At that moment, I recoiled sharply.
— What… What was all that about?!
I was so stunned that I didn't even pay attention to the fact that Rachel had basically caught me in the act. I had other things on my mind right now.
Rachel started to walk toward me slowly, while I took a step back.
— Answer me! — I demanded nervously, «What are all these things doing in your…?!
— You really want to know?
She looked at me with a strange expression.
I was confused.
— C-course! If you don't explain anything, then I'll…
— What? What will you do?
I hesitated.
— Then… I'll think you did something to her!
— With who? — Rachel clarified.
— Don't pretend! — I exclaimed. «You totally know Elsa. And that she and I…
I didn't finish the sentence, but its meaning was clear to both of us. Rachel watched me silently for a moment, as if she were making a decision, deep in her heart.
Then she sighed.
— You asked me to do this,» she said suddenly.
I froze, waiting for the long-awaited explanation. At that moment I was ready to hear anything, but not that anything strange was going to happen to Rachel instead of words.
Like a chameleon that changes color in an instant.
That's what happened now. Just a moment ago, the Rachel I knew was standing in front of me. And then a second later… A completely different person.
I thought I was dreaming.
A face I hadn't seen in two years appeared so easily in front of me now. How could it be?
The familiar features, the golden eyes, and the loose brown hair. Just because Rachel had had it down before… It was only now that I noticed how much they really looked alike.
— Elsa…? — I exhaled in disbelief.
But the girl with my sweetheart's face announced:
— I'm Rachel. I've always been Rachel.
I recoiled and covered my mouth with my hands.
— Lies! It's all lies! Sёarᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
I couldn't believe this was really possible. That a person could be different in the blink of an eye… Is there such magic in this world? Why didn't I know anything about it?!
A shiver went through my whole body. I didn't want to believe I wasn't imagining things.
And while I was in complete shock, she tried to approach me again.
— Don't come any closer! — I said don't you dare…!
My reaction to what was happening was stronger than I had expected. And more than Rachel had expected.
The girl was taken aback.
— Leriana, let's talk…
— «Talk…?!» What can we talk about?
As I struggled to my feet, all the memories we had together flashed through my head. Meeting each other for the first time in the woods, the many moments during our journey together… Finally, how we woke up in the hotel together.
Her confession and our date under the moon… I couldn't believe it was all a lie. My first love had turned out to be a fake.
Rachel took her real form again and watched me silently.
I just laughed my head off in an instant. All this time I'd dreamed of escaping this place for our reunion. But as it turned out… I had nowhere to go back to.
The whole constructed image of Elsa crumbled before me like ashes.
Finally, when I was quiet for a moment, as if I were in some kind of trance, Rachel came up to me and took me by the shoulders.
— I'm sorry…» She tried to justify herself, «I… I really wanted to tell you earlier.
But I threw her arms off me and cried out in frustration:
— Fuck it! I don't need your lying explanations!
— «False…?»
— Or are you telling me you've been honest with me all this time? — I grinned bitterly,» It must have been fun to think I was stupid.
Rachel was speechless.
— That's not true…!
— Of course,» I smiled nervously, «It was easy to fool an idiot like me, right?
At that moment, I really felt «betrayed. From the beginning only I believed in the sincerity of our relationship. At this time as «Elsa»… Only lied to me.
When I drew such conclusions right in front of her — Rachel's face twisted with mixed emotions. She was still trying to establish our dialogue.
— Leah, calm down first…» the girl exhaled, «Then we can discuss this calmly.
experience-NovelFire
— Who said I was going to talk to you?
— About what… What are you talking about?
— About the fact that from now on there's no place for you in my life.
After I said those harsh words, Rachel trembled.
— You…
— I hate you! — I hated you more than anyone else in the world!
If I could turn back time… I would never, ever talk to her myself! Rachel flinched.
— And what about you? — She challenged, «Are you saying I was the only one who lied about our relationship?
— …
— …Or have you forgotten how you left me three years ago?! — She exclaimed desperately.
I said quietly.
— That's different…! — The contract… I…» I hesitated, not even knowing how to explain it.
But Rachel already knew all about it herself.
— Tell me straight out that you were just using me then.
I flinched because I wasn't expecting to hear that.
— You… You knew about everything? — I couldn't believe it.
Rachel grinned bitterly.
— At a time when everyone else was afraid to even look in my direction… You were the first to reach out to me. Of course, I could not believe that the daughter of the Archduke was so unselfish.
— …
— I don't know why, but you wanted to get something out of our communication.
I looked directly at her, not expecting our dialogue to go that way. As it turned out, Rachel had seen right through me from the beginning. What was the point of the effort…?
I didn't know what to say to that, while the girl went on:
— But I didn't care. I just wanted you to stay by my side.
I gathered my thoughts for a while, clenching my fists almost to the point of pain. Really… From the beginning, there had been nothing «real» between us. And now that thought was only confirmed in me.
— Fine,» I said, «Now that we're clear, let's just go.
Rachel was stunned.
— Why do you want to leave so badly?! — She got mad.
— Because I don't want to see you.
— …
— Let's start a new life without each other.
I was about to walk around her to leave the office. But Rachel suddenly intercepted my hand. Her fingers clenched painfully on my wrist.
Rachel didn't want to let me go.
Then I completely lost control and screamed:
— Why can't you understand that I hate you?
— «Hate…?» — the girl grinned,» If you want freedom so much, there's only one way to get it.
— What…?!
Suddenly, Rachel pulled her sword from its sheath and forced me to take it by the hilt. The end of the point pointed itself directly at my chest.
— Kill me.
I was taken aback.
Rachel stood in front of me with a calm expression on her face.
— I won't resist,» she promised, «You can kill me at any time.
My hands, holding the cold weapon, trembled.
— I… I…» I suddenly found myself thinking that I couldn't get a word out.
Meanwhile, Rachel was waiting for me to do something. Did she really think I was going to kill her?
In the end, from all the piling up — my condition was hysterical. I dropped the sword and a clang sounded in the office.
— I can't…! I can't do it!
I screamed, grabbing my hair. I thought I was going crazy.
Rachel looked at me coldly.
— You made that choice,» she said.
I sobbed, not knowing what she meant.
— Do you remember our contract? — the girl suddenly spoke.
— …
— According to it, whoever is the first to break his obligations must be punished by the other party.
I hesitated.
— You ran away,» she reminded me, «and that's a direct violation of the contract. So don't blame me now.
— Wha…?
— I'm going to get what you owe me-right now.
When I still didn't understand anything — Rachel suddenly lifted me up in her arms. I tried to resist, but it turned out that I was completely helpless in this situation.
— Let go…! Let go of me!!!
Out of the office, Rachel carried me somewhere. And it didn't take me long to figure out where. Her chambers…
When I realized what she was about to do, I started to fight harder. I bit and hit her on the chest with my fist, but it didn't help at all. I screamed and cried, hoping that at least at some point she would change her mind.
But no. Suddenly, it was like Rachel had turned into another person. Who didn't care about my feelings-and only wanted what was hers.
— Let go…! Please!
I was still crying when they carried me out and put me on the bed. And then the obvious happened. Rachel wasn't taking my clothes off, she was literally ripping them off.
— Just be quiet and it will be over quickly.
Rachel spoke these words over my ear as she forcibly kissed my neck. I no longer had the strength to resist.
At one point, I just stopped scratching her and closed my eyes. I waited for it to be over.