Olivia didn’t move. Her eyes were fixed on the air in front of her.

"What is this??"

She whispered quietly almost inaudibly. The thread on her wrist that had been calm just now suddenly trembled. One... then one more thread... slowly crawling up Olivia’s arm.

And tied neatly as if bound professionally. But this one was different. Even though it was dark in colour it wasn’t as bad as the thread on Duke Herold’s hand.

The other thread that had been fine, soft, brightly red before now changed to darker and heavier. Olivia stared with a completely clueless expression.

Why again!! One or two changing colour is enough, why does it have to spread!!....

Said Olivia wanting to give up watching the threads glowing on her arm.

Then, not long after that, the thread that Olivia knew very well and was afraid to look at started acting up... Her chest tightened.

This thread of that men never stays still!!

She snapped in her heart.

Why is there a new one!! And why is it almost the same colour as Duke Herold’s??!

PAK PAK PAK.

Heavy footsteps were heard from outside the door... then,

"Greetings, Your Grace..." said both of them, Celine and Olivia. After bowing Olivia lifted her head and looked toward the floor.

Duke Herold!!

That name rang over and over in her head. She knew very well he was the owner of that slightly strange thread that was different from the others. Then, Olivia glanced toward that one other thread. Olivia’s eyes went wide.

Delia?

Olivia said in her heart. Delia was standing right close to Duke Herold. That thread was very clearly visible, strange and almost exactly the same as Duke Herold’s thread.

Olivia stared sharply toward Delia who looked serious but for some reason Olivia could feel a frightening aura surrounding her. Same as Duke Herold’s aura. Olivia went quiet.

"Father, what are you doing here?" Ophilia asked while furrowing her brow slightly. Duke didn’t answer but instead clapped his hands once.

Pap pap!!

The sound of his palm clapping. All three of them went quiet. Not opening their mouths at all. Ophla only watched her father’s behaviour this time.

Then, five maids appeared carrying many luxurious items as if bought from a foreign country. And all of them were placed in front of Ophla. Ophilia lowered her eyes toward each of those items one by one.

Not saying a word. But it was very clear... those were items from the emperor. Every logo on those boxes showed that these were items not just anyone could get.

"What does this mean, Father?" Ophilia asked. Her fingers were gripped tight. And for a moment, she looked toward her father’s face that couldn’t be read.

"These are gifts from the emperor," he said quietly while his hand was directed toward the large boxes in front of her. Ophilia furrowed her brow.

"For what?.." Ophilia stood stiff not moving, looking at the gifts arranged in front of her.

"I want you to wear this outfit for your coming of age ceremony" he said firmly then walked out of her room.

But before he left he told the 5 maids outside to let the emperor know that Ophilia agreed. Then left. Delia who was smiling asked to excuse herself from Ophilia.

"Allow me to take my leave, My Lady..." she said softly. But after bowing slightly she sharply looked toward Olivia as if sizing her up from head to toe.

Delia smiled sarcastically, as if she was waiting for the moment Olivia would discover the secret behind that luxurious silk fabric.

Then both their figures disappeared, immediately the thread that had been trembling went calm again. Even though that trembling started fading but its colour stayed the same. Gone immediately.

Ophilia didn’t say anything. Her hand gripped that gown fabric slowly.

Her face looked calm but her eyes were empty.

Silence filled that room. Celine looked at her, hesitant.

"...My Lady?" No answer. A few seconds passed.

Then.... that gown was let go.

Falling slowly onto the table.

"...Olivia... I’m sorry I can’t wear the outfit you chose for me" she said while making a disappointed face. Her eyes looked toward the gown that had already been hung to be worn by her.

Olivia shook her head. While gently rubbing Ophla’s back that looked tense.

"It’s okay, My Lady..."

"Besides, the outfit given by the Emperor... is worth being beautiful" said Olivia while observing that purple coloured gown, decorated with gold coloured gems. Flower embroidery on every corner of that gown showed just how expensive this gown was when it was made.

Ophla smiled bitterly as if that smile didn’t reach her eyes. She looked at Olivia who was staring at that gown. She then looked toward the gown she had placed on the table. Her smile seemed to disappear. Then,

"...Olivia."

"Yes, My Lady?"

Ophilia didn’t look at her directly.

"...if something... has already been decided from the very beginning..."

She stopped.

"...can that still be called a choice?"

Celine went quiet. They looked at each other for a moment. But Olivia didn’t answer. Just looked. But her hand... slowly clenched.

"...that’s not a choice." Her answer was quiet. Almost like a whisper. Then the atmosphere went quiet again.

Ophilia let out a small sigh.

"...I’m tired." This time honest. Her shoulders dropped slightly.

For the first time... she didn’t try to look strong. Olivia looked toward the gown on the table.

Her eyes changed slightly. Her wrist trembled faintly.

That thread... still dark. Slow as if alive. And without Olivia realising, her gaze fell toward that gown fabric. For a moment... she saw something.

Something she always saw. But this time the situation was different. No longer on a living person’s wrist, that gown had fine threads tied onto the fabric. Almost invisible but that thread wasn’t red in colour but black.

What!!!

She said in her heart. Thinking maybe she was tired from sleeping late for the past few days.

Then she tried to look away for a moment to avoid seeing that strange thread.

Then looked back. But it was still the same. Olivia froze. Then pointed toward the outfit that was on the table.

"That..." she whispered quietly. Celine who was close to Olivia turned toward her.

"Hmm? What did you say?.." Celine asked who was busy looking at that gown. But Olivia didn’t answer. Her eyes were still fixed. That thread didn’t move but it existed. And for the first time, Olivia realised not only humans have threads.

But... objects can too. Ophilia tried to lift that gown again as if not noticing anything. Her face looked as if it was forced. Forced to put on her flat smile.

"...I will wear this..." her voice sounded calm. But that decision sounded heavy. Olivia startled slightly.

How do I handle this!!.....

I don’t even know how to stop Ophilia..... from touching that gown.

She was confused trying to find an excuse.

"...My Lady..." said Olivia but her words stopped for a moment. She didn’t know what she wanted to explain to Ophilia. And what was most frightening... she herself wasn’t certain what she was seeing.

"Yes Olivia... why?" Celine asked while pulling her hand back then approaching Olivia.

Olivia only smiled while her eyes trembled slightly. Dizzy.

Olivia think think!!

Her thoughts were scattered.

Without realising, Olivia’s steps stopped. Celine who sensed Olivia was acting strangely immediately approached her worried.

"Olivia... are you okay?" Celine asked softly. Olivia only nodded. Then both of them let out a relieved breath hearing Olivia’s answer. Then went back toward that gown. But,

"My Ladyy!!..." Olivia said again. Ophilia turned her head then furrowed her brow. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Olivia!... is there a problem?" she said while smiling. But the corner of her lips seemed to lift in annoyance. Olivia went quiet only watching the thread on that gown.

Olivia for a moment imagined a situation that hadn’t even happened yet. Ophilia continued with her intention to try on that gown. Olivia started biting her fingernail.

Just as Ophla was about to reach for that outfit, Olivia without thinking long stepped quickly and grabbed that gown before Ophilia.

But just as she touched the surface of that outfit, suddenly an electric shock started to be felt at Olivia’s fingertips.

She had accidentally caught one of the threads crawling across that fabric. Quickly Olivia pulled her hand back until she stumbled backward. For a moment Olivia froze, her mind went blank.

The thread that had been tied to that gown slowly changed colour to white. Then disappeared like ash that had been burned.

Huh?? Gone?

She said. Happy but at the same time still unsure whether that was a coincidence or actually her special ability. She turned toward Ophla with a proud smile.

Ophla and Celine were confused watching Olivia’s behaviour. While shaking their heads. Even though Olivia knew they couldn’t see what she saw, she was still proud.

They were about to try calling her but suddenly,

Olivia’s head felt heavy. She slowly tried to find somewhere to lean but everything around her seemed to be spinning. Her vision started blurring. Without her realising...

Bukkk!!

Her body fell onto the cold floor. Stiff, for those few seconds she saw Celine and Ophla running toward her with anxious faces. They shook her body but she couldn’t make any reaction at all. Slowly, her eyelids closed.

"OLIVIA!!!"

Their voices that had been loud just now sounded further and further away. As if something had closed her ears. Then for a moment everything went dark.