A/N: This is part two of Chapter 63, so if you haven't read the first part yet, please go back to read it! I updated two chapters today~

Thanks a lot, and I hope you enjoy~ ----------------------------------------------

"So tell me...What should I do to you?" Florence asked me coldly.

No...

This was not the Florence that I knew.

"Should I behead you like the others? Or do you have a specific way you want to die...?" Florence asked again.

This wasn't right.

A small voice in the back of my head was yelling at me to do something...

...that I needed to save him...

...that I needed to save the mischievous and kind Florence I once knew...

"...No matter what anyone else thinks...there is no one in the world who can replace my fiance," he spat at me.

The room went quiet as Florence waited for my response.

But I couldn't reply.

"I see...You were gagged this whole time. You, the guard...take out that unsightly piece of cloth covering her mouth," he sighed.

The guard complied immediately, as if his life depended on following Florence's orders.

My jaw ached quite a bit from being gagged, but the slight aching of my mouth was at the least of my worries right now.

"What is your name," Florence asked in a tone that didn't sound like he was asking me a question at all.

"...Cordelia...de Boren Cyllia...that is my name..." I murmured in reply.

"You're going to act like this until the end, aren't you. Well, if that's the case, there's nothing else I'd like to ask you. Guard, throw her in a cage. Her execution will be next week," Florence said darkly.

For a brief moment, I paused...not knowing what to say.

Execution...?

I won't...accept this...

"...I won't...let you kill me," I murmured to him as I stood up from my spot.

"What did you say? I couldn't hear yo-"

"I've been traveling...for three whole months...trying to get back home...I won't let you kill me...Florence," I repeated as I snapped the ropes binding my hands together and took off the blindfold they put on me.

There was silence in the air and I looked at Florence straight in the eye.

Florence stared back at me, his eyes widening slowly.

It had been so long since I had seen Florence.

He was extremely thin...

...As if he hadn't eaten a proper meal in months.

And he had dark bags under his eyes.

His golden hair and handsome features were the only things to remain the same...

But...his eyes...on the other hand...lacked the warmth that was once there.

"...You...What is your name...?" he asked me as he stared at me blankly.

I stared back at him softly.

"Why the heck...would you need to ask me that...? Don't you...already know...? You sadistic pervert..." I said back to him.

He stared back at me, silently frozen in his seat.

His face changed from a face of emptiness to a face of pure painful hope.

He stood up from his throne and stumbled forward a few steps toward me.

"Is...that you...?" he murmured, slowly approaching me as if I were a spirit that would suddenly disappear if he made any sudden movements.

"Y-Your highness! Don't be fooled! There is no way that this dirty peasant is-"

"Did I allow you to speak?" Florence interrupted the guard beside me as he stared down at him-his expression suddenly changing to one full of wrath, akin to a devil's.

"...N-No, your h-highness!" the guard squeaked as he prostrated in front of Florence.

"You dare...call her...a dirty peasant?" he stared down at the guard as he used his foot to smash down on the guard's hand.

"Agh...! I...Forgive me, your highness," he cried out for forgiveness as Florence stomped on his hand over and over again, dislocating a finger or two in the process.

"...I'll give you three seconds...Leave this place before I kill you..." Florence growled at the man.

"Y-Yes, your h-highness!" the guard whimpered as he immediately stood up and sprinted out of the room as fast as he could.

S-Scary...

Was this...really the same Florence I knew?

There was silence in the room as Florence turned to face me.

"Florence...?" I murmured

"You...Are you really Lia...?" he asked me as he walked forward to me.

He continued to move forward, forcing me to back away from him, until he had me cornered against a wall.

"...Don't run away from me," he said as he pinned my arms above my head.

I didn't try resisting and, instead, stared him straight in the eye.

"After trying so hard to get back...there's no way I'd run away now..." I said seriously.

"..." he didn't say anything.

"...Florence...?" I asked out loud.

It was quiet for a while and I really didn't know what to say.

"...Let me see your face..." he said as he used one of his hands to try to pull down the hood of the cloak I was wearing.

Almost immediately, as if it were instinct, I broke free from his grip and swatted his hand away.

"N-No..." I murmured as I pulled my hood further down my face.

It was at this moment that I realized the real reason why I decided to wear this cloak in the first place...

...why I always pulled it down as far as I could so no one could see me...

...why I didn't let anyone else take it off...

...why I always grew angry when people insulted my appearance...

...It was because I didn't want anyone to see...how dirty and disgusting I had become...

Surely, anyone who used to know me would wince at my appearance...

I hadn't taken a bath in months...

My hands were full of calluses.

My skin was coated in grime, blood, dirt, and sweat.

I probably had nightmarish eye bags...

I was scared...

I didn't want my friends to offer me pity or sympathy for my appearance.

I just...

I turned up to look at Florence and froze when I saw his expression.

He looked so pained and hurt.

"You're...disgusted by me, right? These past few months have been like hell for me...and I guess I changed too much...you hate me...don't you...?" Florence chuckled a bit as he took a step back from me.

"What...? No...I don't...Why would you think that...?"

"Don't even try to lie with me! Be honest, you're disgusted with me too, right?! You're disgusted by me so much...you can't even bear the thought of me touching you," Florence yelled at me angrily.

He was...on the verge of tears.

I didn't know what to say.

"...I didn't swat your hand away...because I thought you were disgusting. I just...I didn't want you to take my hood off..." I said awkwardly to him.

"...What? Why? Are you injured right now?" Florence asked as he tried to move my hood off again.

I swatted his hand away again.

"I'm not injured!" I said loudly as I pulled my hood down once more.

"...Then why...?" Florence asked me.

It had been so long since I've felt this...

...Was it...embarrassment...?

"...I just...I'm really dirty...and I haven't taken a shower in months...I'm really ugly right now...so..." I murmured out loud.

Florence went quiet for a moment and I turned my face upward to look at him.

He was shaking.

"...Uh...Florence...?" I asked him.

"...I'm sorry...Lia...but...haha...really...you're just too cute..." Florence said as he tried his best to contain his laughter.

He began to laugh a bit, trying his best to stay serious.

"Why are...you laughing...so much?" I asked out loud.

Florence turned toward me and he cornered me against the wall again, caging me within his arms.

"Let me see your face, Lia," he said as the amusement in his eyes was replaced by something else...

...Something much...softer.

...I forgot how hard it was to say 'no' to people like him.

He took his hand and brushed it past my ear, pulling away my hood in the process.

I turned away from him, averting from his gaze.

He didn't say anything.

I bit my tongue.

Was I that filthy?

He stared at me and chuckled softly in a rough voice.

"What is this...? You said that you were worried that I'd think you were ugly...but all I can see right now is...beautiful," Florence smiled at me with a strong gaze that I couldn't turn away from.

I widened my eyes as he brought me in for a tight embrace.

"Lia...Welcome back...Lia..." he murmured over and over again as he buried his face into my shoulder.

And all I could think was...how warm his embrace was.

.

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A While Later

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.

He eventually let me go after some time.

"You must be tired, right? I'll ask the servants to prepare you a bath and a place to sleep," Florence said as he looped his arm around my waist and prepared to escort me to the baths.

I didn't say anything in reply other than giving him a nod.

Florence looked at me, as if though he had a million questions to ask, but he kept them to himself.

He probably noticed I wasn't acting like myself.

"Haha...You're as cold as always, Lia," Florence sighed as he opened the doors for me.

I froze.

As I stared down the long corridors of the castle, I felt sick.

Was this...trauma?

I guess it made sense...after being lost in long corridors for so long...

"What's wrong, Lia?" Florence asked with worry.

"N-Nothing..." I replied quickly as I walked out with him.

I did my best to act natural.

I just got back.

I didn't want to worry anyone any further.

But, unconsciously, my breathing became unsteady and my hands became a bit sweaty.

While Florence wasn't looking, I closed my eyes tight.

Luckily, I was more used to walking in corridors with my eyes closed, so it felt a little better then having my eyes open.

At least I could ignore the walls and the endless long hallways like they didn't exist.

"Lia. Are you oka-" Florence was about to say before he was cut off.

"...S-Sis...? Is that you, sis?" I could hear a weak voice say from behind me.

I turned around and opened my eyes.

"...Ash?" I murmured as my eyes landed on my blonde older brother.

"...You're...back...? Is that...really you...?" he asked me as his eyes widened.

He ran over to me and brought me into a deep embrace.

"W-Wait...I'm really dirty right now an-"

"Sis...Where have you been all this time?! Are you stupid?! Don't you know how worried we've been?!" Ash scolded me as he kept me deep in his arms.

"You were...worried?" I asked at an attempt to tease him.

But, unlike how I expected, he did not turn red and embarrassed like the tsundere he was and, instead, hugged me even tighter.

"Idiot. Why are you even asking that...? You idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. You're such a stupid little sister," Ash said as he didn't let me go.

Oh dear...

I hugged him back and did my best to comfort him.

"I'm...sorry for being...gone for so long..." I murmured as I hugged him back.

We stayed quiet for a while as I rubbed and patted Ash's back over and over again.

But after a while, Ash pushed me away.

I looked up to see Ash's face as red as a strawberry.

Ah...here it was...Ash had gone back to being a tsundere.

"S-Sorry for grabbing you like that. You're probably tired, right?" he said as he covered his face with his hand.

"It's fine...Florence was planning on taking me to the baths..." I told him.

Ash froze and took a glance behind me to see Florence.

"What the heck?! You were there the whole time?!" Ash yelled in surprise.

"Yeah. I was. And I got to witness a perverted sis-con taking control of the situation to hug his sister," Florence said with his nose turned to the air.

"You...little brat...Why didn't you tell anyone that Cordelia was back?? I bet you were planning on monopolizing her for as long as possible without any of us knowing!!" Ash said loudly with his fist raised toward Florence.

"Tch."

"You little brat!!! I knew it!!!" Ash yelled even louder.

I rubbed both sides of my head.

I just got back and I was very tired...and the first thing I have to go through is listening to these two fools argue.

But...

I smiled a bit.

Honestly, this type of thing wasn't too bad every once and a while...

I actually...kind of missed it.

I'm glad...they didn't change.

Both Florence and Ash suddenly went quiet and turned to stare at me.

"...What?" I asked.

"...That's the first time...you smiled since you came back, Lia," Florence murmured.

"S-S-Smile..." Ash stuttered.

Florence elbowed Ash in the gut.

"You sound stupid, you sis-con," Florence scoffed.

"W-What?! You were surprised too!!" Ash retorted.

Out of nowhere, I could hear the sound of a plate shattering on the ground.

"...Milady...?" said the voice of someone who sounded very tired.

"Grey...?" I murmured out loud as I turned to face the noise.

Grey, my personal servant, covered his eyes with his hand and stood still like that for a while.

I walked toward him, and almost immediately, Grey grabbed my arm and smashed my body straight onto a wall.

"What the heck...was that for??" I asked in shock.

Of course, it didn't hurt, but it was still pretty rude.

Grey slammed his hands down on the walls of either side of my head and looked at me coldly.

"Where have you been these past three months?" Grey asked me with a faint growl in his voice.

I blinked twice.

How was I going to tell him that I was walking through 500 deadly labyrinths far below the surface because I wanted to get stronger?

"H-Hey...dude...Calm down. She just got back and she's probably really tired, so we should wait a bit before we ask her questio-"

"Excuse my impertinence, young master...but I think we deserve an explanation for milady's sudden disappearance..." Grey spat to Ash, interrupting him.

"Ash is right though, Grey. She looks ready to fall unconscious at any minute and you want to interrogate her now? Let her get a single day of sleep at least," Florence said.

"We spent...these past three months...searching for her to the ends of the world...and all of a sudden she shows up out of nowhere. I'm sure you can understand how frustrated I am, your highness," Grey said sharply.

I didn't know what to say.

They were all...really searching for me...

I must have made them so worried...and they probably felt like giving up so many times...but they still kept on trying to find me, didn't they...

"...I'm sorry...and...thank you..." I murmured out loud softly.

Grey and the others froze when they saw my face.

"Milady...? What's the matter? Why are you..." Grey said as he turned to me.

"Grey...!!" Ash yelled as he pulled Grey off of me by the collar and raised his fist toward Grey.

Grey didn't say anything, even though Ash was on the verge of punching him.

"Look at what you did...You idiot...! Why'd you have to make her cry?!" Ash yelled.

Tears flowed down my face.

But they weren't tears of happiness nor sadness.

They were tears of relief...of thankfulness...that they cared enough about me, the villainess, to search the world for me...when all I was...was just a side-character of this otome-game.

"No...let go of Grey, Ash...I'm not crying from sadness...I just...I'm really grateful...for you all..." I said with a smile as I just let the tears flow.

The three stared at me silently.

"S-Sorry, Grey," Ash said slowly as he let go of Grey.

"It's fine...young master..." Grey replied as he continued to stare at me, seemingly lost in thought.

"I'll answer all your questions later...But...Let me take a bath first...okay?" I said to him gently.

The boys looked in each other eyes as if they were communicating with one another with their minds.

"...I'll assist you, milady...and...I'll call for some other maids too..." Grey sighed as he reached his hand out to me.

I took his hand and he escorted me to the baths where I would finally get the chance to clean myself.

"Oh...milady...all of the hard work the maids and I put in you...and you ruined it all?!" Grey asked with a small scary chuckle.

"Um...I...uh...am a bit tired...so you can fix my hair and skin later...okay?" I asked as sweetly as I could.

"Hah."

"P-Please?"

"Well...today we're only going to be doing light cleaning...but for the rest of this week..." Grey snickered as he looked me up and down.

The devil...

He was actually the devil...

I sighed.

At least I get to take my bath in peace...

.

.

A While Later

.

.

I sat in the giant pool that was almost way too big to be called a bathtub.

Just a few days ago, having just a few drops of water was a blessing for me...but now I was actually bathing in it.

I glided my hand through the surface of the water and watched as ripples formed.

It smelled like lavender.

I sighed and dipped my head a little below the water and breathed out bubbles.

A part of me wondered...where the other boys were.

What happened to Ace?

Were none of them going to Greenwood Academy anymore?

It was strange...

"You guys...noticed it too...right?"

I stopped for a moment.

I could hear Florence talking to the others somewhere a few rooms away from me.

"Of course, your highness...even a blind man would have noticed," Grey sighed sarcastically.

"Shut up. She's the same. She never changed and never will," Ash snapped back angrily.

Honestly, I felt a little bad for eavesdropping, but since they were probably talking about me...

...I had the right to listen...right?

"Well...she's definitely the real Lia...but there's something different with her..." Florence murmured.

"She less expressive of herself...? Rougher? I can't quite put my hand on it either..." Grey sighed.

"She's been gone for three months in who-knows-where. It only makes sense that she'd toughen up a little. We don't know what she's gone through...so let's stop making a big deal about this," Ash said slowly after a bit of time.

"You're right...Sorry, I was just worried about her. I just...feel so useless right now. Cordelia's been fighting alone...and I don't even know what to do...What should I do??" Florence asked with a strained voice.

"We all are frustrated right now, your highness...Let's take things slowly...She needs time to rest," Grey said as he tried to comfort Florence.

"I don't care...No matter how she is...She's still just our stupid Cordelia. If you guys don't want her anymore, I'm free to take her-"

"WHO THE HECK SAID THAT I DIDN'T WANT HER ANYMORE?!?!" Florence yelled as he interrupted Ash.

"Humph. Don't blame me if it happens though," Ash chuckled.

"Ugh...Anyway...Let's all do our best to make things seem normal for as long as possible..." Florence sighed.

"Easy for you to say. You practically broke the whole kingdom over this," Ash said darkly.

"Don't act like you wouldn't have done the same, young master," Grey replied.

"I'll do my best to fix everything...just give me time..." Florence muttered.

"Alright then...In that case...I'll do my best to make sure she doesn't go missing again..." Ash said earnestly.

"I'll make sure to care for her living needs...I'm her servant after all," Grey said slowly.

"...But no matter what...Let's try to keep her from finding about what happened to the others for as long as possible...She needs time to recover," Florence said seriously.

I scratched my head a bit.

No matter how hard I paid attention to their conversation, I couldn't understand it at all.

The only part that really caught my attention was at the end of their conversation...

Was there a reason why I couldn't meet with the others?

I sighed.

Boys are weird.

.

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A While Later

.

.

"Ash...Can you...tell me where the others are?" I asked as I turned to face him.

Ash froze for a moment and his gaze drifted away from me.

"Ash...? Is something...the matter?" I asked with concern.

"It's...nothing, sis. For now, you should just go to sleep," Ash sighed.

"Did something...happen...??"

"Sis, you must be very tired, so please, at least let me feel better knowing that you're sleeping well," Ash said sternly as he led me straight to a bedroom and dropped me off, completely avoiding my question.

"Okay...then...?" I nodded as I waved Ash goodbye.

Was there a reason why I couldn't meet up with the others right now?

"Sleep well, sis," Ash said as he stood outside of my door as a guard without leaving.

"Uh...Are you going to be standing there...the whole night...while I'm asleep?" I questioned.

"...Of course, I am. Do you think we would be stupid enough to let you sleep on your own after you went missing for three months? I'm your big brother, so at least let me guard you as you sleep," Ash sighed.

Well, I couldn't blame them.

"Won't you...get tired though?"

"...I..." Ash looked troubled for a bit.

"What...?"

"I've gone longer days without sleep while you were missing. I won't get tired from just this..." Ash said as he blushed a bit.

"You haven't been...sleeping well lately? If that's the case...you shouldn't worry about me. You should go to sleep," I said sternly.

"It's getting quite late. Go to sleep before I force you to myself, sis," Ash murmured as he gave a small sigh.

"Well...if that's the case, why don't you come in to sleep with me...? You can guard me...and sleep at the same time..." I said logically.

Ash froze and widened both his eyes.

"It's fine! You're my family anyway," I smiled.

"That's not the issue...I can't...Do you not see me as a man?" Ash asked me.

"Nope. You don't have to worry about that. There is no way...in heck...that anyone would ever fail...to see you as a man. You are a man...definitely a man..." I said as I eyed him up and down.

He was a male lead after all.

"...Just go to sleep, you idiot...This conversation is making me have headache..." Ash said with a groan.

"...Okay...then," I sighed as I gave up.

I closed the bedroom door and basked in the dark room.

It seemed oddly quiet, especially after talking with those loud boys.

I took a seat down on the side of the bed's mattress and I heard a small creaking sound as I sunk into the sheets.

This room felt suffocating...almost as if the walls were going to close in on me at any moment...as if they were on the verge of trapping me in permanently...

I shook my head.

These thoughts were pointless.

I laid down on the sheets and closed my eyes, covering myself with a blanket.

It was soft...and it felt as if though I were laying on a cloud...

My stiff joints were slowly becoming relaxed and I felt myself calm down as I drifted off into sleep.

.

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The Next Morning

.

.

How long had it been since I was able to sleep so deeply without worrying about losing a limb or two by the time I woke up...?

I sat up from the bed a took a few small steps to the window.

It was a little after noon.

"12 hours...? 14 hours...? How long did I sleep for...?" I murmured.

My language skills were rapidly improving again and I was thankful for it.

I sighed and decided to leave my room to meet up with the others.

When I opened my door, I stared down the castle hallways and unconsciously shivered a bit...I was desperately trying to deny the fear and trauma I knew that I had obtained from the labyrinths.

"Milady...You're awake?" I could hear Grey say from behind me.

"Yeah..." I nodded as I internally sighed in relief.

Thank goodness...there was someone here to accompany me.

"Then I will lead you to the dining room..." Grey said as he began to lead me there.

"Um...Grey...Before I eat...can I visit the other boys first?" I asked.

"Do you mean Florence and Ash, milady? Florence is quite busy these days and Ash is-"

"No...I meant...can I meet up with Deux, the twins, Wolfe, and Ace?" I asked once more.

Grey didn't say anything for a while.

"Grey...Can I visit the others, please?" I asked again.

"...Milady, I'll ask the chefs to cook up a large meal for you an-"

"Grey. Where are the others?" I asked again, this time in a completely serious tone.

There was something wrong.

Last night, I had a few suspicions...but right now, I was completely sure of one thing...

They were all doing their best to keep me from meeting them.

"...You're as stubborn as always, milady," Grey sighed.

"Of course," I replied.

Grey stared at me, hesitating a bit, and bit his tongue before letting out a sigh.

"...After you finish eating...I'll call for a carriage and lead you to them..." Grey said slowly without turning to look at me once.

"Alright," I said as I continued to follow him.

Eventually, we reached the dining room and I sat down on one of the fancy seats.

Slowly, plate-by-plate, the table was filled to the brim with food.

There were so many dishes that I didn't know how to name them all.

My mouth began to water...

"What are you waiting for, sis? Go ahead and eat it before your mouth turns into a water faucet," I could hear my brother, Ash, say as he walked into the room.

"...What happened to Florence?" I asked.

"He's a bit busy right now. He's doing his best to finish up his paperwork as soon as possible. I think he's almost done too. Did you sleep well?" Ash replied as he took a seat next to me.

"Yeah, I did. Um...Do you want...to eat some with me?" I asked.

"Nah...I already ate. Besides, I bet you'd be able to finish this whole thing up by yourself easily, you pig," Ash sighed as he rested his head on his arm.

I jokingly glared back at him and immediately began to consume the food in front of me.

I didn't care about manners anymore and used my spoon to constantly shovel food into my mouth.

The food was endless...but my stomach was also endless, so it worked out.

I worked through each plate like a champion.

"I wonder where all food goes..." I could hear Florence chuckle as he walked into the room as well.

"Shut up," I muttered as I continued gobbling up everything in front of me until there was nothing left.

It tasted so good...and it had been so long since I had such a big meal that I didn't want Florence to ruin it.

"Aww~ Don't say that, Lia...I even hurried to finish up all my work just for you," Florence sighed as he childishly pouted in front of me.

Really...none of the boys have changed at all.

I smiled.

They were all stupid, like always.

"...You're dangerous," Florence said as he stared at me.

"Hmm?" I questioned while my mouth was still full of food.

"It's nothing," he sighed.

I was confused for a minute but I simply shrugged it off in the end.

"Alright, Grey. I finished...so take me to the others," I said as I turned to him, who was sitting on the other side of the table.

"Of course..."Grey said with a slightly dark look in his eyes.

"Take her to who?" Ash asked as he joined in on the conversation.

"She wants to visit the...others..." Grey said.

Ash's expression suddenly turned dark as well.

"Lia...Why don't you just stay here for a while? You can meet them again in a few weeks so-" Florence tried to say before I stopped him.

"I haven't seen them in months. I'm not going to wait another few weeks. Is there a reason...why I shouldn't?" I asked sternly.

The three boys stayed silent and they all looked to each other.

"Milady...Come with me...I'll lead you to the carriage," Grey said as he held his hand out to me.

I grabbed his hand.

To be honest, I was starting to become worried.

Why were they all acting as if though I was about to uncover something they were desperately trying to hide from me?

"Where are we going...?" I asked slowly.

"...to the carriage," Grey replied as he dodged my question.

"That's not what I asked...Where is the carriage heading to...?" I asked once more.

Grey hesitated for a bit before he answered.

"...the hospital."

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A/N: Alright, this is officially the end of this chapter~ I hope you guys enjoyed reading it!

This chapter was really...really...really...long, but it was still fun to write!

If you didn't realize, Florence, Ash, and Grey are desperately trying to keep things normal and act natural for Cordelia...but will they be able to succeed? Who knows~?

Anyway, these days, I've learnt that online school is perfect for people like me! My teacher has canceled class more than twice at this point and it's only the second or third week of school~ I'm actually getting the hang of it!

The amount of support I've been getting lately is amazing, so I'd like to say thanks, again, to my readers/voters/commenters! You guys are so sweet~

Okie byeee!

Word Count: 5132