>>6049862You take a deep breath as your hands fold over the table, it gets everyone's attention back on you. Excellent, “I feel I must apologize, first for how my father treated you, and then for having to,” You try and you fail to find good words to describe suicide, “to do that after mine. Let’s just say my unfortunate demise.”
“Uh, thanks?” He seems uncomfortable at your apology, “It’s my job so you don’t need to worry about it, alright?”
“Still, the apology is warranted. Especially as there is also the fact I may have to talk to Father about you and your Cheat Skill tomorrow, in a way that will likely be callous toward you. I’d like to let you know ahead of time so that you may steel your emotions.”
“What? You’re going to call me a rat bastard in front of the king or something?” He blinks before an actual look of distress comes over him, “Wait, you aren’t actually going to do that, right?”
“Goodnight, everyone. Tomorrow may be taxing so please rest well.”
“H-hey, Lorina!” His cries fall on deaf ears as you go to retire for the night. You end up having to borrow some of Marie’s clothes much to your chagrin. They’re too tight. There’s also the fact there’s only one bed in the hovel you’re in, an uncomfortable one at that. The compromise made is that you and Marie share, facing away from each other, while Asher and Alyssa sleep in chairs. However, when you wake in the morning you find the maid preferring the hard ground instead.
As you groggily rise with the rest of your fellows you try and recall the hazy dream you had. Something to do with chess pieces and your journey to become a Queen,
a God, along with your knight piece escort. The Red Queen who your allied side fought against seemed both familiar and foreign. Her magical ruby slippers truly pulled her outfit together though. What a dazzle they’d make at court. Wait, why are you thinking about this?
>Mental Corruption is too lowAlyssa was the first to rise and seemingly tried to set a table and prepare breakfast like a normal maid might. She was however unsuccessful in doing so without making any noise. This would have been fine if this was a normal house with a couple of floors and a few dozen rooms but this is not a normal house, it is squaller. You can see the damnable “kitchen” from your bed, it’s outrageous!
“My apologies for having woken you, commander. Please feel free to be seated and enjoy the morning,” She does not apologize to the half-conscious Marie, who took up too much of the space last night, or the Inquisitor squinting past the blinds.
“...Shut up, you’re so annoying,” You can hear Marie stress to her sword as she rolls over in bed.
“Hey everyone, stay sharp. We got a knight headed this way,” Asher says before dropping the blind and starting to put on his day clothes, complete with many hidden weapons.