Rose and Rapier

No no no...

My hands held the tablecloth firmly after listening to my father. 

I looked at my father again, with my eyes wide opened.

"Father, you can't be serious, right?"

My father did not say a word with his head lowered. 

I changed my gaze to my mother.

"Mother, is it true?"

My mother sighed, and then she gestured me to sit down. My father stood up and left in a hurry. My mother's eyes trailed my father, and then, after he left, she shifted her gaze back to me. 

Her eyes looked worried and tired. 

It must because from the talk with father for this.

"Claire, darling. My only daughter. We love you more than anything, you must know that. And if anything that we can do to make you happy, we certainly want to do it, to give you."

Mother held my hands firmly as she said that, with her soft touch. 

Yet, when I looked into her eyes, it only sadness that I can see.

"But darling, the thing is, your father is in a tight spot now, and he needs every backup that he can. And..."

I already knew what the next sentence would be, yet, I want to hear it from her own mouth.

"The only way for him to get it is by marrying you with the heir of their company."

I froze for a moment. My mother still held my hands firmly. 

She then continued.

"Perhaps, if you didn't want to get married right away, I can ask your father to have an engagement first."

I nodded weakly.

Mother smiled, though somehow I can tell that she is not happy with it too.

Mother patted my hands, and let it go.

"Thank you for being an understanding daughter, and I'm sorry. We're sorry."

I did not say anything.

Mother knew I was upset, so she decided it may be best to leave me alone, to recollect my thoughts about this.

She left the dining hall, leaving me alone with my head down low.

I knew that some distraction can help me, at the time like these, but I did not know what.

Feeling unease, I grabbed my phone. 

I wanted to call Katherine and tell her that I need her right now.

Yet, I remember some of her words before.

"Sorry, Claire, I'm quite busy right now. Can you call me later?"

Yeah, I actually already knew her answer though.

With that, I put my phone back to my pocket and ran to my room.

I pushed the door of the dining hall and quickly ran. I was not noticing that Anna was standing next to the door.

"Miss Claire?"

I heard her call, but right now, I did not need any comfort words.

I need someone by my side.

As soon as I entered my room, I closed my door, but not slammed it. 

The last thing I want right now is my parent to swarm into my room. 

I buried myself down on my comfy bed, let my body sink in. I put myself on my pillow, wiping my tears on it. 

"This is not right..."

Those words I kept repeating, hoping that all that happened was only a dream.

But of course, it was not.

A few minutes, I managed to calm myself down, but I knew my eyes are still in tears. I got up from the bed and sat on my bed for a minute. I tried to think straight on what just had happened.

I will get married to someone that I barely knew.

This thought stuck in my head. I did not know what to think of any more, as my head cannot is in a mess right now. I looked around my room, searching for anything that can calm me down.

The books on the shelves that I had already finished reading, the door which leads to the balcony that I kept it open, nothing made me smile right now.

Yet, I am still looking around at my room. 

The golden mat that I used to lay around when I am bored, my walk-in wardrobe with clothes I bought that is in trending, my extensive, digital makeup mirror that came out with enormous makeup table,

But I still not satisfied.

I kept looking around until my eyes were fixed to something. 

The shelves of my online games trophies are what my eyes are looking at now. I wiped my tears and started to walk towards them. I stood at them, watching at them carefully, studying them one by one. I touched the nameplate on each trophy.

"World best Solo Player."

"Top One Player under 24 hours playing."

"Undead Player with Zero Death."

And many more.

I read them one by one. Apparently, I smiled. I remembered the times when I played these games, online games, whenever I was stress. 

Whenever I was alone.

Whenever I was bored.

And whenever I need to get away from something.

I quickly went to my computer and looked for any games that I had. I clicked every single game and played it, even though I already played it.

One hour passed...

Two hours passed...

This is no fun!

I managed to clear all the games within an hour!

And all the games that I just bought too were too easy!

I felt mad, but I was no longer feeling sad. I put my head on my computer's table and began to wander around. 

When is the last time I had so much fun played online games?

I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking for any games that might come in mind.

Ah!

I pushed the chair back with my legs and searched for something in the cabinet beside my bed.

Please be there, please be there!

After a few minutes of searching for something in the cabinet with my hands rumbled around, I finally managed to get it.

Thank God!

My Virtual Reality Set!

I kissed it like it was my child and wore the goggles on my head. I lie down on my bed again, while the gloves that connect to the goggles, swiping something in the mid of air.

Better have something great.

Not this,

Not this,

Cliche,

Too mild,

Not this too.

Tired of swiping, I took off the gloves and the goggles and placed it beside me.

I did not find any online games that interest me somehow. 

The last game that I played, Eternal Quest, was really my preference game, but unfortunately, it was banned. 

No one knew when the game is erased from the platform!

I sighed as I felt defeated by this thing. I took out my phone and looked for the group chat.

*BBLing BLLing Friends!*

I laughed when I read the name of the group repeatedly.

It was my idea, obviously!

Amber: Ugh! This is so tiring!

Harith: But you said you loved it... :(

Amber: Don't reply here, yo-you i***t!

Harith and Amber is such a cute couple!

I wish Amber can get rid of her Tsundere's charm for Harith soon.

Ray: Guys, wanna go for a picnic this Saturday? Katherine brings the food, so you have to make yours.

Katherine: Why they should make their own food?

Ray: 'Cause all of yours is mine~

Katherine: <3

Amber: Go to a DM, ew!

Spencer: Says someone who needs attention and calls his name in the group's chat.

Amber: S-shut up, Spencer!

Harith: And I love it when you did that <3

Amber: Y-you too!

I laughed again when they always filled the chat with their dorkiness and craziness.

And sometimes their lovey-dovey-ness~

I kept scrolling, just to make myself smiled again when suddenly, I stopped scrolling. I immediately sat back from laying down when I looked at those particular messages. My eyes moved, following the words, from top to bottom.

Spencer: Remember that one game, that we heard when we were at the plaza? Did anyone know it?

Ray: What game?

Spencer: I didn't remember, but it somehow has the word 'ace' in it.

Harith: Kart Ace?

Spencer: No.

Amber: Royal Ace?

Spencer: No, but it has something related to royal.

Katherine: Thorn Legacy?

Spencer:...

Spencer: Yes.

Amber: Which part of it that has 'Ace' in it?!

Spencer: Lega'ace'y

Amber: *sign off*

Harith: Noo~

I stopped reading the messages below as my eyes were fixed to Thorn Legacy. I quickly went to my computer and typed it on my search bar.

A second passed, and I got the results. I scrolled using my mouse and tried to search on where to buy it. Some of the searches were advertisement or other games, which almost the same, but not the game itself. I kept scrolling, but I did not found anything. I sighed again, as this time, I did not get what I want.

I was about to shut my computer down, but then I got a notification from my email.

I did not remember that I turn on the settings for that.

I quickly returned to my computer's screen and looked at it.

It was from my email.

I clicked on it and turned out I got an email from an unknown sender. 

Maybe one of those scammer's technique.

But it said Thorn Legacy on its title!

Hmm...

I turned on the security system on my computer, blocking the hackers, if it has one, and clicked on the mail.

Thank God I learned about hacking, though it was a basic!

I looked at the mail and read it.

As I read it in silent, my eyes went bigger for every word that I read. Here what it said;

Hello.

Who am I, is none of your concern.

You were looking for this game, right?

Take it and play it.

All I ask from you is to win this game.

I guess a real gamer like you can find it easy, right?

Good luck, though luck is the last thing that you need.

Judging from your skills.

-E-

At the end of the mail, it was included with the link. Though I still felt suspicious, I clicked it anyway. 

Soon after, someone knocked at my door.

"Miss Claire?"

I went to the door and opened it. Turned out it was Anna, with a package on her hands.

"This is for you."

I took the package and thanked her.

"Thank you, Anna."

Anna still stood there, with her worrying face.

"Is anything okay, Miss Claire? I saw you earlier and-"

"I'm okay, just need some rest."

I cut Anna off, and she seemed to understand it. She nodded and left my room. I closed the door and ripped open the package.

No way.

Someone just sends me Thorn Legacy's game!

I picked the small package inside of it and studied it carefully. I opened it, and it somehow has the chip, like the Eternal Quest used too!

I gulped. 

I looked at my VR set again, and I looked back at the chip in my hand. 

After that, I inserted the chip into the goggles and wore it.

I do not know who sent it, and I do not know their motive.

But one thing for sure,

I am playing this game!