The Butterfly Effect [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 1.13 ー Soiled

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Tᴏᴍᴏᴇ

Delicately sliding her fingers around the handle of the cup, she closed her eyes and raised her hand to take a long sip of tea. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" she murmured, in the same overly-persuasive tone I casually donned.

"Of course it has. You were at my wedding." I spat back. It was a terribly discerning situation. I could practically feel her glares outlining my shadow, and the unnerving scent of citrus only clouded my mind, but I couldn't trace a source from it.

I was on a terrace, somewhere on the side of the mansion, but I couldn't care any less about location. In the entire area, the only furnishing visible was where we were seated-- simple chairs and a table, but still fancy enough to be expected of such a home. The manor's shaded windows were elegantly woven onto the wooden structure like lace onto silk, and the sun was almost perfectly clouded, just enough to adorn a glimpse of the manor's gardens. What was most fascinating about it all was the boundless view of the forest, the overstretching canopy of viridescent nature, and if you squinted, you could see towers in the distance. Or, whatever they were called. I hadn't recalled the name at the time. Alas, all this undeniable beauty was nothing to me in the state I was in.

Tea with Maeko sounded much simpler beforehand, but I should have expected a shiver or two down my spine. I was usually much more acquainted with such attention, but her watchful eye wouldn't cease, only adding to the tension. She had requested that we would have some tea together, but I didn't dare touch whatever she put in my drink. Perhaps the bitter fragrance came from there.

I looked down to my blades, which I had unhooked from my belt, and left leaning on the side of my seat. I could have left them to be polished and such, but I had no trust in the staff of the household.

"Enjoying the scenery, I assume?" she queried with a warm smile. I finally stomached the will to take a look at her. Uncommon flaxen eyes, fixed on my every move, and a bronzed complexion, which accentuated her beauty in the eyes of many. Perhaps if she was told that more often, she wouldn't be such a spoiled heiress.

"It's lovely, yes." I croaked, clearing my throat before gazing down at the tea. Instead of a calming drink, it appeared as a poisonous brew. I pushed it aside and leaned forward, resting my arms on the table. "Cut to the chase, Maeko. I'm in no mood to play games today."

"I simply wanted to converse with you. Aren't we friends after all?" She batted her eyelashes, and her smile turned into an ingenuous frown.

I sighed. "Why is it that I was pulled out here?"

Maeko suddenly stood from her seat, with a loathsome, dulled sigh as she slowly paced towards the boundaries of the terrace. In another swift instance, she twirled in my direction, her dress flowing along to her movements. "Tomoe Yamada.." She said with a pause. "Have you ever truly loved Sora?"

"W-what?" With that trivial question, I couldn't help but chuckle. That couldn't be it, was this all about that petty arrangement? I muffled my laughter with a palm, finally easing into the situation.

"Stop answering my questions with more questions. It's no fun," she whined in reply.

"I have no attraction towards Sora. It stifles me that you're so curious with my answer." I pressed, hiding my smirk with my hand. "Is that all you have to ask then?" I leaned back in my seat, and became more satisfied with the unexpected turn of events.

She inched closer, taking a glance at my untouched tea, before letting out another tedious sigh. "Hasn't it been clear after all these years?" Her voice quivered, almost as if she was on the brink of tearing up.