greater than the confines of your tale. Look around, Maki.
The world is filled with characters waiting for a chance to reclaim their fates. Lady Evalyn could be more than just a name in a tome; she could be the embodiment of your dreams."
The air thickened with possibility, and Maki's mind raced. Images of high towers, grand banquets, and whispered secrets danced before her. The thought of adventure set her pulse to a rhythm that matched the crescendo of her imagination.
"But what if I fail?" she questioned, the doubt creeping into her tone like shadows at twilight.
"No adventure is without risk," Lord Drachenstein replied, his smile unwavering. "But think of the tales that could spring forth! A villain who navigates treachery and finds allies in unexpected places. What greater thrill is there than to don the mantle of your aspirations and rewrite the ending?''
She inhaled sharply, his words igniting a newfound resolve. "If I say yes... Wait!... Wait!!! What do you mean? Do you think I would blindly believe you?" Maki felt as if she had just awakened from a dream. With a serious expression, she stared intently at the lord.
The lord met her gaze, unwavering, his resolve palpable in the air between them. "It's not merely a question of belief, Maki. It's about choice—yours and mine. There's a truth buried beneath layers of deception, and I can help you uncover it."
Maki's heart raced, caught in a tempest of emotions. "Help me? Or trap me further into your web of lies?" The words tumbled from her lips, sharper than she intended, each syllable laced with the sting of betrayal she had felt countless times.
He stepped closer, the tension thickening with each heartbeat. "I swear to you, I am not the villain of this story."
The weight of his gaze bore down on her, and she felt herself wavering, caught in the crossfire between caution and curiosity. "And what if your truth is merely a façade? What if you seek power, not salvation?"
"Then you will have every right to judge me," he replied, his voice steady, not a hint of hesitation. "But if I speak the truth, will you condemn yourself by rejecting the chance to break free?"
Silence enveloped them, thick with unspoken potential. Maki's thoughts raced, the stakes of their conversation looming larger than ever. Could she afford to gamble with her fate on the words of a lord she had barely known? The battle within her raged on, torn between the familiar safety of doubt and the perilous allure of possibility.
A flicker of something—gratitude or admiration—crossed his features before he nodded, determination hardening his jaw. "Very well. Trust is built, not given, and I will not squander this chance. Just go back home and relax while you wait."
Maki held his gaze, every instinct screaming at her to flee yet her feet remained rooted to the spot. Yet she felt as though she stood at the precipice of change, the air electric with potential. "Okay but everything it's on my terms," she said, steeling her resolve, unwilling to yield her power.
"Fair enough," he replied, a glimmer of respect dancing in his eyes. "Then meet you there, Maki."
''Huh?''
Maki missed his last words as he turned away. She wanted to confirm, but it felt more like a conversation between friends than with a stranger.
Maki whispered to herself as she walked to her apartment, "So wonderful! I just had a day in Hokkaido, like going to a mini-mart!"
Once she arrived and unlocked the door, confusion washed over her. "Wait! Did I miss something?"
"What's my goal again? Why was I going there? And why Hokkaido?" She paused at the doorway, unaware of someone behind her.
Ugh!
Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if something had cut through her heart. Maki turned slightly to see a hooded figure with a knife, grinning menacingly.
Maki gasped, her mind racing. "What…Who are you?" The words slipped from her lips like ice, chilling the air between them. She clenched her fists, her heart pounding in sync with the fear spreading through her veins.
The figure stepped closer, the knife glinting under the dim hallway light. "Your memories are like a fog, aren't they?" the voice was smooth, almost mocking.
The hooded figure tilted its head, amused. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough. But first, let's see how far you can go before the truth catches up to you." With a swift motion, the knife disappeared, replaced with a small, intricately carved box that he held out to her.
Her curiosity was piqued despite the danger. The box was beautiful, adorned with symbols she couldn't recognize, almost glowing against the shadows. "What's this?" she asked, her voice steadied by curiosity rather than fear.
"An invitation," he replied with a sinister grin. "Open it, and you'll remember everything. But beware, Maki. Not all memories are meant to be savored."
Against her better judgment, Maki reached out, fingers trembling as they brushed against the cool surface. The moment she touched the box, a rush of images flooded her mind—vivid, disjointed snapshots of places and faces, moments of joy intertwined with shadows of dread.
"You see?" the figure taunted, stepping back into the dim light. "Each memory a fragment of the life you've been running from. Will you embrace them, or deny your past?"
Without thinking, Maki slammed the door behind her, the noise echoing through the quiet hall. She couldn't afford to lose herself, not now, not when she was so close to understanding.
"Choice time, Maki!" His voice seeped through the cracks, relentless like a murmur of fate. "Will you accept the truth, or will you let fear seal your fate? Open the box…or face the knife."
Her heart raced, and with bated breath, she inhaled deeply, contemplating the unknown, the mysteries of memories pulling at her like an old, familiar song. The answer lay within that box, a double-edged sword, and she had to decide before the darkness closed in around her completely.
"Oh! My Lady, you're awake," an unfamiliar voice said as Maki helped her up from the collapse of last night's events.
"Eva, my daughter, you're awake! Are you alright?" a middle-aged woman exclaimed, crying as she approached Maki and hugged her.
''Huh!?''