Facing the storm

Dearest mother and father in another world,

I'd like to let you know that your dearest daughter is doing perfectly fine in her new life!!

In fact I very thoroughly enjoy balancing a cup of water on my head for 5 hours without a break, who knew how fun that'd be!

Everything is going as great as you could possibly imagine someones new endeavours into a fantastical new world could go!

Such endeavours have included me pushing one of the guards over and then being fiercely chased all around the manor house, how exciting!!

I think that this is truly what it means to live your new life to the fullest!!

I can assure you that being told to keep a window dry by only blowing on it in a thunder storm, is NOT a waste of my time!

So dearest mother and father in another world, I want you to know that, I, Antoinette Silverston have no regrets whatsoever! Everything in my life is going rosy!!

About as Rosy as horse manure that is...

I hadn't even gotten half way through this week of hell I had been forced to endure and already I was on my last legs. That kid... for someone so young he could come up with some creatively twisted ways to punish a person, couldn't he?? No wonder he grows up to become a tyrant- no I would argue that he already IS a tyrant, just his scale of terror is only on that of the manor house at this moment....

By the end of each day, I found myself completely becoming one with my bed. I was hoping if I face planted the covers hard enough, I'd just disappear into nothingness for a bit. It'd be great if everyone could just forget that I even existed in all honesty... Tell me why I ever decided to take on that Prince for all his challenges, maybe his tasks would have been easier otherwise... I pondered this to myself every time I fell to sleep night... and inevitably come the morning time too, when I was without fail being summoned. Rest seemed like a luxury to me at the moment...

Alas came the incessant chiming if the unremovable bracelet on my hand as I gave a stiff expression to it that morning, watching the bell move on my wrist. What time was it? Seven in the morning, odd he never usually rings this early... I groggily sat up in my bed, yawning to myself and stetching out my arms... My eyes drifted to the large glass door leading to the balcony of the maids sleeping quarters, the sky still as dark and stormy as it had been most of the week, the storm outside raging on as though it was ranting about a ultimately trivial issue online... I frowned somewhat- Geez what was with the weather here? It was a wonder the manor was still standing after the amount of lightning that had struck around us... I never knew storms could be this terrifying... Overall though I had become alarmingly used to it, maybe tempting fate with a metal pole will do that to you? I creased my nose faintly, as I then looked to my right to see all the other maids grouped up into the opposite corner of the room, all of them glaring at me with wide eyed stares. I blinked twice at them confused-

"Ehhh..." I uttered dryly to myself as Sana called over to me nervously.

"I'm sorry Annie, but we cannot risk dying with you if you explode!" Sana called over to me- Well hey, I'm glad you all have so much confidence in me survivng!!!

"Aren't you being a little over dramatic, it's not going to blow up right away..." I told them all flatly, not hiding my mild disappointment in their actions as Sana desperately shook her head to this statement.

"But it hasn't only just started ringing!!" Sana exclaimed as I raised an eyebrow to this. What was that. Sana pointed to her own wrist to mimic the bangle. "It's been ringing for a good twenty minutes now Annie!!" Sana shouted.

I never got the chance to ride a plane in my past life due to me being bedridden, so I had yet to experience the motion of flight... well arguably until just this moment, as the rate I ran down the hallway, desperately to the prince's room, you could say that was the closest to flying I was ever going to get. My uniform was considerably messier than what it usually was as I had jumped into it on my way out of the maid quarters and my hair was all over the place at this point. How long was it until this thing exploded after waiting for too long. I most definitely didn't want to learn through experience!! It wasn't like me to usually sleep past the time I was meant to, however, the bell had been activated oddly early this morning and in all honesty, due to all the pointless tasks I was made to do as well as my maid chores, I honestly was out of the count before the official time we had to wake up. What was so important that the prince needed me this early on in the day??

I was still fixing my headband as I came up to the prince's room, which was still oddly on lockdown. In fact this entire week I had not once actually seen Dante again, it had seemed that he had locked himself within his room and was refusing ti come out. Instead I found each and every task as I was made to do was given to me by none other than Hugo, whose smile had become something for me to somewhat dread over the past few days...

Yet upon me approaching the door way to the prince's room, it wasn't Hugo or Dante I found waiting by there for me, buy instead I found Felicia instead standing before the door, a tray of food within her hands. She didn't seem to notice me clumsily approaching her or the door, much rather she seemed rather entranced with the dood instead, staring at it, not doing anything more. Despite my own predicament and panic, it was to her odd behaviour that I found myself unable to ignore the maid in front of the door.

"Felicia... good morning..." I decided to greet her awkwardly, my voice seeming to finally gain her attention as she looked over to me somewhat blankly.

"Ah, Antoinette, it is you... good morning..." she greeted me in her usual deadpan sort of way, which made me uncertain on whether she was troubled or just actually fine. Felicia went back to staring at the door as the silence returned between us again... yeah, she didn't seem like the type to hold conversations for very long. Knowing that I couldn't expect her to tell me why she was here by her own initiative I decided to push the conversation further.

"Sooo.... What are you doing here?" i cut straight to the point, tilting my head as Felicia glanced over to me... before her eyes looked to the tray in her one hand.

"I have come to give his highness his breakfast..." she replied as I too found myself looking to the tray. Ah, that was right, she mentioned that she was in charge of giving the prince his food before. Though... if she was doing that, why was she just stood out here, staring at the door?? It appeared that Felicia had read my mind, because she then followed up with "He hasn't given me permission to go inside, thus I am waiting for someone to come grab it..." Felicia stated as I then nodded to her. That made more sense... Though it was sort of ridiculous that she was having to be made to wait outside this door for someone who would most likely be Hugo to grab the food from her. Well... if he was going to do such a thing, he couldn't complain if the food was going go to waste... I looked at the rather lavish looking breakfast on the tray within Felicia's hand, a frown appearing on my face as I felt my tummy rumble a little. I hadn't eaten my breakfast at all today in my rush and here he was letting a luxury one go cold, what a waste...

Felicia then looked over to me, pointing at the bracelet on my hand.

"By the way, that bell has been chiming for quite some time now..." Felicia pointed out as I flinched- That was right, I was about to blow up, I almost forgot.

"Ah- yeah, actually I was just about to answer a request from his majesty!" I explained whilst slightly flustered as Felicia's placid expression remained as she stared at me for a moment... before she then tilted her head -

"Also, you look rather messy today Antoinette..." she told me bluntly- GEEZ THANKS!! I decided to frantically start fixing my get up, now self conscious about my appearance, however just as I had started it was then that I heard a familar voice from behind me.

"Oh good, you are here Miss Silverston-"

WOOAH, WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?! I completely jumped out my skin at the unexpected appearence of Hugo from behind me, accompanied by his trademark smile. I did my best to subdue my fright as I backed up a little, bowing my head.

"Ahahaha, good morning Sir Hugo!" I laughed off the shock as Hugo gave me a slight salute.

"Good morning to you too, glad to see you still have as much energy as usual this morning!" He responded with a fact I could argue with. However even before I could mentally do such? He leaned to his side and looked behind me. "...and your friend behind you?" He questioned, eyeing up Felicia. I would have answered this question for him, however Felicia seemed intent on doing that herself as she curtsied a little, introducing herself.

"I am Felicia Verdate, the maid on food duty currently... I have brought his highnesses breakfast..."

"Ah, is that so," Hugo gave a smaller smile than usual to this. It seemed that his interest in Felicia had been severed with her introduction as he swiftly moved back to me with a flat smile.

"Speaking of which, breakfast time is almost over, you are rather late today, aren't you Miss Silverston..." he pointed out, making me twitch a little. I had forseen this being a topic to be brought up, but I really wanted to avoid it. The last thing I needed right now more than anything was another reason to be punished. I started off with a small laugh to his comment as I tried to think... before I then increased the volume of my stiff laughter upon getting an idea, pulling Felicia to my side.

"Yes... Well yes!! You see, I got somewhat caught up helping Miss Felicia take the breakfast up for his highness!!" I announced, desperately holding Felicia close to me as I did my best to lie myself out of this situation. Felicia ua didn't seem too phased by what I had also happened to rope her into as Hugo looked over to her for a visual clarification. When she then opened her with her usual deadpan expression-

"Actually we met up just-"

"WE MET UP THIS MORNING ON THE WAY HERE AND SINCE HIS HIGHNESS HASN'T BEEN COMING OUT HIS ROOM AND I GO IN, I DECIDED TO HELP HER!" I didn't even give Felicia the opportunity to finish as I loudly cut in with an even more awkward laugh. I understood that just like Sana, she most likely didn't mean any harm given her personality, but she definitely wasn't helping being the way she usually was... Hugo just stared at us, a slightly bewildered look on his face after I had shouted as he seemed to be trying to register a few things in his mind for a moment- please don't tell me I got caught out! I definitely wasn't cut out to be an actress of any kind, that was for sure! However it seemed despite my terrible performance, I had managed to fool him, Hugo nodding to this.

"I see, well I suppose we better get this food to his majesty..." Hugo told us as I blinked twice at him, sort of surprised that he had bought any of that. Before it was then that I nodded fiercely to this, just happy I had pulled myself out of any further mishap. I took the food from Felicia before patting her on the shoulder.

"Thank you..." I whispered with a firm look in my eye, both in hope that she'd realise that I was sorry for using her as an excuse, but also in hopes that she would not blab to anyone that the real reason I was late was because I had slept overtime by accident. When I then turned to follow Hugo into the hidden door beside the prince's room, Felicia watching us walk of, not seeming as phased as I first was to see a hidden door in the wall.

When we got into the room with the door shut behind us, the bell stopped ringing from my wrist as I looked down to it, partially in relief. Thankfully it seemed like I wasn't going to blow up today, against all odds. Though thinking of the bangle and it's punishment, actually brought an important question to my mind as I looked up to Hugo.

"Say, sir Hugo, how long is it until the bangle blows up after a command is given out?" I questioned as Hugo stopped from before me. He thought on it a little... before he then shook his head.

"I honestly have no idea..." he replied nonchalantly as I turned rather pale to this response, that wasn't very assuring at all!! Hugo then turned to me and took the tray of food from my hands to my mild surprise. "I'll take this to his highness, so you wait here for further instruction..." he told me with a small smile as I raised an eyebrow to this. For a moment my hand kept it's grip on the tray-

"Why... why don't I take it? I am his maid afterall, it's my job..." I then pointed out, my suggestion being more of an inquiry on my part as Hugo paused at such a statement, his mouth opening fo a second... when it seemed he hesitated, giving a small smile to this.

"No, it's okay, his highness isn't allowing anyone else to see him at this moment!" He told me, as I simply found myself releasing the tray to this statement. I didn't try to argue back and let Hugo go in his way with the tray a rather confused expression in my face. Once again I had not seen the person giving me ridiculous orders at all today and it didn't seem like I would either. Just why did he have his whole room on lockdown like this? I gave a sigh as I realised I most likely wasn't going to be given an answer to this...

It wasn't as if I needed to really care per say, I mean afterall, the first moment I got the chance, I was going to take the opportunity to run away and avoid both Dante and his bad end routes the best I could. That's right, all I needed to focus on right now was to get past this one week in one, healthy and unexploded piece.

Though my physical wellbeing for today seemed to be safe, it seemed that it was my sanity's turn to be under fire again this morning, as I now found myself in the very large bathroom of Dante, standing before the swimming pool sized bath he had in the centre with Hugo stood next to me. Steam rose from the almost neon coloured cloudy water that seemed to be lit up by some sort of lighting underneath. There seemed to be some sort of special herbal formulae or something in there, which I had to question how expensive the baths of this size and luxury were all things considered. I gave a rather bewildered expression after just receiving my tasks for today.

"I'm sorry, could you please repeat all that for me..." I asked jaggedly as Hugo stood next to me with a tiny blue ear ring in his hand.

"As I said, your task today is to fish out the other blue earring from inside the bath today!" Hugo repeated casually- Why did this guy have a habit of acting as if these ridiculous tasks were not a problem?!! I squinted at the earring in his hand, taking a good look at it.

"Something that small..." I double checked quietly as Hugo gave a small chuckle to this.

"Yes well originally it was going to be a ring, but since you were late, we were told to change it to something smaller-"

That damn prince!! It had gotten to a point where I didn't even try to hide my distaste for the royal brat as I frowned at the earring within Hugo's hand. If it weren't for the explosive on my wrist, I wouldn't even try to turn up for these horrendous tasks... still though... I looked back to the large bath, an expression of defeat on my face, knowing that even if I was to try and and question the absurdity of the task I was given, I'd be glossed over. At least this task wasn't potentially lethal like some of the others, albeit it was another time wasting task.

"I will get started then..." I replied dully, accepting my fate as as I walked over to the bath, pulling up my sleeves as for a moment Hugo seemed a little surprised at my complacency... before then he got go my feet. As I tried to figure out a way for me to pull up my dress, Hugo then tapped my shoulder. I turned around to see him holding a fishing rod.

"Sorry, but you are required to use this..." he mentioned as I looked back to the fishing rod, an empty expression on my face...

...

I can't wait for the chance I will get to get out of here...

And so here I now found myself, standing at the edge of the steaming bath with my fishing rod cast into the water, the same hollow and fed up expression on my face as I finally had an epiphany. That if I tried to apply any sort of reasoning into this tasks anymore, I would actually loose my mind. I had now been stood around the bath for a good hour, occasionally moving around to a different part of it so I could see if I can latch anything onto it from there. But of course I hadn't gotten any luck from my endeavours, and I didn't expect to have any either, given that statistically this whole task was impossible for any ordinary human being like myself. I'd be terrified at what sort of bad omen could come out of me actually succeeding this task. Hugo actually stayed in the room with me, sitting to the back of it observing me. Apparently it was to stop me from cheating, but honestly in a bath this huge even if I cheated I believed that any chance of me finding anything that small would be unlikely. Since he gave me the fishing rod, neither of us had exchanged a word with one another, much rather we had now been left with a mind numbing silence between us, one that was only interrupted by the sound of me reeling in the fishing hook and the slight wading of water. It was actually a little odd to have this person who had something to comment on everything not make a comment on a thing in this past hour.

The silence and my over awareness of the person who was now watching over me now actually gave me some more time to reflect back on what I recalled from Hugo back in the game Tyrant king. I could say that as a child he was alot different from how I remembered in the game. In the game of Tyrant king Hugo was what you would consider the kind and chivalrous type. Oddly enough in the game with two prince's, he actually was the most prince like despite basically being Dante's slave. Though I guess being a knight, that sort of courteousness was something to expect... at least with the game Hugo. The Hugo in this world was alot more cut and dry with his words... he had the smile of someone charming but it was clear at least to me that his smile and calm nature wasn't as all as people would have you believe it was... looking back on it, I did recall some of the lines in the game he said came off a little sarcastic... I stopped fishing, reeling back the line of my fishing rod, a contemplative look on my face. Wait, so was he like this towards me because he can only show that side to the protagonist or was the protagonist in Tyrant King just really oblivious to Hugo's actual nature...? I felt like that I was now looking at Hugo's route in a completely different light... I looked at the empty fishing hook, my nose creasing... I decided to move position.

Another thing to note was that Hugo would be nowhere to be seen in the bad ends where Dante took over the country, which left some questions on what happened to him in the end of the game. Was he killed as well in Dante's inferno or did he make a runner for it... I glance back to the young knight who was playing with a coin in his hand. Knowing that, despite how he had treated me, I couldn't help but feel both a little sorry and suspicious of him... I cast out the line again, hearing the coin being tossed in his hands behind me... I wonder if he was bored waiting for me to find this thing? If anything, he having baby sitting duty whilst I did such tedious tasks was just as much a punishment on him as it was myself... I decided to humour him with a biting question that had been on my mind.

"Sire Hugo, just something that been on my minds, but this bath has been on for an hour now, how is it still steamy?" I asked, my eyes narrowing at the water that would not let me see along the bottom of the bath floor. Hugo looked up, a little surprised to hear me speak... before then he gave a faint smile.

"Actually, his majesty has a furnace for this bath and the hearing in the manor that keeps it warm. He uses his own mana to keep it lit so it's always kept at this temperature," Hugo explained with a fact that made me wince a little. Great so I couldn't hope to see the bottom of this bath a tall during this... still though, I didn't know that the young prince was the one that kept the heating in the manor... I would be rater impressed with that if it weren't for the fact that the little brat hadn't given me any reason to express any impressment with him. Instead I kept my downplay ,y fascination with such a thing.

"Ah is that so..." I answered,taking a deep breath, pulling my fishing line across the water. The silence returned around us as I still found myself met with no luck with this earring... that was sort of lackluster... I decided to start a conversation again...

"Say, do you think he really needs a bath this big? I can't imagine he does much in this..." I brought up another conversation as Hugo shrugged.

"The manor was built by one of the royal officials, so I can't really say" he answered.

"Ah..." I replied...

The silence returned... This was surprisingly more awkward to do than I thought it would be! He didn't reply, but I hadn't given him much to go by either... it wasn't like he was obligated to talk to me in any way either... I looked into the water thoughtfully... Since I knew Hugo from the game, I thought I could try bringing up one of his interests, but I figured that it'd be weird for a random maid to suddenly bring up sword fighting tactics out of nowhere, I was trying to stay as forgettable as possible... That all being said, I think staying in here for much longer with this awkward silence was going to eventually drive me nuts....

So it was with this in mind that I probably gained up the courage to talk about something more daring as I started to reel in the fishing line.

"Say, Sir Hugo, why did you want to become a knight for someone like his majesty anyway..." I questioned as the fishing bait rose from the water before us, Hugo remaining rather quiet for a moment... before quiet suddenly I found myself greeted from a loud snort from behind me that made me jump. I almost dropped my fishing rod as I looked behind me, to hear and see that the snort that came from Hugo had now interrupted into an array of chuckles from him, much to my surprise.... had the steam gotten to his head?? I stared at him in partially weariness, worried that he was going to snap at any second, when it was then that Hugo took a deep breath, regaining his composure.

"Sorry, sorry, I just don't think anyone has asked me that question in a tone like that..." Hugo tried to explain himself as I thought back on what I said. Ah crap, I guess I may have made a pass at the prince in that statement...

"I- I mean somebody as great as his majesty!" I tried to make a quick save-

"You don't have to lie miss Silverstone..."

Damn, was I really that easy to read? I prepared myself to be reprimanded for my wording, however, it seemed this wouldn't come as Hugo sat back a little.

"I guess his highness hasn't really given you much reason to like him, given your situation..." Hugo went on, the conversation I started seeming to detour a little... I looked back to him with a frown, well he could say that again.

"You don't seem to have been given the good end of the stick in this situation either, wouldn't you rather be doing something else right now?" I questioned as Hugo gave me his usual unreadable smile.

"Eh, is this a manipulation tactic to cheat miss Silverston?" Hugo replied, the sparkles from his smile seeming to tell me not to push my luck on that.

"O- of course it isn't!! I was just curious is all!" I responded, looking away from him as Hugo gave a small half hearted mumble to this. It wasn't exactly a lie that I was curious either, but I suppose this is what I got for being concerned... I decided that I would just stay quiet and finish my ridiculous task at least until they got bored... but just as I thought the conversation would end there, it was then that Hugo decided to pick the conversation back up.

"I don't necessarily have to be here, my job could be taken over by one of the guards..." Hugo decided to actually answer my question as I found myself once again getting distracted from my task, which in all honesty I didn't mind. Hugo placed his hands together with a large smile. "Actually I have chosen to do this as I find your situation quite entertaining Miss Silverston!" Hugo then dropped a bomb on me as I flinched to this. So he was treating this as entertainment this entire time too?! This was meant to be something for that devil prince not you! It seemed that Hugo had noticed my obvious distaste into this matter as it was then that he decided to further his comment. "Ah, don't mistake though, even if the tasks his highness put your through are a little fun- interesting, it's actually his highness I am more entertained by"

Hey, let's not just ignore that you were about to say something rather cruel just there...

"How to put this, his highness never takes any specific interest in anybody in this manor house, he doesn't really care for any of the maids here!" Hugo noted as I wore a stiff expression on my face. Did it look like he particularly cared about me? Hugo continued with his explanation. "So the fact that he is even acknowledging you is pretty fascinating, especially during times like these..."

Ah he mentioned that again, I decided I was going to push for an answer on that statement once and for all this time.

"What does times like these even mean?" I picked up the confidence to ask as Hugo paused in his commentary about that. It seemed like he was going to change the topic again as I furrowed my brow. Not this time buster! "I mean, I deserve to know don't I? Considering I'm now involved in this..." I pushed further as Hugo's expression became a little stiff.

"Yes, well you have a point... but he doesn't really want it getting out..." Hugo noted in a strain-

"Can you say locking himself in his room and blacking out all his curtains doesn't already tell everyone that something is wrong..." I pointed out to him dully as Hugo became a little tongue tied to this. "I just want to know so that I can avoid getting roped into stuff like this in the future..." I clarified with him as Hugo blinked twice at this. He hesitated momentarily, however it seemed that I had somehow persuaded him as he raised a hand.

"This doesn't leave this room..." he told me sternly as I just nodded along with it. I wasn't going to try spread any rumpurs that could get me in a mess again anyways. Hugo took a deep breath before he gave a faint smile. "His highness is scared of storms..." he told me.

...

...

Eh?

I waited for a follow up on that... none came... wait was that it?

"He's... locked himself because he is scared of storms?" I asked him.

"Yes...'

"Storms scare him?"

"That is what I said..."

I paused for a moment to really think about this.

"I..." I began with a dry expression on my face... "I actually really cannot blame him..." I put it bluntly as Hugo seemed to be a little surprised by this response given my build up to it.

"Really?"

"I mean, yeah- who wouldn't be scared of these storms, they are abnormally destructive!" I pointed out, breaking out into a slightly cold sweat, recalling my experience with such.

"So you are scared of storms Miss Silverston?" Hugo double checked- Wrong! I am scared of the storms in this world, not normal storms.

"I guess you can say that..." I replied, not exactly lying in my response as I then looked back to Hugo stiffly. "Are the black out blinds really necessary though? I mean he seemed pretty composed when the storm struck..." I then pointed out as Hugo gave a side comment.

"Well, he didn't have much time to react after being splashed with tea" - Ah yeah, that was a given. Hugo then tilted his head a little. "For his highness, it's the sight of lightning that freaks him out more than the thunder itself. Not really because he fears it himself, but lightning brings back some bad memories for him..." Hugo then pointed out, this statement catching my attention. Lightning huh...? Was there something tragic happen with lightning in Tyrant King? I found myself trying to recall... Looking back on it, it did seem to briefly be mentioned. Despite me now being mid thought, Hugo continued on talking. "Actually his highness doesn't seem to react in fear like most other people due to this, instead it seems to come out moreso in anger..." he continued as I stopped mid thought at this. "He likes to cause issues for people and shove off that fear as something else to appear fearless... it's why I think you have been the target of these pranks, Miss Silverston" Hugo then explained as I remained quiet for a moment. I sort of guessed that was case after he started explaining it. Still though...

"It don't know whether you can call sending me outside in a storm with a metal pole a simple prank..." I pointed out as Hugo seemed to only be able to give a stiff laugh to this.

"Yes, well, it seems he did that because you were unaware, but there is a big barrier around the manor, it would have been unlikely that the lightning would have struck you..." Hugo responded, my mouth twitching a little as I recalled that Sana had mentioned something similar before. It was funny though, I could have sworn I saw the pole sparking in my hand- "I think so anyway..." Hugo added as I flinched to this. Oi, oi, you cannot just casually drop lines like that after trying to convince me kid... I gave a sigh, reflecting a little on the conversation. It was obvious, but Dante was a troublesome kid. But as well it didn't seem like it was for no reason. It actually wasn't a situation I was that new to surprisingly.

"You know, I sort of get it..." I finally spoke up, casting out the fishing line once more, letting the hook fall into the bath water. "Back where I came from, there were plenty of children who used to cause problems for people..." I went on, my mind flashing back to that of the hospital ward I spent most my life in. "These children were often afraid themselves, of what the future had in store for them and they were frustrated that they had no better control over their lives" I went on, looking back on it more, recalling how alot of the sick children, especially the terminally children would often get emotional and angry in grievance for how short their lives were going to be. "They often would take it out on the people who looked after them. Looking back on it, I think even I went through a phase like it..."

"Was this back at the orphanage you was raised at Miss Silverston?" Hugo then asked me as I twitched upon him asking this question. Ah crap, I almost forgot that only I had any knowledge of the other world.

"Ah, yeah! Sort of..." I replied, not sure just what kind of picture I was painting on the fellow orphans or Annie with this.

I started reeling in the fishing line again, looking back on it more. Actually, a person to help pull me out of that phase was a girl just a little older than me, who sat on the bed next to me in the ward I stayed in when younger. If she wasn't there to tell me off, I probably would have continued to be a troubled child.

"Someone I once knew told me, that life is often unfair and that because of that, we feel the need to make life unfair for others too. But being cruel to other people because their life seems better just goes on to make the world an unhappy place to live. Rather than trying to ruin other peoples lives, we should put our energy into doing what we can to make our unfair lives a happy one to live, no matter how long or short..." I went on nostalgically... It was a few years ago, that girl wasn't a face I remembered much anymore. But I felt like she had helped me alot...

It was then that I saw Hugo appear beside me, much to my surprise, as he looked over to me with a grin.

"You know, you really are quite interesting Miss Silverston..." Hugo commented as I blankly blinked at him, trying to compute the fact that he had walked over to me. When I then shuffled to my right away from him.

"Is- Is that so?" I replied awkwardly- this fellow had a habit of jumping out of nowhere didn't he?? Also, the idea that he found me interesting, given my current experience with him only twinged at my nerves. It was then that I noticed that he had taken his shoes off as he then rolled up his sleeves.

"Uhm... what are you-"

Splash, splash, splash

My concerned words were interrupted by the sound of feet sloshing through water, Hugo now wading his way through the bath water.

"Uhm- hey..." I began, sort of baffled as Hugo looked through the water in quite a spirited fashion.

"I'm helping you look for the earring..." Hugo stated as I just stared at him. Yeah... I still wasn't quite following- why was he helping me after a week of just watching? My silence seemed to be asking my question as Hugo continued. "I'll be honest... I've sort of been pitying you..." Hugo then turned to me with his usual bright smile- ah, there was the catch. I knew there had to be some twist in there. I didn't know what hurt more, how well delivered my expectations were or his actual comment. "As in you have been really, really pitiful!!" Hugo went on, shooting more metaphorical one lined arrows at me. I get it, okay... Hugo continued wading through the water. "However, I was partially responsible for what happened with his majesty earlier this week and I am not one to stand by and let someone else take the full punishment. So just for this once, allow me to help you..." Hugo went on as, at first, I didn't know how to really reply to this... it had seemed despite what else his personality showed, that perhaps Hugo did have some of that courteousness that he showed the main female protagonist of Tyrant King in there. At least, mixed in with the sarcastic one liners. I crouched down from beside the bath, watching Hugo look through the bath. It was impossible for me fish that earring out and overall it seemed like it would be equally as difficult to find some so small from inside the bath too.

"Say, Sir Hugo, you sort of avoided the question earlier, but again, why do you serve Dante? You don't seem to agree much with his punishments..." I pointed out as Hugo got up and then looked back at me with a smile. "Oh, well, it's the best way to get a knighthood isn't it?" He replied to me with his usual bright smile- Well that was anti climatic!!! I was expecting some sort of super deep back story, like their deep friendship after many trials was a reason, or his family had sworn their life to the royal family after being saved or something like that. It had crossed my mind a few times, but this boy was surprisingly a very chaotic neutral!! Hugo looked into his hand as he continued. "I wouldn't say me and his highness are particularly best friends or worst enemies really... and I don't really agree with how he behaves sometimes..." he threw something over to me suddenly, as I reached out to catch it, almost falling into the bath as I did so. "However, we understand each other very well, and there are a few things that I have come to respect him for," Hugo went on as I then looked into my cupped hands. Within it was a very wet and small earring staring back at me, the gem shimmering slightly in my hand. Woah, he actually managed to find it in a bath this huge?!

The came another sloshing of water from the bath again as Hugo got out of the bath once more.

"This will be our secret, okay Miss Silverston..." Hugo noted as I looked up from the gem in my hands.

"Sure... but uhm... hey, thank you for helping me with this!" I found myself bowing my head over to him, giving him a small smile. "I guess I wasn't wrong when I said that you weren't a bad guy afterall!" I went on with a faint laugh as Hugo for a moment didn't reply to this... before he pouted a little childishly.

"I'm sort of hurt that you thought that of me to begin with..." he pointed out as my shy chuckle became quite rigid to this... when it was then he seemed to give a smile that appeared a little more authentic. "No need to thank me though, I'm a knight in training afterall. Terrorising civilians isn't really my sort of thing. I am doing what I can to live my life the way I wish to..." he told me with a slight salute as I somehow found myself able to laugh at this last statement.

"Yeah, I get that!" I replied to him whilst laughing. "Looks like we actually are sort of like comrades in that, huh?"

Hugo seemed to ponder on something for a moment as I asked this... when he then gave a faint chuckle to himself as he turned around.

"I guess so..." he answered, not following up more on that topic. "I think I'll go dry off now Miss Silverston, you can go now, I'll tell his highness you finished... this... was a nice chat, thanks for it" he decided to round up our conversation there, waving me off as I felt a hint of relief knowing my shift was over for today...

"Okay, thank you too for answering my questions..." I replied to him as it was with that, my special task for the day had come to an end...

*****

Hugo walked down the corridor with a thoughtful expression on his face.

'It seems that the unlucky maid is actually more interesting a person than I thought...' he thought to himself. 'Maybe it might be a good thing...' he reflected, stopping to stare at the second earring in his hand for a moment...

...

'Coming to think of it, I recall his highness seems to dislike her for her face...' he recalled to himself, realising that, that may have been some useful information...

...

'Ah well, probably means nothing...' he came to a conclusion in his mind, letting this piece of information fall silent in his mind.

****

It was my first time walking out of the main room on my own as I head my way to the small door way at the bottom of the room... from what I saw there was a small button to open up the hidden wall to get in. I had alot on my mind from the earlier conversation I had with Sir Hugo... suddenly alot of Dante's behaviour was starting to make a little more sense. Granted that didn't make what he was doing any better, but at least now his actions didn't just seem to be out of nowhere as irrational as they could be. I pushed the button to open the hidden wall as it gave a deep rumbling nouse, finally light shining onto my face, seeming to be a little discomforting in this room that seemed so isolated and dark. I rubbed my eyes, walking out from the wall and turning to my left... when it was then I saw Felicia standing there... I continued to rub my eyed and blink, partially in light blindness and partially in question of whether I was seeing an apparition or not... when I realised it was in fact Felicia, in the exact same position she was in, in the morning, a plate of food in her hands... I looked from around the door way, sort of unsure how to approach this situation...

"Ah.., Felicia... hi there..." I started a conversation up as Felicia didn't even flinch. She looked over to me as calm as ever.

"Oh, hello Antoinette, have you finished your work for today?" She asked me simply as I nodded to her, still sort of questioning the severe de ja vu I was having.

"I have... are you delivering food again...?" I questioned.

"Yes, I have brought his majesty's supper..." she confirmed as I looked over to the rather delicious looking food on the plate, my stomach growling slightly. I hadn't eaten all day and this was going cold again.

"Has Hugo seen you yet?" I asked, Felicia shaking her head.

"I've been here since lunch time, but nobody answered. His highness doesn't tend to each much, he probably hadn't eaten breakfast either..." Felicia then told me, as I felt myself get a little urked at this. He really had high quality meals made for him each day and he never ate it? Was this just another way of him trying to make life difficult for those around him?! I sighed deeply, feeling a little sorry for Felicia... I had been rather troublesome when I was little but nowhere near to this extent... thankfully I had somebody around to tell me when I was going too far... however... I looked at the plate in Felicia's hand...

It didn't seem that Dante had anything like that... he didn't have any family members to tell him off for being naughty and to calm him down, nor did he have any guidance there in place for people to tell him when to stop. It seemed Dante didn't know when taking his frustrations out on things was too far... and in the end, this is what ultimately would and will end to the bad ending of this world...

I shuddered a little upon this thought, a troubled look on my face... though it was easy to forget, Dante was still a kid... locking himself up, pulling pranks and not eating food were all childish things do. It meant there was still time to try and point him in a good direction... so it was with this in mind, that I first came to have an idea I would or would not come to regret...

"Say, will you give me that food? I will give his majesty it..." I told Felicia, holding my hand out to her.

Dearest mother and father in another world,

Despite me not wanting to interfere with this messy otome plot line, I decided that at the very least, I could try to push the tyrant prince in the right direction...