Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 133: The Tragedy Unfolds

Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 133: The Tragedy Unfolds

Emily didn't know how much time had passed. The memories kept flowing into the next scene. Each time, it was something related to Teresa. Emily watched as Frederick grew brighter, happier, and more comfortable.

In all those times, Emily could not find a single hint of Frederick's true self. It was the same as he laughed and talked with Teresa. Although the young Frederick's face was lively and joyful, it was still an illusion.Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m

"Where are you, Frederick...." Emily sighed as her hands cleaned the table in Frederick's room. As if answering her voice, the doors flung open to reveal young Frederick, who was humming to himself.

"Welcome back, young master," Emily said, still pretending to be a maid.

Frederick, now ten years old, responded to Emily's greeting with a cheerful smile and sat down on a chair. "Emily! I'm going to meet Teresa again today!"

"Is that so?" Emily spoke as she combed the young Frederick's hair, an action she's done a couple of times in other memories. "What is the occasion today, young master?"

"They said a person from the Raeven Family is coming down here. Everyone's gathered to welcome him." Frederick answered. "But who cares? I can meet Teresa."

"Raeven Family...." Emily stopped combing. Thinking about Elizabeth Raeven, her former instructor.

'Where are you, Frederick? We need to return to reality. People are waiting for us outside.'

"Why did you stop combing?" Frederick bobbed his head, confused.

"Sorry. I will continue." Emily resumed, but then the world distorted again, dragging her to the next scene. She opened her eyes to find herself in a grand ballroom; everyone was blurry or lacking features like their faces. The only clear one was Clarence Klein.

The illusion world wasn't perfect. It tried to fill in the details of different places outside where Frederick was currently in.

"If I remember, Frederick said he was at the garden when the visitor from the north came." She remembered every word Frederick said before he parted from their group.

Emily sprinted out and found herself in the gardens, looking for Frederick. She heard the sounds of laughter and went toward the source. Once there, she found Frederick and Teresa together.

"...." Emily stared at the two children, who were having a great time. Shaking her head to clear her mind, she followed the children around. They greeted another boy, who was sickly pale, skinny, and coughing, but one could tell he was quite handsome under all that.

The blue hair and eyes were a dead giveaway. Teresa called out his name endearingly, "Gilbert!"

Emily narrowed her eyes at the young Gilbert. Slowly her killing intent began to seep out. From her many talks with Celestina, she knew Gilbert was an arrogant prick who did not know about boundaries and was Frederick's hated enemy.

"Calm down. I can feel your emotions fluctuating," Albert warned. "Do not do anything drastic in the illusion world. We don't know what could happen."

Emily breathed in and out and looked at Frederick. She saw the sad expression he wore while watching Gilbert and Emily. It was the complete opposite of the joy he expressed earlier.

Emily felt like hugging this sad young Frederick but grounded herself to reality, knowing it was all an illusion.

Then someone intruded; a boy with blond hair and yellow eyes like a tiger. It was the younger version of the hateful Samuel Carter, who she gleefully hammered into madness.

Frederick slapped Samuel, knocking him senselessly and running him off.

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Suddenly, Frederick shot to his feet and stomped toward Teresa, who had just arrived. Emily saw the poor state of the girl and felt sad for her.

"May you be happy in the next life." Emily silently prayed for Teresa's soul.

She continued to watch, walking behind Frederick as he brooded in sadness. The interactions with Gilbert and Teresa were no longer as happy or uplifting as before. There was only pain pouring into his heart.

Then the world distorted to nighttime. Frederick was gone.

She knew this was the moment.

Emily ran ahead in the forest; she searched all over for signs of Frederick, but he never mentioned which direction he went. Her Ein surged even in this world of illusions, quickening her steps.

She had never used it before because it was unnecessary, but now, she had to traverse through this place. Thankfully, the world was limited, and its edges prevented her from going too far.

She scaled across the forest in mere moments until she saw Frederick.

Frederick was yelling Teresa's name and looking around in the woods. He was worried and panicked, not caring about the scratches on his hands while rustling across bushes.

"Frederick...." Emily bit her lip and wanted to stop him, but she needed to let this play out. Her hands were clenched, knowing what was going to happen next.

Frederick found a piece of grey cloth and ran in that direction, with Emily stealthily following.

Finally, the moment was here.

Emily saw Teresa standing near the cliff. It was a very dangerous spot; any misstep would mean falling to their death.

The sequence of events began.

Emily's hands dug into the tree next to her. She saw Frederick approach slowly, trying to convince Teresa to come back. But Emily saw the look on Teresa's face.

Even in Frederick's memories, every single one of Teresa's expressions, especially this one, was so precise. Emily wondered how often Frederick thought about Teresa, feeling sad in her heart.

"TERESA!" Frederick screamed, his voice echoing through the ravine.

He screamed louder like a madman until suddenly, he fell silent, standing on the cliff's edge, staring straight into the ravine with vacant eyes.

Emily shuddered, seeing this. It was the same eyes that had said goodbye to her and Oscar. It was the true Frederick.

"Frederick!" Emily leaped out of the forest, her maid uniform floating about her body a little.

"Emily?" Frederick turned to see Emily.

She stood where Frederick was before and walked slowly toward him.