Lona nodded at us, "Follow me. I will show you to the family tent."

We all followed after her obediently. Joel skipped alongside Lona poking her side, "Hey Lona!"

No response.

"Loooonaaaa~"

No response.

"LONA!"

She turned to him, "What?!?"

He grinned, "Hello."

Her face twitched in irritation as she saw his large smile. "You're sleeping outside tonight."

"What?!" His face turned blue from the shock, "Nooo! Lona!!"

He ran after her and began to massage her shoulders. He spoke in a pitiful voice, "Don't be mad... If I sleep outside, who will be there to warm your toesies? What if you die from hyperthermia?! What if there's bears and wolves that sneak in?! No. No. I must be there to protect you..."

I watched the two of them openly flirting with a stunned expression.

D*mn. I know I told Lona to follow her heart, but what the hell is this?! It's so disgusting I feel like gagging!!

Mary sighed next to me, "Aren't they just lovely?"

I turned to her in disgust. I forgot this airhead was a hopeless romantic.

Mary cleared her throat and spoke in a nervous tone, "I-I heard it may get cold tonight... And there might be bears... And wolves..."

I raised an eyebrow at her, "What?"

"I think... I think we ought to share a bed... You know... For protection?"

"Denied." I ignored her pouting face and hurried over to the campsite.

Once I was situated in my own room, I glanced around to make sure I was alone. Then I opened my suitcase and laughed maliciously.

"Good.. Good.. It's all here. Soon my plan will be complete."

I coughed, "Whoa. That was weird. My voice came out so deep and sinister."

I pushed my stuff under my bed and laid down. Now all I need to do is wait for tomorrow morning to come.

____

"Seri."

"Seeeri."

"Seri~"

Why the hell are there three different voices right now.

I lifted my head and blinked. Mary, Millie, and Lona were standing over me. "Wha..."

Lona grabbed onto me, "It's time to get up. We are going to be late."

As she dragged me out, Millie grabbed my other arm and smiled, "It's okay Lona. I can help her get ready."

Lona scowled and tugged my arm more, "It would be improper for a noble girl such as yourself to do such a thing."

Millie tugged on my arm pulling me closer to her.

Oi oi oi. What is up with this tug of war with me being in the middle?! It's too early for this sh*t...

Millie continued to smile, "Could it be that you just miss taking care of her?"

Lona's scowl deepened. Mary jumped up and down wanting to join in on the conversation, "Wait! I want to help Seri get ready also!!!"

Lona scoffed, "It's my duty to get Seri ready. So please wait outside. You don't have the experience so please leave this to me."

Millie's face twitched, "I have experience! I help her get ready every morning!!"

Lona and Mary froze. Lona frowned, "That means... You've seen her..."

Mary sobbed in jealousy, "Without clothes!"

Millie blushed, "Ah. Not exactly. I mean.. Yes, but no. She's undressed in front of me before, but I've been too embarrassed to look. So I just help her with tying up her dress."

Lona looked at me. I nodded, "It's true. She hasn't seen it."

Lona sighed, "Fine. You two can help, but you have to wait outside until she's finished dressing. I won't allow such improper actions."

The two reluctantly agreed and went out of the room. As I stood in my undergarments, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Intense shame flooded into me.

Lona noticed my look and sighed, "I think the scars are fading. Don't you?"

In the reflection was my body covered in many scars. There were only two places you wouldn't find any. Surprisingly, I had never gotten any on my neck or face.

I looked away from the mirror in shame, "I think you're just seeing what you want to see."

Lona sighed and rubbed my back slightly. She finished dressing me and called the others back in. Lona went to work on my hair while Millie picked out accessories. Mary decided to help out by massaging my hand.

Why?

I don't know. I don't understand how exactly this helps, but at least she's not being annoying.

Once we finished, we began to walk to the hunting grounds. Mary presented me with a bag of muffins which I happily accepted.

I glanced at Millie, "By the way... How did you know where my tent was?"

She smiled at me, "Because my tent was nearby."

"Is that so." I nodded to myself. I suppose that makes sense.

Lona raised an eyebrow at Millie. She wanted to call her out on her bullsh*t, but she knew better than to say anything.

She shook her head and sighed. She mumbled to herself, "My young miss can really be naive sometimes..."

We finally arrived at the hunting grounds where everyone was waiting in excitement. The girls had already made their moves on the boys. I could see William, Dante, and Lucius surrounded by a sea of females.

I shook my head, "Tsk. Tsk. Looks like the pheromones are in full swing today."

I scanned the crowd of people and noticed Mathias and Artie standing off to the side. I walked over to them while being followed by my entourage.

I waved to both of them and Artie waved back enthusiastically while Mathias just gave a small nod. "Hey Matty! Are you participating in the hunt today?"

He looked surprised, "Huh? Oh. No. Just observing."

"Observing? Why won't you participate?"

His face grew dark, "Too scary."

I nodded, "I see. And you Artie?"

Artie scoffed, "No way! I hate sweating and working out."

"Then why did you come today?"

He pointed, "My father forced me to."

I followed his hand and saw an extremely buff dude towering over everyone with a particularly scary looking face.

D*mn. I'd pay money to see him and Bertram fight each other. I wonder who would win?

Artie spoke as if he knew what I was thinking, "My father may not look like it, but he's actually a big softie. He once stepped on a bug and cried about it for three days."

I sighed, "I'm a bit disappointed.."

William noticed me on the side and started walking towards me, pushing away the girls surrounding him as if they weren't actual people.

RIP cannon fodder.

Dante bowed to the girl's and followed after him. Lucius looked at the girls one last time before also deciding to follow.

William walked up to me and stared seriously at me. My face twitched, "What?"

"Do you have anything for me?"

I tilted my head in confusion. Did he want a muffin? I guess he's hungry.

I nodded, "Oh. Yeah, sure."

His face lit up in excitement. I pulled out a muffin and shoved it into his mouth. He frowned.

I looked at Dante with a new muffin in my hand, "Do you want one too?"

Dante chuckled, "He wanted a tassel. Not a muffin."

William flushed red, "I-I did not!! Why would I want a tassel from her?? There's no way I'd want one from her!!!"

I turned to Millie, "Did you make a tassel?"

Millie looked at me in confusion, "No... Should I have?"

I nodded in apprehension. Ah. I see. Millie must have not made one for William because she was worried he wouldn't accept it. Who would have thought Millie could be so shy.

Millie couldn't help but smile in confusion as I winked at her in understanding. Lucius walked over with a prideful expression.

"Look how many tassels I've received! I bet I beat you and Dante this time!"

William growled, "I didn't accept any tassels."

Dante shrugged, "I already threw mine away."

Lucius was stupefied, "What?! Why!?"

Dante answered coldly, "Because they were meaningless."

Lucius tried to ignore his irritation. "W-Well I got several. I even got some from boys. How strange is that?"

He laughed forcibly and glanced at Artie who stared at him in disgust.

Oho. The Seme has found the Uke. While I hate disease boy, I do miss reading Yaoi. I will just have to entertain myself with these fantasies in my head.

Maybe I should try writing Yaoi... Hmm...

William looked at me, "You didn't make any tassels?"

I shook my head, "No way! Why would I participate in something so childish?!"

Millie smiled at William, "Would you really want her to make you one? Isn't her craftsmanship a bit... Different?"

William nodded, "You have a point. She'd probably choose the color black for the tassel."

My face stiffened, "What's wrong with the color black?"

He answered, "It's unlucky. Black is the symbol of bad luck. Anyone who wears it will meet misfortune."

My face twitched as I mumbled, "And they called ME superstitious..."

Mary looked at William while holding a tassel, "Prince William. If you want a tassel, you can have the one I made. I don't have anyone to give it to anyways."

He glanced at her, "Why would I want it?"

She shrugged, "Then don't take it then."

He quickly snatched it from her hands, "No. It's fine. I should at least accept one."

I blinked in surprise. Wow. William accepted a tassel. I guess some events from the original novel are impossible to avoid, no matter how hard I work to change the plot. William accepted the tassel from Mary in the original novel. Then accepted one from her just now.

Wait... Does that mean....

I glanced at Dante with worry and he met my gaze expressionlessly.

A bell rang.

William looked away, "Well that's our cue to start." He glanced at me, "Just you wait. I'm going to win this competition."

I nodded unenthusiastically, "I bet you will."

While everyone turned their attention to the excitement in front of them, I smiled viciously and quickly disappeared.

Millie smiled, "Ah, isn't this lively." She turned to face Seri and was met with an empty space. She looked up to see Bertram staring at the crowd beside her. She wondered when he had appeared.

Her smile twitched, "Sir Bertram... I didn't notice you there."

He gave a nod, "I have been training to be more stealthy like my young miss."

"I-I see. And how is that going?"

He shook his head, "Not well."

Millie nodded and grew quiet. After a while she asked, "So just where did Seri go?"

"Ah. It would seem my Young Miss's skill far surpasses mine as she has successfully ran away."

"Oh... I see."

______

I sat by a lake dressed in a dark green suit with leaves and twigs glued to the clothes. I wiped mud on my face.

"With this... I am Seri no more." I threw my hands up in the air, "I am the warrior of Gaia! Protector of the defenseless animals! Overseer of nature!"

I stood up passionately, "Today's hunt shall be terminated!"