Dialogue with Them

Frederick's Family

Emily had prepared a bath for me in her enormous bathtub. I even saw her pour some essential oils into the water. I sat silently on the cold floor, watching her kind gesture, although I wished I could shrink into a corner against the wall.

In mid-May in Intley, it rained almost every day. To me, the temperature felt no different from the winter streets.

Emily sat on the edge of the tub, looking down at me with a sincere smile. "Are you okay?"

"I think... not so much," I replied, my eyes nearly glued shut, my body stiff from the damp clothes. I longed for a private space.

"It seems a bit rough. Do you need my help?" Emily seemed about to touch me, but she quickly abandoned the idea as my obvious avoidance made it clear I was somewhat frightened.

"No, ma'am," I answered, my words slurred.

"Let me know if you need anything. You're worrisome in this state." Emily left the bathroom, closing the door gently behind her.

I hugged my knees and didn't move. A minute later, I shivered as I got up from the ground, stripped off my clothes, and stepped into the bathtub. The water temperature was just right, and I could feel all the pores in my body opening up quickly, warmth returning to my body.

I sighed, quietly hugging my knees and resting my head on them. My naked body made me feel as if I had returned to the womb, surrounded by amniotic fluid.

I forced myself to calm down. What exactly was going on?

Frederick, probably helpless himself about experiencing this with me, wouldn't have brought me here otherwise.

Especially since he seemed to know I came from another world.

But unfortunately, I couldn't lie, because all my lies were meaningless in front of Frederick.

Yet I couldn't tell his family the truth, not even let him share some of my experiences. A sense of fear of fate rose in my heart, these secrets about me shouldn't be told to them.

No one likes their secrets being exposed, and I hate it very, very much.

I reached out to grab my long hair, which had fallen into the bathtub. The light golden strands seemed almost transparent in the water, and I sighed with a bit of a choke. I feared I wouldn't be able to get through this, feeling utterly helpless.

In my sorrow, I vaguely heard the sound of the bathroom door closing, but it was so quick and light that I wasn't sure if it was just a confused illusion.

Looking up, there was silence all around, no one and no unidentified creatures here.

I breathed a sigh of relief and caught a glimpse of a set of white clothing on a chair next to the bathtub.

Then I started wondering, who came in? That lady?... If anyone dares say it was Frederick, I'll strangle them.

What did that lady say, something about a milk series of clothing? I won't tell you that even the underwear is pure and spotless white.

I had never worn clothes like these before, as if they were plucked straight from the Milan Fashion Week runway. The simple and exquisite lines of the clothing had a texture that gave off a casual, trendy vibe. However, the long-sleeved shirt was thin, breathable, and loose, which I believed was meant for summer wear.

Exiting the bathroom and heading towards the living room, I looked out of the house's windows to see steep grassy slopes stretching out, with a wide river appearing before me. The location of this villa, which seemed to be affordable only to high-profile individuals, was astonishing. It looked new, as if it had been renovated recently.

I walked slowly, steadying my chaotic thoughts bit by bit, not wanting to display any more impolite behavior today.

I'm not usually like this; I have to tell them that. I'm definitely not a madwoman who rolls on the ground; I have the manners I should have, I'm sure of it.

I don't even know how many minutes it took me to walk this short distance. When I arrived in the living room, all the...people, and I really wanted to ignore the strange pause before the word "people," turned to look at me in unison. Emily already exclaimed in admiration, "She's fantastic, isn't she?"

I felt uncomfortable, not knowing where to place my hands and feet.

"I knew these clothes would suit her perfectly, and her hair is so beautiful." Emily approached me at a slower pace. She leaned forward slightly, squinting her eyes as if savoring something with her nose, then retreated a distance and smiled gently.

I froze all over, feeling as if a large canine was confirming my scent. Green eyes stared at me, and although gentle, my whole body shivered. I finally understood what I was afraid of: an innate biological restraint. Even though I knew she meant no harm, my body reflexively emphasized their danger, which was hard to overcome at that moment.

"We scared her; she thinks we are canine," Frederick translated aptly from the sofa.

"Ethel is so sensitive to certain things. She also seems to possess a mysterious talent."

I had heard this voice before. I saw a young man stand up, and the man in front of me was so handsome that it took my breath away.

His dark golden hair was combed back, revealing a perfect and sexy forehead. He stood in front of the sofa, his smile gentle, his dark golden eyes with slightly elongated pupils. Despite his attempt to keep his distance and his friendly smile, he couldn't hide his aggressive temperament.

"Hello, Ethel. I'm David. It's a pleasure to meet you."

They didn't even give me a chance to introduce myself; it seemed like everyone suddenly knew my name was Ethel Millet.

Telepathy is really something, I cursed it maliciously again.

Frederick's eyes moved, and I think he was holding back a laugh.

Finally, I managed to move my stiff mouth corners. It was so difficult to pry open my tightly pressed lips. I responded dryly, "Hello, David."

"I think you should take some medicine. You're not in good shape, and you've been in the rain," David said with concern.

Eventually, I was moved by David's angelic kindness and sat cautiously on the sofa. The lady glanced at me and handed me a cup of water. I accepted it gratefully, realizing it was warm water. My heart was touched, and I felt a bit moved. "I'm Emily, Frederick's mother. I'm very sorry for the unpleasant guest experience."

I wondered what they wanted to do, what answers they sought from me.