This time Ophelia was completely cornered. Envy walked past Ophelia.
"It took you too long to realize that."
"While the other Calliope knew as soon as they saw me."
TAP TAP TAP
What shook Ophelia even more were the words "another Calliope".
"There was another Calliope in the stadium at that time!?"
Envy had almost reached the exit. There was now nothing left for Ophelia to use. If she let Envy leave now, she would be completely useless.
She gritted her teeth. Ophelia turned around quickly.
"Wait!"
Envy stopped walking. But still did not turn around.
"What else?"
"I'll do anything!" exclaimed Ophelia.
She wasn't entirely sure this was a good decision. She didn't say that from the start because she didn't know what kind of person Envy was, what kind of person this woman in front of her was. This could possibly put her in a worse situation than when she was with Madam Lin. But... It was time for her to take the risk.
With determined eyes and a gesture that showed her seriousness. Ophelia said this boldly.
"I'll do whatever you want! You can use me in any case."
"As you said. I am a Calliope. I will definitely be useful in the future. So... please let me go back to climbing the Tower!"
Envy did not say anything. She only glanced slightly at the girl behind her.
"That kid is already desperate, huh."
"What is it that obliges her to rush up the Tower?" asked Vif to herself.
Seeing how serious Ophelia was, Envy knew that the girl meant that she would do anything without compulsion, would not try to resist and was serious about it. However...
"Without needing you to say that, I can indeed do anything to you. You are mine now," Envy replied tonelessly.
"You are now mine... Uwaahh... Goosebumps... It's really great that I can say that so smoothly... but it's also amusing. It's like playing the role of a possessive girl who's a girlboss."
"Ah, but if it's Onee-chan who's saying this, I think it'd be perfect too..."
"T-That..."
Again, Envy's short sentence managed to corner Ophelia.
Without mercy, or at least that's what she tried to show. Envy turned around and approached Ophelia again.
"Just it? Nothing else?"
"You don't have any cards anymore, right? I'm tired of this. Go back to your room and rest there. My duties as Envy are done. I want to relax for a while while I'm still on vacation. Don't bother me and just shut up, girl," Vif grumbled to herself.
"Besides--"
Vif noticed Ophelia was trembling slightly. She had noticed this from the start of their meeting. And because she was aware, she didn't try to go any further. But it seemed like she had to wake Ophelia up.
Vif also held Ophelia's upper right arm.
PAAAATTSS
Instantly Ophelia's hand brushed off Vif's hand. Even Ophelia herself didn't realize she had done that with an expression of fear. Vif was the only one who had guessed that reaction.
"---trauma is not that easy to remove."
"How could I release a child who's already pale like this into a crowded place," Vif couldn't help but think.
"I might think I've done something to her."
As soon as Ophelia realized she had been rude and brushed off Vif's hand, her face paled. But she couldn't say anything. Her expression was still shocked by her own reaction. Plus, she seemed to see the illusion of Envy's hand trying to explore her body.
Vif, "........"
Vif was not used to this situation. She had indeed lived long enough to face various situations. But that didn't mean it immediately made her experienced in everything.
"........."
"A child like this... if she's treated well, she'll pretend she's fine," Vif thought, as she could see the illusion of someone she knew well in Ophelia.
In this context, what Vif means is that Ophelia is the type of person who hides her problems from her friends and colleagues. So if Vif treats her well, instead of helping Ophelia, it puts Vif in the category of 'people who should not be involved in my problems'.
"What a troublesome girl. Uhhh... Okay, okay, I picked it up anyway. I have to do something about this before I go home."
Vif had already decided. Even though this would probably make her feel bad and a bit guilty. But maybe this was what the girl in front of her needed.
The right hand that Ophelia had swatted away earlier, now grabbed Ophelia's jaw, not so hard, but still able to make Ophelia shocked and jerked.
"!?"
Vif revealed a slight grin.
"Good that you know I'm not the real Envy."
"So I don't have to pretend to be her here."
Stolen novel; please report.
Ophelia got goosebumps. Although it was a different person, the touch of the older woman managed to bring back her bad memories. The girl trembled in fear with her face turning blue. Unlike before, her body could not move. Perhaps she was too used to not being allowed to resist.
Seeing that reaction, Vif was even more convinced that the trauma in the girl in front of her was already quite severe.
"Hahh... Why should I take care of that bitch's problems?"
Vif looked deeply at the girl in front of her.
"There's not much I can do. The only one who can free herself from trauma is herself."
"If she can't even fight her own trauma. There's no way she'll be able to survive in the Tower after coming out of the 3rd floor."
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****OOO****
Character Information
Name: Ophelia CalliopeNova: II OrangeRace: Human [With Dragon Blessing]Age: 17Status: Lady of the Calliope FamilyAffiliation: Calliope Family [https://img.wattpad.com/ba528c554d65328c55043b159de1b5ad1bb78a2f/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4165664268767a626b4d633343513d3d2d313335333338373338312e313739336664393335353039316233393938373837353632333936302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Ophelia Calliope
Nova: II Orange
Race: Human [With Dragon Blessing]
Age: 17
Status: Lady of the Calliope Family
Affiliation: Calliope Family
------------------------------------------------------
Name: Rouge VifNova: IX BlueRace: Dragon (?)Age: UnknownStatus: Famous Actress Envy [Fake]3rd Floor Northern Ruler [Fake]Affiliation: 3rd Floor Northern Region [Fake]Nemesis Guild [Fake]Agency [Unknown] [https://img.wattpad.com/fa11e9f850e080248262662b38d5cefa98e86200/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f575f30374159784f676b355f51513d3d2d313335333338373338312e313739373238386532636334393366373532303536323036363332352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Rouge Vif
Nova: IX Blue
Race: Dragon (?)
Age: Unknown
Status: Famous Actress
Envy [Fake]
3rd Floor Northern Ruler [Fake]
Affiliation: 3rd Floor Northern Region [Fake]
Nemesis Guild [Fake]
Agency [Unknown]
****OOO****
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Without releasing her grip. Vif's left hand removed her mask. Ophelia could now clearly see what the woman wearing Envy's mask looked like. The young woman who looked only a few years older than her, with long blonde hair and amethyst eyes was as beautiful as a painting. Although her expression looked cold, her eyes were looking straight at her. Surprisingly Ophelia felt like she had seen her before? But she couldn't remember when it happened.
Vif smiled creepily. And this managed to make Ophelia feel bad.
"You said you were willing to do anything, right?"
"Okay. Although I can also force you with a single command, but it's not fun if everything happens just like that."
Vif released her grip.
"Just call me V. I'm... well, you could say Envy's right-hand."
"Uh, wait a minute. Isn't the change in nature a bit too fast? It can't be like this. I need to calm down and let everything flow naturally," Vif thought.
Vif approached Ophelia after regaining control of her expression.
"One month."
Ophelia, "?"
"I will still stay here for one month. Until the time I leave--"
Vif put Envy's mask on the table, and sat back in her reclining chair.
While grinning mysteriously, Vif looked at Ophelia who was standing nearby.
"--I'll give you a chance."
"!"
Ophelia woke up from her shock. She immediately looked sharply at the woman. Trying to understand what happened and the true intentions of the person who called herself V.
"The most important rule of 3rd Floor. Solve all problems with gambling," said Vif.
"Within this month, if you beat me at gambling just once, I'll let you go. If not..."
Now it was Vif who stared at Ophelia with a creepy smile.
"Don't expect you to get out of this place."
Ophelia was annoyed. She felt like she was being played. Lately, no one she met really listened to her. Ophelia had tried to be a good girl by following Envy and her secretary obediently. Answering all the information she could and doing her best to help them. But what did she get?
Vif smiled slightly. She had almost succeeded in directing Ophelia. Just a small touch was all it took.
"Why?"
"You're not confident?"
"It turns out that the title 'useless kid' was attached to you because of your cowardice," Vif said disappointedly.
She acted like she was no longer interested in Ophelia. Vif stood up lazily because she had gotten involved in something futile. Then she walked out of the room. As if to say that she was at fault for getting her hopes up for Calliope which failed.
"......."
Ophelia's hands were clasped tightly and trembling slightly.
Instead of regaining her freedom. Instead, she met another crazy person who played on her weakness to have fun in gambling? Why is it that everyone she meets on this 3rd floor is not right?
Yes, Ophelia was afraid. Every time Vif touched her even just a little, the shadow of Madam Lin's treatment would pass through her head. But that couldn't be the reason she would stay silent without doing anything.
The girl looked straight at Vif with an annoyed expression. Of course Ophelia realized that what Vif was doing was a lure. Vif was provoking hostility from her. In a way that she found annoying.
"You want me to fight you!? Okay, I'll play your game! 💢"
"Alright. I just have to win, right!?" annoyed Ophelia.
"I will win. And get out of here."
Ophelia's current expression was the one Vif wanted to see. She had managed to break Ophelia's wall of patience.
"After that, I will return to climb the Tower as a Conqueror."
Vif smiled. Although she did not manage to get any useful information from this Lady Calliope. But she had gained something else.
Entertainment.
In the midst of the chaotic and drama-filled life upstairs. She found interesting entertainment downstairs. It seemed that her entertainment did not end at the Meeting of the 3 Rulers alone. She could help this Lady Calliope overcome her trauma a little while getting some new fun (?).
Vif had a hard time restraining herself. She was indeed no longer Envy. But that didn't mean she could instantly become a completely different person.
"Calm down. Don't be in a hurry. Hold yourself together, Rouge Vif."
The young woman was already holding the doorknob. Before she opened the door, she looked back at Ophelia. To see how her expression was now.
Because the look on Ophelia's face was better than before. She no longer had anything to think about. Vif grinned slightly and spoke in a calm tone.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Gambling against a Calliope."
CEKLEEEKKKK
Ophelia, "........"
Staring intently.
There was one fact that was hidden from everyone. A fact that would definitely destroy Envy's calm, straight and fair image. This fact was the real reason Envy conquered the Northern region of 3rd Floor several centuries ago.
It was also the reason why Vif vacationed on the 3rd Floor and happily accepted Envy's request to replace her in the 3 Rulers' gamble. A reason that was a great similarity between Envy and Vif.
Both Envy and Vif were busy women of high reputation who had unusual hobbies.
Yes, both are gambling nuts.