“Dammit.”

  They were careless. Who would have thought they would be found out like this?

  “Izzy…”

  This was her fault. She shouldn’t have blindly trusted an unknown girl who had appeared out of nowhere. She had grown a little too comfortable around Erin, never expecting the girl to just randomly walk into the attic like this.

  “Izzy, it’s not your fault,” Isa murmured gently. Her young mind’s voice was like warm water.

  ‘…’

  Izzy exhaled slowly, exhausted from everything occurring at once.

  She had told Isa to leave the main body earlier. She had already stored the lamp’s energy reservoir away to save the orange essence.

  It was also the time they shifted their focus to the other Vessel because of the potential chase involving the Inspectors. And that was exactly when Erin chose to approach the painting.

  Why was everything lining up like this? Why was it so coincidental? All of it happened in such a short span of time.

  Now, what would they do? Erin had found out about the painting and also another of her Vessels.

  Izzy had originally planned for only Arnold to interact with Erin. She didn't want her other vessels to be known. They were, after all, her precious vessels, and she didn’t want to waste her energy making another.

  Isa’s vessel was meant to be a hidden piece, their vessel for rest and peace, known to no one.

  As for Jack, he would be a vessel for killing and dangerous work behind the scenes.

  But living under the same roof, perhaps meeting was inevitable. Still, Izzy expected she would leave tomorrow or soon after. She had hoped to avoid this exact situation.

  What if this girl told others about her? Reveal her secrets?

  In their current situation, they couldn't defend their main body themselves. After getting the information about the Bless, the Stagefarer, everyone seemed extremely dangerous to her. Even Davis felt like a threat.

  ‘Should I get rid of her?’ A cruel thought emerged in Izzy's mind.

  After all, that girl had found out about their true body. If she were caught by the Herald, or the Inspectors, she would likely confess about them.

  Even if Erin resisted, they would likely rip every word from her mind. The girl was too fragile. She could never withstand interrogation.

  “Izzy, why should we?” Isa interrupted her thoughts.

  ‘Mmm.’

  Her young mind might not understand their situation. Since their minds were linked, Izzy didn’t bother explaining in words. She just sent the girl her thoughts directly.

  “Then why not bring her along with us?” the young mind whispered after a moment.

  “…Are you crazy?” Wait, it was her younger self talking. Izzy suppressed the urge to curse.

  ‘We can barely protect ourselves, and now you want to bring another trouble with us?’

  “That…”

  ‘Stop. I have made up my mind.’

  Izzy stopped her young mind from talking further. With their main body, she used Field Vision to look for Erin. They needed to get rid of the evidence.

  Or at least, make her their puppet by suppressing her mind. A puppet might even be better for her, it wouldn’t betray them.

  Izzy had never tried to create a puppet mark on a human being before, so if the girl resisted and something went wrong, it wasn’t her fault, but the girl’s.

  Was it cruel? Sure, the girl was innocent, but their safety was at stake here. The girl knew too much; she should have heeded her warning about not sniffing around.

  ‘There she is…’

  ‘...’

  There was only one thing left: Possess her, and suppress her mind. Izzy cut her connection to the puppet bird and focused her Field Vision on Erin.

  ‘[Possessi–] Wait, what is she doing?’

  Erin tripped in the kitchen. The clatter of wood and metal echoed as she stumbled over a bucket, her knee striking the edge of the table.

  “Auch.”

  She squeaked, scrambled back up, brushing dust from her apron and returned to boiling vegetables.

  The pot rattled as she tossed in chopped greens. Next, she placed a small piece of bread on a wooden tray, nearly dropping it again.

  She ran around frantically, opening cupboards, closing them, putting too much salt then panicking and scooping some out, moving pots with nervous energy.

  “Oh, I pray this offering will soothe her temper,” she muttered to herself, her voice filling the kitchen like fluttering birds.

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  “Dear Mona, what is wrong with you, Erin! Obviously, it was a girl! Was she his sister? I know not! But she is angry! I must beg her pardon!” Her hands moved fast but clumsy, her head jerking in every direction.

  An adolescent boy had stayed behind without going with their band… he had warned her about the attic…who else would that be? Sister? Or a sweetheart, perchance?

  Izzy could almost read the panicked thoughts aloud on Erin’s face. The girl’s expression was like an open book.

  After finishing the uneven meal, Erin placed everything neatly on the tray, straightened her apron. She carried it hurriedly as she headed back towards the upper floors.

  “I must beg forgiveness for my rudeness! I should have knocked!” she muttered, practicing her words. “No, she was not there when I entered. What is there to apologize for? Ah! Begging your pardon, miss, for not knowing you were there? Will that suffice? Will she accept it?”

  ‘...’

  Izzy stared through Field Vision, and a strange irritation simmered inside her chest.

  ‘What is this? Why do I feel so irritated all of a sudden?’

  What was this girl doing? Why did she look like a frantic puppy begging forgiveness? Why did it feel like Izzy would lose if she forced possession now?

  ‘Am I being treated as a kid now?’ Soothing them with a meal, really?

  Izzy looked over the meal Erin was carrying and grimaced.

  ‘It’s not even that good…’

  Watching her clumsy demeanor, Izzy felt something warm bubbling in her chest.

  Izzy touched her own heart.

  ‘This feeling…’ It was almost identical to Isa’s affection and the feeling of absorption of green mist energy. However, their energy did not increase. And this feeling, it came from her own emotion, not from Isa.

  ‘This is annoying.’

  The thought of possessing this stupid girl suddenly felt… annoying. And waste of energy.

  ‘Maybe later.’

  She would still turn Erin into a puppet eventually, the girl was still a threat. But this wasn’t urgent.

  Her wariness ebbed little by little, settling into something more complicated.

  “Yes!” Isa yelled in triumph in their shared mind.

  Izzy ignored her.

  Really, what was wrong with her young mind? Was her younger self always like this?

  Izzy shifted her consciousness into the black-haired vessel, pushing Isa’s control aside.

  She knew Erin would likely try to return to the attic. To prevent that, the vessel would have to intercept her personally.

  The black-hair girl signed in frustration. She turned her gaze to their main body. After a bit of hesitation, she went and fetched a white cloth, draping it over the painting.

  She tore a small hole in the fabric, just enough to leave room for them to see and navigate their surroundings. This was to ensure that a surprise like this would not happen again.

  After finishing, she shook her head and glanced toward the attic window.

  The sun had begun to sink behind the forest trees, washing the sky in orange and violet hues. After a long time resting, Arnold was making his way back. He looked around cautiously, scanning the area before running back.

  Although the mansion appeared invisible from the outside, luckily, he had left traces on the tree and under the ground, so it wouldn't be so hard for them to find the way back.

  And inside his coat pocket, the tiny mouse had already reunited with him, curling comfortably.

  Really, what was with this mouse? It listened better than Erin! Who would have guessed?

  Izzy sighed through her female vessel, as she stepped out of the attic and down the hallway, leaving their main body behind.

  For now, let’s just finish her business with this airhead girl.

  —

  –Erin PoV–

  Erin hurried up the staircase, clutching a simple wooden tray with slices of bread, a steaming bowl of soup, and a cup of milk.

  Before she could ascend further, the girl abruptly stopped. She craned her head and looked up to see a small figure descending from the landing above.

  “Why are you still going up?”

  The black-haired girl in the white dress stood on the steps, looking down at her. Her greenish eyes shimmered in the sunset glow drifting through the attic window.

  Strands of raven-black hair fell over her shoulders like silken ink, giving her an ethereal yet unnerving aura.

  *thump-thump* Erin stiffened. Her presence made Erin’s heart race with a familiar unease.

  Why was this girl so…similar to Arnold the first time Erin saw him?

  “I… I beg your pardon, miss! I–”

  Her voice cracked with fear, but before she could ramble further, the girl cut her off.

  “Haven’t you heard my… his warning?”

  “Pardon, miss?”

  She tilted her head, visibly confused by the phrasing.

  The black-haired girl raised an eyebrow in mild irritation.

  “Arnold. He warned you not to go to the attic.”

  “Ah.” A flush of shame crept up Erin’s neck. She looked around nervously, her gaze darting anywhere but at the girl before her.

  “He… he did, miss…”

  She remembered Arnold’s warning, of course. But Erin had only thought he must be hiding some risqué, boyish secrets up there. She had not thought it was of any real importance.

  A boy hiding something private made sense to her simple understanding of nobles and commoners. And really, there was nothing forbidden upstairs as far as she saw, besides a portrait of a beautiful girl.

  But right now, even an unknown girl scolded her for it?

  ‘Is there truly something of importance up there?’

  If so, then she had committed a most grievous mistake.

  Her hand trembled slightly. Erin lowered her head like a child bracing for punishment, not daring to meet the girl’s piercing gaze.

  But no scolding word was spoken, only a sigh of disappointment. The girl walked past Erin, continuing down the stairs.

  “Bring that to my room.”

  “Ah?” Erin’s eyes widened, and she looked down at the tray in her hands.

  Was she forgiven? Erin wondered, her heart still fluttering with anxiety.

  But the girl had walked past her instead of yelling. That alone made Erin release a tiny breath of relief.

  As they descended the stairs together, Erin hesitated before speaking timidly.

  “Excuse me, miss… but how may I address you?”

  The girl stopped. She stared downward for a moment as if weighing the question, her bangs casting a shadow over her expression.

  Then she turned her head, her green eyes locking directly onto Erin’s.

  “Arriet.”

  “Yes?”

  “I am ‘Arriet Marion’.”

  I love Harriet. (the demon prince goes to the academy)

  Marion = Marionette

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