Rirī woke to find she was no longer in the woods. The ceiling above her was beautiful and expensive. It looked like marble, the way the colors of the stone swirled around. She moved her hands at her sides and could tell the sheets were silk. She sighed in contentment.
Whoever saved her was wealthy, no question about it.
Suddenly she heard voices approach the door and people walked in.
The first was a woman from the west, her blonde hair piled high on her head in curls, her lips painted red and she was garbed in a huge dress. Her blue eyes smiled as she looked down on Rirī.
The second person was a butler who appeared to be a native to this country. He had an indifferent expression.
"O thank goodness you're awake miss; we were scared you would never wake!" The western woman said.
Rirī looked to her in confusion and the woman laughed.
"I'm sorry, please let me introduce myself. I am Sophie Collins. My husband was that man in the woods you saved." She said.
"Husband?" Rirī asked. Not because she questioned Mrs. Collins, but because she swore that she saw that man die.
Mrs. Collins nodded. "Yes, I was away on a holiday when those demons came and attacked the house and killed everyone inside. When the police caught up to my husband, he was barely alive, like you. We were amazed to find that a wanderer from the East had saved my Eric. A woman on top of that was just astonishing. The press can't get enough of it!"
Rirī looked away from the woman and closed her eyes. Women like her were why she couldn't stand the West. They lived for attention and gossip.
"By the way, what is your name miss?"
Rirī looked over to the woman.
"Kasai" She said simply, not stating her true name, but the name her mother's people gave her to use as a wanderer.
"Kasai, that's the Eastern word for fire." Mrs. Collins observed.
Rirī nodded and Mrs. Collins smiled.
"Well, Ms. Kasai, thank you for saving my husband. I assure you that you will be treated with the upmost care. Lombard here will see to that. When you feel better he will show you around the estate. You're welcome to stay as long as you like." She said.
Lombard gave a smile to Rirī, a smile that had a secret behind it.
It was fake.
"Well, I will let you rest Ms. Kasai. Farewell!" Mrs. Collins said then left.
When the woman was gone Lombard bowed low before Rirī.
"Thank you for saving Master Collins. He is such a kind man and I would hold myself responsible if anything bad happened to him." He said.
Rirī gave him a nod, but her mind was racing with suspicion.
"It was merely chance I had found him." She said simply.
Lombard bit his lip a bit but smiled again.
"Whatever you're reasoning Ms. Kasai, I am grateful to you." He said, bowing again then leaving.
Rirī looked after him and glared.
'Wasn't everyone in the house killed when those demons attacked this place?' She thought.
She already had sniffed out a conspiracy, and she had only been conscious a few minutes.