As soon as Emma was out of Olivia's parents' line of sight, "Oh my god! I'm scared!" she blurted, hurrying toward Olivia's room with quick, nervous steps.
"You don't have to be," Honey said calmly in her mind. "I'm here if you want to talk."
"Thank you," Emma said, her voice small. "But I feel like I'm lying to them. They were so sincere, and yet… I'm nothing but a fake. I feel fake."
"You shouldn't think that way," Honey replied. "If you weren't here today, those two might be dead right now. Laura was ten seconds away from losing her life, and Smith could've had a heart attack before we interfered."
Emma's eyes widened. "Oh my god! That's terrifying." The thought made her stomach twist. She couldn't bear to imagine something like that happening to her own family, but still, her heart ached for Olivia's parents.
"Yes, it is," Honey agreed softly. "But I'm sure Olivia will also come around and learn the way of life, in her own time."
"It's all so complicated," Emma sighed. "I mean… how on earth is any of this even possible?"
Honey's tone grew quiet but firm. "A lot happens in this world, Emma William. It's only those entangled in it who ever learn the truth. You and Olivia aren't the only ones. Our system has existed for a very long time."
Emma didn't know how to feel about that. She was dead, and yet here she was, breathing again. A second chance. It was strange, but not unwelcome. She wasn't panicking as much as she thought she would. Deep down, she knew that if she returned to her world, Sammy would still try to kill her. Maybe this was better.
She had been wary of the water at first, unsure of how to trust this strange existence, but questioning their kindness felt rude. Olivia was right about her, she really was an idiot sometimes, but at least here, she doesn't have to be an idiot to not attract trouble.
There was nothing holding her back from speaking her mind. She could be the version of herself she'd always buried away just to stay safe. Here, she could breathe. She could dream.
"That's right, Emma," Honey said, smiling faintly. "That's what this chance is all about. Explore this world as if it's your own and enjoy it. Olivia knew her life was being threatened, but she never broke down. Do the same. Use that same strength, but in a positive way. Before you know it, you'll be close to completing the quest assigned to you."
Emma's lips curved into a small smile. "I'll do my best," she said with quiet determination.
Soon, she stood before a spotless white door. It was so wide that she couldn't help but imagine what the inside might look like, and when her thoughts drifted too far, the door opened on its own. Her jaw fell open.
The sight that met her eyes was breathtaking.
The door was automated, of course it was. Olivia was so spoiled she didn't even open her own door.
Emma stepped inside, and her awe grew. The room was enormous, easily as large as the entire plot of land her own house stood on.
Just how rich were they?
A pink Barbie-themed curtain divided the bedroom from the outer area, where Emma spotted the bathroom and a walk-in closet that looked like it belonged in a magazine.
And that closet, oh, the closet! Rows of luxury brand clothes lined up in perfect order, glittering accessories, designer shoes, it was overwhelming.
The walls were white, adorned with beautiful paintings. But not ordinary paintings, portraits of Olivia, in every style imaginable. Virtual art that almost breathed, pencil sketches framed in glass, birthday photographs with handwritten wishes beside them.
"This girl lived like a queen," Emma murmured aloud, turning slowly in place. "She really believed the world revolved around her. And to be honest, standing in Olivia's shoes makes that notion feel like reality.
Even with Olivia's memories flowing through her mind, Emma couldn't stop herself from being awed. The faint lavender scent in the air soothed her nerves, pulling her deeper into the room.
As she stepped onto a small platform hidden under the plush carpet, the pink curtain drew itself apart automatically.
A massive queen-sized bed came into view, and on it lay a teddy bear, larger than Emma herself, sprawled across the sheets like a human.
Near the foot of the bed was a dressing table, neat and glossy, while two soft pink fur sofas sat near the balcony entrance. The balcony could be reached through a transparent blind behind the curtain, filtering the sunlight just enough to keep the room glowing softly.
Custom-made pink drawers flanked both sides of the bed, each holding several remote controls, because of course they did.
Emma stood in the middle of the room, her head turning slowly, her heart sinking a little more with every passing second. The riches around her made her own life feel so small.
"Are you okay?" Honey asked gently.
"Mm-hmm… I'm fine," Emma said, her voice distant. She set Olivia's purse down on the drawer, but froze when a ringtone broke the silence.
🎵 I'm a queen, everybody knows that.
I'm a queen, if you don't know, now's the time to find out.
I'm a queen, and if you can't accept it, go and die. 🎵
"What kind of ringtone is this?" Emma asked in disbelief, fishing out the phone.
Even Honey sounded amused. "That's… new."
Emma glanced at the screen and felt her heart jolt. The name flashing across it made her stomach twist.
Alicia.
Wasn't this the girl Olivia had warned her about, the one she must never let insult her and get away with it?
But before she could panic, the memories kicked in, sharp, vivid, and unmistakable. The countless bickering matches, the sharp tongues, the rivalry that sparked whenever their eyes met, all of it came rushing back.
The owner of her current body and the one calling now are mortal enemies.