Chapter 15: Joke Game

"Miss, you shouldn't have spoken to Mr. Cornelius that harshly. However, he is only speaking the truth and wants to protect you. You don't know how scary Marionette is…” Yulia had been talking like that for almost five minutes in the back of the closed bathroom door.

Because of the feeling of tiredness and annoyance that accumulated as the moment passed, towards evening, Fiona took off her clothes and went to take a shower. She washed herself as if she could release the tiredness that surrounded her. While washing her hands, she sometimes thought, how long has it been since she found a serious problem like this?

As a writer, Fiona is busy with the world of her imagination and research. She was always focused on her mind and rarely took direct action to do something—like this. Deciding on something that wasn't even her right. Her current existence is based on someone's alibi so she is used by other people. Fiona is trapped by the pressure of Leonard and Cornelius' status. On the one hand, she wanted to believe that, but Leonard's treatment so far was no guarantee that everything would go well.

After all, Leonard is a pervert.

He just lusts, not love.

Yulia knocked again at the front door when she heard the hair dryer buzzing. Fiona was too annoyed to look at the luxurious interior of the bathroom. She only just realized that the sink and round mirror behind which had a luxuriously shining LED light attached were absorbed into the marble wall behind her. Bouncing expensive shapes that make Fiona forget she's home. Not a hotel.

"Miss, when you're finished, there's a call waiting for you," said Yulia, making Fiona immediately turn off the hairdryer. She turned towards the door and wondered.

Who's calling? How did that person get on the phone?

Since being forcibly dragged from the house, Fiona has left her cell phone at home. She doesn't know whether Nia was suspicious of what had happened, but she hoped that Nia would be aware of her absence at home, and then report her disappearance to the police. That way, she could get out of this stifling palace and be free to write as usual.

Fiona's long dry hair waved in the air in rhythm with the pressure of the hair dryer. After getting dressed—using a temporary bathrobe because the clothes she had prepared were in the cross room, Fiona left the bathroom. Outside, she found Yulia covering the wide glass window at the side of the room with a curtain and smiling as she approached her with a white landline telephone.

Fiona's brow furrowed as she stood in place.

“Miss Fiona, it would be best for you to get dressed first before taking the call—”

Without letting Yulia finish her sentence, Fiona immediately grabbed the phone so roughly that she flinched and turned around to avoid eye contact with the waiter and put the phone to her ear. She heard a rustling sound before she spoke.

"Hello?" In her heart, Fiona wondered who was on the other end of the phone.

“Fiona?” It turned out to be Nia's voice. Fiona's heart sank with relief. “Fiona, where exactly are you? Why didn't you tell me first that you wanted to go out? Why don't you bring your cell phone back…” Nia's voice didn't sound worried at all.

“I was kidnapped, Nia. Now you should hurry up and report me to the police."

"Huh? Kidnapped? You're inconsequential. Mr Leonard just called here, he said you would be staying at his house for a few days." There was a soft laugh on the other end of the phone. Fiona's heart boiled again.

"You believe in that bastard guy more than me? Nia, please, I'm really—"

“Fiona, I know. So far, you have been on holiday in Jakarta just to avoid the problems in Paris. But let me remind you, you can't always run away from this problem. You have to face it. Just like facing Mr. Leonard. He said he would arrange an engagement for you..."

Fiona growled. How could her household assistant, who always accompanied her wherever she went, believe Leonard's jokes?

"Nia, I'm serious..."

But it seemed that Nia didn't hear, "Oh, wait a minute. I got my water boiled on the stove. Oh yes, I have also given the complete address from Mr Leonard so I can come to your engagement event. By the way, when can I contact you later? Or will you call me first?"

Fiona's heart felt hot in her eyes. Something pierced her heart and made her unable to avoid Nia's words, who believed Leonard's words more. She doesn't know what skill made Leonard succeed in winning this play, but Fiona realized that she couldn't ask Nia for help and made her believe that she was being kidnapped.

“Fiona?” said Nia from across the phone.

With one deep breath, Fiona said. “Yeah, great. If that's what you think. I'm getting engaged. Okay. It's better if you don't contact me at all."

Without saying anything else, Fiona immediately turned off the phone and fell to the floor. Yulia's steps were heard behind her and immediately approached her.

“Miss! Miss… are you okay?”

This was the first time Fiona truly felt hopeless. Even her enthusiasm this afternoon when she looked out the window to identify a way out and plan to escape had just evaded her. Nia trusts Leonard more than herself. Fiona also sometimes can't fault this position. Nia knows exactly what problems are happening in Paris and she just wants Fiona to live freely and happily. And Nia thinks getting engaged is the form of happiness that Fiona wants.

But it’s not.

Far from love, far from connecting with other people, Fiona just wants her life to be peaceful and to return to the right path.

Without realizing it, tears rolled down her cheeks. Her chest was too tight and she felt like she had lost everything. She was now sitting on the floor of a stranger's room, in a stranger's house, surrounded by strangers, everything felt confusing and suffocating. Fiona didn't like this sudden change, Fiona hated Leonard so much that she clenched her fists.

What am I crying for?

Fiona has often been hit by many problems that feel more real than this stupid game. She knew better that she could win this game.

Correct.

If the only way to win the game is to participate, then Fiona has to try. Since childhood, she had no one to rely on except herself. Even her parents have been throwing her away since she was a baby. So now, when faced with Leonard, who would she ask for help?

Nobody but herself.

Yulia was still lamenting with worried wrinkles on her forehead. Fiona took a deep breath, calmed herself, and handed the phone to the woman. She wiped her tears vigorously and then stood up. Yulia was still wailing in confusion and didn't say anything. There was no one else in the room except the woman.

Fiona turned to the iron hanger in the walk-in closet which was now neatly arranged. She walked to the room in the corner next to the bathroom door which was still open. Beside the wall, there were rows of clothes hanging from iron pipes. Under the wardrobe, there were luxurious shoes neatly lined up. It looks like it was just arranged by Yulia a long time ago. Then in the corner of the room, there was a glass table and its drawers were also made of glass so that she could see directly into the drawer, jewelry made of various gold, silver, and diamonds glistened together in the light of the lamp.

Fiona's eyes, which had felt puffy before, now felt driven by strong feelings again.

Just think of this as a game that only happens once in a lifetime. And Fiona will enjoy it while looking for a way out.

If what Leonard and Cornelius said this afternoon was true, then Fiona didn't need to hesitate to take refuge with them.

However, even so, Fiona's little heart still wondered, what was the real problem?

Yulia approached from behind with heels that screeched the floor.

“Miss Fiona, are you ready to get dressed?”

"Yes," answered Fiona shortly. In front of her, there was a mirror showing her posture under a bath towel with long hair spread around her shoulders. Her eyes were a little red, but she saw Yulia smiling happily as if pretending not to see that.

***