Growl~

  My stomach let out a loud, disgruntled noise. I groaned and clutched my belly.

  "I'm hungry again," I muttered, half-complaining, half-laughing at myself. "If I wait any longer, my stomach might merge with the floor."

  As if on cue, the door creaked open.

  Lady Nozomi stepped into the room, the scent of warm food preceding her like a divine omen.

  Ah~ My food conveyor belt here.

  A tray stacked with mouthwatering dishes rested in her hands.

  Is that all?

  I sneaked a peek behind her and saw a few trolleys loaded with even more food. Now, that's more like it.

  I didn't even try to hide my delight.

  "Food!" I reached out with both hands like a toddler offered candy.

  Lady Nozomi chuckled. "Yes, yes, be patient."

  She placed the tray down with practiced grace. The second it touched the floor, I lunged like a beast released from its cage.

  The first bite melted on my tongue. Heat and spice bloomed at once, rich and overwhelming, the meat so tender it barely existed. For a blissful second, the world narrowed to taste alone.

  "Be careful not to choke," Lady Nozomi warned gently.

  Too late.

  "Hick!" I jerked upright, fist thumping my chest, eyes bulging. Air caught halfway, and another hiccup burst out.

  "…Or hiccup," she added, lips twitching, passing me a cup of water. I glugged it down, holding my breath until the hiccups subsided. She wiped my mouth gently afterward.

  I didn't stop eating until the tray was wiped clean; you can even see your reflection on the plate. I let out a satisfied burp while tapping my bulging tummy.

  "Yummy!" I said proudly, wiggling my toe like it was the cherry on top.

  Then I let my thoughts wander. Master Sylph and Lady Nozomi… At first, I'd thought they were cold, untouchable, and merciless. But the more time I spent with them, the more their strange, teasing personalities began to show. Unexpected, and kind of nice.

  "How are you feeling now?" she asked as she stacked the empty plates.

  I raised an OK sign.

  "Good," she nodded. "Now we can start the next test."

  Exactly one month and thirteen days later, eight tests were completed. Eight damn tests.

  Each one took something. Strength. Sleep. Time. By the eighth, there was nothing left to bargain with.

  I was breathing hard, sprawled across the cold floor. My limbs twitched. My body ran on fumes.

  "I'm stuck in this room most of the time," I rasped. "No sunlight. No exercise. Just gloom and emptiness."

  I slammed the side of my fist against the ground, groaning. "THIS SUCKS!"

  I flailed like a dying fish.

  "If I keep this up, I'm going to lose my mind… Just like Masta…"

  Memories bubbled up uninvited, and Masta came with them. Thin, gray, bones jutting, hair patchy, eyes hollow. The same pitiful, eroded figure that had haunted me before. Ugly, not from scars, but from a life worn down to nothing.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  I swallowed hard.

  I don't want to turn into that! I want to be beautiful. Gorgeous! So much so that people envy me. I want to farm envy even though I can't.

  Without a second thought, I declared, "I need fresh air."

  I rolled onto my stomach, flopping weakly at first. Then I forced myself into a more determined crawl, each arm stroke propelling me forward, legs kicking in short bursts. It felt less like crawling and more like swimming through air.

  Stroke. Drag. Breathe.

  By the time the door creaked open, I had switched to a determined crawl. Every joint in my body screamed in protest. I was a pale, grumbling ghost crawling toward salvation.

  Finally, I reached the garden.

  There was a distance between the house step and the garden. I threw myself forward, body floating for a second before slamming onto the grass. My face dug into the soil, but I didn’t care.

  "Ah~ I'm alive!" I gasped, inhaling a lungful of clean, earthy air. I rolled onto my back and blinked. For the first time in weeks, my vision sharpened.

  "Oh! My nose!"

  The fragrance of the earth and the flowers flooded my senses, clearing out the murk in my head. Nervous system calmed, bones and blood purified. I silently hoped no bugs were included.

  I stood, wobbly but alive. My body swayed like the wind as wandered through the garden.

  "So many beautiful flowers," I whispered. "They not only look stunning but also smell delightful…" A drool fell to the ground. "…Tasty too…"

  Without thinking, I leaned down and opened my mouth. "Ah~"

  WHACK.

  "Ouch!" I reeled backward, clutching my head.

  Lady Nozomi stood beside me, hand raised as if she'd just disciplined a naughty puppy.

  "You shouldn't eat the flowers in the garden," she said firmly. "They're extremely toxic. One lick, and it can kill you instantaneously. You wouldn't want that, would you, young lady Llyne?"

  I shivered. "T-Toxic flowers? Deadly smell?"

  I rubbed my sore head. "Then… why plant them here?"

  Lady Nozomi's gaze turned sharp.

  "They're a defense mechanism. The flowers release a scent that entices and paralyzes intruders. Only those with strong poison resistance can pass."

  I glanced at the shimmering flowers and shivered. Killer flowers… really? I laughed nervously. This place has a twisted sense of humor.

  "…Oui… They're truly deadly."

  "If you're hungry," she added nonchalantly, "here's some buns." She pulled out a mountain of warm, fluffy buns as if it were nothing.

  I dove into them with renewed gusto.

  "Thanks, Lady Nozomi!"

  She sat beside me as I devoured the food. A butterfly flew around her, landing softly on her finger. I looked up, thinking: if a third person saw us, it would look like we were filming Beauty and the Beast.

  The butterfly flew away frantically as soon as it noticed I was looking at it. Lady Nozomi turned towards me, pulled a handkerchief to wipe the residue on my face, and asked. "How are you coping so far?"

  I paused, a soft smile on my lips. "Better. My recovery's quicker now. Before, I used to sleep for weeks after just one test. Now it's only a week."

  Lady Nozomi nodded. "That's a good sign. Your body's adapting."

  "Mhm!" I mumbled, mouth full. "I'm getting stronger!"

  She patted my head and threw in another bun. "Indeed. Keep it up. Master will be proud."

  I hesitated. "But lately… I feel like all I do is eat and sleep like a pig. I used to be so athletic. Now I'm just a glutton in bed."

  "'Eat and sleep like a pig' is an understatement," Lady Nozomi said, amused. "I remember when you raided the kitchen and emptied everything. The head chef fainted when he saw the fridge. Those ingredients were supposed to last us months."

  I recalled the fridge. It was roughly the size of a regular bookshelf, thin, upright, almost apologetic in shape. The kind of fridge you’d expect in a dorm, not a place that traps people for months.

  Were they surviving on air? On principles? Were they mice? Or was I the only idiot here who still needed actual food?

  "I did sleep for weeks! I needed fuel!" I shot back.

  "Still, most people don't eat a ten-person meal and feel hungry again an hour later," she sighed. "Because of you, the House of Aum's food expenses are shooting up faster than light."

  "D-Do I eat that much?" I stammered, baffled by the sheer scale of accusation.

  "Yes," she deadpanned. "At this rate, we might need to start farming our own planets."

  I lowered my head in shame. "I'm sorry… I've always had a huge appetite. Even back in Eden, my mom said I'd eat a middle-class family's savings in a single day."

  Then I thought. Is that why Ma is so frugal?

  "That sounds about right."

  "I even tried all those internet tips! Smaller portions, chewing slowly… But they backfired. I ate more!" I shrieked.

  Lady Nozomi tilted her head. "Maybe there are worms in your stomach."

  Worms? Memories of the trials rushed back. The gnawing teeth, acid drools. I winced. Shoo! Shoo!

  "Nope. I got tested. No parasites. No explanation. They just told me to avoid excessive exercise. Still hungry."

  "Well, you're young. Your metabolism is at its peak. But once it slows down… you'll start gaining unhealthy fats."

  "True…" I sighed, squeezing my tummy fat. "I'll try to control myself."

  "Good. Remember, it's about balance. Let me know if you need help with your diet."

  "Thank you, Lady Nozomi," I said, tears filled my eyes. "I will."

  I took a moment to breathe, letting the warmth settle. My body still ached, but the fog in my head had thinned.

  I stretched slowly, testing my limbs, feeling the energy surging again. "Now that I'm fresh and recharged… I'm ready for the next test!"

  Lady Nozomi smiled, clearly satisfied. "Good luck, young lady Llyne."

  And just like that, she walked away. Surrounded by deadly flowers, I steeled myself. Ready for hell, again.

  Llyne may be eating, sleeping, and complaining… but that’s how survivors live.