"Though we need not rush sister. I have more enough time to wait for you. We always...had enough time."
- Genshin.
Xiaomao woke up from Second Reality's constant pestering that someone was going to come at this late hour. Yet she didn't ignore his warning and splashed some water on her face wondering who could it be.
She waited for the knock on the door, after hearing it she slowly walked to the door and opened it.
"Hello?" She asked wondering who it was at this late hour.
"It's me. Maximillius." He said standing on her porch of the dorm holding a torchlight. "The Consort Nari has asked me to summon you. You must meet with the Emperor and Consort Nari on an important matter."
"I see, thank you for telling me. Do I go now?" She asked clarifying what was going to happen to herself.
"If you are ready, then yes." Maximillius said nodding his head he opened the door a little wider to let Xiaomao out.
Xiaomao walked out with her coat and waited for Maximillius. She noticed on the side that Ren was with him as well, leaning on the side of Xiaomao's dorm.
Ren quietly watched her, noticing her face all puffed and red from her episode earlier.
"Your eyes are red." He commented, his gaze stayed on her eyes for excess amount of time.
"Allergies." Xiaomao said her gaze calm. Maximillius began to escort them both to the west side of the palace, where all the consorts lived.
Hearing Xiaomao's excuse Ren said nothing, knowing better to keep quiet as nothing would waver the quiet girl.
This is what I think it is right, Second Reality?
"Yes. Just be patient and everything will go correctly." He responded watching to expression of Ren who kept on staring at Xiaomao.
Second Reality stared at Ren and then suddenly thought, If that bastard had to die. I'd rather it be by my hand.
Xiaomao gave a weird expression and asked Second Reality,
What was that you said?
"Nothing." He grumbled, forgetting that she could hear his thoughts as clearly as he could hear hers.
Ren stopped staring at Xiaomao once he realized he's been caught. He looked away, feeling quite embarrassed, and continued to follow his father's lead.
They finally opened the door, in which Consort Nari and the Emperor were sipping tea over biscuits.
They put their cup down once they saw we arrived. The emperor stood up and gestured to sit down.
Ren and Xiaomao gave a modest bow and sat in those seats. They waited to hear what the emperor would say.
The emperor cleared his voice and began to speak,
"My Consort Nari here have decided to-"
Consort Nari broke him off, "I can speak for myself." She said staring at Aranthor, he frowned at her words but stayed silent.
Sure is same as last time.
Xiaomao couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah... atleast Aranthor wasn't as mad as last time either." Second Reality said remembering those early days.
Back then, Consort Nari had interrupted Aranthor multiple times when he was trying to speak for her. Just like this time.
She felt there was no need for Aranthor to speak for her. She was far more capable on speaking for her self.
Last turn, Aranthor had a bad reaction to her interruption. After Xiaomao and Ren left after hearing what Consort Nari had wanted, Aranthor, then as punishment locked her up in the Quiet Room.
The Quiet Room was a place with no colors. It's entirety was all white. The wallpaper, the chairs and clothes. All white.
If you got sent into the Quiet Room, you had no human interaction. The food you got would be mashed potato's and white pills containing the nutrients in a whole meal.
There were no mirrors at all in the Quiet Room, however that was atleast one of the lowest things people are concerned about.
The only good thing in the Quiet Room was the privacy you got. You had your own bathroom, and could use it whenever you want.
You had a bed as well, and under the bed were 5 random books and a notepad with a pencil.
The books had no cover title, only words. Those words were the only thing that wasn't white in color.
Each person had their own compartment, each sizing around a small apartment room.
Honestly, it served as an inhumane prison.
But the Quiet Room was different from all prisons. Mind you, the normal criminals who did a Level 1 or 2 crime never set foot in the Quiet Room.
Only the most notorious criminals and insane people recieved sentences to the Quiet Room.
Alright that's enough background information for the Reader. Second Reality you're going to bore if you continue any further.
"Sorry" He mumbled giving apologetic smile.
"Xiaomao, dear I have a proposal for you. Care to hear it?" Consort Nari said with a sharp but kind expression.
Her caramel dipped face contrasting with her white eyes made her look like a majestic beauty.
Little does she know how much more of a majestic beast she would turn to be.
"Go on, Consort Nari" Xiaomao said allowing her to continue.
"Will you be willing to be the replacement of Lady in waiting Airen?"
Xiaomao cleared her throat and began to speak.
"Consort Nari. I respectfully decline this offer."
The silence that came afterwards were the loudest of all, Consort Nari frowned while Ren gave her a puzzled look.
Xiaomao continued to speak, "I am in no position to replace someone, or be in the position ever to replace someone."
Consort Nari couldn't even form words from shock, but slowly she formed a smile. "As you should, however I would still recommend you to my lady in waiting position. How about that?"
Xiaomao tilted her head as if to gesture she was thinking about it and slowly nodded her head. "I can accept this, and will honor your wish to make you and Lady Airen proud."
"I knew you are quite the jewel, Xiaomao." She said continuing, "You won't ever regret this."
Xiaomao gave a nod in return smiling, "I know I won't."
Emperor Aranthor couldn't even form a thought, he was going to think of a punishment for Consort Nari however Xiaomao's words caught him off guard.
Just what kind of person is this Little Miss? He kept thinking that for while.
"Welcome, to the palace Lady Xiaomao." Consort Nari said formally welcoming Xiaomao.
Both Emperor Aranthor and Consort Nari bowed respectfully, Xiaomao did the same in return.
"You are dismissed for now Lady Xiaomao. You start working two days from now." Consort Nari said waving goodbye to Xiaomao and Ren.
They both left the palace with Maximillius leading the way.
"So does that mean I have to start calling you Lady Xiaomao?" Ren teased, poking a finger on her cheek.
"No." She said ending the suggestion off.
At first when she came to this world. She only had one wish and one wish only.
But even after rewinding the world lines and going through 35 more, this being her 36th round she still couldn't fulfill that wish.
Instead now, she decided to not really chase for that dream. She was more on protecting on what's hers.
Maximillius congratulated her through out the walk on being a lady in waiting.
Now that Xiaoamao thought about it, she and Ren were now of the same rank. Which meant she had more responsibilities and things to do.
She mentally groaned, she wanted to act like the trash she was. Seems likes that no one really thinks of her as trash at least anyways.
Xiaomao finally reached her dorm and waved farewell to the two figures outside. Soon they walk away, disappearing in the distance.
Xiaomao sat on her chair, heating some of the leftover food she had. She was thankful to Li Shen, who had given her the food. She always thought homemade food was better than take out anyways.
"How would we even know what take out tastes like. We never did ordered or went to a restaurant."
Yeah I guess. Still don't matter though, homemade food is the best.
Xiaomao took her vitamins as well after the pestering Second Reality forced her to take.
After they finished doing it all, they finally went to Xiaomao's room.
They pulled out the plan from the locked cabinet. It was the same text Ren had glimpsed at.
Do you think in another life that he would read this?
Xiaomao asked Second Reality, but even he didn't have an answer.
"□□□■■, listen to me." He said her name out loud. He was no longer in his spiritual form and was floating infront of Xiaomao, his hands on both of her shoulders.
"Someone will read it. It doesn't have to be Ren, It will be someone else other than me and you."
We can't call ourselves author's if we don't have a reader.
"□□□■■ listen. Don't think about those things now. It will mess up the plan. You can't mess the plan up when you use so much time to make it."
■□■. Thank you... for being with me, dear brother.
"Alright that's enough sentiment for me. Let's go to bed." Second Reality mumbled checking some things off on the plan. He wrote a few side notes as well for the future.
Xiaomao and Second Reality planned to stay in bed for these two days, for they didn't want to partake in any hassles. She didn't even have to work at the garden since it was a weekend. The academy was obviously off as well.
And so, just as planned Xiaomao and Second Reality stayed at home with no disturbances and read books while the AC was full on blast.
Sure the bill was going to be high but that was to stress about later.
But then again, her new job surely would be sufficient to pay the bills.
As well as the future events she wanted to create will help her bring the money to her hands, instead of the husky men with horizontal beards.
She just wanted to think about nothing and live lazily while she could.