Colette watched as Manon sat stone faced on the vanity chair in the bathroom.
The only light came from a candle in front of her on the counter, emitting a warm flickering light that cast wary shadows on Manon's face.
Colette thought the brunette girl looked ill as she examined the black pearl earrings they'd purchased earlier in the day....or rather...someone purchased them for her? She wasn't sure. The pearl shone between her thumb and pointer finger, before she carefully placed them back inside the paper bag they came in and left them on the vanity.
Colette remained still as Manon finally looked up and spotted her in the doorway.
"What was that?" Manon didn't look surprised or taken aback- she looked utterly mortified. Despite her composure, Colette was too. She was worried, she was terrified.
A constant pattern was that she knew what events happened- which ones couldn't be avoided- but she did not truly feel them until they occurred. Sister Anya's display of power was to some degree, a normal fear tactic in this world. But to her, and to Manon, it was disturbing.
Colette approached Manon, two items in her hand. She used her free one to take Manon's, pulling her gently off the vanity chair. With a small breath, she blew out the candle, sending them into darkness.
She walked Manon towards the only light coming from the doorway she had been standing in, light from their dim bedside lamps they neglected to turn off until it was time to sleep.
Colette knew that for Manon to even think of sleeping, there was much to discuss.
The two girls climbed up on Manon's bed, sinking into the mattress. Colette sat cross legged and placed the items in her hand in her lap.
"Sister Anya…she is a unique case. She is the daughter of a Cardinal and her mother is the sister of a Duke. Blonde hair and blue eyes is actually a rare combination here. It usually means you're a part of a specific regional clan of the empire. For example, even Beckham has blonde hair and green eyes-" Colette saw Manon staring at her as if she…didn't care.
"Anyways- She was one of only 10 female Bishops and was set to become one of 3 female archbishops…until her father was caught rerouting funds to his mistress. Rather than remove him from his position- the other cardinals decided to lessen the family power and make an example of her to other women by making her a nun as punishment for her father. They don't want any women thinking they can become Cardinals." Colette made eye contact with Manon, who stared at her with just her right brown eye.
"In other words, she shouldn't even be here. Bishops, Archbishops, and above all usually have a large amount of holy power. Power the nuns who run these facilities should not have. Her Holy power is…probably in line with a Cardinal. What we witnessed tonight…it was only a fraction of what she is capable of. She works for her father Cardinal Roberto and his disciples. She's a dangerous woman, but even more dangerous as an enemy."
Colette knew that Manon probably wanted different information, like what her abilities were- what they did, the damage they inflicted- but the truth was- Colette did not know all of that, as it was never relevant. Anya never used her severe powers unless it was a main unavoidable event. Even the slapping she inflicted on Manon upon first meeting her was still normal behavior for her. But she wouldn't carelessly attack without specific parameters….
Colette wanted to believe that, but she was not fully confident.
Things in this game world had been shifting. Just small things at first, until today.
Antoni showed up early, Remy joined, Remy got hurt and didn't drink his healing elixir. The orchard didn't behave as it should have. Too much was changing and it had Colette feeling as though she were both powerless and woefully unprepared to a degree that really bothered her.
It wasn't just about not knowing.
It was about feeling the way she had in her previous reality.
It was the trauma.
Colette shook her head, shaking the thought away as she bit her thumbnail. She stopped that too once she realized, and picked up the items in her lap. They were the braise she purchased from Harry's shop. She held up Manon's, a Larimar palmstone with a rune etched in.
"So, all you have to do is," She took Manon's hand in hers, placing the stone on the back of her small hand. "This. And then say 'braise'." She instructed, successfully turning the conversation to practical matters. Manon pursed her lips as she stared at the stone, but didn't argue.
"Braise." A little zap flashed on her hand, and the braise stone disappeared. The only indication that it had been there was from the way it subtly glowed once or twice under her pale skin, the blue waves of the larimar shining like a bioluminescent ocean before it disappeared as if it were never there. Manon blinked, turning her hand over in slight awe. Colette grinned and repeated the same method with her angelite braise.
"And then, to take it out and pay for something…" Colette held out her hand, palm facing up. "Braise." Immediately, the stone materialized in her palm, cool to the touch. Manon stifled a short laugh, but didn't move to try it for herself, just watched Colette reseal her own.
"This way, it can't be lost, and can only be changed if you seal a different one. Some people don't like sealed braise for that reason. But I think it's practical. There are some events where you may have it stolen otherwise." She said slowly, hands in her lap again.
"Listen, Manon…I think a lot has happened today and we need to discuss things…that way there are no secrets, okay?" Colette's eyes searched Manon's, as if she could see the internal turmoil she was going through. Manon sighed and reached under her pillow where she liked to store most things. The pillow was a but frumpy due to the habit but clearly Manon felt safe this way.
She retrieved some sort of ornament. It was only when the girl opened her palm and the light hit the accessory that Colette leaned back in shock.
"...is that a norigae?" Colette's copper eyebrows knitted, her pale eyes flickering between Manon and the norigae.
"I found it in the concubine's gift box. You see- I ended up…eating the key?" Manon admitted sheepishly, and Colette's eyes widened even further, her cheeks puffing out to hold back a laugh. Manon sighed, the breath turning into a soft laugh despite herself. Colette gestured for her to continue. And she did.
Colette listened intently as Manon spoke about how she ate a drugged fruit and had a strange dream, how Remy woke her up, how she had blown up at Remy rebuking the choices, how the system strangled her to near death before giving her a skill, how she ate the grape key and ended up getting yet another reward in addition to the norigae. Colette just listened, her eyes dazed the more Manon spoke about her day.
Colette didn't speak for some time as she absorbed all the information.
But her primary thought was….
Just what game had Manon been playing? This was sounding less like the dating sim game she knew and more like a crazy horror game. Colette chewed her lip, staring hard at the norigae in Manon's hand.
It was black translucent jade with azure beads, silver silk tassel throughout the piece. But more concerningly, Colette recognized the design of the large piece of black jade.
One thing at a time, she needed to tackle one thing at a time.
"Bamboo…." Colette murmured, making Manon hold up the accessory higher.
"Do you know what this is for? What it does?" She inquired, and Colette shook her head hesitantly.
"Not exactly…it's just…" Colette's jaw went slack, suddenly realizing several things. Manon read her expression easily, leaning back slightly. Without needing to say a word, COlette stood up from the bed and went to her side table, opening the drawer. She pulled out a rolled up piece of parchment. One she had opened but put away quickly afterwards.
"I got a reward the night we had the fight- the night you fell asleep early. Another besides the status sharing thing I forgot to tell you about." Colette began, and Manon's brown eye narrowed. "Not because I wanted to hide it- but because I thought it was a…useless reward. I thought it would be interesting but it doesn't really have anything to do with the storyline." She said, sitting back on Manon's bed again.
She set the scroll down between them, rolling it around until the wax seal was visible.
Just like the black jade, it had the same exact same design. With two sticks of bamboo and various vine-like loops and whirls. Manon studied the wax seal, nodding slowly. She handed the norigae to Colette who took it, while she opened the scroll to read its contents.
"It's basically a letter from a knight to his master I believe."
...
...
Dear Young Miss,
I write to you as the situation has worsened. It is best that you leave and do not return to the estate.
The Duke and Duchess are very disappointed. The Duchess intends to punish you severely, and her negativity is influencing the Duke severely. Your brother is no better. I am concerned that something will happen to you and the one you must protect.
I will stay in the case of your return. If your lover does not accept you. please meet my contact at the grand station. He will help you leave the Empire. If you wish to meet him, simply do not reply. Meet my contact at 4am by the 4th platform the day after tomorrow.
Please be well. Please stay safe.
Sincerely,
Captain Nicolas Lee
….
….
Colette waited for Manon to finish reading the main letter.
"The letter was tucked inside the larger piece of rolled parchment. The larger piece is a legal form that denounces a noble from their family and title rights. It was partially filled out… but the family name was left out." Colette explained, watching as Manon scanned the form.
"Her name was Raphaëlle." Colette said, her face twitching. Manon rolled the scroll back up, looking at Colette again.
"I'm not sure how it's connected. But I think we will need to look more into the seal for now." Manon said, to which Colette nodded.
"It may be best to ask Remy as well. He knows…a lot of things."
With that, the two girls decided they were very tired and Colette climbed back into her own bed, letting Manon hold onto the scroll for now.