"Hey! Are you okay, Olivia?"

Celine asked. Her face looked worried as she saw Olivia looking like she was about to faint. Olivia bit her lower lip, trying to stop herself from crying, but her shoulders were shaking.

Without hesitation,

Olivia suddenly hugged Celine who was rushing toward her. Celine panicked and started shaking

This is too much for me...

She thought to her self while hugging Celine tightly. Tears started to fall slowly from her eyes. Everything felt so heavy, and she just wanted to cry it all out.

Celine went silent, and slowly, she stroked Olivia’s back gently.

"There there! It’s okay, I’m here," she said with a warm smile.

Then,

BWAHHHHH...

Olivia’s crying became even louder. Her whole body felt exhausted at that moment. She had too much on her mind, and she really needed a warm hug from someone like Celine.

Then,

Pak pak pak

The sound of footsteps echoed loudly, like someone was running down the stairs. Her face looked worried, and her eyes were filled with tears. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Olivia...." that voice called out.

Celine looked toward the stairs.

"Oh, it’s Lady Ophilia..." Celine said with a smile. Ophilia ran quickly and then...

Tub!

Her crying could be heard.

"Oliviaaaa....."

Ophilia’s tears fell heavily as she hugged both of them.

"I will protect you!!!..."

Ophilia said while sobbing uncontrollably. Olivia’s tears flowed even faster when she saw Ophilia’s sincerity.

They hugged each other while crying so hard that their noses started running. Even though she was crying, Olivia couldn’t help but laugh seeing them.

"My lady, your nose... and you too, Celine,"

Olivia said while handing them her handkerchief. They all ended up laughing together through their tears.

Not long after that, they left together to have afternoon tea in Ophilia’s room.

The smell of warm tea filled the room, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful again.

Suddenly ..

Creakk...

Ophilia’s room door opened. The three of them looked toward the door. Avelvion walked in with a shocked face.

His face changed immediately.

"Puff! Hahaha...! What happened to your faces?!"

He laughed loudly while hitting the door with his hand. He couldn’t stop laughing at them.

"Shut up,"

Olivia said while glaring at Avelvion. Ophilia calmly sipped her tea. So did Celine, who was beside Ophilia.

However, Avelvion didn’t stop laughing as he walked toward them. He took his seat.

Bwahaahaha...Haaahhh.

They stayed silent and gave no reaction.

The room was quiet. The only sound was Avelvion’s laughter. Seeing that they gave no reaction, he cleared his throat.

He took a breath to stop himself from laughing anymore. Then, he opened his mouth.

"Hey! I heard you were accused of something?" He asked Olivia. He picked up a teacup on the table. They stayed silent and didn’t answer. Avelvion looked at them one by one.

"Hey! Come on, I’m talking right now!" He said. Then he leaned back in his chair.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" Olivia said. He stared at Olivia and then went back to being silent.

"Oh nothing, just wanted to ask,"

Avelvion said. His hand reached for a biscuit in front of him. Ophilia watched Avelvion who was greedily eating the biscuits served for them.

As soon as he finished eating the biscuit, he stood up. Then he looked at Olivia. However, it seemed Olivia didn’t see the signal Avelvion was giving her.

"Humm... hum.."

Avelvion said. He pretended to clear his throat until Olivia looked at him. Ophilia and Celine were confused about what Avelvion wanted to say. After a few minutes, Avelvion’s legs felt tired so he walked toward Olivia and tapped her shoulder hard.

Puk!!

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Olivia said while rubbing her shoulder that Avelvion hit. Her face twisted in pain. Avelvion smiled and whispered to her,

"Let’s discuss something important. Tonight, meet me in my room."

His face looked serious for a second, making me feel like something big was about to happen. Then he walked out of the room. Olivia turned around. One of her eyebrows raised.

"Ceh ceh... he’s getting more mature, huh,"

Celine said while watching Avelvion who had just left. Ophilia nodded.

"Maybe because he’ll only be here for two more weeks," Ophilia said softly while sipping her tea again. Olivia nodded. She thought about it while sitting next to Ophilia.

"What does he want to ask?" She whispered softly. Her finger was tapping her chin slowly. Then, she shrugged her shoulders and went back to chatting with them as usual. They talked excitedly like always, but this time, the atmosphere in Ophilia’s room was brighter than before.

Olivia smiled.

_________________________

Meanwhile, in a different room.

Pakkk!!

A hand slapped Delia’s cheek. Delia slowly raised her face. The redness on her cheek was nothing compared to the strange glint in her eyes.

Madam Irene jumped; that wasn’t the look of a child throwing a tantrum, but the look of a predator watching its prey. Delia stood calmly. She said nothing. The woman in front of her was shaking with anger.

"What have you done now?!" She shouted in a low voice. She was panting as if she was extremely angry. With a careless face, she looked at the older woman. Sharp and deep.

"Tell me!" The woman said. Delia pouted and looked toward another corner.

"Just fun," she said softly. Every word that came out of Delia’s mouth felt like a knife stabbing into the woman’s heart.

"Things like this are not a game, Delia," the woman said with a slightly high voice. Delia remained silent and didn’t answer at all.

"So what was your point in doing that?" The woman said a bit more softly.

"You don’t need to know..."

"That is my business,"

Delia said while staring at the woman sharply. The woman nodded.

"I put you in here not to look for trouble, Delia," she said firmly while walking calmly. She let out a heavy breath.

"I have treated you like my own child, Delia," Madam Irene said again. She tried to touch Delia’s shoulder, but Delia quickly brushed her hand away.

"I don’t need you, Madam Irene" she said coldly. Her eyes looked different, like she was a completely different person.

"You know what’s funny, Madam Irene ? You keep trying to save a soul that isn’t even here anymore."

She paused for a moment.

"The ’Delia’ you loved? She’s gone. I’m just a visitor... and this world? It’s nothing more than my playground,"

she continued while chuckling softly.

"Because you know that..." She said softly while smirking. She looked down for a second. Her pupils grew large as she walked toward Madam Irene Then, she put her mouth close to Madam Irene s ear. Madam Irene jumped in surprise.

"... I’m not from this world," she said while laughing loudly. Her calm face that Delia usually wore was now 100 percent changed. The person in front of Madam Irene didn’t look like the Delia she had loved all this time. Madam Irene was stunned. Her eyes stared at Delia, who was still laughing loudly without control.

Madam Irene’s hand shook. She wanted to scream, wanted to call the guards, but her voice was stuck in her throat. In front of her, Delia looked like a stranger wearing the skin of someone she loved.

’Who... who are you really?’ Madam Irene whispered with a broken voice. Delia played with her hair, looking bored as if Madam Irene’s anger didn’t matter to her at all.

She grinned..

"Why do you want to know?" She laughed softly while staring sharply. Her eyes scanned Madam Irene from top to bottom.

She knew she shouldn’t expect anything more from Delia. She already knew things like this would happen. But she wasn’t ready to accept it yet. Her shoulders shook slowly as she stared at the woman wearing the face of her girl, Delia...

My Delia.... she used to be a sweet girl....

She said in her heart with a heavy heart.

Then,

"I only have one request that I want..." Madam Irene said while looking at Delia. Delia stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.

"Don’t ever do something like what you did today, I’m begging you," she said. Without waiting for an answer, she turned around to leave the room.

"Hmm...." Delia said while tapping her chin slowly. As if she was thinking calmly. The corner of her lips lifted.

"I’m sorry..." she said while putting her palm on her chin. Madam Irene turned her head toward Delia, who was smiling happily.

"You’re insane," Madam Irene said before her figure disappeared behind the wall.

Delia watched Madam irene’s shadow vanish behind the wall. She touched her stinging cheek, then slowly licked her fingertip while widening her smile.

"Naive? Yes, Olivia is indeed naive. But that is exactly what makes this game so much more fun, isn’t it?"

Delia let out a hollow, haunting laugh that echoed against the cold walls. It wasn’t the laugh of the girl they once knew; it was something darker. The only sound in the hallway was the echo of Delia’s footsteps....

"That girl....."

"I know her..."

"It seems she’s still as naive as she was back then," she said with a chuckle as she started to walk away.

"Haaaa... let’s see how that naive girl reacts... once she finds out the truth."