0.9.

"I'm not sure if these would fit but you should try them on. Here's some warm water and a towel to clean yourself. The food is there, but I suggest that you wash up first before handling it. I'll be sitting over there, reading a book, tell me when you're done cleaning yourself."

Sequencee, having prepared the necessities for her, sat in a corner. He had bought her a set of new clothes, ordered a wash kit and a bowl of congee. Evelyn looked at the items silently.

Her mind didn't know what to think of it. Should she be scared or relieved? Logically, she recognized that this person was Sequencee. Emotionally, she was still on guard, fearing that he may do something to her.

She peeked at him. It was unlikely he would do anything. After all, he had already seen her naked, yet, didn't fall into those embarrassing tropes found in the novels she read.

'This is reality, not a story.'

Reminding herself as so, she took off the coat Sequencee had borrowed her and removed the gown which had already been torn to strips. She grabbed the towel and dipped it in the warm water–just to quickly pull out her hands.

'Hot!'

Back at the palace, she would simply take a shower in the bath. The last time she ever tried to wash herself like this, it was Selina who did the squeezing and scrubbing.

Evelyn nibbled on her sore hand as she carefully dipped the towel into the scalding hot water once more. She barely managed to twist out the water before bringing it up to wipe her body.

She kept looking in Sequencee's direction, afraid he might change his mind and push her down ...

All sorts of delusions sprung from her mind as she slowly, but carefully cleaned away the dirt, sweat, and mucus which clung to her. She made sure to thoroughly remove the stain on her lower body.

'Is he … really not?'

Evelyn finished washing herself, and owing to her inexperience, she made the floor pretty damp. Though it wasn't perfect, she felt much better with the grime gone.

She reached over to grab the new clothes he bought. It was a simple dress with pins which allowed the adjustment of size and a hooded mantle she thought was for the sake of disguise. She was just about to try on the dress when a tingly feeling pinched her heart.

She felt defeated for some reason. So many people called her the prettiest person in the world, and many had confessed to her, even some adults. If not for the emperor's doting attitude towards her, she may have really been sent to become some noble's wife.

She was well aware that his father had been delaying this decision, her mother likely also supported him in the matter.

'Why is he so indifferent … '

She had just been kidnapped, nearly defiled, her first kiss stolen and experienced a near death encounter. Her mind should be in shambles yet of all the things she could be thinking about now, she was trying to figure out why her savior wasn't made embarrassed by her? Was she out of her mind?

"Sequencee … "

"Yes?"

"I'm done."

Evelyn realized just then what she had just said. I'm done, to signal to him that he should turn around. She was still sitting on the ground naked, so if he turned his head over, he would be in full view of …

"Then have you put on your clothes?"

"..."

'What's wrong with me … '

She heard the sound of a page being flipped.

Should she feel angry or disappointed? Did he have eyes on the back or was he using some voodoo trick?

Asking about it would give her away. Perishing the thought, Evelyn put on the dress and adjusted the pins. His estimate of her size was just right, the only complaint that she had was that–he hadn't bought her any panties. The one she wore previously was already soiled, she definitely didn't wish to use those anymore.

Was it on purpose that he wanted to leave her feeling airy?

"Sequencee ... about my inner wear … "

"I thought maybe we'll go get those in the next few days. You'll have to bear with it for now. Sorry."

Evelyn pushed the bucket of water and soiled clothes to one side and walked to the table to get the food. It was congee. Delicious, plain congee.

"U-Um ... I'll be eating now."

"Sure."

Evelyn didn't know why he was still sitting at the corner. She had already worn her clothes, he didn't need to continue sitting there. She ate the food crying, wiping the tears as she savored the balanced taste of the porridge. It didn't take her a lot of time to finish the entire bowl.

She placed the bowl to the side and wiped her mouth with her wrist.

She was still hungry, he was still sitting in the corner.

'Had he eaten?'

"Sequencee."

"Done? Alright."

Finally, he shut the book. He stood up and stretched, then he turned around.

"Do you still need those clothes? Otherwise I'll throw them away."

"Yes, please discard them … and could I have some more of … "

"Here," Sequencee pointed to his cheeks.

"Here?"

"Oh right. There's no clean towel around. Then … just use this then," Sequencee took out a random handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her her lips. She froze up a little before loosening herself to his careful touch.

She found it odd that it smelled like blood even though it was perfectly clean.

"I'll bring this back to the counter. Shout if anything," Sequencee carried the bucket with her soiled clothes outside as if the most natural thing to do. He also levitated the empty bowl along with the utensils.

"W-Wait, can you get me more of this …?"

"You just ate after two days. You're going to have a stomach ache if you eat too much at one time."

"Is that … so?"

"Yeah, so please bear with it until tomorrow–or until my mom comes back at least," Sequencee muttered the latter half.

He shut the door as he left, leaving Evelyn alone in the room.

A minute, two minutes. An hour? How long has passed since he left?

'Ah … '

Evelyn felt a chill creep in her heart.

The fears that have been suppressed came bubbling up, her body began to tremble.

'N-No, I'm safe, I'm safe … everything is fine, I'm not there anymore, I'm saved, I'm here, I'm fine, I …'

She fell from the chair and crawled towards the door, wanting to seek his presence, her light. She stopped just as her hands touched the handle.

Stay here, don't go out.

"No ... come back ... Sequencee ... come back ... come back, I'm scared, I'm scared ... Sequencee ..."

Beyond this room is a world where she could lose her life.

She kept banging on the door, tears spilt as her chest tightened to the point of gasping. She could sense the dark recess of the night extend their shadows towards her, its jaws wide open, ready to consume her whole.

"A-ah … "

Curling into a ball with her hands to her ears, she screamed in hysteria.

"AAAHHHHH!!!!"

===

"Thanks," Sequencee placed the bucket down and placed empty bowl on a trolley near the cleaner station.

"No problem … hm? What is that?"

"This? A broken dress," Sequencee said as he levitated the battered fabric in the direction of the general waste bin. "I can toss it in here right?"

"Could you have some secret fetish?"

"Excuse me, I'm staying with my mother. If such a thing were true I'd be killed."

"Wait, you're doing it with your mother? That's even worse!"

'You're asking to die!'

Sequencee escaped from the 'pure hearted' janitor and walked out into the hall. He leaned against one of the supporting beams, scanning the length of the path, he took out his pendant.

"Mom, when are you coming back?"

He waited, and waited some more.

'Odd. Why isn't she replying?'

"Mom?"

This shouldn't be possible, right? She would normally respond as soon as she got the mana signature. Sequencee looked out towards the sky, it was already pretty dark.

"What should I do … " Sequencee couldn't help but be concerned.

He knew what kind of person his mother was–a precipitate adventurer. If there was one complaint Sequencee had of her mother, it would be that she always chose the path of most resistance. Instead of waiting for backup, she would charge into the battle herself; when there was something that interests her, she would not hesitate to pursue it.

She did things with reckless abandon, and Sequencee was often there to rein her in …

Except this time, he wasn't.

"Mom, do you read me," he spoke louder into the artifact.

'Don't tell me you got into some mess again … '

Sequencee's expression didn't look too good. He wondered if he should go find the king or something.

'I should've … '

His mother was the leader of the party, and the only thing he needed to do was listen to orders. It wasn't the first time the thought of creating a backup plan had crossed his mind. Simply, he had never pushed himself enough to lay out a thoughtful proposal. He was lazy.

He trusted that his mom's plans were the best, yet here he was doubting her.

'She said to wait at the inn … she'll come back … '

"AAAHHHHH!!!!"

A scream echoed.

"Her Highness?"

Sequencee rushed back to his room.