The Reincarnated

Chapter 25: Scarlet Letters

I opened my eyes to a somewhat sunny yet cold morning. The snow was bearable. The sun had contributed to that. I looked out of the window and everything looked normal to me.

Why was I expecting something to change?

Oh, right. Tonight the probability of me having an encounter with Lance had a big percentage of possibility. Me. Who is still wearing pajamas and covered in the comfort of soft pillows and cozy blankets. Me. With the nest-like hair in a sleepy halo. Me. Who is a thousand miles close to being fully prepared. Me. Me. Me.

Maybe I should just take a few rounds with Gale this early morning so I can show him my new moves.

Really, Cheshire? That's the best idea you can come up with? Really?

What am I going to do with my life?

I put on my slippers and grabbed the robe which I have grown quite attached to. I might as well get on with my slight time for improvement. I was about to open my door to go downstairs and grab a little snack when I noticed the tray of breakfast food on a table opposite the bed.

How nice of that anonymous person to drop by my breakfast.

The menu was composed of a huge slice of cheesecake covered in whip cream (that was the first thing that caught my eye), strawberries decorated the sides of the cake; pancakes covered in sugary syrup and a mug of chocolate milk. This was actually something unusual. Not exactly the change I was looking for 'cause it didn't really make any sense. I usually ate my breakfast together with the crew. I never had any of this special treatment.

Maybe it was one of those "Have a taste of this good food to lessen your regrets before you die" sort of thing. But I don't know anyone of the crew who would even bother to cook something for me. Men are just not into that. It must have been Lydia.

Ha. Ha. Ha. Funny.

Nonetheless, this was too sweet. Literally.

I finished the whole tray and took a hot blissful shower. Wearing my 'alchemist' attire, I decided to march to wherever Gale was and ask about the whole details of the ambush. They should have a really good plan going on if they are going to attack someone in a civilian's lodge. That's always the deal with top secret stuff. Like what the men in black do.

Four months ago, I would have had a good laugh about that thought.

I realized I'd turned out to be quite a sarcastic comedian with all the pressure I was dealing with because of tonight's main event. The empty tray passed by my peripheral vision and my pressured self was able to conjure a little sense of guilt. I took the tray, opting to send it back to the kitchen. The moment I lifted it up, I saw the piece of paper hidden under it. I grabbed it and read the words written hastily on it:

"Open your lower drawer."

The suspenseful aura the words casted spooked me. But that didn't really stop me from opening the lower drawer of my cabinet.

I found a gun inside it.

It was loaded and ready when I checked it. That in itself was enough sign that there was something off today. And I had a bad feeling why. It was in my gut all along since I saw the food delivered on my table.

I carefully left the loaded pistol to its place and head outside without any sense of direction. I just wanted some answers. I needed to know what's going on.

The mansion was too quiet. The usual laughter and the bickering were none to be heard at all. Did I wake up too early? But it was never too early for the alchemists.