And you will free the beautiful bird that's caught inside your heart

Ella was on shaky feet as she approached the Master’s Suite. She’d gotten the day off work yesterday, for the party, but that had been a disaster. She had no idea what had happened after turning control over to Cinder, and she’d been too afraid to ask. But what she did know was that, when she woke up that morning, her room had been completely trashed. And Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin may have been a murderer, but Ella had never seen her do something like that before.

No, clearly Cinder had thrown a tantrum.

What can I expect when I see Nick again? Or anyone else, for that matter!? Ella had locked herself up in her room all day munching on candy, afraid of the consequences of Cinder’s actions. But she couldn’t stay away forever.

She had a job to do, after all.

And yet, Ella spent so much time pacing back and forth in the entry hall that the elevator had time to go back down to the girls’ floor, and come back up.

When it dinged again, she jumped ten feet into the air.

“Uwah!?” Ella whirled around, eyes wide behind her bangs, and her jaw dropped when she saw Rose saunter out of the room with a cheerful smile on her face.

“Oh! Bonjour, Ella,” she greeted the other girl with a wave. Then she squinted. “…Or are you Cinder right now?”

Ella tensed. “I… it’s me, Ella,” she informed the blonde. When she saw Rose didn’t react at all to that, she was confused. It was like the older woman didn’t care one whit about whether she was Cinder or Ella, which was strange.

“Are you excited to work today?” Rose asked, playing with a strand of her hair. She’d been all smiles since it started to grow out. “I’m going to be getting double the bounty, that’s what I call a real bargain!” She hummed.

“Oh, uh… uh-huh…” Ella would be lying if she wasn’t a little jealous that Rose got paid for doing a job that she had **** but to do. But wait, what did she say? “Um… did you say you’ll be getting double?”

Rose blinked. “Didn’t anyone tell you?” She asked.

Ella shook her head blankly. “Tell me what?”

“Oh, I suppose they didn’t,” Rose muttered, stroking her chin. “You didn’t come down for breakfast this morning, and Cinder ran away before the announcement was made…”

“What? What announcement?” Ella had been completely in the dark, partially by choice. Had something happened at the party last night? It wasn’t like Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin could have told her.

“Well, you remember the party events we all took part in?” Rose asked. “To win prizes?”

Ella nodded cautiously. She’d assumed Cinder had completely failed in spite of Ella’s faith in her, hence the tantrum.

“Well, everybody won.”

“Huh!?” Ella needed a moment to process that. “Wait, you mean, I won?” She shook her head. “How? I mean, Cinder, she…”

“It was a mutual agreement,” Rose explained. “We and the judges all decided it would be valuable to just have all of us get along and win together, and Dakota even gave us all the rewards together. So the reward is that for the rest of the round, we get double the BP. Whether that’s from a bounty, or from the upcoming popularity poll, or from any transformations we have that make money!” She slapped her chest with a grin. “Like mine!”

“Oh… I… I won…” Ella still couldn’t believe it. Even if what Rose described was technically a pity win, she… she…

She’d actually won something.

“…I’ve never done that before,” she said, her face glowing. That was enough to inflame her confidence, and a shaky smile crossed her lips. She turned and walked towards the door, and used all her strength to enter the Master’s Suite.

Rose was curious as well about what they would encounter inside, and slipped in after Ella. She couldn’t deny that she was interested in how Vivian’s date with Nick was going. Knowing the heiress, she might have even brought her butler along!

So she was quite surprised when she stepped inside and saw the heiress playing video games on the couch.

Rose marveled in surprise. “Um, hello!” She greeted everyone, since Ella had been paralyzed upon entering. Her courage had only gone so far. Thankfully, Mary and Holly weren’t present, or she might have froze completely.

“Oh, Rose, and Ella,” Nick said, looking up from his seat beside Vivian. They were sharing the couch together. “You guys here to clean?”

“Yeah,” Rose nodded. She looked around. “This place looks pretty nice though. You two look… comfy…” She tried to hide her amusement but it was hard. She looked up to Vivian, and seeing the heiress lounging on the couch with Nick seemed so… out of character.

Rose looked around again. “Octavia isn’t here? I thought for sure you’d bring her along to clean up the Master’s Suite for your date,” she said in a teasing voice as she flounced into the room with a smile on her face.

Vivian didn’t take her eyes off the screen. She was playing a farming simulation game, and her character was pulling turnips out of the ground. “I gave Octavia the day off,” she volunteered. “She deserves it, if you ask me.”

“Um… um… good evening!” Ella squeaked out, a little late to the party. It had taken her some time to think straight- she hadn’t expected Nick to be here! Wasn’t he supposed to be out on his date!? Why was he in the room!?

Rose sensed Ella’s confusion and tried to put her concerns into words as she walked around the couch. She leaned in slightly to show Nick a taste of her cleavage, glad to have the opportunity to show off to him. “I also didn’t expect you two to come,” she tittered. “I thought you’d be the type to light up the town, Vivian.”

“Thought about it,” Vivian said. “But we had a pretty casual date, in fact.” She sidled over on the couch, leaning up against Nick, and playfully rested her cheek on his shoulder. Then she scooted back. “Anyway, care to join?”

Nick glanced over at Vivian. “This game is a single-player, you know.”

Vivian had no comment. He turned to Rose. “We were playing with Mary and Holly too,” he informed her. “But they had to go make dinner. So I thought this would be a good change of pace. I think Dani will be happy to know that she’s got a new video game buddy.”

“Hah!” Vivian laughed, rolling her eyes. “I like it just fine,” she informed him. “But let’s not go too far.”

Nick raised his eyebrow. “You don’t like this one?”

“Didn’t say that.” Vivian shook her head. “I had no idea they made simulation games like this,” she said, gesturing to the screen. “I mean, look. I’m growing my own turnips, and then converting them to money in the shipping box. Then I can use that money to buy more seeds and grow more plants. It’s a wealth accumulation game! Talk about a novel concept. I’m building a farming empire here!”

“Most people actually play this game for the romance and combat aspects,” Nick informed her. “The farming is a big part of it, but-”

“That stuff’s all fine too,” Vivian said, waving her hand. “But the farming is essential. That’s how you can accumulate wealth. And with that money, getting more seeds, with a better cost/return aspect as well. It’s simple economics. Turnips, tomatoes, carrots, all sorts of stuff. Buy cheap, sell high, it’s like a stock exchange!”

“…Well, as long as you’re enjoying yourself,” Nick said, unable to resist grinning at how eager and excited Vivian was to play a game where she accumulated wealth. It seemed perfectly in keeping with her nature.

Rose was amused too. With a smirk she stepped aside, and got to cleaning. But Ella was rooted in place, staring curiously at the screen.

Vivian noticed that.

“You want to play?” She asked, looking up at the maid. Being spoken to directly was enough to shake Ella out of her haze and she stiffened in shock.

“Eh?! Um…” Ella looked frantically back and forth between Nick and Vivian.

“It’s fun! You can do all sorts of stuff. Start a farm, hit on cute guys- or cute girls, if that’s your taste- learn to cook, forge weapons, kill monsters, all sorts of awesome stuff! I never knew video games could be so interactive,” she gushed, holding out the controller tantalizingly towards Ella.

Ella quickly shook her head. “Um, no, thank you… I-I have to work,” she replied, scurrying over to help Rose with the dusting.

Vivian lowered her controller and shrugged. “Well, maybe next time,” she said, turning back to the game. She was having a blast. “Maybe when we get back home, I could start a farm of my own,” she considered.

“Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?” Nick questioned. “I mean, it might be better to just start with a garden or something.”

Vivian threw back her head and laughed. “Haven’t you learned by now, Nick? I don’t do half-measures,” she chortled. “If I’m gonna do something, I go all-in!”

Nick smiled in amusement. “Well, if it’s farm life you’re looking for, maybe you should ask Mary for some pointers. She knows all about that stuff.”

Vivian nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, maybe I will,” she agreed.

She kept playing the game, while Rose and Ella continued their cleaning. They were just about finished up when Mary came in to inform everyone that dinner was almost ready.

But when she saw what Vivian was playing, she couldn’t help but come over and watch.

“Wait, you’re growing corn and tomatoes together? That’s not right!” She objected, shaking her head. “The climate might be compatible but they both deplete the soil of nutrients too much. What are you using for fertilizer?!”

Nick held his hand over his mouth and laughed while Vivian rolled her eyes.

“It’s just a video game, Mary,” he tried to assuage her. “Don’t worry about it. Nothing wrong with a little bit of reality-breaking in a game.”

“I’ll go buy some fertilizer anyway,” Vivian said, shaking her head in amusement. “Since you raised a stink about it.”

She went over to the shop and began to order some fertilizer.

Mary frowned. “Why does the shopkeeper have cat ears?” She questioned next.

“Because it’s a fantasy game,” Nick informed her. “He’s one of the bachelor candidates. See in this game, you can play as a boy or a girl, and court boys or girls. It’s a very open and progressive game considering it was made in Japan!”

Mary still wasn’t convinced though.

“He’s the guy I’m currently courting,” Vivian explained. “I give him the fish I fish up from the river every morning to raise his love levels.”

“You just give him raw fish and that wins him over?” Rose was getting curious about the game herself now and came over to join in the conversation. “Somehow I don’t think that’s gonna work so well in real life.”

“He is a cat,” Nick pointed out.

Rose looked at him. “So are you going to give Dawn fish on your date coming up?”

“…Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to work, you’re right,” Nick agreed, shaking his head. “Still, it’s all just part of the courtship in the game. You give people their favorite gifts to raise their friendship and love levels. Raw fish works for Kurogane, but you get even higher love level boosts if you cook the fish and give the dishes to him.”

Vivian nodded. “Makes sense. But that’s less cost-effective! I’d rather sell those dishes for profit,” she explained.

Mary rolled her eyes. “How mercenary of you,” she muttered under her breath.

“I kind of get it,” Rose admitted. “Still, I would want my beloved to be happy they get the best gifts!” She swooned, making goo-goo eyes at Nick.

“Yeah, but love’s got nothing to do with this,” Vivian clarified, earning her some looks from the others.

“Huh?” Mary mumbled in confusion.

“Love, feh,” Vivian scoffed, waving her hand. “I’m courting this guy because he owns the general store. The only one in town. If I marry him, then I can expand my operation and control the supply and demand for all basic goods necessary. It’s a strategic move to increase my capital.”

Everyone stared at her. Even Ella.

“…Vivian, that’s not how the game works,” Nick clarified.

“Huh!?” Vivian set down her controller and looked at him in shock.

“Just because you marry Kurogane or whoever, you don’t take over their business. They keep running their shop.”

“Huh!?” Vivian’s eyes widened in shock. “But, I at least get a discount because we’re married, right?!”

Nick shook his head.

Vivian puffed up her cheeks and set down her controller. “…Stupid game anyway,” she grumbled, miffed that her attempt at hostile expansion was ended before it could begin.

Mary cleared her throat. “Well, um… how about we move on to dinner then, okay?” She suggested hopefully.

Vivian laughed and her smile immediately returned. She hopped off the couch and stretched her arms over her head. “Let’s eat! I’m starving!”

Nick turned to Rose and Ella. “What about you two? Would you like to stay to eat?”

Ella shook her head quickly. “I-I can’t, I, um, I have to get back,” she said, checking the time. “I don’t want to get stuck in here.”

While Ella left immediately, Rose was more hesitant. She glanced at Vivian, clearly weighing her options. As much as she wanted to spend time with Nick, this was Vivian’s date night…

“…I’ll bow out too,” she decided, saving a wink for Nick. “My night’s coming up pretty soon, after all. I just need to get paid!”

Nick nodded. “Well, if that’s what you want.” Honestly, part of him was relieved. As much as he adored Rose, having her and Vivian together, that would be a little overwhelming. He wanted to get to know Vivian a little more intimately before doing something that daring.

Rose must have picked up on that already. That’s why she chose to leave. He was grateful that she was so understanding. They shared a hot look and she winked at him again, and headed out the door.

Rose: 9000 BP + 200 BP = 9200 BP

“And then it was just us,” Vivian said, turning to Nick, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. “Oh, wait! I almost forgot!”

She rushed out of the Master’s Suite, startling Nick and Mary. They looked at each other, and checked the clock.

“What… what just happened?” Mary questioned.

Nick shrugged. “I guess she had something she had to do before curfew?” It was the only explanation that made sense, given they were a couple minutes away from the hour changing and Vivian being confined to the Master’s Suite.

She showed up right before the deadline with a fancy purse slung over her shoulder.

“It’s my night kit,” she informed him. “I was gonna go pick it up earlier, but I forgot all about it in the heat of that game!” She laughed it off and shrugged. “So, dinner?”

Mary had been concerned that the meal would be too modest for Vivian’s trained palate. But given that she’d had fast food for lunch, it was quite fine by the heiress’s standards.

“Delicious, Mary,” she said, patting her lips with her napkin. “I’ve never had roast beef that tender before!”

“I-I’m glad,” Mary blushed, sighing in relief. “Holly and I really tried our best.”

“Don’t forget the wine!” Holly added, presenting a fancy bottle of wine she’d smuggled away from Gina’s party.

“Ooh!” Vivian whistled when she read the label. “Good choice, Holly! …But I’ll have to pass.”

The smaller girl was taken aback. “Really?”

“I think it’s better for both of us if I keep my wits about me,” Vivian purred, turning to Nick and giving him a sly smile.

Nick blushed.

“…I guess so,” he agreed, smiling awkwardly at her.

They had finished dinner. Now there was only one thing left for them.

The bed.

Mary looked a little eager as well, and Holly was ready to burst.

“…Should we retire for the evening, then?” Vivian asked, rising from his seat.

“Um…” Nick got up as well and stepped around the table, but Vivian stopped him with a hand on his chest.

“…And what do you think you’re doing, mister?” She asked with a charming smile.

Nick blinked. “Huh?”

“What? Did you think we were gonna get all hot and heavy tonight?” Vivian asked. She narrowed her eyes daringly and bit her lips. “The anticipation is the best part.”

“Wait… you guys… you aren’t going to do anything!?” Holly couldn’t hide her disappointment any better than Nick and Mary could hide their surprise.

“Just showing everything without any buildup or fanfare just spoils the whole surprise,” she repeated, shaking her head. “I’m not the kind of girl to put out on the first date. I’m a respectable young lady!” Her words oozed with sarcastic irony, and the smirk on her face showed just how much she was loving this whole thing. “Teach wouldn’t like that either. Don’t want her to think less of me, now.”

Vivian winked at Mary. “You get what I’m talking about, right?” She asked the redhead. “Young things like us, need to take it slow. Or else our boy will go wild!”

Mary blushed. “I, um… I don’t mind the wildness,” she stammered. “But if you’re not ready for it…”

“Nope! I’m not,” Vivian said, even though her eyes were sparkling with excitement. She ran her fingers down Nick’s shirt. “I’d love to get in bed with you… but just to cuddle. You’re alright with that, right? You wouldn’t… try to **** the issue, right?”

“You know me better than that,” Nick replied.

Vivian laughed. “Of course I do.”

And with that, she turned back to the bed and kicked off her boots, and sauntered over, making sure to wiggle her ass like she was on the catwalk.

Nick knew he was missing out on something, and he understood this was part of Vivian’s game. Like when Rose had tried to tantalize him on his first night with her, before he learned that her apprehension was because she was a nervous virgin.

He was no virgin, but he sure was nervous. And getting into bed with a beautiful and playful woman like Vivian was still exciting, even though he knew they weren’t going to do anything.

But to his surprise, when he got into the bed, Vivian got out of it. She crouched down next to the wall, and began fiddling with the outlet.

“What are you doing?” Nick asked, sitting up curiously.

“A nightlight,” Vivian answered. She looked up at him with a curious expression. “You’ve never seen one of these before? Keeps the room at just the right level of brightness.”

“Uh… I mean, of course I have,” he said, shaking his head. He just didn’t expect Vivian of all people would have one. “That was in your night kit?”

Vivian gave him a sharp look. “Question?”

Nick could tell that maybe this was a sensitive issue for her. There’s still a lot about Vivian I don’t know. I shouldn’t push it.

They turned off the other lights, and settled into bed beside each other while Mary got into the neighboring bed, and Holly crawled into her cage.

Nick was stiff as a board, trying not to upset Vivian as he lay back in bed and tried to get comfortable. But it was difficult because Vivian was tossing and turning and mumbling, clearly not able to get comfortable herself. And the dim glow of the nightlight made the room brighter than he had expected.

Maybe she’s not used to sleeping with other people, he considered. He could only imagine the massive, fluffy bed she must have had back at her mansion. The one in the Master’s Suite was great, but he couldn’t help but wonder what she was used to normally.

He felt her shift again, and even though his eyes were closed, he felt her slip out of the bed. The sound of her footsteps across the room roused him, and he peeked through a crack in his eyelid to see her open the bathroom door, flip on the light, and then come back to bed. She curled up beside him and in a couple minutes, he heard her softly snoring in his ear, giggling in contentment.

Right there beside him, fast asleep like that, she seemed so sweet and innocent, so very unlike the playful girl he’d gotten to know that day.