two heroines in the price of one

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[To say Noel is confused would be an understatement.

She's not entirely sure how she's found herself in this place ─ which, honestly, wouldn't be the first time it's happened. However, whenever something like that occurs, Miss Rachel is quick to find her, explain the situation and tell her what needs to be done; she expected that's how things would go this time, too, but soon realized she was sorely mistaken. She waited where she'd come to for quite a while (not unlike a lost child), only to eventually arrive at a scary conclusion: no one was coming to help her out and she was on her own this time. With that, she gathered her courage and decided to try and explore the place a little.

She was hoping the soldiers she came across could explain the situation to her, but when she introduced herself as a Lieutenant she was assigned some sort of mission instead. Apparently she's supposed to supervise some... "Valentine" person? Whoever they are, they must be rather dangerous, if the warnings she's received are anything to go by. Honestly, she's not entirely sure if she's up for the task, but it didn't feel right to decline when they were setting their hopes on her (not to mention may have very well outranked her, too).

So here she is. Lost and unsure what to do and facing the door that supposedly holds the target of her "mission" on the other side. The girl lets out a sigh before slapping herself lightly on her cheeks to get herself together. She may not understand her circumstances, but that doesn't mean she'd let herself disappoint the people who entrusted her with this assignment!]

Okay, Noel... You've got this!

[Feeling a little bit more ready for what's about to happen (whatever that may be), she knocks on the door.]

Comments

[travailler]

[ Elphelt wondered if things had actually gotten any better. Being locked away in the basement in stasis like a broken appliance was not what anyone would consider a good life, so when had been given the opportunity to be stuck in a room under what was essentially house arrest, she jumped at the opportunity. However, after weeks--maybe months?--she realized this may be the worse of the two options.

Sure, Elphelt did everything she could to cause as little trouble as possible: she followed all the rules laid out to her, asked for nothing, and never complained. But even with all that, she was alone in this room more often than not and her only company was the occasional guard. She did her best to be friendly, but they all were all uncomfortable at best and terrified at worst when around her. That was understandable. Most were familiar with what the eldest Valentine had done, if not have actual first hand experience with her. So, she was treated as a monster under lock and guard.

At least before, sleeping in the basement, she wasn't conscious enough to tell how lonely she was.

King Kiske's visits were at least positive, even if extremely rare. He was busy and important, after all, but he treated her nicely. She couldn't bring herself to disrespect his generosity by requesting to be put back in the basement. His most recent visit piqued her curiosity, though. He had informed her she would be put under the care of a new guard. It was strange in that she had had plenty of different guards and no warning that they would change. It certainly never came from the king himself.

Maybe there would be something special about this new one? Or maybe her orders were different? Elphelt had no idea. The king himself didn't seem to know much and left before Elphelt could ask many questions. So, Elphelt had something to look forward to, even though she knew it would play out the same as all the other ones. Optimism in spite of reality was the only thing keeping her sane.

So, when the day comes around, Elphelt spends her time guessing what this new one would be like. It is the most boring game, but she has little else to entertain herself. The room she is stuck in is well furnished (and very pink) thanks to King Kiske being generous, so she ends up falling asleep by the time she hears the knocking. ]

Uh! Um.

[ She leaps from the bed. She uses the mirror to quickly look herself over. She pats out a few wrinkles from her dress, rubs away some drool from her mouth, and attempts (and fails) to get her cowlick under control. Once she does that, she stands in front of her bed with her hands over her stomach. ]

O-Okay, come in!

[ ...Wait, was that a woman's voice? ]