Marius "Narrow Road"/Rewards

Story 1

Scene 1: Dessert Shop

You: ...

On the table lies Stellis' number one cream puff. Normally, you would have already wolfed it down.

However, you have no appetite at all right now.

You: Marius, does it have to be like this...?

Marius: You don't like the limited flavor?

You: That's not what I'm talking about!

You and Marius only showed up at the shop's door and were invited in by the owner like some celebrities renting out the whole place.

Looking out the French windows, crowds in long queues surround the shop, still unwilling to dissipate.

You and Marius, the ONLY two customers being served, naturally hold their attention. There's no way you can enjoy anything like this.

Marius: It's what you wanted. Cheer up.

You: ...

If you had known it'd be like this, you would've never mentioned the words "cream puff"!

Scene 2: Flashback (Your Residence, phone call with Marius)

Marius: Safely home? Wanna go out tomorrow?

Marius: How about the lake? Away from the crowds and nice for a stroll.

You: Marius von Hagen, where are your manners? You don't even ask if I'm free tomorrow before asking me out?

Marius: Tomorrow's a holiday. You're not gonna say you're not free tomorrow and cruelly turn me down, are you?

Marius: I barely have enough time to see you as it is. The company, studio, and school have taken up most of my time.

Marius: It's hard for me to get a free weekend. Promise me this once, Miss...

Listening to his whining, you know he's intentionally being a willful child begging for candies, but...

You: Fine. Not the park, but the CBD.

Marius: No problemo. We're going shopping?

You: Kiki showed me some food reviews. The renowned puff shop in the city just opened a branch store in the CBD.

You: They also rolled out a seasonal limited flavor. We better go queue up early. The shop's really popular.

Marius: Sure. I can get you to the front of the line, no problem.

You: You're gonna go queue up for me?

Marius: What? 'Course not. You'll see tomorrow.

Scene 3: Present (Dessert Shop)

Marius: Hey... You don't have to line up now. Why are you so upset?

You: Yeah, not needing to queue up is great, but being treated like some VIP is something else.

Looking out the window, you really don't enjoy how the other neglected customers are staring at you.

However, Marius seems to be accustomed to this already, to the point that he doesn't even realize they are there.

Marius: Oh. I'll ask them to close the curtains. How about that?

Finally, it hits him – not.

You: Never mind. Let's just go to the park. We can eat and take a break there.

Packing up the cream puff, you and Marius leave the shop.

Scene 4: Park

In the park, you find a random bench to sit down and take out the puff.

Feeling a bit more at ease without people staring at you, you soon finish the puff with Marius.

Marius: Next time, just tell them you're with me so you don't have to line up. They belong to the Pax Group anyway.

You: And you ask why people hate the upper-class...

Marius: I don't care. As long as I can get you what you want. So, do you like the puff?

You: I prefer the ordinary flavors better. This is too...

Suddenly, something hits you then drops to the ground.

You: A rock... from the tree?

Marius: You okay? Are you injured?

You: I'm fine. It's just a small rock. Plus, it only fell onto my skirt.

The words had only just left your mouth when a few more rocks are thrown at you.

Marius: ...

Marius grabs you and steps in to shield you from the rocks.

Marius: I see you. Get down from there!

Story 2

Scene 1: Park (River)

Marius: I see you. Get down from there!

You: ...

The attack stopped. You turn to look at the tree Marius called out at and see a small shape standing up amidst the crown of the tree.

Marius: A kid?

A 6 or 7-year-old kid is standing on a tree branch, glaring down at Marius.

His pockets are full of rocks, no doubt.

You are just about to demand a reason from him for throwing rocks at you when Marius speaks first.

Marius: Little buddy, did your parents not teach you that you can't just go throwing rocks at people?

Boy: ...

Marius: Humph. I'm not gonna fight with a kid. Just stop pelting people with rocks, you hear?

Marius: Or else...

You are looking forward to seeing how Marius scares a kid when you feel him nudging you with his elbow.

Marius: Hey... how do you scare a brat?

You: ...Say that you're going to tell his parents. Isn't that usually what people do?

Marius: Does it really work? I mean, my father never did anything to punish me for doing something bad.

You: Why does it feel like you're proud of being a brat?

Boy: Meanie!

Either you or Marius must have said something to trigger the kid, who immediately throws a few more rocks your way.

You: ...

Now that you think of it, trying to reason with the kid literally on "unequal" footing is a bit impractical.

You tug on Marius sleeve, gesturing for him to just go somewhere else.

Scene 2: Park (Fountain)

Marius: That darn kid almost ruined my day...

You: Don't be upset. We'll go talk to him once he calms down.

Marius: I can't help it. I mean, he threw rocks at you! At least you're not hurt.

You: I'm fine. I was too far away to be actually hurt anyway.

Marius: Humph. Lucky for him, else he's really gonna get it from me.

You: I wonder what got into him though. Could it be seeing us eating the puff?

Marius: Huh? How is this even related to that?

You: It's the only logical explanation. Throwing rocks may be his way of expressing his desires and gripes.

Marius: It's plausible. But if that's the case, I could go get a box of puffs and try to lure him down...

You: And then what?

Marius: Then... I'll teach him a lesson and get his parents to ground him...

You: We better go see if he's still up in the tree first.

Scene 3: Park (River)

You choose to stay a relatively safe distance away and observe the kid first. Neither of you favor the idea of being hit, of course.

Marius: Still up there I see. He's not coming down any time soon, is he?

As soon as the kid hears Marius' voice, he immediately stands up.

Boy: Meanie, villain! Daddy got scolded because of you!

He tries to hit you with his rocks again, but he couldn't reach you at this distance.

Marius: Your dad got scolded... because of me?

Boy: Meanie! Villain! I will punish you for my Daddy!

Furiously trying to hit Marius, the kid starts to inch toward the other end of the branch.

You: Watch out!

Unable to withstand the kid's weight, the branch snaps. Right before your eyes, the kid falls into the lake.

Choking and losing strength, he struggles only for a few seconds before going under.

You: We have to get help!

You take out your phone it call the emergency line.

Marius: You stay put!

Marius speaks in a rush.

You: What are you —

Marius: No time to wait, I'm gonna save him!

With a running start, Marius flips over the fence surrounding the lake with ease.

He then leaps into the water without hesitation.

Story 3

Scene 1: Park (River)

You take a deep breath, trying to calm down, and then call for help.

After giving the emergency personnel the location and explaining the situation, you hurry to the lake.

You: Marius!

You shout at the top of your lungs, trying to draw the attention of passersby in this park of a few visitors.

The water stagnates. The bubbles and ripples have died down. No one responds to your calls.

You: Is he okay...? When is the ambulance gonna get here!?

Time passes slowly, almost as if it's playing with your anxiety and messing with you.

Just when you feel like you're going out of your mind, you suddenly notice some bubbles coming up from beneath the surface of the water.

You: ...!

It's Marius! Holding the kid's head with one hand and lifting him up, he swims back toward you.

Upon seeing his face, you are finally able to breathe a little easier.

Marius: I'm about to die of exhaustion here... Thank god he's still breathing...

Exhausted from his heroic deed, Marius can't help but pant rapidly, trying to catch his breath.

He puts the kid down on the ground and you immediately rush over to check the kid's vitals.

Recalling your first aid training, you ensure nothing is obstructing his airways before performing CPR. The kid coughs out some water.

Boy: Bad... Villain...

He manages to spew out a few words before passing out again.

Marius: Still can't let it go, huh? What a stubborn kid...

Under your gaze, Marius finds himself a relatively clean place to sit down with his wet shirt stuck to his body.

You: It's windy here. I'm going to get you two some dry clothes to wear. The ambulance is on its way.

Marius: Clothes? Where are you gonna get them around here?

You: There's a new clothing shop just a few minutes away. Just wait here.

Marius: Here, buy them with my card.

You: Swiping your ultra-premium card in a regular clothing store?

You: You want me to draw attention and have a bunch of reporters taking wet-shirt pics of you, is that it?

Marius: Now that you've said it, it actually doesn't sound too bad.

You: If you'll excuse me.

Scene 2: Shopping Mall

You soon bought some clothes, but you weren't expecting to hear some gossips in the shop.

Shopping Clerk A: Look! Someone leaked something big last night regarding the Pax Group!

Shopping Clerk B: The Pax Group used hazardous plastic in children's tableware to cut down costs and is now shedding responsibilities to a scapegoat?

Shopping Clerk B: Why's a kid doing this video?

Shopping Clerk A: His father found out about it, and now the Pax Group blames him for it... The kid probably couldn't take it, so that's why he made this video.

Shopping Clerk A: The CEO of the Pax Group looks like a decent and dashing young man... Shame on him!

You: (That kid! He's the one in the video! What is going on here?)

You: Don't tell me what they were saying is true...

[Black screen]

On your way back to Marius, you just can't stop thinking about what you've just heard.

You hurry back, eager to confront Marius about it.

Scene 3: Park (River)

Marius: Why the long face? Did the clerks treat you badly?

After putting a jacket on the kid, you turn to face Marius.

You: I have a few serious questions. I need you to answer them honestly.

You gently smooth down your skirt as you sit down beside him.

[CG]

Marius: Of course. I'll never lie to you.

You: Be serious. This is no joking matter.

Marius: Fine. Shoot.

He seems to have put on his serious face, looking straight into your eyes.

A droplet of water slides from his sideburns down his temple. Probably stimulated by the chill, he immediately sneezes.

You: ...I heard something about Pax.

The paper bag holding the jacket for him is now a bit deformed in your grip.

Marius: That's not saying much. You better narrow it down.

You: Tableware. Hazardous plastic. Does that sound a bell?

Marius: Oh, that. That's what you wanted to ask me about?

The way he scoffs makes your temper flare.

Marius: Fortunately, no one fell ill. We have recalled the entire batch. Our PR will handle the subsequent matters.

Marius: I just signed and approved compensations to be given out last week.

You: ...Aren't you leaving something out?

Marius: Not that I'm aware of. Why would I hide something like this from you?

You: Just watch this.

[No longer showing CG]

You take out your phone and play him that video.

He opens his mouth and is about to say something when he is abruptly interrupted by the sirens from the ambulance.

Marius: ...

With an ambulance here, busybodies gather.

???: Let me through! That's my boy!

A middle-aged man squeezes through the crowd and runs to the kid's side.

Middle-Aged Person: He's alright! He's alright! Thank the Lord for whoever saved my boy!

You: He saved your boy.

You give Marius a pat on the shoulder.

Marius: It's nothing. Anybody would've done it.

However, as soon as the man sees Marius, his face drastically changes.

Middle-Aged Person: Marius von Hagen!

Middle-Aged Person: You think I'll forget what you've done to me just because you saved my son? Never!

Story 4

Story 5

Phone Call