Nemo bopped to the Count’s music, her head swaying slowly to the soothing tune. It was a good enough distraction when waiting for the Count. She was restless, her legs commanded her to start running within the extravagant hallways of the mansion. She would try her best to wait since the Count asked her, but she still wished he would hurry up.

However, the boiling ominous aura of rage distorting the door in front of Nemo told her that it might be awhile before the Count was able to come out.

After Nemo picked her outfit and finished changing, Demon Lady lead her to the Count’s room where he waited. She cautioned Nemo to follow her closely and not wander, getting distracted on the path to his room could result in a person being lost forever. Nemo was unconvinced and was more sure that Demon Lady simply didn’t want her running around and waste time looking for her. The only thing weird about the path to the Count’s room was that it involved walking in circles and extra shiny walls.

Still, Nemo obliged as she was more excited about meeting the other house guest. She grabbed onto the hem of Demon Lady’s skirt since the woman clearly had no intention of holding her arm. Her fists tightened as the hallways dimmed the further they walked until it was entirely covered in a depressing hue of red.

Someone really needed to fix the lights.

The two eventually reached a part of the hallway without any decoration or elaborate setup. It only had some broken statues and a few paintings depicting a faceless woman dressed in scarlet. It wasn’t that the woman’s face wasn’t painted, but it felt like her face was obfuscated by some weird sensation that blocked Nemo from recognizing her.

A mystery, how fun.

Before Nemo decided on what to do with the painting, Demon Lady opened the door and lead Nemo into the room. The Count smiled and was about to greet Nemo, but Demon Lady quickly stepped between the two of them. She turned around and gave Nemo a quick bow before dragging the Count into a door in the corner of the room.

“Do wait patiently, Nemo. I’ll be with you shortly,” the Count said as he was being dragged, a hint of fright and panic rose from his cloak before vanishing within. The door slammed and Nemo was left alone in the room.

Nemo strolled around the room, rather empty and simple for how extravagant the mansion was. There were only two long couches and in the middle a small wooden table with a tea-set placed on it. The room seemed more for receiving guests than anything. Maybe there were more interesting stuff in the other door.

That was when the soothing music started, which was followed shortly by the image distorting aura.

Nemo gulped. She was reminded of the first encounter with Demon Lady and whatever the Count had to endure was surely not something she wanted to be a part of.

Oh well. That was when Nemo decided to be a good girl and wait for the Count. He would surely need a pat on the back for whatever ordeal he just went through.

When the music stopped and the aura faded, the image of the door returned to normal. Nemo turned towards the opened door and out came Demon Lady looking as expressionless as ever and the Count.

Did the Count turn pale? She must be imagining things.

“Nemo, please take a seat,” the Count said after pondering for a moment, his voice somewhat shaky. Nemo did what she was told and hopped onto a couch and the Count sat in the one in front of her. She was surprised the Count could sit, what with him being like gas and all. Demon Lady took to standing behind the Count.

“This is a rather peculiar choice, housemaster,” the Count said after examining Nemo’s choice of clothing.

“Lady Nemo chose it herself,” Demon Lady replied.

“In a sense it is fitting for you to choose something so simple,” the Count conceded and Nemo placed her hands on her waist and puffed out her chest like a hero, clearly proud of her choice.

“Nemo, I want you to join me for supper so you can meet the other house guests living within my manor. Even though it pains me to do this, they must be made aware of your existence as a guest of mine. Even though I fear it might not be enough to still the nature of their being, I will do my best to assure their agreement to your residency. However, in order to do so, you need to be on your best behaviour. Leave the talking to me.”

Nemo looked at the Count funny and he soon realized his mistake.

“My apologies, Nemo. Just make sure to present yourself properly. If anything goes awry, the housemaster and myself would ensure your safety,” the Count concluded and Demon Lady bowed.

Nemo did wonder why it was such a big deal though.

“You see, Nemo, my houses guests are not exactly beings you are familiar with. They are born of realms far different than yours, unique in their Origin, and see things that only themselves could comprehend,” the Count explained as Nemo tilted her head, clearly confused about the big words. After a moment of pondering, the Count continued. “Think of it this way, Nemo. They are monsters not of this world and treat humans as… Nemo?”

Nemo’s face lightened up and a grin spread as the words slowly sank in. She was about to meet monsters. Real monsters! Not just cheap movie knock-offs or that one dog in their neighbourhood that liked to frighten other children. Could they breathe fire? Could they shoot laser beams from their eyes? How about summoning dark and cute minions?

Nemo gave the sighing Count a thumbs up. She would do her best to become friends with them.

“While I applaud your enthusiasm, let us simply think of getting through supper in one piece for now,” the Count said. He then smiled and stood up, the shade of his cloak regaining some of its darkness after his venture into the other room.

“Housemaster, gather the guests and tell the chef to prepare supper. Nemo, let us depart to where your destiny awaits!”

Is it that big of a deal?

“Maybe not…”

Nemo held the Count’s hand as the two stood before a giant door. The golden frame had elaborate carvings of what seemed like mystical creatures, a mysterious lighting hummed quietly inside. The door lead to the dining room, and inside were the seven house guests she needed to impress, or rather not tick off.

Easy, Nemo was a cute and adorable child and she would charm the butts off anyone!

The Count gave her a worrying look, but Nemo simply nodded her readiness to step inside.

The Count sighed at the grinning Nemo. With a chuckle, he placed his hand on the door and the slow humming ceased. After a brief moment, the door opened and the two stepped inside.

“Guests of the Crimson Domain! May I present to you, the Count and his honoured guest, Lady Nemo!” proclaimed Demon Lady, who was already inside waiting for them.

Nemo walked to the left of the Count, her friend seemingly stood to protect Nemo from the other guests. However, the Count's fluttering cloak and smokey mists of a body prevented her from getting a good look at the guests. She remembered the Count telling her not to act out, but a peek should be fine, right?

Nemo felt the Count relent to her curiosity and she happily leaned forward.

Then the world froze.

Seven figures of various beings all turned their attention towards Nemo, their eyes observing, pondering, probing, and devouring the puny human child. Their intention clear and their hostility unmasked, each step the child took was an affront to their existence. This was their sanctuary, their respite, and a pest had just broken their peace.

Oopsie.

Nemo felt like she made a mistake, took a step too far. However, her curiosity still got the better of her and she examined each and every one of the guests. The Count said it might be dangerous, but she had to meet them sooner or later, and how could she be friends with them if she didn’t even know what they looked like.

Nemo’s eyes wandered.

There were seven individuals, each unique in appearance, stood at the opposite end of a giant table larger than her school swimming pool.

A ball of fluff, small and tiny with a milky centre surrounded by different shades of vibrant colours, floated aimlessly in the air, hovering and swaying. Nemo caught its gaze, startling the fluff. Its eyes, two pearls, darted with its body, seemingly trying to find a place to hide. The fluff initially wanted to run into the floor, but stopped inches before making impact. It then quickly swam behind another floating compatriot, most likely the ghost the Count mentioned, but soon realized the transparent nature of its cover and panicked. After scanning for possible places to hide its face, the fluff settled for a giant block of white.

“That would be Rainbow Fluff,” said the Count, a slight hint of amusement in his voice. “Do forgive his shyness, he does not do well with strangers. I’m glad he remembered to not use the floor as an exit. The ones he chose to hide behind are Mademoiselle Ghost and White Titan.”

Mademoiselle Ghost, a lady fading in and out of reality, wore a dress of pure white, a singular sheet like waves dancing in the air. She gave Nemo a passing glance and disappeared into the wall, leaving the dining room. White Titan, a triangular giant built of plates stacked and slotted into wiring lights of blue, remained still. Never once did he move, his faceless gaze staring far into the distance, not knowing what it was that he saw.

A metallic oval husk wrapped in rags stood, the brown fabric failed to cover the numerous scars and dents on its surface. A red dot within a wide-black screen scanned back and forth. It gave Nemo a slight nod, more like tilt forward, and returned to its seat.

“That would be Chrome Ronin. He is a man of few words, but always a delight at tea parties.”

“Noble Count,” raised a soft voice, an overlaying echoes of silk that felt like they were crawling into Nemo’s ears. It was from what looked to be a woman in fern green, her features masked by a robe, her face hidden behind its hood. “Why did you bring this child here?”

“Obviously for us to eat,” grumbled a low vibrating voice. A monster covered in a purple coat of sharp quills prowled forward, its glowing amber eyes and sharp talons aimed towards Nemo.

“I do not recall asking you anything, Violet Beast,” said the woman in robe and the monster stopped to glare at the woman.

“Is that a challenge, Green Lady?”

“Ladies, please. I do wish you would not burden my servants with another mess,” said the Count after a silent sigh. “This here is Nemo, a guest of mine, just like all of you.”

“Have you said your all?” a voice rang out and the entire room fell silent. A woman stepped forward, her crimson dress adorned with obsidian feathers glided in the air. She snapped her fan onto her gloved palm, baring the ashen white skin of her shoulder and chest. Her eyes and lips were red, red like blood.

“Cruel and venerated Duchess, I meant no…”

“Silence,” interrupted the Duchess, the tone of her voice unchanged, unreadable. “I do not know why and neither do I care for your reasons in bringing this human to your mansion. There is only the truth of you calling a human into our presence and introducing the human as an equal, a guest to your mansion. There is peace in this mansion because any confrontation between any two of us would only result in the destruction of the entire manor. We are the pinnacle of existence. No other beings will reach us, nowhere in this world will accept us. This is our last bastion. Yet now you bring an inferior insect among us. A human who is welcomed anywhere, anywhere but here.”

Nemo could feel the Count tense up as the Duchess cast her eyes on Nemo.

“Who are you, human?”

The Count stood tall and extended his arms, covering Nemo.

“Who are you to stand before me?”

The Duchess’ face distorted into anger and so did the air. The dining room disappeared into a whirlpool of madness. It was chaos, all manners of blackness spiralled into a void without being, a point that seemingly stretched beyond the fabrics of space. Yet it was not the unknown that was terrifying, it was the glimpses into reason far exceeding human understanding that frightened all those who dared make sense of them. Numbers. Oppressively large numbers. The numbers were known, they could be read, but they could never be reached, they could never be understood.

Crimson Duchess (Level 99+) - The Red Herring

Health: 9999999+/9999999+ Mana: 9999999+/9999999+ Energy: 9999999+/9999999+

Strength: 9999+ Magic: 9999+ Endurance: 9999+ Agility: 9999+

Health: (error) Strength: 12880 Health: 65408870 Mana: 9999999+ Mana: 90900997 Mana: 901000101 Magic: 27840 Endurance: ????? Energy: 559870+ Endurance: ????? Agility: 9999+ Health: 95540000 Heath: 44587690 Level: (error) Origin: Heir of the Stars Mana: ???????? Endurance: 666 Strength: Endurance: 18550 Path: (error) Health: (error) Mana: 901011000 Agility: 9999+

Crimson Duchess, her status screen oppressed all those who dared view it, and now it was being directed towards Nemo. The information alone, like an aura, spelled dread to those captured within the woman’s malice. Nemo saw the numbers, she saw glimpses of what they were, but all she could comprehend was that they were extraordinarily high. Any attempt Nemo made to look closely, was repelled not by nonsense, but rather an innate primal fear of not wanting to realize how insignificant a child could be. For the first time ever since arriving at this new world, Nemo was afraid.

Nemo stared at the Duchess, her red eyes boiled with rage.

Nemo snapped back into reality only to see a whirlpool of black feathers lanced towards her. She cowered and braced herself for the worst. However, a mist quickly spread out and solidified, like a barrier, shielded Nemo from the attack.

The two darkness clashed, a shock wave exploded within the golden halls.

Nemo peaked out from behind her little hands. She was safe. But for how long? The Count was her friend, but because of her she put him in a tough position. She didn’t want any of that, the idea of being a burden to those who care for her. Yet here there was a challenge she didn’t know how to overcome.

If unsure what to do in life, one should always move forward.

Nemo took a deep breath. There was only one thing left to do. She said she would introduce herself to the Count’s guests, and one of them asked for who she was, so what else was there to think about?

Nemo stepped forward, both the Count and the Duchess surprised by her action.

Count, I will now introduce myself.

“Very well, Nemo.”

I have a name and I am Nemo. The Count is my friend and he will take my on an adventure!

There was silence.

The room stilled after the Count relayed Nemo’s introduction, her voice seemingly expressed from the Count’s shadow. After a moment of pause, the Duchess stepped back, her gaze remained harsh but the oppressiveness was lessened, or rather, held back.

“Friend?” the Duchess asked, eyebrows raised. “What is the meaning of this.”

“I met Nemo outside my manor wandering alone. We became friends afterwards and I invited her to my manor.”

The gaze of the seven house guests, Mademoiselle Ghost who returned after sensing the commotion, wandered between Nemo and the Count.

The Count then turned towards Nemo, a small smile of gratitude emerged from behind his mask.

“I apologize for the scare, Nemo. But as you say, you are a dear friend of mine so my manor is yours to explore. However, for now I cannot take you on an adventure. There is a lot of work to do in my manor, to rebuild what was broken. Aside from the mansion, most of it is in ruins, not to mention discovering how to get you back home, which means I simply am unable to leave my workshop for the foreseeable future.”

If the Count was swamped with work, then as a friend Nemo was willing to help. So the manor needed fixing up. Easy! Nemo hopped onto the table and crossed her arms.

From today onward, she would be a housemaid of this mansion, cleaning and fixing things that needed to be cleaned and fixed. She would also help make the stay of the seven house guests more enjoyable, showing them that she could be useful and deserved to stay in the mansion.

The room was startled at her sudden action but silence soon followed.

Did she say something wrong?

“I believe they cannot hear you, Nemo,” the Count explained before turning to the guests. “It seems like I would be acquiring a new housemaid. I suppose she will now be working alongside me in restoring the manor. I do hope all of you get along.”

With a click of her tongue, the Duchess walked towards the door.

“I will be having supper within my room,” she said before exiting the dining room. The remain guests soon followed and only Nemo, the Count, and Demon Lady, who stood still for the entirety of the scene, remained in the room.

“That was rather unnerving,” muttered the Count before turning to Nemo. “Alas, it seems like for now you are accepted by my guests, and no danger should befall you, in the meantime.”

Nemo smiled and cheered silently at their success.

“Now that you wish to aid me in restoring my manor, do you know the responsibilities as a housemaid?”

Nope.

The Count stared at Nemo in silence.

You’ll teach me, right?

“Sometimes I wonder what to do with you,” sighed the Count.

Today was the day that marked the beginning of Nemo’s life as a member of the Count’s manor. A land in ruin among beings of terror, Nemo’s journey to help the Count’s work has begun. Only so that she could play sooner, rather than later.