Aika's eyes snapped up from the paperwork, catching both Ren and Noel dead in the act. They were staring intently at the thick finance file Grandfather had just placed in front of her.
The second her gaze landed on them, Ren let out a sudden, sharp cough. Both brothers instantly shifted their glances away, looking anywhere else in the room as if they hadn't just been boring holes into the document with their eyes.
Nice try, Aika thought, her inner sarcastic voice dryly mocking their terrible acting.
Without a word, she calmly reached out, closed the heavy file with a soft thud, and pulled it completely off the table, resting it securely on her lap out of their line of sight. She wasn't letting them get a single peek.
Before the silence could get too heavy, Ren cleared his throat and turned his attention to the head of the table, addressing the old man directly.
"Grandfather," Ren said, his voice smooth and casual. "I am going to the circuit tonight. There's a social gathering happening, just some of our usual friends. Since it's a familiar place with familiar faces, can I take Helena along? Maybe seeing it will help her recall something."
Grandfather's sharp eyes moved to Ren slowly. The look alone carried a warning.
"Well, Grandfather," Ren added, a smooth teasing smile playing on his lips as he tried to deflect. "Can't you just cut me a little slack? You could always join us at the track tonight if you're that worried."
Grandfather let out a dry, unimpressed huff. "Yeah, yeah. As if I don't know exactly how slowly you ride that motorcycle of yours, Ren."
Caught dead to rights, Ren didn't even try to argue. He just gave a slightly sheepish smile and turned toward Aika, giving her an apologetic shrug. "Well, okay. Sorry, Helena."
Grandfather didn't answer Ren immediately. Instead, his sharp heavy gaze shifted away from the twins and landed directly on Aika. His expression was completely calm, but his voice carried an undeniable weight.
"It is not up to my permission," Grandfather stated cleanly, his eyes locking onto hers. "Helena, child. Do you want to go?"
On the outside, Aika remained a statue of perfect composure.
But inside her head —
I really do want to see the circuit though! her inner voice whined, her real curiosity flaring up despite everything. It's a real racing track. I have never seen one in my entire past life. I am actually super interested—
Then her eyes dropped to her lap. But Grandfather just handed me this file. It looks insanely important and I desperately need information on this orphanage situation before tomorrow.
She pressed her memory hard. Wait — was there something in the plot that happened at a circuit? Someone important showing up? Some detail I skimmed over?
She couldn't remember clearly.
And THAT was the problem.
Who even takes notes while reading a stupid psychological novel, she argued back at herself. Ahh Aika, you absolute disaster.
She was still internally spiraling when she realised — wait. Grandfather was still looking at her. Still waiting.
Before she could even open her mouth he simply said, "It is not my matter to be involved. What needed to be said, I have said."
He pushed his chair back, adjusted his coat once, and stood.
"Good night." A pause. His eyes landed on her one final time. "And Helena child — if you go, go with Noel. Ren and his motorcycle—" he didn't finish the sentence. Just left it hanging in the air like a warning and walked away.
The moment Grandfather disappeared around the corner, Noel's voice cut clean through the silence.
"You going?"
Just two words.
Aika nodded. Fast. Before her brain could even argue.
Yes obviously yes let's GO. Who even cares if it's with Noel or a random driver or literally anyone — I want to see the speed, the velocity, the actual physics happening in real time—
Noel simply said, "Ten minutes. Change and meet me in the living room."
Ren leaned back with an easy smile. "Well then — see you there, Helena."
She stopped. Turned around.
"Wait — aren't you coming with us?"
Ren blinked at her. That specific blink that said — did she really just ask that.
"We can't all go together," he explained slowly, the way someone explains something very simple to someone very small. "I'm going on the motorcycle. You two are coming by car."
Aika stared at him. "...Yes I know that."
"Okay then."
"I meant leaving from home together. Not going in the same car. Just. Together. From the house." She gestured vaguely.
Silence.
Ren just smiled and looked away.
Noel stood up and said flatly, "Nine minutes."
"Okay okay!!" she was already speed-walking toward the stairs.
She took the steps faster than she had all day, pushed open her room door and —
Stopped.
Three outfits were already laid out across the bed. Perfectly pressed. Carefully selected. The maids had somehow known before she even reached the top of the stairs.
Aika stood in the doorway blinking at them.
The head maid — Madam Tiana — turned from the wardrobe smoothly. "Madam, we already picked out your options. Please choose quickly—" a very pointed pause, "—Noel sir will genuinely leave without you."
Aika looked at the first outfit.
Short black dress. Turtleneck yes, but still. A DRESS.
She slowly turned to look at the window.
Snow. Winter. Cold.
She looked back at the dress.
Did they forget what month it is?
She moved to the second option.
Also a dress. Cute yes. Absolutely freezing to wear, also yes.
She turned to Madam Tiana with the most patient expression she could manage.
"Could I maybe... not freeze tonight? Do I not own a single full outfit?"
Madam Tiana didn't even blink. She simply turned, disappeared into the wardrobe and reappeared within thirty seconds holding a third option — brown cable knit sweater, wide white pants, brown boots, cream scarf.
Aika didn't wait for her to finish laying it out.
"Done. That one. I'm wearing that."
She was already halfway into the sweater when Madam Tiana's hands worked quickly through her hair, fingers moving fast in the limited time left.
Then — casually, almost too casually — the maid said:
"Madam... but you always wore those dresses. Whenever there was a social gathering — I always picked those exact outfits for you. Are you sure you are okay with this one?"
Aika's hands froze for exactly half a second.
Oh.
OH.
Helena always wore the fancy short dresses to these things. Which means everyone at that circuit tonight is going to be expecting THAT Helena.
She sat very still for a moment while her brain rapidly calculated the damage.
Then — wait. Amnesia. Memory loss. Changed personality. Built in excuse for literally everything.
She relaxed.
"I just feel like a change," she said simply, shrugging. "Amnesia does that, I guess."
Madam Tiana went quiet.
Aika internally high fived herself.
Hair done. She jumped up, grabbed her bag and was halfway down the stairs when —
"Madam!!"
She stopped.
Madam Tiana came sprinting behind her, slightly breathless, holding out her muffler.
"You forgot this."
Aika took it. Wrapped it around her neck. Looked down at herself.
Okay. Nothing else. Done. Let's go—
Then her brain buffered.
...the file.
She turned back around and went upstairs without another word. The maid just watched her go.
Back in the room she moved fast. Grabbed the heavy finance file from the bedside. Opened her wardrobe. Pushed aside the neatly folded clothes at the very bottom and slid the file underneath. Pressed the clothes back down on top.
Nobody was finding that.
Then she opened the file just enough to pull out two things —
The black card Grandfather had given her.
And the tracking bracelet from earlier that day.
Both went straight into her bag.
She closed the wardrobe. Straightened up. Looked around the room once.
Good.
She checked the time.
Nine minutes and forty seconds.
She walked back downstairs. Normally. Calmly. As if she hadn't just sprinted twice.
She came down the last few steps and stopped.
Both of them were already ready and waiting.
Noel — long black coat, white dress shirt, black vest, striped tie, Louboutins, looking like he was about to close a business deal or ruin someone's life. Possibly both.
Ren — black fitted tee, oversized leather jacket, cargo pants, combat boots. Somehow looked equally expensive doing absolutely nothing.
And then there was Aika. Brown cable knit sweater. White wide leg pants. Cozy scarf.
She had barely registered the contrast when Ren looked up and said casually —
"You should've worn black."
Aika stopped mid step.
"...Why."
"It's kind of a rule."
She stared at him.
A RULE. There is a DRESS CODE. Nobody told me there was a DRESS CODE—
"So you're saying," she said very slowly and very carefully, "that I should go back upstairs and change. Again."
"I mean—"
"I already changed once tonight Ren."
Noel stood up from the couch, already moving toward the door.
"We're leaving," he announced flatly. "With or without a colour code."
Bless this man actually—
"Noel."
Just the name. Ren's voice. And a single sideways glance.
Noel stopped at the door.
A pause.
"...Five minutes." He walked outside without looking back.
Aika barely had time to process what just happened between them before Ren was already gesturing urgently at the stairs.
"Go go go — Helena, up, fast—" already half turning, "—Madam Tiana!!"
The head maid appeared almost instantly. Truly terrifying how fast she moved.
"Sir Ren?"
"Help her out fast. You know Noel's nature."
Madam Tiana didn't even blink. She simply nodded once and turned to Aika.
"Miss Helena. Come."
It wasn't a request.
Aika looked at Ren.
Ren looked at the stairs.
Aika looked at the stairs.
I hate this novel, she thought, already climbing. I genuinely truly completely hate this novel.
She didn't argue this time. Didn't think. Just wore whatever Madam Tiana put in front of her.
And then she caught herself in the mirror.
Black pleated maxi skirt, long and dramatic, moving like liquid. Black top tucked in with a leather belt cinching the waist. Black heeled boots disappearing beneath the hem.
Huh.
She tilted her head slightly.
Helena... you really had something going on sometimes. Like people either looked scared of you or you just walked right over them without even noticing.
Hmph.
She transferred the black card and bracelet quietly into her bag.
And then she walked out the door.
Down the hallway.
Top of the stairs.
And this time —
She didn't rush.
Not even a little.
She came down slowly, one step at a time, one hand resting lightly on the railing. Not performing anything. Just... not hurrying.
Because she didn't feel like it.
She came out the front door.
Cold air hit her immediately.
Noel was already in the car. Engine running. Not even looking at the door.
Ren was on his motorcycle, helmet already on, visor up just enough to see. He glanced at her once. Then at his watch.
"Four minutes fifty eight seconds," he said. "Almost impressive."
Aika looked at him flatly.
You literally sent me up there.
She said nothing and walked toward the car. Pulled open the door and got in.
The moment the door shut, Noel pulled out without a word.
Through the window she could see Ren's headlight flick on as his motorcycle rolled smoothly behind them, then accelerated and disappeared ahead into the dark.
The estate gates closed behind them.
Aika sat back in the seat. Wrapped her scarf a little tighter. Looked out at the dark winter road stretching ahead.
The car moved smoothly in silence.
Noel drove without a word.
She didn't mind. Actually preferred it.
Her brain was already working.
Okay. Social gathering. Circuit. Familiar faces they said.
Familiar to THEM. Not to me.
She stared at the passing streetlights without really seeing them.
Who is going to be there tonight? Someone important? Someone from the plot? Or just rich people I have zero context about?
She chewed the inside of her cheek slightly.
And if someone who actually knew Helena is there — how am I supposed to act? The amnesia card only works so many times before people start finding it suspicious.
A streetlight flashed past.
And Noel is going to be watching me the whole time. I already know that.
She didn't look at him.
He didn't look at her.
The car was completely silent except for the engine.
Okay Aika, she told herself quietly. Just observe. Don't talk too much. Don't ask anything obvious. Just watch.
She looked back out at the dark road stretching ahead.
Let's see who shows up tonight.