Chapter 8 - notice me, my
1112 Words
"They called me 'Great Queen' and wanted me to return. I don't know they will do it, considering that I don't have my memories. What I do know is that they plan to do something heinous... something that I can't allow Eliza and Rune to be subjected with... especially now that... I have some memories as to why this is all happening to me. I don't want them to get hurt because of my past... and for my selfish desire to re-acquire my memory despite the possibility that everything will broke down around me", Michelle said.
"You really treasure them", Sir Kay answered, which made Michelle answer, "Of course. After all, they are my family! They... they saved me when I did not have my memory... something that I am deeply grateful of. If it were not for them, maybe... maybe I'll be somewhere far away. Maybe I'll be struggling on the streets... or, better yet, dead. I owe everything to them. Just like Sir Kay, they, too, are my heroes".
"... Heroes, huh?"
"Yes... and if something happens while I am recovering my memories, I might... just become the villain to the lives of the heroes that is so important to me. I don't want that to happen...", Michelle said.
"Are you really determined?"
"Yes"
"... Then, we'll do that. I will accept the life bond just as I said I will do to any of your requests when I made the offer. I need, however, a favor for this one", Sir Kay said, which confused Michelle.
"What is it?"
"Time. I need time to sort things out", Sir Kay said. This surprised Michelle.
"I am just going to give you the mark and---"
"This is my request as the one who will be on the other side of the life bond. I want to make this right", Sir Kay said.
"Right?"
"Official. I will not have a woman who will give me their one and only chance to bond with the person they like, former enemy or not, as nothing more but a bond-partner"
Sir Kay's words confused Michelle even more, however, Michelle did, not, dare ask anything more when she noticed Sir Kay clam up. He will not say anything more, and for Michelle, it oddly reminded her of Eliza who clams up when she does not want to answer any of her questions regarding Eliza's love-life.
"Okay", was Michelle's simple words.
Their meet-up ended early, at that time, and Michelle was sent home, with Agent Era as her chaperone. Michelle was still confused, at that time, when she went home, and upon seeing what was happening inside the house... her confusion could not help but disappear. Why? Because she found Rune and Eliza seemingly caught off in a strange stand-off.
"... Umm, guys? What's wrong?", Michelle asked the two.
"Answers! I want answers from Eliza!", Rune said, his face showing fury. This made Michelle curious, and Eliza, who was calm a moment ago, become visibly annoyed.
"You are going to drag Michelle into this, too?", Eliza asked.
"Yes, because it concerns her, too! Tell us, now! What the h*** is your relationship with that d**n hero?!", Rune said, which made Michelle ask, "Are we talking about Sir Kay?".
"Alright. I'm going to answer that, but in one condition. Once I do, I am never showing my face in this house, again", Eliza said, her expression showing how serious she was with what she said.
"N-Never? Eliza, don't leave us!", Michelle exclaimed, before rushing to Eliza and hugging her.
"T-Then good riddance!", Rune said, which made Michelle shout, "Rune! Is this really worth it? Is it worth losing a friend for this?".
"Yes, especially if that friend has been lying to everyone all these time", Rune said, which made Michelle and Eliza turn very silent.
"... Don't make me do this", Eliza warned. When she saw Rune will not budge, Eliza felt completely saddened.
"Why do you hate him so much? What did he do to you?", Eliza asked, which made Rune answer, "This is not about me--".
"If you're forcing me to lay everything out, then you should, too! Why, Rune?!", Eliza asked, which made Rune bite his lip.
And then, he finally answered, "It's because that hero's sister killed my family! His sister killed my d*** family and put the others to jail! Unfairly, too! Which is why I hate him! I hate everything that has to do about him!".
"H-Her sister?", Michelle asked, which made Rune answer, "I hate villains, but I hate biased heroes more. He destroyed my family because he mistook my family to be the perpetrators of his sister's kidnapping, which is why I don't want you two to be associating yourselves with him! Outside... outside"
'Outside the fact that he had feelings for Michelle', was left unsaid.
As for Eliza, flashbacks of her 12-year-old self came into her mind. The kidnapping... the blood... and the main incident that estranged her from her brother and forced her abroad under the guise of learning the family business flashed in her eyes.
And then, she started feeling nauseated, remembering how her life became hell for her, in the first place.
"Eliza?" Michelle asked, who was stunned by Rune's revelation, snapped out of her thoughts, and looked at her best friend who looked like she was about to fall to the ground at any time soon. Even Rune started feeling hesitant at her expression. Still, he held his hesitation back.
He needed to know.
Cause' he won't feel at peace, otherwise.
'I guess we were never meant to be together, at all', Eliza thought bitterly, before looking at Rune with a mixture of weakened yet somewhat determined expression.
"Alright, I will tell you. I am Sir Kay's half-sister", Eliza said, which stunned Michelle and Rune.
"I am the reason why my half-brother killed my kidnappers the moment that he went to save me. I am the reason why you lost everything you have, Rune Hastermann. And you--- my brother did not do wrong at that time. He got the right people"
"You're lying"
"And, thank goodness you told me because I would never have remembered why I got estranged from my brother, why I became the CEO of Dupmont Isle Company, in the first place. The events that happened in my childhood? I am, not even a little bit, sorry about it. Never, when that kidnapping destroyed my life at that exact moment", Eliza answered.
"You're lying... you are lying!"
"..." Rune, like Eliza, was breaking down. As for Michelle, she felt... torn.
"Rune! Eliza! We're best friends, right?! We are best friends" Michelle shouted.
- Writer
