บท 21: UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS:
After that pivotal day, Ezra remained true to his promise, persistently pursuing Maximillian at every opportunity that presented itself. Whether it was during the shooting of an ad or a photoshoot assigned by Minerva, Ezra, while not overtly aggressive, strategically positioned himself to be near Maximillian as much as possible.
Maximillian found himself caught in a challenging predicament. It wasn't only Ezra's relentless pursuit; even his own siblings contributed to the orchestrated encounters. Sienna, upon discovering Ezra's interest in Maximillian, would conveniently invite him to join business meetings, adding an extra layer of complexity to Maximillian's professional life. Celeste and Ezra's aunt didn't shy away from subtly expressing their approval, making it clear that they supported Ezra's endeavors.
To make matters more complicated, Damien, in his peculiar way of involvement, sent occasional texts to Maximillian. These messages contained snippets of Ezra's life over the past two years, with Damien proclaiming it as a way to "keep him informed about the years he missed in his lover's life."
Adding to the social pressure, Maximillian received frequent calls from Maria, Faye, and other patrons of Maria's café who were previously acquainted with him. They urged him to visit.
Despite how Maximillian had left Ezra, the fact that Ezra continued to pursue him hinted at a more complex story to these people. They began to see Maximillian in a different light, understanding that he might not have been a bad guy from the start. It showcased the compelling influence Ezra had on shaping people's perspectives.
Most importantly, Maximillian always found himself powerless against Ezra's charm. Even if he wanted to firmly reject Ezra, the sight of that face made it impossible for him to be outright harsh. The entire situation became an ongoing headache for Maximillian.
Even in that other dimension, Ezra's actions left everyone convinced there was something special between him and Maximillian. Where everyone was initially somewhat surprised, Penelope, always the one to find joy in Ezra's antics, was the exception, cheering them on with enthusiasm. On the flip side, Eloise's reaction was noticeably different. Every time Ezra got close to Maximillian, she seemed troubled. Ezra, picking up on her unease, decided to address when they got out of character.
"Miss Eloise, I've noticed you looking worried and confused whenever I try to woo Maximillian. If you don't mind me asking, what's on your mind?"
Eloise fell into a momentary silence, her expression thoughtful as she bit the inside of her cheek. After a brief pause, she shook her head, asking, "Did it really come off that way?"
Ezra reassured her, "It's totally fine if it doesn't bother you. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I can tone it down when you're around."
She quickly responded, "Oh no, it's fine, really. You... seem to genuinely like him?"
Ezra's smile widened. "Absolutely."
Though Ezra did not think much of it initially, her odd reaction still weighed on his mind somewhat. Thus he eventually found himself looking at Eloise and observing her from time to time and eventually he noticed many odd things about her.
Eloise, unlike the rest of them, did not share much of her own observations of that world but always prompted the rest to share as much as they could. She was also always extremely concerned about Penelope and Ezra, paying close attention to any personal details they revealed about themselves and their lives.
Despite her generally composed demeanor, Eloise had a tendency to panic when Ezra or Penelope got injured or got into some trouble, whether in the alternate dimension or their own worlds. The more Ezra observed, the more he found Eloise's behavior intriguingly peculiar.
As a group, they hypothesized that following the line of control might lead them to the root of their problems. Each time they exited their characters, they would sprint along this line, attempting to reach its end. Unfortunately, their efforts proved futile, as they were consistently reverted to their initial positions when they resumed their roles, erasing all progress.
In one determined effort, Louis covered an impressive six miles before being abruptly pulled back into character. According to his account, the line they followed showed no clear end. Despite encountering many buildings and houses along the way, and the atmosphere resembling that of any city or locality, yet curiously, there were no signs of any inhabitants.
Near their location, puppets were strategically placed to simulate the bustling atmosphere of a university, creating an illusion that faded beyond the university grounds. Despite the escalating severity and growing hopelessness of their situation, they found themselves with no alternative but to earnestly follow that mysterious line.
However, Ezra couldn't help but notice Eloise's nonchalant approach. While the others took the task seriously, Eloise seemed to dilly-dally and move at a slower pace. At times, she didn't even make an effort, simply strolling along the line without a sense of urgency. It left Ezra puzzled, as Eloise appeared not to take the situation as seriously as the rest.
Furthermore, Eloise consistently emerged as the least affected by any new discovery or development. Rather than being perturbed, she instead exhibited a keen interest in the actions of Ezra and Penelope. Ezra contemplated probing her about this subtlety, but it became evident that Penelope, with her less subtle approach, had already noticed these peculiarities.
There was one such time when, during a scene, Alicia's character experienced a breakdown when confronted by 'Ezra' who wanted her to finally let go of their shared past with Micaela. Surprisingly, despite 'Ezra' seemingly moving on, Alicia's character spiraled into a fit of rage, throwing objects and crying vehemently. Attempting to offer comfort, 'Penelope' tried to embrace her, only to be harshly pushed away, resulting in a collision with a table.
As Alicia's character regained composure, she endeavored to salvage the situation, leading to a dramatic turn of events. In a captivating sequence, 'she' resorted to lying, an action that had traumatized her in 'their' shared past, to expedite the healing of 'Penelope'.This pivotal scene marked a significant turning point for 'Alicia,' suggesting a moment of growth where she appeared to be on the path of overcoming the burden of guilt tied to her abilities, signaling a hopeful step toward self-improvement.
The narrative then shifted to 'Ezra' and 'Louis,' who shared a poignant moment. Louis questioned Ezra about truly letting go, and in a classic tale of a romantic lead finding solace through love, 'Ezra' gazed into 'Louis's' eyes and smiled, hinting at the reason for his current improvement.
As the scene shifted focus to Louis and Ezra, Eloise, who was now out of character found herself unconsciously fussing over Penelope, who had already been healed. Oddly, Alicia, who seemed genuinely injured and bleeding from a fresh wound on her shoulder, went unnoticed. It appeared that Penelope, possibly concerned about Alicia, might have found Eloise's exclusive attention somewhat irritating.
In a sarcastic tone, Penelope remarked, "Well, I'm truly honored by the abundance of your concern, but might we share some hidden history? It appears your nurturing side exclusively blossoms for me and Mr. Ezra over there. Would you care to enlighten me on that peculiar favoritism?"
Only a few minutes later, realizing the tone she had taken, Penelope attempted to apologize, saying, "My sincerest apologies; my words may have lacked the usual grace. I was in a rather low state of mind."
However, It turned out Penelope was quite the character herself, for her sarcasm never stopped there. Ezra soon discovered why Alicia was both concerned and exhausted by her antics. Penelope didn't believe in subtlety; her probing was about as discreet as a marching band at a library.
Whenever Eloise lagged behind in following the line of control, Penelope unleashed a barrage of innovative encouragements, not holding back in the slightest. With an air of exaggerated sweetness, which teetered more towards sarcasm with each passing attempt, she would holler back at Eloise:
"You're positively dazzling, Miss Eloise! Well, maybe not a full-blown triumph, but certainly a charming endeavor!"
"Zoom, Miss Eloise, zoom! I've seen a sedate carriage move more briskly than your current pace, my dear!"
"Extra! Extra! Miss Eloise's stride just shattered its own time record, and by a staggering three whole seconds! Quite the spectacle, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes! That's absolutely it! That's the exact motivation one should show when literally running for their lives! Well done Miss Eloise! Marvellous!"
Ezra found himself bursting into fits of laughter every time Penelope cheered Eloise on with her over-the-top encouragements. Amidst the complexities of their situation, and despite the lingering air of secrecy surrounding some, like Eloise, Ezra and Penelope managed to share jokes and genuine camaraderie. In this unexpected turn of events, an unlikely friendship had taken root.
Observing Ezra's antics, Maximillian and Louis could only shake their heads with a mix of amusement and mild disbelief. While they were impressed by Ezra's ability to befriend almost anyone, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
With Penelope now in the friend zone, a natural curiosity emerged for them to learn more about each other's lives. However, amidst the chaos of their current situation, those heart-to-heart discussions never quite found their way into the picture.
Yet, there lingered an unspoken acknowledgment that beyond Ezra's shockingly unique life, there was something equally intriguing about the fragments of Penelope's story that occasionally surfaced.
Like recently, in the midst of a heartwarming scene where the characters gathered for a drinking party in an attempt to reconcile, the entire focus shifted unexpectedly to 'Carlos.' His character took center stage, engaging in an internal monologue expressing deep gratitude for the apparent progress made by him and his friends on the path to healing.
At that moment, once everyone regained control of their actions, Alicia, seated at the farthest corner of the table near Maximillian, abruptly rose, sending the table and its drinks into disarray. Without a moment's hesitation, she sprinted across the table and knelt at Penelope's feet. Desperation filled her voice as she anxiously searched Penelope's body, hands gently exploring, and questioned,
"My lady, my lady... Have you sustained injury? Where did they inflict harm? Are you wounded? They must have perpetrated some treachery. My lady?"
Penelope, her palms on Alicia's shoulders, gently pressed down, attempting to ease the tension. She laughed in a reassuring manner, "They did manage to inflict some harm, Lady Knight. Prisons, you know, especially those governed by corrupt individuals, have their own ways. But fret not, for the moment, I am in perfect condition. The transition to this world doesn't seem too dreadful; at least my injuries here heal promptly enough."
Alicia delicately covered Penelope's hands with her own, her eyes reddened and expression livid. In a solemn tone, she vowed, "I shall free you soon, my lady. Fear not too greatly, for I am resolute in my mission."
Penelope joked, "I would have asked you to act swiftly, my dear. I fear they might soon brand me a witch if they observe that all those injuries they've been imposing upon me persistently vanish."
She then became serious and looked carefully into Alicia's eyes, "But don't fret excessively. I'll be liberated soon. I overheard the prison guards conversing yesterday. The citizens of my fief have initiated a strike against the government, compelling those in authority to release me temporarily." She then flashed a knowing grin towards Alicia, "They are all rather gentle and meek individuals. I do ponder who could have stirred them into such bold actions, compelling them to embark on a strike."
Alicia shook her head and spoke in a desperate tone, "It was the minimum I could do. My sincerest apologies for not hastening my actions."
The whole discussion left everyone puzzled, and it took Ezra a little while to piece things together.
In the midst of their current ordeal, Penelope was being transported from a prison cell in her own world to their reality. This meant the lively and elegant countess they knew was actually in jail but would soon be released.
When Eloise asked for more details, Penelope shared only a bit, mentioning she was in prison because someone framed her. However, she didn't go into further explanation.
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