Chapter 231 - Save The Damsel In Distress

I rushed back to my mansion ignoring the stabbing pain along my back. I knew I didn't have much time. I went into my closet and threw open the doors. Inside were several backpacks labeled for different reasons. They read:

"Rainy day" bag.

"Secret treasure" bag.

"Nuclear war" bag.

"Ice age" bag.

"Zombie apocalypse" bag.

"Save the Damsel" bag.

And Millie laughed at me for preparing these bags. WHO IS LAUGHING NOW MILLIE? Anyway, I knew they would come in handy.

I quickly picked up the last bag which held rations and weapons inside. I grabbed a pair of dark clothes and began to undress quickly. I looked in the mirror and noticed the long inflamed wound across my back. My nose turned up from disgust.

It really is a nasty wound. It also hasn't healed completely yet. Now I know why the doctor said I should take it easy and not move much. A single hit could probably reopen the wound. If I wasn't careful, it could easily get infected. Good thing there is a complete first aid kit in my bag. I grabbed gauze from it and quickly wrapped my chest.

There. That should prevent it from opening up more. I quickly placed on clothes over it. I grabbed a pair of combat boots and put them on. I tied my hair up and put on my cloak. I turned back to the mirror and gave a determined nod.

I was dressed in light weight clothing which hid my identity. Under my cloak, I was wearing pants and boots with plenty of knives hidden inside. I was ready for my long journey to the Sanki Kingdom.

I slipped my mask into my bag and turned to leave. I paused and turned back. I pulled out a hidden key and unlocked the third drawer of my dresser. I removed the fake bottom and stared at a white handkerchief placed delicately inside. I pulled it out and stuffed it in my pocket. Underneath it was that necklace I recognized too well. I picked it up and stared at it.

I could still vividly recall the original Seri's wish. If I gave Mary my lucky necklace... Could it perhaps protect her from the misfortune she is about to encounter?

"If you give it to her, it's possible that her misfortune will pass onto you instead."

I jumped at the voice and turned to look behind me. However, there was no one there. In confusion I turned back to the mirror and saw the original Seri standing behind me like a phantom in a veil. I let out a surprised yelp and turned once more to where I saw her standing. However, she wasn't there. She was only there in the mirror's reflection.

"What the hell?"

She repeated herself calmly, "If you give it to her, it's possible that her misfortune will pass onto you instead."

I clenched the necklace in my hand. It's true... Even if I get Mary to wear this necklace at all times, if what the original Seri said was true, it's possible that the misfortune Mary endured would go somewhere else. Since I am giving it to Mary, it's likely I will be receiving misfortune in return.

"I know." I smiled brightly at the original Seri in the mirror, "However, unlike Mary, I have only ever known misfortune. Mary was broken so quickly because she was too delicate and pure hearted. However, I'm used to having bad luck. So, I'm much more suited to encounter this misfortune than Mary is. I won't break so easily."

The original Seri picked her head up slightly, "You would do that for Mary?"

"No." I smiled at her softly, "I would do that for you."

I turned to leave; leaving behind the original Seri who silently clenched her hands. As I walked through the halls, I paused when I heard chittering. I turned around and saw PoonPoon following. I frowned at him sternly, "PoonPoon. You have to stay here."

"Ahh.. Ah ah..." PoonPoon immediately pouted.

I sighed, "I can't bring you along this time. It's too dangerous. I might not return." Seeing his depressed look I bent down to scratch his head, "Plus I need you here to watch over the house for me."

"Ahh ah?"

"That's right. I can only trust you." I pulled out some letters I had written before in the past, "I need you to give this letter to my family, Bertram, and to Lona."

PoonPoon grabbed the letters and sniffed them in confusion.

I looked at the letters that held my last wishes. I gave a weak smile, "If something were to happen to me, I need to make sure that the ones I love are taken care of. I can only trust you to give this to them."

PoonPoon gave a determined nod.

I stood up, "Now I need to find Mary."

"OOo Aaah."

My face twitched, "What do you mean she's already here in my house?" PoonPoon immediately looked guilty. I pinched the bridge of my nose, "Whatever. Just lead me to where she is."

PoonPoon did what I asked and led me to where Mary was. She was humming while fiddling with something. I cleared my throat, "Mary."

"EEK!" She jumped and turned to look at me in a panic. She immediately hid something behind her back with a guilty expression, "Ah! Seri! You woke up? You're okay? Shouldn't you be in bed recovering?!"

I narrowed my eyes at her, "How did you get into my house?"

"Uhhh..." She looked away with a guilty expression.

I shook my head, "Nevermind. I won't ask. This saves me time trying to find you."

I pulled the necklace out and stepped towards Mary. I placed it on her as she watched me in confusion. "Seri. What is this?"

"This necklace is extremely lucky. You must keep it on for the rest of your life or else you will meet a terrible misfortune."

"Y-You're giving this to me?" She beamed as she gently touched the necklace on her.

"Yes. But only on one condition. You must never- NEVER- take it off. Do you understand?"

"Never?"

I looked at her sternly, "Never. Not even when you're naked. If you take it off, you will die. Do you understand?"

Mary was shocked, "Die?"

I nodded, "Not even to bathe. If you take it off, you will slip and fall in the tub and break your neck."

Her face paled, "I don't want to break my neck!"

"You don't. That's why you must never take it off. No matter what." I added quickly, "If William asks if this belonged to me before, just tell him that I said it is very important you always wear it. Tell him that I said you would die if you took it off. He knows it's my lucky necklace so he shouldn't question it. Do you understand?"

She nodded quickly, "I understand."

"Don't EVER take it off. Do you hear me?!"

"Y-Yes!"

"Good." I nodded to her, "Now if you'll excuse me."

There. That should help the original Seri make her wish come true.

I went to leave and immediately slammed my shin into a low coffee table. I let out a painful shout as I flew over the coffee table and landed painfully on the floor. Mary winced as she watched me roll on the ground, "Are you alright?"

I groaned as I struggled to get up, "F-Fine."

And so it begins...

I used the underground tunnels below my house to get out of the Imperial City unseen. I couldn't risk Simon finding out I was coming to save Dante. Although I didn't know exactly where Dante was, I had a feeling he would be in the Capital City of the Sanki Kingdom. In the memory the original Seri showed me, it was obvious that Dante was taken to a dungeon in the Sanki Kingdom.

F*cking dungeons. I swear. Does every person need to have one in this world? Whatever. If Dante is anywhere, it must be there.

I stepped out of the tunnels and noticed it was now late at night. I hurried out and saw a person step out to block my path. His face was illuminated by a candle he was holding. I stopped immediately and pressed my lips together.

"Bertram."

He looked at me closely, "Seri. You are badly hurt. Do you really intend to go and save Dante in that condition? You could die."

I tightened my fists and looked at Bertram in determination, "I might, but I don't care. I have to go save Dante. Don't try and stop me Bertram."

He smiled softly at me, "I'm not here to stop you."

"I won't stop even if you-" I paused and swallowed my words. I turned to him in confusion, "Wait. You're not?"

"Do you love him?"

I was surprised by the sudden conversation change. I smiled at Bertram and gave a single nod, "I do."

"Then there is no way I will be able to stop you." He sighed then looked at me closely, "Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't let anyone kill the one you love."

I responded firmly, "There's no way I will let anyone kill Dante. No matter what. I WILL save him."

"Good." Bertram walked over to me while pulling something out, "There's something I want to give to you."

I was surprised to see him put something around my neck. I looked down and saw a necklace with a large golden sun that was almost as big as my hand. I placed it in my palm to feel it's weight. It felt like thick durable silver. "This is?"

"It belonged to my wife. Before that, it belonged to her mother. They passed it down for generations... Now, I want you to have it."

I shook my head quickly, "Bertram... I can't accept this. This is far too valuable."

He gave me a faint smile, "I want you to have it... And I'm sure she would have wanted you to have it as well..." He let out a sigh, "I know you aren't really my daughter... I know it, I do. It's just that... I'm an old man now. I don't have interest in remarrying. If I didn't give it to anyone then it would be a loss. So even if you aren't my daughter, you are still the only one I could ever give this to."

I looked back at Bertram's sad eyes and noticed that he now had wrinkles. How long had this man followed me? He has always been with me. I know in his later years he became a bit more lazy, but he was always beside me when I needed him. Have I treated him the same? Have I treated him as warmly as he has always treated me?

I bit my lip and looked away. I forced myself to speak, "Bertram..."

"Yes?"

I took a deep breath and gazed into his eyes, "I'm sorry..."

His eyes widened in surprise.

I continued, "I'm sorry I said I wasn't your dead daughter. I'm sorry I've never apologized for it either..." My voice cracked, "I shouldn't have said such cruel things to you. Even though I was angry at the time, I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

"No... You were right." I looked at him in surprise and saw his gentle smile. He continued, "You aren't my dead daughter. I shouldn't have thought of you in that way."

He reached out to tussle my hair, "You are your own person. And even though you aren't my dead daughter, you are still like a daughter to me and I will never stop treating you like one."

I sniffed back my tears, "I would be honored to be considered your daughter."

I embraced him and buried my face in his chest. In my previous world as Leia, I never knew who my father was. Now, this world has gifted me with two amazing dads. For that, I am eternally grateful.

He rubbed my back and whispered, "Now go. You can't waste any time."

I gave a firm nod and stuffed the necklace under my clothes, "Don't worry Bertram. I will return. And I will definitely bring Dante back."

He whispered, "Good luck."

I ran towards the Sanki Kingdom in the pale moonlight. Bertram tilted his head up to look at the moon with a somber expression, "Darling... Please protect her... Please don't let her be killed..."

Unknown to everyone, a wife and child stood next to him holding hands. They smiled at him peacefully under the shroud of the night.