IN THE CAGE

15. MARGOT'S VISIT

...FAWN...

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I woke up smelling the pleasant aroma of a plate of hot dumpling that Felix had brought into the room. With eyes still red, hair disheveled and consciousness not yet fully gathered, I sat down and took a deep breath. The smell of the dumpling made my smile bloom very wide. Like finding freedom, delicious food is the only thing that makes me able to survive in this cage.

"If you're awake, wash your face first and eat. You look like a cold noodle." Felix insulted me with a disgusted face.

What does it mean that my face swells like an uneaten noodle? That old bastard, if only the food he brought wasn't my favorite food, I would probably slap him with that glass plate.

"You should be careful what you say, Felix!" I pulled my hair back and instantly became aware of what had happened to me before. Me-I, Fawnia Alder sleeps well in the arms of Ace Hunter?

Huh uh? Am I crazy? Is my brain short?

I immediately turned to the now empty side of the bed. Ace was no longer there, but the trace of his existence like a pillow used to remind me that the situation that happened last afternoon was real. That, I am indeed a foolish girl who has lost my ability as a bodyguard.

I-I am the chief bodyguard of Miss Indira, the girl with high rank in martial arts, can I sleep comfortably in the arms of my enemies?

Have I lost my survival instinct?

"Mr Ace gave this to you." Felix showed five stacked training clothes in bright colors on the table. It looks like a training shirt for women. "From now on, you better not wander around like a caveman."

I didn't respond to that motherfucker. I'm still in shock about the situation that happened to me this afternoon, and oh, yeah, I'm hungry. Instead of debating Felix, I waltzed towards the sofa. The chicken dumpling that was served there made the saliva gather in my mouth.

Oh, how long haven't I been dumpling? Normally, on a day off work, I would buy dumpling in a city park and bring me a box of mom's favorite cheese dumpling.

Remembering my mother, I miss you. What is he doing now? Is he grieving at the news of my sudden death? I hope he doesn't save my allowance. He better use that money for fun. Saving up when he's old won't take him anywhere.

Mom, I missed you.

I ate one of those dumplings with my eyes back in tears. The pain in my heart made me wonder, will there be an end to this misfortune? Will I come out safe or will I find death?

"Miss Margot, you mustn't-miss-" the noise from outside made me frown.

The emotional moment between me and the dumpling was blown away by astonishment. I got up from the sofa and stared at the door that was slowly being knocked over by Margot. Margot Hunter - Ace Hunter's eldest brother, the woman I knew so intimidatingly, stepped inside Ace's room. He scanned me from toe to head before grinning widely.

"Miss Margot?" Felix was panicking. "Sir Ace will kill me if you find out you're in here."

"Don't be a baffle, Felix. Do you think you can defy my orders?" Margot intimidates Felix back. "I am your master in this house!"

"But, miss..."

"Leave me. I want to have a light chat with my sister's pet."

An animal? He called me an animal? Oh. It turned out that he was not much different from his rotten brother. Not surprisingly. I shouldn't expect anything from this psychopathic family.

"Fawnia Alder, did I interrupt your dinner?" Margot breezed closer and I took one step back.

"I'd really like to see you, you know." 

Huh, I wonder why.

"Among the many women Ace has brought into this room, you are arguably the last in line when it comes to beauty." Margot suddenly reviewed me like a food review in a culinary application. I was quite surprised to hear his words, my eyebrows almost made the bridge because it almost united.

"Your body as a bodyguard before was pretty good. But you're a little contained now."

Hey, don't underestimate me!!!

I became like this because my job was just eating and sleeping. Motherfucker. I want to hit him. "Ace usually likes women with body models."

Do I care?

"Overall, I don't see anything interesting from you to the point that Ace didn't kill you. So, what's the secret until you can breathe now?" Margot lifted my chin with her pointy index finger. This kind of attitude reminds me of Ace. They are very similar to uncivilized and impudent things.

"If you're so curious, you'd better ask that of your psychopathic sister, wouldn't you?" I opened my mouth. "I'd be willing to be a pig here if that meant he lost interest in me."

Does he think I'm a prisoner in this house because I have a secret trick to keep Ace from killing me? Screeches. The only answer is definitely because his crazy brother is crazy, right?

"Hmmm, sharp-mouthed, that's rare."

"What?" I raised my eyebrows. We speak the same language but why do I not understand a single point of his speech?

"It's nothing." Margot grinned thinly. How appalling. I became uncomfortable.

Leaving Margot still standing by the sofa, I headed for a plate of chicken dumpling that was starting to warm up. No, please don't cool down before I devour you guys. Afraid that the food would cool, I stuffed two dumplings into my mouth. My left and right cheeks are full. But this is better than eating cold food.

"Fawnia?" Margot joined me on the couch. He sat next to me while playing his HP. "Did you know that Fawn means a fawn?"

Of course, stupid. Do you think I'm stupid? Mom named me Fawn because my pair of eyes reminded her of a pair of fawn eyes. It is beautiful, beautiful and full of hope. At least that's what my mom said. I had never seen a deer so thoroughly before, so I only heard what mom said and believed.

"I know" I answered later. Still trying to chew the food that's stuffing my mouth right now.

"Your name means fawn, but now you look like a squirrel."

I glanced at Margot and shrugged. Whatever. Perhaps it was the Hunter family's custom to see humans as animals.

"Fawn," call Margot again.

"Hmm?"

"What do you think of Ace?"

"He's a bastard."

"Mahaha..." Margot's laughter. "Aaaaah, really, are you seriously saying that?"

"I'm not humorous, so I'm definitely serious."

"You don't have to try to humor me, your honesty is funny." Margot again said something I didn't understand.

"Huh, huh?" Whatever.

I don't care about your weird sense of humor either. I'd rather eat, eat and eat.

"Do you like the food?"

"Why?" I looked at Margot. Food today is a depression deterrent to me. If the food here isn't good, I might be thin from the stress that builds up.

"You're so excited when you eat."

"I'm hungry" I answered honestly.

"Well..." Margot smiled again.

While I was eating the dumpling served on the plate, Margot who had said nothing sat quietly next to me while looking at me. I realized his gaze was just pretending not to care. Well, being actually stared at while eating made my muscles start to tighten nervously. Is this a mukbang broadcast? Why is he staring at me constantly?

"Do you want to?" tanyaku. I was a little unwilling to share my food with him. He is the boss of this house, he can get delicious food in just one order.

"I'm not hungry."

"Then why are you looking at me?" If you're not hungry, you shouldn't bother the hungry.

"Am I not supposed to stare at my brother's favorite toy?"

"Look, miss Margot..." I refrained from scolding her on the spot, and tilted my head in order to stare at her extremely arrogant face. "I don't know what the problem is with you brothers, but I'm human. I mean, even if your brains are in trouble, it doesn't change the fact that I'm human. I'm not anybody's toy or animal."

"But you're my brother's pet, Fawn. Don't you realize that yet?"

"I'll never realize that." I said firmly. "Because, if I feel myself to be Ace's pet, then that means I've lost my worth and dignity as a human being. I'd rather die."

I'll never bow willingly to bastards like you.

"Some day I'll be free from here." My next.

I went back to face the remaining dumpling plate one piece. While I was about to eat the final piece, Ace walked in with a hurried move. He looked at me and Margot took turns.

"Whether it be life or death, I will be free. When I am free, I want to be free as a human being. Not anyone's tools or pets."

Margot laughed again, this time louder than before. His laughter was so loud that Felix who was following Ace revealed a face of horror.

"Hahahahahahahaha...." He was hitting his knee.

"Oh, now I understand why you kept it, Ace..." Margot spoke to her brother who was still silent.

"She is indeed an adorable toy."

These people are mentally ill.

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