Crimson Star Priestess

Bonds

The month of house arrest finally came to an end. It was time for my freedom, but in a unexpected way. Goodwin had informed me that Yusei wasn't going to be shipped back to the Satellite. He was going to be a free man in New Domino City. And, since I was Yusei's friend and had the same amount of days of house arrest as his time in prison, I was also going to be set free. The ankle monitor I had on the whole time was removed the day I left the mansion. I put on my original outfit and packed my belongings in the satchel when Hilda walked into the room with a Duel Disk in her hands.

"Mr. Goodwin cannot come and say goodbye, so he asked me to give you this Duel Disk, Ms. Estelle." The head maid told me as she handed the device to me.

The Duel Disk was the same model as the one I used before, but the color schemes were red and white with orange gems. I couldn't help but wonder why Goodwin gifted me with a red Duel Disk. Was he suspecting I was connected to the Crimson Dragon? He had stopped asking questions a few days ago, so I thought he would drop all the mysteries surrounding me.

"Please tell him I'm grateful for the gift." I said as I strapped the Duel Disk onto my left arm.

"I certainly will." Hilda smiled sweetly before giving me a small wallet. "Mr. Goodwin also told me to give you some money for your stay in New Domino City."

I raised an eyebrow after hearing that. Goodwin was giving me money? I accepted the wallet and opened it. I saw no cards, but there were several bills and some coins. I couldn't really count how much it was, but it was a lot. Was the Director trying to spoil me or something?

"Well...it was nice of him." I couldn't help but comment softly.

"Mr. Goodwin...looked really happy while you were staying at his residence." Hilda said, gaining my attention. "He wishes no harm will come to you, so...be careful, Ms. Estelle."

Goodwin was happy while I was staying with him? I thought he had looked the same the whole time, but I guess some of the staff in the mansion had known him long enough to read his facial expression to see whenever there was a slight difference.

I was escorted to a waiting limousine that drove me to the Facility. Once we were there, I got out of the vehicle and thanked the chauffeur. He smiled softly before leaving the area.

I turned my attention to the Facility. It looked more like a fort from the outside. I could hear some yelling from the inside and how the personnel shouted to each other and the inmates.

I waited for like ten minutes when the gate to the Facility opened. I straightened myself and waited to see if the figure who was coming was Yusei. My shoulders relaxed when I saw it really was him. He looked safe and sound, but there was a different aura around him. Did he hear about the Signers from Yanagi and now wanted answers from Goodwin?

I took a few steps forward and intercepted Yusei with a soft smile. He stopped in his tracks when he spotted me.

"Hi, Yusei." I greeted him softly.

"Estelle?" Yusei blinked in confusion. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in Goodwin's mansion."

He must have been told that I was staying in the Director's home, probably when Goodwin had visited the Facility to offer a inmate freedom.

"Yes, I was there under house arrest, but he decided to release me on the same day you were leaving the Facility." I explained. "He had his limousine drive me here."

Yusei glanced down at the Duel Disk strapped on my arm. "And that Duel Disk?"

"A goodbye gift." I answered. "He was...unexpectedly very nice."