Edward

Taken by surprise, the little girl looks at the small mouse dazedly.

<I came here to help you.>

"Help me?"

She continues to sit in a daze until it dawns on her that the little mouse is the same creature that brought her here in the first place.

Tears start to well up in her eyes as she tries her hardest not to explode in public. She takes a piece of cake and brings it to her mouth to hide her face with her large sleeve.

"Can I go home please?"

<I brought you here because I need your help.>

"Why me?"

She finishes her cake and takes a moment to wipe her tears from her face.

Suddenly, the little mouse runs out of her hand and enters her sleeve to hide. Startled by the sudden movement, she moves her gaze upward, only to be mortified by what she finds.

Everyone is looking at her. All eyes are on her, including those of the man sitting above.

She freezes, frightened, and start to wonder if she did anything wrong to bring about such misfortune.

Her eyes still puffy and red, she bows her head as low as possible, as if to try hiding underneath the table. How she wishes she could run into her sleeve like that mouse.

The voice of an angry Eunuch resounds throughout the quiet hall.

"Insolence! The emperor has addressed you and you dare ignore his words! Guards, drag her!"

She doesn't understand what is going on and doesn't move. She didn't understand anything that was said, but she understands that she made someone angry.

The girl starts to tremble and unconsciously looks up to meet the man's gaze. He looks deeply into her eyes and casually raises his hand.

Only then does she realize that armed people were behind her, almost grabbing her.

She stares dazedly at them until they suddenly leave. Then she hears a deep and relaxed voice.

"Are you, perhaps, a mute?"

Not knowing what he said, she tries to answer, but before she can voice her confusion, another voice echoes inside her head.

<Don't speak.>

She chokes, a small noise leaves her mouth, but no words. She isn't sure why she cannot speak, but she realizes that the longer she stays silent, the fiercer the surrounding glares become.

<If you say anything, everyone will think you are a foreign spy sent to kill his majesty because of the language you speak. Then your head will certainly roll.>

Those words frighten her so much that she starts to cry.

Ever since she first came here, everything has been so scary. She doesn't know what is happening to her and all is so confusing.

She hides her face in her hands and starts to sob uncontrollably. No longer caring for blending in. She suddenly wants to die in the hope that it will wake her up from this horrible nightmare.

Marguerite has always been extremely strong. However, she is only strong in her normalcy. Her biggest weakness is confusion; if she suddenly stops being able to understand things around her, she breaks down.

The womenfolk start to murmur in disapproval. They have never seen someone so bold as to weep during an imperial celebration. Weeping in public for no reason is such a shameful thing. Such an embarrassment.

The emperor frowns and the servants await orders. His eyes flash with slight curiosity.

"At least I now know that you aren't mute."

He gestures to the maids in charge of her to take her back to rest.

——————

Marguerite stops sobbing after she is brought inside a comfortable and warm bed.

She lays on the fluffy covers motionlessly, her cheeks red and stained with tears. Not thinking of anything, simply blanking out.

The small mouse sitting in front of her wet face sighs tiredly.

"I'm sure you're listening, so let me try to explain what is happening to you in simple terms."

After hearing no response from the other party, the cute animal continues to speak with another sigh.

"I brought you here to help me."

Still no answer.

"My name is Edward."

No answer.

"You are in my world. Here lives a king. His name is Alphonse Demian. He is the king of DaLan. You are in the body of a dead concubine. I killed her so you could enter this body."

At that, the girl's eyes shake and her heart trembles in fear, palpitating wildly.

The animal notices her state and tries to speak reassuringly.

"I am not violent. She was very suicidal and asked me to help her. I only granted her wish."

Marguerite calms down after the explanation, but uneasiness replaces fear as she starts to process the information given to her.

"Here isn't your world anymore, you will only be able to go back after you have helped me. I could only let you into this unfavorable position due to my current weakness, but I will try my best to assist you and keep you safe."

Marguerite starts to get frustrated by the way the small thing speaks. It's as if she doesn't have a choice, she didn't ask for this. Why her?

"Why do I have to help you? I don't want to."

"If you don't help me, no one else will. Both you and I will be stuck in this position until we die."

Marguerite turns her head around to face the wall. Frustrated to no end, she reins in her tears and starts to repeat to herself that she has to be strong, like a mantra.

"If you succeed, I promise to grant you a wish."

Marguerite isn't convinced as she continues to depressingly stare at the wall. She admires the beautiful paintings of red birds with blue tails and refuses to speak.

"The task is simple. Please, Marguerite."

Silence ensues. The deafening silence continues until finally, the little girl's voice is heard, much to the little boy's relief.

"What must I do?"

The mouse quickly answers, as if scared she will change her mind.

"You have to find me."