[Author's note: I haven't worked on this story in about 7 years but looking through my documents and found this part that had yet to be uploaded. I don't know if anyone is still following the story or even visits this website anymore but I fought to recover my account to upload this so here you are. Happy 2021 guys.]

It wasn't long after you arrived at the mansion, after Patchouli found you at the foot of Youkai Mountain. At that time, you mostly kept to yourself, reading books in the library and wondering around the mansion's grounds. From time to time, you spoke with Sakuya, who told you of the Lady of the Mansion. She talked about the Lady's personality, her sometimes-bitter attitude, yet she was very welcoming to new guests in the mansion. You were eager to meet her and kept insisting she joined you for dinner. Each time, Sakuya would ask the Lady and each and every time she'd say no.

A few weeks later, it got out to the Lady that it was your birthday. It was then that she invited you to have dinner with everyone in the mansion, minus the maids, in celebration. You assumed that it only meant Patchouli, the Lady and yourself, but when you arrived that evening, dressed to impress, when you realised just how many people were in the mansion.

When you got to the table and was invited to sit down, you were placed between Patchouli and a young girl with red hair and wore a green dress. Across from her was a smaller girl who had wings with glowing crystals hanging from them and next to her was a place set for Sakuya to sit. Also invited to the dinner was a girl named Alice, who sat the other side of Patchouli, and a shrine maiden by the name of Reimu, who sat next to Sakuya. At the head of the table was a place set for the Lady of the Mansion, with a grand gold and red velvet chair. You imagined what she might look like, your mind filling with images of a tall, dark haired woman in a royal looking dress. Then, Sakuya appeared from the door at the end of the table. Everyone quickly rose from their seats, and you followed, so not to be out of place.

"Occupants and guests of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, I present to you, the Lady of the Mansion, Remilia Scarlet." She said in a calm tone. The doors opened once again, and from them appeared a little girl, looking to be around 12 years old. Her hair was the colour of lilacs and she wore a red and pink outfit. You tried to hide your surprise but apparently, it showed through, because the small girl looked right at you and said,

"What?" You looked around the room then faced up to the fact that she was talking to you.

"Um, I, uh, I was just expecting someone a little... you know... older."

"Someone older than 500 years?" Again, you tried to hide your surprise but ended up blurting out;

"500 YEARS?!" You quickly covered your mouth with your hand and sank into your chair.

"Yes, 500 years," she said as she walked around the table to her place at the head, "I know my appearence may be childlike, but I am, in fact, 20 times your age. So you should respect your elders." With that, she sat down and grabbed the chalice of what you assumed to be wine from her place on the table and took a sip.

"Now, guest," she said in a softer tone, "would you care to tell me more about yourself?" She stared you down with her big red eyes but still had a slight grin on her face.

"Well, there isn't much to tell," You stammered, "I'm a magic apprentice and I'm studying with the fine Patchouli." You looked over to the sleepy witch and she blushed at your comment, "I'm also a bit of an explorer, but I mostly just explore books nowadays." The whole time you spoke, Remilia just sat there and nodded along to your words, looking around the room and sipping her drink. She looked incredibly bored. You stopped talking immediately, thinking if you bored her enough, she might kill you to gain her amusement. At that moment, Sakuya entered from the kitchen with drinks for everyone and warm bread to enjoy with the soup that soon followed. For you, Sakuya picked a sweet wine, with a flavour you'd never tasted before. It tasted like raspberries and something more, but you could not put your finger on it. As the starters started rolling out, the chatter around the table turned into the clatter of spoons on fine china. You spread some butter on the bread and watched it melt away as you dipped it into your soup bowl. The soup was delicious, despite your hatred of most soups. Everyone began finishing their last mouthfuls and Remilia began to speak again.

"Have you been introduced to everyone?" She asked you.

"I took the time before you arrived to speak to Reimu and Alice, but the others I don't know."

"Ah, well, the girl in green next to you is our gatekeeper, China." China, you thought, that's a strange name for a girl. China mumbled something as the gripped tighter onto her spoon.

"Sorry, dear? I didn't quite catch that." Remilia said to her with a wicked smile on her face. Quietly, the girl spoke again.

"My name... my name is Meiling. Not China."

"Mei Rin?" Remilia chuckled.

"Meiling! Hong Meiling!" Meiling shouted suddenly. The whole table looked at her in shock.

"I mean... my name is Hong Meiling." She said quietly again. Remilia began to laugh. The sound was pleasent, but still sent chills down your spine.

"Of course, China. Now, about the girl across from you..." She giggled. Just then, the girl across from Meiling jumped up and said,

"I'm Flandre! Pleased to meet you!" Then, she bowed and sat back down. The jewelled wings on her back twirled and glowed with every movement. There was something wrong with the way she acted, though. It almost didn't suit her, despite the fact that she was cute and extremely childlike. You forced yourself to accept her strange ways and turned your focus back to Remilia.