Chapter 10: The world within the game.

Elise was fumbling around my closet seeing the new clothes she bought for me yesterday had come.

Tailored by the finest fashion trends, I ordered something darker colored and it seemed my maid had chosen something perfect for the occasion.

After not liking the color blue on me and I had to act last time that I liked the color in front of Elise so her feelings wouldn't get hurt was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

Anyone who will make my maid cry will certainly be dealt with care.

Even me... I suppose.

"Milady, your new clothes! Are they to your liking?" (Elise) tilts her head over to look at my widening smile.

The outfit she picked for me. I can't believe I'm saying this, but- I love it.

The shade of dark purple mixed with light, the pattern on the side and how comfortable it was. Truly, I couldn't help myself from complimenting Elise. 

"You've outdone yourself." I told her and she gave me a satisfied look.

I walked to my jewelry box and pulled out a Ruby crystal placing it into her palms. "Here is a reward for your hard work."

Elise turns to the gemstone and looks at me softly before shaking her head and giving it back to me. "No need for this, milady. I am already getting paid by your family at minimum wage. The rewards from last time were enough as well."

The ruby gemstone was handed back to me and I frown. "You can use this to buy a house far away from here. Away from me where surely you'll be safer when the time comes..."

My right hand couldn't help but shake in memory of the assassination attempt that happened a few days ago.

It was fresh, even the purple mark on my neck was still fresh.

Instinctively my hands traveled to my neck and my hands landed once more into the mirror.

The reflection of my neck made me shudder, feeling someone else's angry presence behind me.

I feel like going insane.

I don't want her to see her again so soon.

The original Scarlett will come over to take her body back- what will happen to me?

The game... If she's in my head and she can hear everything I'm thinking about.

Does she know everything? From the game, the plot, the love interest-

What she really is... a coded programmed pixel whose only purpose is to destroy the life of the Heroine.

No matter... I can't do anything at the moment. I should focus on the now than questions that won't answer themselves and it looks like the original Scarlett only comes out when she wants to.

"Milady."

I felt someone else's hands into mine wrapping them gently into theirs. Elise looks at me with those soft caring eyes of hers before saying, "Serving you by your side is enough. It always has been enough."

I blink a few more several times before looking down at our hands.

Serving me... is enough?

Not only did that make me somehow happy, I felt like I could trust Elise no matter what happens. My body feels so relaxed around her it's like... I can't explain it into words.

'This... lying skunk! How dare she say it's enough?! It's never been ENOUGH! It never has and never will be!'

Scarlett?!

I hurriedly looked in the mirror to see if I could catch a glimpse of the original Scarlett. "!!!"

She was crying.

Her eyes swollen red, and her face seemed to be angry with what Elise had said. I thought I knew everything from the game but there seem to be some missing bits and pieces here.

I wanted to call out to the original Scarlett that seemed to be in pain but once again she disappeared. Leaving me with a disappointed face and a worried Elise looking back and forth at me as well as the mirror.

"Ah... milady no need to be sad. Your neck will heal as good as new in a few weeks or so." she tries to cheer me up but I'm afraid it's not about the scar.

I feel frustrated that I am the only one who can see the real Scarlett. I can't tell anyone about this because I know they won't believe me.

Hell if a horrible person I knew told me she has another half residing on her body I would've told her that she needs help in the psychiatric ward. I played it off and just agreed with Elise, "I suppose you're right. I'll give it a few weeks for it to heal."

I turned back to Elise who was now holding a small little box with a purple ribbon on top of it.

A gift?

I looked around to make sure and realized it was only the two of us in my room. "I-Is that for me?" I asked her, my voice a little nervous.

I don't believe it's Scarlett's birthday or anything. Now that I mention it, I don't even know when her birthday is.

Elise nods at my question and hesitantly gives me the box with the happiest smile on her face, "Yes milady. I thought this might help you hide the marks temporarily and make sure it's of dark color."

I took the box off her hands gently, a little shy but I did my best not to show it. I unwrapped the ribbon and opened the box revealing a dark purple choker with a small golden plated trinket at the front. 

My maid excitedly looks at me waiting for my reaction, "D-Do you like it milady?"

I could see her hands fidgeting.

I looked back at her gift again and eyed it softly.

Instead of answering her I took the choker and asked. "Will you help me put it on?" my heart didn't have the strength to tell her I loved it so much that it made my day.

Her mouth couldn't help forming an 'o' before taking back her gift and replies happily, "Yes milady!"

I sat down at the seat of my desk and faced my reflection once more. I expected to see the other Scarlett like before but it seemed like she was no longer in the mood to insult Elise. Those two... what history did they have?

In the game, it was only mentioned that Elise was a loyal maid that stayed by the Villainess' side no matter what she did.

Clearly, there was something more from how Scarlett looked like she was in pain before.

"And done, milady. You can look at yourself in the reflection now. You look beautiful as ever." (Elise) compliments my figure and my eyes lands on her gift. I didn't realize how fast she put it on and how it fit well with the dress she picked for me.

"Thank you, Elise." I stand up and pack all the things that I might need for Lady Clarisse's invitation.

"I will be going out later this afternoon and will not return until tonight. Lady Clarisse has invited me to... her so called shopping spree." I tell my maid who nods in understanding, giving me a small thumbs up as if she was cheering me on.

"I-I support your choices, milady." she says nervously while looking like a nervous mother duck seeing her little duckling finally going out with a friend.

But... What choices?

"I suppose thank you for supporting my... choices?" I confusedly tell her and she nods blushing a little giving me another thumbs up.

I don't understand her sometimes but I suppose I'm missing something important here.

Oh... don't tell me.

"It's not a date or anything like that, Elise. Its a simple matter of friendly gathering between friends." I am not daft enough to let that detail slip by. Just because I defended her that one tea party doesn't mean I'm interested in her suggestive offers.

"I don't have time for such romances." I told her seriously and she frowned.

"It appears I have misunderstood, apologies milady." (Elise) lowers her head guiltily and I roll my eyes walking forward and flicking my finger at her head. "Ow! Milady!" she holds onto the place where I flicked my finger.

I glared at her and crossed my arms angrily. "Never lower your head before me. If it's you Elise I see you as someone who I can trust so... don't do that. Let the other maids do it but not you."

She looks at me in confusion, blinking a few times. "But milady-"

"No buts. No lowering your head, as punishment I decided I won't go alone to Lady Clarisse's invitation. I'm taking you with me." I dragged her arm and quickly told her to follow me into the carriage, perhaps a little too excitedly.

"Milady, be careful please. You might trip." (Elise) warned me as we walked into the halls and outside our home.

The carriage outside seemed to be surrounded by a few guards as well as a familiar dark haired brother of mine that I didn't feel like arguing with early this morning.

"Sawyer. What are you doing here?" I asked him and the other guards turned to me but he just continued to cross his arms. "And where do you think you're going Scarlett?" he asks, looking over at Elise and I.

"Out to Lady Clarisse's invitation. I believe she told you already."

Sawyer scowls before shaking his head, "I have forbidden you to go out. Do you know how dangerous it is for a lady to go out?"

I clench my teeth at him, "You know even if I don't go outside, inside our home seems to be infected by a lot of people that want me dead. Might I remind you- even if you fired someone who has been suspected. New ones will just come!"

"Still I ought to-" (Sawyer) stops before looking over the carriage and over to me. "I'm just worried- alright? I'm your big brother and I just want what's best for you." he tells me looking over my neck and I ignore him.

For a love interest for the Heroine, I might not recommend my brother on this one.

"What do you think that's best for me might not be what I need and I need some fresh air with a new profound friend of mine so I would like it if you move aside." I walk over to my brother, his looming height conquers mine but I don't back down. "Hmph, come Elise."

I go inside the carriage with my maid in tow.

Sawyer could only watch and he motions for two guards to accompany me on my way.

"Are you sure it's alright to say that to your brother milady? This is the first time I've seen the two of you have a fight this badly before." (Elise)

In the game, they had more fights than one could count.

And I think I'm seeing the original Scarlett's reasoning as to why she became a rebellious stubborn person who won't listen to anyone. While it's a sweet thing that Sawyer is looking out for me, it feels suffocating having to be always inside the house.

"Elise, he'll be fine. I don't feel like staying inside that place for very long." I told her and she nodded in understanding what I meant. We sat in comfortable silence as I gave the needed location to the driver and looked out in the window to see from the valley of green.