"Ow," she groaned.
Even though Lorelei cautiously took measures to avoid being flung away by the wall, it still managed to send her flying across the ground. She came back to her senses and quickly got up to look around, making sure nobody saw her. The first sun rays reflected across the glass windows into the mansion, lighting up the red carpet going along the floor and casting Lorelei's shadow through the hallway. She ran through the hallways trying to find a way back to her room, but unexpectedly ran into Brant.
"Morning here, Reili!"
Lorelei immediately closed her left eye and placed her hands behind her back.
"G-good morning," she said, her voice shaking from the surprise.
"An early bird I see," Brant answered, smiling.
Lorelei nodded while he patted her head.
"Iria asked to see you this morning. Do you want to come with me right now?"
Lorelei became petrified. Had they seen her yesterday, or was it because they realized something about her? Whatever it was, she had a feeling it wasn't good.
"Okay," she muttered, barely audible.
Brant walked away, and Lorelei turned around to pull his suit.
"Is there something wrong?"
"A-actualLy, I don't remEmber where my room is…"
Brant laughed and patted her hair again; it seemed like something Brant really liked to do.
"It's fine, I'll show you the way; come along!"
Brant didn't ask any questions about her eye or what she was hiding; he simply decided to see her, Lorelei. For a second, Lorelei felt like she could trust Brant, but dismissed the idea, recalling that she had only known him for a day, but one thing she knew for sure was that Brant is a kind person. She followed him to her room and closed the door when he was gone. She walked towards the bed and dropped dead on it, her legs hanging by the bed. Without the figure telling her what to do, she would've definitely been caught by Brant, but a question kept lingering in her mind.
How did the figure know about the passage?
She thought maybe the figure would answer her, but nothing — just the cheerful chirps of the birds in the distance.
Does she know the future?
No answers again. She wondered if it was because she was speaking in her mind, but Lorelei knew the figure could also read her thoughts. The figure simply chose not to answer her. She was puzzled whether she should feel grateful towards the figure or even more wary of her; nevertheless, for now, she was grateful. Thanks to her, she was able to find that journal and escape Brant. Lorelei got off the bed, took off her robe, and entered the bath; this time, she slowly stepped into the water and leaned against the wall. Every strand of her hair dispersed around on the surface, creating a sort of coil on the water. She thought again about the journal. It probably belonged to someone from the royal family. She repeated the name out loud.
"Melivine…"
Was she still alive somewhere? Was this Angel the person the figure was talking about? What is the name she wanted to give to her baby? What is an Eye of Fate?
All these questions bounced around her mind until they faded out. Out of frustration, Lorelei shook her head around and plunged into the water and emerged. She walked to the towel and dried herself with it. Once she was dry, she came out to see on the bed a white tin cloth. Lorelei picked it up and placed it in the palm of her hand; it barely covered a third of it. When she entered, it wasn't on the bed. Someone must've placed it here when she was in the bath.
I'm going to ask Brant about it, she thought.
She looked in the closet and dressed herself in the clothes that were left there for her. Once she was ready, she took the white piece of cloth on her bed, put on her glove, and walked towards the door, but before she walked out, she found a pair of slippers on the carpet. Fluffy-looking slippers that looked like a bear. Lorelei smiled and wore them happily. She then opened the door and found Brant waiting for her on the side.
"I see you like your new slippers."
Lorelei nodded.
"I'm glad then!"
She already knew what he was going to do as he walked towards her. He patted her head.
"Come on, let's go."
Lorelei showed Brant the piece of white cloth.
"Oh! I thought you would know how to use it. Just place it over your closed eye."
At first Lorelei seemed a bit skeptical, but decided to do it. She placed the white cloth over her eye and a blue light emerged from it. Lorelei seemed to see in the air a bunch of floating letters and shapes stacking on top of each other and spinning. Once they locked in place, she felt the cloth move and take the shape of her eye. Two white strands emerged from it and wrapped around the back of her head.
"There. How do you like it?"
Lorelei touched the white cloth and realized it was covering her right eye, but she was still able to see through it.
"ThAnk you."
Brant smiled, turned around, and walked into the hallway. Lorelei followed behind him. She hadn't noticed it at first since his back wasn't facing her, but he was carrying a huge weapon behind him. It was almost scraping the red carpet and seemed extremely heavy. There were words carved into it, but Lorelei wasn't able to read them because of how dark the weapon was. Before she even realized it, they had reached Iria's door, and Brant pushed it open with both of his hands and let Lorelei pass through. She saw the Duchess standing in front of a mirror, seemingly arranging something around her neck. Without turning around, she spoke to them.
"Oh, there you are," she acclaimed, surprised.
Brant stood on the side, quiet and upright. When Iria turned around to face Lorelei, she saw immediately that she was wearing a sword at her waist. A sheathed long sword. Iria sat down on her desk and signaled to Lorelei with her hand to step closer. Lorelei glanced at Brant, who was still standing upright, his gaze directed towards the ground. Reluctantly, Lorelei advanced towards Iria. Close enough to smell the sweet fragrance emitting from her body.
"Do you really have no place to go?"
"Y-es…"
"Don't feel forced to tell me, but really, what were you doing in the lymph?"
"I don't KnOw."
"Are you sure?"
Lorelei nodded.
Iria sighed and looked at Brant.
"I've made my decision; I'm going to adopt her."
Brant's eyes widened at what Iria had said.
"What?"
"I said, I'm going to adopt her. I can't just leave her like that, and she has no family name. The inquisition will pass by soon, and it will be weird if I keep a nameless little girl. They will take her away for sure."
"Iria," Brant sighed. "You do realise that you are of royalty, right?"
"Mhmm."
"You do realise that neither the order nor the council will approve of this decision. If it wasn't for your choice, you would've been queen. They still treat you as royalty; please do not make an illogical decision."
Iria pouted.
"I'm not leaving her on her own like this. What am I supposed to do then."
Brant seemed lost in thought for a second, then spoke up.
"I will take her; I will register her under our family name."
"But… Brant. Will Samuel approve of this?"
"No matter. I will convince him in some way or another."
Iria's face lit up so much that Lorelei almost saw sparkles forming around her. She turned towards Lorelei.
"Then it's settled! While Brant will show you around the city. I would've loved to, but I have some business to attend to in Lagun, so I won't be able to be here for some time. Don't worry, Brant and Samuel will take care of you."
In the same way Brant does, Iria also patted Lorelei's hair. Lorelei was sure of it this time; they weren't bad people at all. Lorelei faintly returned Iria's smile. She raised her hand off Lorelei's head and got off the desk.
"Should I prepare the car," Brant asked.
"No need; a friend of mine is already coming. You can take her around the city."
"Very well. Reili, let's go."
Brant walked to the door, and Lorelei followed after him.
"One more thing."
Brant turned around.
"Tell Samuel to make sure he comes up with a well-detailed excuse for why he hasn't reported to me directly after an expedition. Tell him to prepare for what's coming."
Brant laughed.
"Got it, I'll tell him."
On these words, Brant opened the door and walked out with Lorelei behind him. On the way to the main hall, he showed Lorelei around the mansion to make sure she wouldn't get lost again, but there was just so much to see that Lorelei lost focus and drifted off in her own world. It was Brant who brought her back to her senses when they reached the main hall. Brant opened the door, and the sunbeams grazed across Lorelei's face into the main hall. They felt warm on this chilly morning. Right outside, a black car was stationed on the other side of the garden. Lorelei followed Brant to the car and he knocked on the window. The door opened, and a man with short brown hair, elegantly dressed came out of it. Brant instantly bowed to him.
"I wasn't aware you had already arrived; welcome, my lordship."
The man chuckled and raised his arm.
"No need for all this, Brant; it's been a while since we saw each other, hasn't it?"
"Yes, indeed it has."
The door on the other side opened, and a lady with long blue hair and gauntlets stepped forward.
"Ahh, Nimiel."
"What was that tone, Brant?!" The lady walked closer to him, her gauntlets clattering against each other.
"Ahh, shut up; your voice is too loud. I haven't missed that."
"You little bastard," she said, trying to hold back her temper.
"There, there, let's all calm down, shall we?"
They both glared at each other and didn't speak further.
"Who is this little one behind you?" the man asked, pointing at Lorelei.
"Uhh, it's a long story, but her name is Reili."
"Reili, hm? What a beautiful name. For such a stunning lady."
The door opened behind them, and Iria came out, her hair all tied behind her in a wavy ponytail.
"It's been a while, Rim. How have you been?"
The blue-haired lady immediately bowed at the sight of Iria.
"Fairly well, if I must say so; I was quite surprised when you called for me," the man answered sarcastically.
"I never thought I would either, but here we are; let's get in, shall we? I will tell you more in the car."
"Very well."
The blue-haired lady opened the door for both Iria and Reid to get in and glared at Brant, who answered with a taunting smirk.
"Bye, bye Nimiel."
She ignored him and disappeared behind the car. Brant turned towards Lorelei.
"Let's get going too, shall we?"