Chương 425: Chapter 420 - All the Bernals

Scarlett maintained her composure. It wasn't easy. Watching her own sister—her own flesh and blood, even if in another world—sitting across from her without recognising her, without even recognising her own name … She wanted to tear the system apart. And The Other with it. It didn't matter what justification might exist. It didn't matter if Skyler, by some unfathomable twist of causality, had knowingly agreed to this beforehand.

Scarlett saw no version of reality in which forcing her sister into this was forgivable. She would remember it. Skyler watched her with wide, wary eyes, and Scarlett had to suppress the urge to let her fury surface again. As rational as her anger was, it was also deeply inconvenient. She finally had the chance to speak to her sister face to face, and instead of relief or joy, she was busy containing rage and cataloguing grudges. Was that the response of a proper older sister? She honestly didn't know.

But it was simply who Scarlett was right now. Even the Amy part of her leaned more that way. However, she kept that part tightly reined in. It was easier to maintain her expression as Scarlett Hartford anyway. And she was also afraid of letting too much of Amy surface. Familiar hazel eyes met hers, and for a moment, Scarlett was dragged back into half-forgotten memories of shared rooms, arguments, and laughter that felt far too distant.

The anger surged again at the realisation that Skyler might not remember any of it. Scarlett clenched her jaw. It was possible she was overreacting. Maybe Skyler was just keeping her real name a secret. Maybe she preferred going by 'Skye' now. Maybe there were explanations Scarlett hadn't considered. But she knew Skyler. This woman was undeniably her sister — and just as undeniably, she hadn't been acting when she failed to recognise her own name.

And though Scarlett couldn't quite articulate why, this felt exactly like something The Other would engineer. Stripping memory. Reassigning roles. Pitting them against each other in some ornamental hero-versus-villain farce.

"…What do you want from us?" Skyler asked, leaning forward slightly, one arm instinctively extended as if to shield her unconscious companions. Scarlett paused, watching the gesture. Her anger ebbed. Just a little. A faint smirk touched her lips. Now that was cute. Her sister, tired and outmatched, still positioning herself between Scarlett and her friends as though that would make any difference. Scarlett crossed one leg over the other.

"What I want is likely irrelevant," she said, keeping her voice even.

"At least until we establish what it is you want from me." She caught the subtle tension in Skyler's expression. The familiar crease near her eye. The way her mouth tightened when she was trying to think through something she didn't like.

"What do you mean?" Skyler asked.

"You asked me to let you go," Scarlett replied, lifting a hand slightly.

"I agreed. As matters stand, I cannot act against you without violating my word. Which leaves me with very little room to pursue whatever interests I may have — without your consent." Had she ever planned to harm any of them? Of course not. But blood ties or not, she couldn't simply hand Skyler everything she wanted and pretend everything would work out. [Side questline: A Hero's Rival] {The Hero was defeated and left unconscious by the villainous Scarlett Hartford, without a chance for retaliation. Will this loss crush the Hero's spirit, or ignite something new? Growth, defiance, a rematch…} [Objective: Do not reveal yourself] [Reward: The Hero's growth] [Failure: The Hero's demise] She still had this damn thing to deal with, after all. It was the same quest that had appeared when she first encountered Skyler, and it hadn't changed since. The last thing Scarlett wanted was to be the cause of her sister's death. At the same time, she disliked being forced into the role of Skyler's supposed rival.

As the 'villainess', as she was nearly certain whatever Skyler's equivalent of the system had labelled her. It was a role she could inhabit with ease, but it was also exceedingly reductive. Also… part of her had simply hoped Skyler would recognise her, despite everything. If she had, Scarlett wouldn't have hesitated to go against any and all restraints.

She would have contacted Mistress, broken the Seals, unleashed the Anomalous power in full, and torn apart the system, the world, and anything else that might threaten her sister. It was a reckless and altogether foolish pledge. To be entirely honest, it didn't even feel like the version of herself she used to know. But despite that, she'd made the resolve, and she believed she would have honoured it. So it was better this way. Better that Skyler didn't recognise her.

Better that Skyler saw only a supposed villainess. Better that Scarlett's probing had led to that word and no further. For now, that was the role she was willing to play between them. But only to the extent necessary.

"We want the Tribute," Skyler said, though it took her a while to speak. As though she was debating whether it was too naive, pointless, or outright stupid to even bring up.

"I surmised as much," Scarlett replied.

"You went so far as to invade my home for it." Her sister fell silent.

"I do not particularly fault you for the attempt," she continued.

"If anything, I was impressed by how far you managed to get." The timing of the attack had been far too convenient. Convenient enough that Scarlett strongly suspected the system was involved. She wanted to ask, but at the same time she didn't want to risk revealing how much she already knew. Regardless, it was fortunate they hadn't succeeded. That she'd returned before they escaped with Slate. Rosa claimed she had some aces left, but it had been too close.

Even Scarlett hadn't expected them to push that far into her estate. There were enough layered defensive arrays around the pylon that breaching them so quickly should have been impossible, but apparently, Oveth's magic had no issue dismantling them. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Even factoring in what she knew of him from the game, she'd underestimated him. He had even weakened the Loci to the point where the house spirit had all but collapsed when Scarlett returned.

It was still recovering, and she had burned most of its remaining reserves simply bringing the princess and the others to the parlour. Scarlett's gaze slid to the dark-haired young woman lying unconscious beside Skyler.

"You should consider yourself fortunate that Her Highness accompanies you," she said, turning her attention back to her sister.

"I would not have been so merciful otherwise. Especially given that you are consorting with a member of the Undead Council." That almost made Skyler bristle, and Scarlett watched her force herself not to glare. Skyler had always been like that. Quick to bite, and just as quick to regret it and spiral afterwards. Scarlett hadn't noticed when they were younger, but once she did, it became painfully obvious every time they spoke.

Right now, she bet that Skyler was wrestling with the urge to lash out, weighed down by the inconvenient reality that she wasn't in the position to.

"…Oveth is a former member of the Council," she eventually muttered.

"That's still better than running around with an arch demon, if you ask me." Scarlett raised a brow.

"An arch demon?"

"The bard," Skyler said flatly. Scarlett only just suppressed a dry laugh.

"I see. Yes, I suppose she does give that impression. But you are mistaken. There are few people alive who have more reason to despise demons than Miss Hale." Letting the misconception linger would undoubtedly have been entertaining. It would also have suited the villainess act nicely. But it also came with unnecessary risks — and while Scarlett did in fact deal with demons, that wasn't a truth she cared to advertise more than necessary. Skyler gave her a long look.

"We felt her magic. That wasn't human."

"The origin is demonic, in part," Scarlett said.

"Miss Hale herself is very human. Sometimes far too much. She simply exists under unusual circumstances." She glanced towards the door.

"If you are curious, you could ask her yourself before you leave." Suspicion crept into Skyler's eyes.

"…You're really just letting us go?" Scarlett nodded.

"I am."

"And what about the Tribute?"

"Why, obviously, I am keeping it."

"Her," Skyler corrected.

"She's a person." Scarlett regarded her for a moment. The corner of her lips curved again, even as her expression remained indifferent.

"Indeed. Her." She'd wondered how her sister appeared to have grown so close to the Countess—Melody—but now that she thought about it, it made perfect sense. Skyler had always been stubborn in that way, drawn to those who needed protection, whether they wanted it or not. At times, it had been problematic, but Scarlett had never truly been able to fault her for it. Seeing the same trait intact even here was surprisingly…nice.

"The Tribute's name is Slate," she added, as if the thought had only just occurred to her. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers. The Loci answered, pooling what little remained of its strength to bend space and place Slate into the seat beside her. Skyler stilled as she looked at the homunculus, catching the emerald-green eyes gleaming faintly beneath the shadow of a hood.

"Slate," Scarlett said.

"Do you know who this is?" Slate looked at her. Then at Skyler.

"I do not." Scarlett lowered her head slightly. She'd almost expected as much. If Slate couldn't properly register 'Scarlett Hartford', then there was little chance she would register Skyler.

"But you recognise the others?"

"Yes." Slate nodded.

"Regina Altheria Verddun Teronia, First Princess of the Graenal Empire. Briana Smythe, Oathbound of Tennes' Brand. Ovethatake, former member of the Undead Council, third—""That will do," Scarlett said. Slate fell silent. Her gaze lingered on Skyler, unblinking, studying her with quiet intensity. Scarlett crossed her arms.

"You are also aware that these were the individuals who attempted to abduct you earlier."

"I am," Slate replied.

"Abduct—?" Skyler started, turning sharply towards Scarlett.

"We tried to—""To remove a person from their dwelling without consent," Scarlett said calmly, "without explanation, negotiation, or even bothering to ask whether she preferred to stay." She met Skyler's eyes.

"In other words, abduct." Skyler shut her mouth. Colour crept faintly into her cheeks. Scarlett doubted her sister seriously believed they had done anything wrong. Slate was a very unique existence, after all. If anyone else had gotten their hands on her first, Scarlett would undeniably have done the same. The difference was that she wouldn't have felt a flicker of guilt.

"Tell me," she said, "why did you try to take her?" Skyler looked at Slate, who showed no visible reaction under her gaze, then back to Scarlett.

"…You already know." Scarlett inclined her head.

"I do. I merely wished to hear you say it. But I will not force the matter." She reached out and drew back Slate's hood, revealing short silver hair, slightly pointed ears, pale skin, and faintly pronounced brows.

"Slate, tell us why you did not resist when they attempted to take you." The homunculus girl remained completely motionless.

"I was not told to," she said simply.

"I see. And if I had told you that you were permitted to protect yourself from those who sought to remove you, would you have resisted?" At that, Slate actually seemed to hesitate. Her brow furrowed as her gaze moved from Skyler to Regina, to Briana, to Oveth, before settling back on Skyler.

"No."

"Because you believed they would not harm you?"

"No. I cannot determine whether they would. I cannot understand her." A flicker of doubt crossed Skyler's face.

"And what of me?" Scarlett asked.

"Do you believe that I, or any of my people, would harm you?" Slate turned her head, emerald eyes settling on Scarlett.

"…I do not know."

"For the same reason?"

"Yes."

"Then do not try to understand," Scarlett said.

"Instead, reason. Intuit." The girl's frown intensified. Eventually, she shook her head.

"I do not believe I am at risk of harm here."

"Is that so? Excellent." Scarlett turned back to Skyler.

"I imagine you expect my 'possession' of the Tribute to be bad news. That I would exploit her power for my own nefarious and pernicious ends." Skyler didn't answer.

"It would be unfortunate for you if that were the case," Scarlett continued, "because there would be nothing you could do to stop me." Her sister's mouth tightened as she watched Scarlett closely.

"You are rather fortunate, then, that my primary reason for keeping the Tribute is similar to yours. Safekeeping." Scarlett rested a hand lightly on Slate's head.

"There are forces that seek her for far more destructive purposes. We are all better off if they do not succeed."

"…You're really trying to say that you're the good guy?" Skyler asked. Scarlett smiled thinly at the phrase.

"That would imply my motives are altruistic. They are not. I do fully intend to make use of Slate's abilities for my own ends." Her hand didn't move.

"It simply happens that those ends do not include the empire's collapse, nor her mistreatment or disrespect." Skyler stared at her.

"So what are you actually trying to get at?"

"It is quite simple. I intend to use Slate for my own purposes while teaching her and keeping her safe. It is what one might call a symbiotic relationship." She tilted her head slightly.

"Included in that arrangement may also be objectives that are not strictly my own. The interests of others, for example. Provided they are useful to me." Skyler's expression hardened.

"You're… bargaining for access to her?" Her eyes moved to Slate.

"If you prefer to phrase it that way, yes," Scarlett said.

"How is that treating her with respect?"

"Slate, do you consider this disrespectful?"

"I do not," Slate replied.

"That's—she's not—" Skyler started, looking back at Scarlett.

"I am aware that she is not currently inclined to value the same abstractions you do," Scarlett said.

"But the notion that respecting her means treating her as helpless, or incapable of choice, is…interesting." She paused slightly.

"In a sense, it is not incorrect. That said, I do not think it would be beneficial for her growth." Skyler's mouth opened, then closed. She looked away.

"Regardless, given your intentions when you entered my estate, you should consider my offer carefully." Scarlett's tone sharpened just a little.

"If Slate's safekeeping is truly your priority—if you wish to ensure she is not used to destabilise the empire or the Material Realm—then she is objectively safer here than anywhere you could take her." She was, after all, stronger than all of them put together.

"If you do wish to make use of her abilities," she added, "or simply maintain access to ensure her safety or that I am not abusing her, then as stated, I am willing to consider it." Skyler was silent for several seconds, thinking.

"…But you do want something from us?" she asked.

"That would only be fair."

"What?" Scarlett tapped a finger lightly against her chin.

"I do wonder." She had been turning this over for a while now. What she should do about Skyler. What she could do. Her sister was already entangled with a system. Quests were clearly shaping her path, nudging her along with intent — and whatever that intent was, it was not something Scarlett could easily override. Not when it could threaten punishments like 'demise'. She had genuinely considered simply throwing Skyler in a cell and keeping her there until things stabilised.

But even setting aside the obvious moral problems, it felt like the sort of decision that would blow up in her face. As did sending her off to fend for herself. That is what had led to precisely the current circumstances. She needed some way to work with her sister. Some kind of connection. Something that allowed her to keep watch without smothering or breaking her. Bringing Skyler into her own party had crossed her mind, but that carried risks of its own.

Given Scarlett's standing—and her own quest—she was wary of getting that close. So what were her options? Plenty, probably. But one stood out to her as particularly appropriate. After all, every good RPG needed a questgiver who was just a little too shady to trust.