Breaking the Cage (9)
It’s been a while Scarlet played the role of a noble. She carefully arranged fancy tableware and delicately placed the finely crafted teapot and teacups from porcelain. Some various types of cookies were arranged neatly in a small bowl.
She then sat down on the chair and waited, in the space usually reserved for the Duke and Duchess.
Some time had passed when finally her heaven-and-hell waltzed in.
Scarlet sweetly invited, “Please sit down, milady,” as Larissa stood in the doorway, absentmindedly watching. Scarlet wasn’t discouraged and proceeded to pour tea into their cup until full. “The pants look good on you,” added Scarlet after she put down the teapot. The compliment was a bonus.
Larissa’s eyes were getting cold. The sight was both endearing and rancorous, so Scarlet momentarily averted her gaze.
“What are you planning?”
Larissa’s first greeting was full of venom, prompting Scarlet to raise her head.
The person she had once loved passionately and missed for the past 7 years was now looking at her with wariness.
Scarlet narrowed her eyes.
“There’s no such thing, milady. I just feel bad.”
“You wouldn’t do this without reason.”
“What do you mean? Which part makes you think like this?”
“You treated me well. No hitting, no killing. Not even sending me to jail or kicking me out on the street. On the contrary, you provide me meals regularly.”
“Right. And if I might add, you’ve been in the room all day today. Do you not understand the meaning of confinement?”
“Don’t twist my words.”
“Please, just come and have some tea. Stop babbling nonsense.”
Stunned by Scarlet’s words, Larissa forgot to scrowled and blinked. On the other hand, Scarlet sipped her tea elegantly as if her words she had just calmly spoken belonged to a completely different conversation.
Bewildered, Larissa interjected. “Was that directed at me? To stop babbling nonsense?”
“Yes, indeed.”
The straightforwardness of Scarlet’s answer had Larissa let out a hollow chuckle. She made herself more ridiculous than her counterpart.
‘But then again, time has passed since we parted, and given the way I dumped her, it’d be absurd if she only talked and acted sweet to me.’
‘It’s my fault for blindly feeling assured and thinking she would remain the same.’
“Come and sit here, milady. So we can talk comfortably,” Scarlet repeated her invite again. This time, Larissa complied. She had a hunch if she didn’t, Scarlet would force her.
Larissa slowly tread and sat across from Scarlet.
Scarlet, like a noblewoman, lowered her gaze and held the cup handle with the tips of her fingers. Using her other hand, she slightly lifted the saucer then took a sip.
The whole time Larrisa only stared at her intently.
“Milady, stop gawking and have some refreshments here. I’ve prepared it according to your preferences,” urged Scarlet.
Larissa laid her eyes on the snacks. There were pastries made with dried fruits and walnuts, as well as various types of rich chocolates and cookies with half of the top covered with sugar.
A whole bowl reminiscent of the past.
“I don’t like sweet things anymore,” rejected Larissa bitterly. She had to reduce her intake of sweet foods to maintain her figure so she could fit to the standards.
But mostly because it brought painful memories. Foods associated with memories were risky, so she refrained from eating sweets for the past 7 years. Dried fruits with walnuts, mixed with chocolate, or baked into flower shapes and dusted with white sugar–every food that was a reminder of her.
Scarlet studied silently for a moment before setting down her teacup.
“You’ve changed a lot,” confronted Scarlet coldly.
Larissa said nothing. She mulled over Scarlet’s statement. ‘That makes two of us. Neither you nor I could ever be the same.’
“You used to enjoy sweets so much, but it seems your preferences have changed. Well, feelings towards people can change anytime, so changing taste preferences for you is far easier, right?”
Sarcasm lurked underneath Scarlet’s comment. Yet, the person she taunted gave no reaction.
Scarlet gave a dirty look at her former lover who was as still as a doll. She then reached for the edge of the table, leaning her upper body forward. In an instant, the distance between them narrowed. At this Larissa flinched.
“You see, milady. It seems like you haven’t fully grasped the situation yet. I barely managed to keep them at bay, so why are you unaware why you’re still unharmed? You and your daughter are in a really dangerous situation, are you not?”
Scarlet’s hand stretched forward, taking a strand of Larissa’s soft blonde hair. It was bright as pure gold, smooth as silk, a texture that the poor in the town and rural areas could only dream of. Most of them suffered from malnutrition, resulting in dull skin and brittle hair or couldn’t afford luxuries like oils to add shine to their hair. Some even sold their hair altogether.
“You are hated just for breathing. It doesn’t matter what you did or said, people simply despise you for who you are. My subordinates and colleagues, many of them have been mistreated by nobles or any individuals in the royal faction. Just being alive right now should be considered a miracle for you.”
The hand entangled in the blonde hair slowly skimmed through to the cheek. A calloused hand caressed the peach-toned skin. It felt just as she remembered: warm, smooth, and the downy hairs velvety soft.
Scarlet bent toward, cutting more distance between. Larissa held her breath. Scarlet’s breath was brushing against her skin as her lips were getting closer to Larissa’s ear. She couldn’t help but diverted her eyes.
“Even if we don’t touch your daughter, how can a little girl like her survive this harsh world alone if her parents are hurt? If there’s no hope for the father, at least the mother should be safe. But why is your attitude like this? Was all the worry about your daughter just an act? The least you can do for your daughter is be corporate.”
With a whisper, Scarlet provoked Larissa and grabbed her chin, forcing their eyes to meet. The fiercy crimson eyes searched onto the blue eyes.
There she saw the blue iris shaken. Satisfied with the sight, Scarlet pushed more.
“You owe me an apology, milady. You need to admit your mistake and apologize sincerely. You should explain why you acted that way towards me back then, why you lied to me. There’s no need for excuses. I’m the only one here who will support you. And if no one supports you, how will you protect your daughter?”
‘If it were a matter of your own safety, you would never give in. You’re so proud and stubborn but not because you’re from the upper-class. Because you hate losing to anyone. No matter how terrifying or overwhelming it may be, you’re going to grit your teeth and endure it.’
‘Strong yet thick-headed. You wouldn’t cry and beg for mercy now, would you? But what happens if you are alone?’
Unbeknownst to Scarlet, Larissa had become strong and weak in the name of Mother: strong enough to bow down without caring about pride and weak enough to willingly yield.
Scarlet, on the other side, waited nervously. Her fingers lingered on Larissa’s chin as her face monopolized the other’s vision.
Trembling, words tumbled out off Larissa’s parted lips.
“I’m sorry.”
That arrogant and stubborn noblewoman apologized to Scarlet in a low voice.
Longer chapter, yay!
MoonStar 
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