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Liliana's Thoughts
A candlestand in the corner of the room. There were three places for candles, but only one was lit. It doesn’t seem to be what they brought with them. It looked rather old.
The same goes for the wooden platform for the ojousama from before. It barely remained here without rotting and was probably a fine piece. There were also several pieces of junk that caught your eye.
Like fragments of ceramics gathered in the corner of the room. Among them was a particularly large one that tells you what kind of item it was originally. A table clock. The hour hand pointed at number 3 and did not move.
With such a clock style, at least the last rulers of this fort were people who lived in an era after the War of Nations. Since the clock was divided into 12 parts were only become widespread after the Unification Era.
Although it had already dulled, the clock had blue ornaments painted on a white background. I’m sure it was quite a luxury item for those times. It was unlikely that a room with no window like this was a living space of someone with high status, but considering that this room was located near the roof, this might be a night duty room or something similar.
Even so. The broken clock looked strangely melancholic. I wonder if this fort was eventually captured? Or, did the garrison abandon this fort?
At any rate, the people who came afterwards must have looted the items remaining here. And so, the rooms near this one, such as those on the third floor, had been left completely bare and empty. Even so, there were still some items left behind here.
Why? Because it held no value to them. The candlestand was quite exquisitely made, but it was probably made of bronze. As for the wooden platform, it was bulky while the passage was narrow, and it was too big for the entrance of the room, so they probably left it here because it was too troublesome to carry. But, what about the clock?
The chaos after the War of Nations. In their time, accurate times didn’t really matter anymore. Many skills were lost, trade was cut off, and people became poorer. That’s why, they broke decorative items with no meaning without hesitation.
The flame in the candlestand flickered.
The ojousama and I sat side-by-side. On top of the wooden platform from before. Both of our arms were pulled behind our backs, and our elbows were secured close to our waists. Our legs were also tied, so even if we moved, we could only crawl around like a caterpillar.
Our guard was sitting on a wooden chair a little distance away from us. He held a long stick in his hand. Perhaps he has no interest in us as he - Koza - was staring blankly in a different direction.
There was not much of the candle left.
Noticing the change in the light’s intensity, he stood up and looked at the candlestand. But, it seems like there were no replacements. Although there were other lighting. ‘Che’, he clicked his tongue and rummaged noisily through the backpack placed below the chair.
He took out a lantern and a jar of oil. With a practiced movement, he transferred the fire from the candlestand to light the lantern. A burning smell spread throughout the room for a moment.
He was probably not allowed to leave this room. He was slacking off during the gate duty earlier so he couldn't afford to be careless anymore. Or perhaps he was just not that motivated to begin with.
Thinking about it a little, I concluded that it was likely so. Kidnapping was clearly a crime. It was not the kind of job any decent mercenary or adventurer would be happy to do. So inevitably, only those with a lack of abilities and lazy people would volunteer to do it.
But, it didn't feel too reassuring. Gimu was probably the commander at first. But - a knight who swore loyalty to their lord and a starving vagrant - there was a too wide a distance between their hearts and mindsets. Even if Gimu shouted 「Show some loyalty」, no one would sympathize with him.
Therefore, he used his connection and master’s authority to pull Tuda in. Even from their conversation during the day, it was clear he was not interested in this. A person who was confident in their abilities and could survive alone without doing dirty work would not willingly meddle in such crimes.
In other words, Tuda was the key person here. Gimu also knows about that. Even though he was the employer, it was impossible for him to manage the thugs. But, kidnapping requires manpower. Even though it was Tuda who used the lady’s maid to kidnap Liliana, they had no choice but to entrust the job of preparing the escape route afterwards and the role of guards to others.
That’s why Gimu was deliberately acting humble. He let Tuda rest and went out to search for the enemies.
It didn’t look like he was coming back soon but that was only natural. Just the fact that Yashir was missing was not a big problem in itself, but they actually discovered an intruder some time ago. That means there must be the intruder’s companion around. So they couldn't return until they find them.
Not bad. This situation.
My existence was beyond their imagination.
But putting that aside, I felt like I have gone through a lot.
「……」
I hear uneven breathing from beside me.
Turning around in surprise, I saw the ojousama with tears in her eyes.
She immediately hung her head down when our eyes met.
「What’s wrong?」
I tried asking in a small voice.
After a moment, a feeble voice replied.
「……I’m sorry」
I wonder how I should respond?
If you think so, then please don’t leave the mansion. It’s fine, it’s for ojousama’s sake. It’s unbecoming for a master to apologize to their servant, especially a slave.
Might as well just tell her everything.
「Why?」
The voice that came out of my mouth was surprisingly cold.
It was not intentional, but that alone made her flinch.
「Because I went out on my own」
「Is that a bad thing?」
I didn't know why, but the way she said it made me feel a little irritated.
「I mean, it ended up like this」
「So is it bad? Even though everyone, every single one of them, goes outside the mansion as they please. Even though I, a slave, also do it?」
It’s not kind.
I think so myself.
To me, I could improve their evaluation of me if I bring her home, that’s all. I felt bad for people who were attracted to young and cute girls, but to me, she was just someone I shouldn’t care about.
「Because, I’m father’s daughter」
「Because you’re his daughter?」
Actually, I couldn't really explain it.
Aah, I understand. I hate this girl. He barely remembers my name, and I had a painful experience because of her. She was acting all meek now after running around doing whatever she pleases. But, I have also caught a glimpse of another side of her. She was a future graceful lady, cheerful, and good at getting others to spoil them.
It might be because of my experience in my previous life. A woman uses a face like that for different purposes. It was foolish to feel sorry or sympathize with them.
「I have to be a good girl」
「I see. Why is that?」
She didn’t burst into tears even though I relentlessly pressed for answer.
She let out a mutter after a while.
「……I don’t know 」
I guess so. And she doesn’t need to know.
It’s fine, you have the talent. Soon, she would be able to use and switch between the face of a lady and the body of a prostitute. In any case, this was the only place where she would have any contact with me. Frankly, there was no guarantee I could successfully escape together with her. I would escape alone if it was impossible. If that happens, we probably won’t meet again.
Now then, I wonder when the best time to move would be?
If Gimu wasn't here, then as soon as possible. Normally. But.....
I couldn’t move right away. No, I just don’t want to take action.
Tonight was a moonlit night. And the sky was clear and cloudless.
Even if it’s long since over, the fear once etched into me doesn’t easily fade. I’m not confident I could keep my calm.
Besides, everyone might still be awake at this time. Ideally, just before dawn, when they sleep the deepest.....
「I knew about that but still did it」
「Wh, what?」
I had already switched my mind to other matters but it seems like Liliana hadn’t.
「Everyone is troubled. But, I could not stop」
She chewed her lips until they turned white. Aah, I’ll get hit again if you get hurt, so please leave it at that.
「Everyone, they, never pay attention to me. But, they will look for me, if I go outside」
「Is that so」
「Everyone, says it. 'Ojousama is important, please don’t do anything reckless’ they say. But.....」
Tears were about to spill from her eyes.
All of a sudden, a single line of tears slid down her cheek.
「It will be the usual when I return to my room」
A nasal, subdued voice.
Being the daughter of a noble was a privileged status. You won’t have a problem with food. You would also be provided with education and a good private tutor. And you couid even enjoy a bit of luxury.
So looking from the side, one might think ‘How selfish’,
But.
「I, before」
Even though no one was listening, she couldn't stop once she started talking.
What’s important right now was survival, not your own feelings. Do you understand this?
「I once grabbed a stuffed toy from a female servant」
Oh.
So others went through the same experience as me?
「It’s not like I really want it. But, when that girl saw me pick it up she told me ‘Give it back’...」
Well, that’s usually the case.
But, and it was easy to imagine the result.
「Even though I thought of returning it. The adult came and brought that girl away. And when I see her later……」
She continued, her shoulders shaking.
「Her face was red and swollen. And she said she don’t want it when I returned the doll」
Was that so? There was an unusual amount of stuff in her room.
Especially the large number of stuffed toys placed on the chairs but.....perhaps the people around her had randomly purchased her because of that incident.
There were no decent adults around her.
They didn't tell her to return it properly since it belongs to another kid. On the contrary, they helped her snatch it, and to make matters worse, even punished the victim.
But, the young girl realized how twisted it was.
「I, I just wanted to play together. No one, even looks at my face」
It would make anyone depressed if they only had soft and fluffy stuffed toys instead of friends. Furthermore,the lady’s maid close to her wanted to protect their own interest and was limiting access to Liliana.
……damn it.
「Hey, Fay」
「What is it」
「……if we get out of here, will you play with me?」
I raised my eyes and glanced at her out of the corner of my eyes.
And I simply told her.
「That’s impossible」
「Eh」
「Of course it’s impossible. I’ll just get beaten up if I come into contact with you carelessly」
She flinched for a moment at my blunt words.
「Ah, is.....is it my fault?」
「It’s the fault of the idiots around ojousama」
Her eyes were wandering.
Looks like her thoughts hadn’t caught up yet.
I felt sorry for her but I was not gonna spoil you that easily. Dependence would only become poison for both sides.
Besides, I only had one reason to stay in the Viscount House. To plunder abilities and gather up knowledge and experience to make full use of them, and if possible, to obtain a knight’s bracelet to gain freedom. That’s all.
「Eh.....um, ah, Fay」
「What is it」
「What do you, think, of me?」
Liliana nervously asked.
「How, is it, even if you ask me that. I think you are ojousama」
「Umm, that’s not it. Do you like me? Or hate?」
How should I answer this? Of course, I like you, though I definitely won’t say that.
「I don’t feel anything of it」
「Eeh?」
「Just have to approach carefully, or I will experience something terrible, that’s all」
She was left speechless.
The fact that I found that thrilling also showed that I’m twisted.
「Th, then, why did you come to help me?」
「Eh? Isn’t that obvious?」
Normally, this was not something you say to a 5-year-old.
I understand that, but I just didn't care.
I was not planning on staying in the Viscount House forever anyway. Once I had acquired skills and knowledge and was able to move freely, I would go on a journey to find eternal youth and immortality. And once I achieve my goal, I have no intention of returning again. If ojousama has come of age and was able to have a certain authority while I’m still in Pyris, then it was already too late for me.
So, there was not much to lose anyway. I would give her an honest reply with good intentions.
「I will receive a lot of money from the master if I rescue ojousama. I might even be freed from slavery. That’s all good things, right?」
For an instant, she crunched up her beautiful face. A face that looked like she had been stepped on by a pig.
「Eh? S, so」
「I think everyone else also feels the same. You’ve already known about it, don’t you?」
This would be tough even for an adult.....
The calm part inside of me was grumbling like that.
I don’t know why, but I just couldn't stop feeling irritated.
「That’s….」
She looked shocked. No, not 「looked」, but she was shocked.
Just as I was thinking of that, some kind of incomprehensible phenomenon started to happen. Liliana - who had been expressionless - started grinning this time.
「Hey」
What’s with this kid now?
Why does she have such a happy look? Crazy. And so incomprehensible.
「So, Fay will like me, if I give you money?」
Ah, I see now.
She had the means after all.
But just before I could make any rational judgment, a dark, seething anger burst forth.
「Stop saying something stupid, you dumb, arrogant bitch, those are not your money but your parents’!」
「Hahee!?」
Looks like I was speaking so fast and too insultingly that she couldn’t keep up.
Well, I might have some pent-up anger inside me too. The Viscount House was more cramped than I had imagined. The stress was staggering. And in that situation, the master’s beloved daughter was saying something that seemed to curry favor with me. So a switch was flipped inside me for a moment.
Even Koza - who was ignoring our conversation - turned around in surprise at my deep tone. This was not good.
「Ah, no」
I explained myself gently while putting on a cheerful smile.
「Please forget about that」
「Ehー....un.....」
「Ojousama」
This time, the sensible part of me showed itself.
「A true goodwill is not something money can buy」
「Uh, yes」
「But, there are people who will pretend to like someone else in order to get money」
She obediently nodded at my words.
「It is very difficult, but treasure them if you meet someone who gets a long with you and cares about you」
「……un」
Though I’ve never found such a person even once in my previous life.
I yearned for ‘The Gift of the Magi’, but what was the reality like? Even though I was in my mid-30s, I wasn’t meeting anyone, let alone getting married. My friends also gradually disappeared from my life. In the end, I gave up on everything. I decided to use quick money and pleasure to try to distract myself from the painful passage of time. .....all the while keeping the silver pocket watch inside my suit pocket.
「……I see」
When I realized it, Lilian already had a gentle smile on her face. It didn't feel like something calculated, just like before. Her expression often changes. I’ve always known women were scary from my previous life but this was exactly what made them so. I really don’t know what they were thinking.
「Fufufu」
Even though this was not the time to laugh.
How many hours were left? As far as I know, the rescue team led by Ifroz had not actually arrived in the area. So no matter how thoroughly Gimu searched for the enemies, it would probably not delay them from leaving.
That lantern.....if he didn't add more oil, it would go out in around one hour. I remembered it since we used a similar-sized lantern when we went to Korapt. The gasoline lantern widely used in modern times would be able to last the whole night, but the lantern here was much more primitive. The wick simply absorbed the oil full of impurities and burned. So the fuel ran out absurdly fast.
That meant. I could measure the time by the frequency of Koza adding oil to the lantern.
「Ojousama」
This must be around 12 o’clock right now. So, let’s move in around 3 o’clock.
「Let’s get up early tomorrow. Get some sleep now」
She looked puzzled when I told her that. But, she didn’t argue and lay down with a plop. I also followed suit and lay down.
I closed my eyes but remained conscious. Anyhow, this was a matter of life and death. Three more times. I would move during the third.
I heard a small metallic sound from a little distance away.
The first time.
Seems like he dozed off a little.
It’s fine. It was still possible. I’ve been resting during the day and moved around in the bird form for quite some time during the evening. So, the time perceived by this body should still be during the day.
The surroundings had become a little too quiet, and it was dark, so I just became a little sleepy.
And it looked like I regained my consciousness thanks to Koza. He was fiddling with the lantern again *kachackacha*.
The second time.
I'm not sleepy anymore.
The people downstairs were asleep. There were no signs of Gimu returning.
I quietly observed Koza while still lying down. He looked quite sleepy.
He got up from the chair for the third time to add more oil to the lantern.
He relaxedly opened the lantern’s case.
Meanwhile, I stretched my neck. I was aiming for the small, green crystal at the end of my necklace.
I finally caught the tip with my front tooth. All that was left was to bite on the wood piece. And it must be swallowed without chewing. Yosh, it worked.
I suddenly felt a sensation as if refreshing water spread throughout my body. The colors in space became vivid, and I could now see the dark areas. Just by putting a little strength, I tore the rope from my body easily.
Koza was still crouching and pouring the oil into the lantern. I also waited for him, since things would be bad if the oil were poured onto the fire. And while I’m at it, I quietly picked up the stick rolling at my feet.
Koza finally closed the lantern’s case while making *karakara* sound.
Thank you for your hard work.
「Guh」
The moment he turned around, he fell unconscious from the blow from the stick. No sign of him regaining consciousness.
「Ojousama」
When I called out to her, Liliana - who was lying down - trembled. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「It’s about time we go home」
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