'I-Is that really Rey…?'
Alicia's stunned expression as she stared at the aggressive scowl on Rey's face was downright obvious.
She couldn't hide it anymore.
"GET UP! DON'T TRY TO PLAY THE VICTIM ANYMO—!"
"That's enough!" Alicia yelled out, a glare now imprinted deep into her face.
"A-ah, Alicia, don't mind me. I'm just telling this—"
"Save it. I don't want to hear anything from you…" Alicia raised her hand and walked past Rey, completely ignoring his lame excuse for a reason.
She walked towards the waitress and knelt beside her, holding two of her trembling hands.
"It's fine, don't worry. I'm not mad at you."
The lady seemed immensely surprised by Alicia's kindness, and even Rey appeared stunned from behind her.
Alicia no longer had any business with him, though.
"Please stand up."
She helped the waitress up, and after they both rose to their feet, she nodded and smiled even more broadly.
"You made a mistake. It happens. Maybe take the rest of the day off."
Since this lady wasn't feeling too well, and she was probably inexperienced in her job, it was best to rest.
"A-ah. No, I c-couldn't…"
Alicia instantly understood why.
'How could I have been so stupid? She's probably working like this because she has no choice in the matter.'
Life wasn't all rainbow and sunshine for everyone in the city—even in a place like the Capital.
A lot of people were struggling, and since the laws outlawed begging, many couldn't turn to that for survival.
"I understand…" Alicia smiled as she grabbed the woman's two hands and slipped something inside.
It was a Gold Coin—the one she didn't get to spend during the first Excursion.
She drew closer to the waitress, practically embracing her, and whispered words into her ears.
"Use this to take care of yourself and your family well. You can quit this job and start something you really want to do."
A Gold Coin was powerful in this world. Alicia knew full well the value it had, and she knew the waitress—a native of this world—understood as well.
Alicia could feel the lady tremble, and she thought she saw tears as well.
"Just go. Okay? Don't make a fuss about it."
The lady nodded and Alicia took a few steps back before nodding at her with a look of support.
'Whatever venture you want to start… I wish you good luck!'
Alici watched as the lady went away, entering the same staff-only place where she got their juice from.
Perhaps she was going to tender her resignation and leave for a better life.
That was her hope for her, at least.
'Now… where was I?' Alicia turned back and saw Rey standing behind her, his expression sullen.
'It seems he already recognizes what he did was wrong.'
In all honesty, Alicia felt like leaving the shop that very instant. She wasn't even interested in whatever surprise he had to show her.
She merely wanted to get out of this dreary place, and out of his sights.
But…
'The least I can do is drink the juice that she brought for me.'
Alicia didn't know if it was the lady who prepared it. She probably wasn't, considering the fact that she was sick and clumsy.
'But, since she was my waiter, I should respect her service by at least trying out the drink.'
"Sit." She told Rey, and she took her seat.
He obeyed and went to where his hair was, pushing it closer to the table. Alicia adjusted her displaced chair as well.
"Just so you know, I'm not staying for you. Once I'm done with this drink, I'm out of here…" She took the cup.
She expected him to argue or render some stupid excuse that would disgust her more.
Somewhere deep within Alicia, she actually hoped he would give her a reason that would convince her.
… That would make her see him the way she used to.
But Alicia doubted that would ever happen.
There was really no reason for anyone—especially someone like Rey—to be an asshole to a powerless woman.
Especially since he understood what it meant to be weak and looked down on.
'What are you going to say now? Let's hear it?' She nearly rolled her eyes as she took a sip of the juice.
It was sweet. Too sweet.
"I understand." Rey's echoed in her ears, his words surprising to hear.
He wasn't whining or trying to make excuses. It seemed he truly recognized what he did was wrong.
'At least you can see that…' Alicia strangely felt a tinge of relief after hearing his sullen voice.
It seemed he wasn't beyond redemption, after all. Perhaps he needed time to reflect some more.
'But this… isn't this false advertising?' Alicia shot Rey a look of disgust as she traced her sight to the cup in her hand.
The red liquid in her cup slushed around as she glared heavily at it.
'This stuff is hardly a decent fruit juice, talkless of the best.'
Alicia had tasted smoothies and juices back on Earth, and they also existed in this new world.
The Otherworlders were treated to the best kinds of meals, so it didn't come as a surprise that she got to drink some every once in a while.
In her opinion, the stuff back on Earth tasted better.
Still, it wasn't like the fruit juice in H'Trae tasted bad or anything.
'But this is just… bad.'
Alicia didn't think it was fair to compare a local juice shop to the stuff she had the privilege to drink in the Royal Palace.
However, even by normal standards, what she was drinking didn't feel like a good drink.
It was nowhere near the best.
She struggled to down a few more gulps out of respect for the waitress, but after that, she was done.
Any more, and she would feel sick.
"I think I'm do…ne…" As Alicia jumped to her feet, a sudden wave of nausea hit her.
She felt something hot rising within her stomach, and everything around her suddenly started to get blurry.
"W-wha…?" Her eyes spotted Rey, who was still seated in his chair.
"R-Rey… what is… what's happening to… m-mee…?"
As she fell her body collapse, a pair of strong arms grabbed her.
They felt strong and rough—not the kind that Rey would have.
"It didn't have to be this way…"
The voice that whispered into her ears felt oddly familiar, but because of the faint echo that rang in her ears, she could quite place it.
All Alicia knew was that she hated the sound.
"… But this is all for the best."
After she heard all that, she fell unconscious, completely disconnected from reality.
… And the dark reality that awaited.
**********
"Haaa…"
A teenage boy traded his fingers through his dark dark brown hair as he held his beloved with a single hand.
His muscular physique made it obvious that he was a strong warrior, but his obsessive blue eyes were tainted—unbefitting of a noble knight.
As he hungrily eyed the unconscious girl in his arm, the same way a starving predator would its prey, he smiled widely.
"You're finally going to be mine… Alicia."
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Thanks for reading.
[Please be patient and keep going…]
Billy has issues, but it looks like he's Leveling Up in his own way.
