As the group of us headed home from the conversation with the Tibult siblings, there was someone waiting out in front of the mansion. They were sitting on the curb, kicking their feet. When they saw us, they smiled and stood up, waving excitedly. Immediately, Carmine raced out, holding up her sword defensively.
“What are you doing here?” She demanded.
Salicia stood up, holding her hands out defensively. “S-sister! I took off and abandoned Deedee. If you’re with Lord Deek, then I will be with Lord Deek as well!”
All of the girls looked at me. “She’s still bonded to that woman, not me.”
Carmine took a threatening step forward as Salicia cried out. “That’s not my fault! Mistress and I had grown closer these last few weeks. However, I didn’t say I’m following Deek, I said I’m following my sister. You should know more than anyone where my loyalties have always lay. I will follow her to the ends of the Earth, even if I must abandon mistress!”
“What was that talk about you being a dungeon monster?” Carmine demanded.
She lowered her head. “That… is true. I thought you had died, so seeing you there I came to some inaccurate conclusions. The truth is that when the church took you away, I tried to do all the things I told you I did. I became a bandit and tried to obtain wealth and power. However, it was Calypso who was the bandit queen. I thought I had the power to face her, but she cheated and I died in a dungeon.
“My soul eventually was corrupted, and I became the dungeon boss within that dungeon. Calypso used her abilities to control me, and I ultimately became a pawn controlled by her. She made me the Bandit Queen of that region to watch over it while she was gone.”
“So, you’re just Calypso’s servant?”
“No!” She shook her head tearfully. “The me that has been beside you contains the full soul of your sister. I always have. Although my interest in Terra’s dungeon was influenced by Calypso who sought to increase her power with the rumored guardian, she would have had me take control of you and the clockwork dragon if she had complete control of me. I helped Master destroy it and save you instead. That was because deep down, I am still Salicia. Mistress saved me from Calypso’s control, and now I’m my own woman. All I want is to continue to be on my sister’s side. It’s what I have always wanted.”
I gestured to the girls and we got into a circle in front of Salicia. “What do you guys think?”
“I-It’s possible that she speaks the truth.” Carmine’s cheeks were slightly red.
“She’s a spy,” Lydia said.
“Definitely a spy.” Miki nodded.
“Ah! I mean… I’m not saying she wasn’t sent by Deedee.” Carmine pouted. “but everything else was probably true.”
“I’m not going to decide on her yet.” I sighed. “It’s better the enemy you know than the enemy you don’t. Since Deedee is trying to spy on us so shamelessly, then we can use Salicia to our advantage!”
The group of us broke apart and then turned to Salicia.
“Very well, you may come into the mansion,” Carmine said, causing Salicia’s expression to brighten. “But, we won’t have the same room! In fact, I’ll be in Master’s room.”
“When did this happen?” Miki added.
The girls all turned to me.
“Ah… it just… for you guys its been weeks, but we were gone for months. Although Carmine was captured a lot of that time… it’s still, we ended up growing closer?”
Despite everything that happened recently, the girls were quite noisy as we entered the mansion, discussing who was going to sleep with Master tonight. I missed when that was the only thing we had to worry about if that time ever existed.