Escape (4)
Each ti I went to and from the village, I didn't wear shoes.
I didn't want to wear shoes.
Every night, for so reason, my toes felt like they were burning.
For the first few days, Lineta was horrified and tried to bring shoes, but I told her it wasn't necessary.
After that, she followed behind without a word.
Occasionally, she would simply remove small thorns from the soles of my feet or hand a towel when I washed my feet in the stream.
"By the way, Young Master, how do you find our als at ho?
My mom says she puts two extra chunks of at in whenever you co over."
Lineta asked as we crossed the river.
Her voice now had a fair amount of playfulness mixed in.
She no longer seed to treat like an unfamiliar young nobleman.
"It was too salty, though?"
At my reply, Lineta bristled.
"That's a lie! You ate it so well! You even licked the bowl clean!"
"Be quiet."
I laughed and splashed water at her.
Cold droplets scattered across Lineta's face and white maid uniform.
"Oh, honestly! What are you doing!
Don't you know I'm the one who has to wash all your clothes, Young Master?"
Lineta grumbled and splashed water back at .
She soon gave up and huffed.
"It's unfair. You're the one who splashed water, but I'm the one who does the laundry. What kind of situation is this?"
"Well, it's obvious, since you're a servant."
At my words, Lineta pouted, but didn't argue further.
She brushed off her wet clothes and chattered beside .
"By the way, what's the capital like? It's really different from here, isn't it?
They say there's a huge plaza with a fountain in the middle, buildings over ten stories tall, it's as bright as day even at night, and the streets are full of delicious food stalls. Is that true?"
Lineta's eyes sparkled with longing.
Instead of answering her question, I simply smiled faintly.
I had no good mories.
Seeing my face, Lineta said nothing more.
About two weeks passed living in the annex.
Lineta didn't mind if I broke out in a cold sweat and had a seizure at night, or suddenly froze up.
She would simply bring a wet shirt to change into, and silently wipe my back with a dry towel.
She never asked anything.
That day too, I was returning from the village with Lineta.
We crossed the river and walked the forest path with wet feet.
The soil felt pleasant as it burrowed between my toes.
By the ti the rusty iron gate of the annex ca into view, I stopped.
In front of the gate, a not-unfamiliar carriage stood.
It was a black carriage, bearing the familiar crest of the Edelgard family.
Slowly, the carriage door opened, and a person descended.
It was Levina, whose face sohow looked more vibrant than usual.
She was dressed in a dark navy outfit, different from her usual attire, perfectly ironed without a single speck of dust.
She briefly scanned my bare feet and dirt-stained trousers, then imdiately averted her gaze as if she hadn't seen anything.
"Where are you coming back from?
I even told the servants to have you stay in the annex."
Levina asked.
Her voice was as calm as ever.
"Just, you know."
I shrugged and replied.
I didn't particularly want to explain that I had been to the village.
"Never mind. I'm here today because of the engagent annulnt date."
As if no longer interested in my answer, Levina cut off.
She turned her gaze to Lineta, who stood beside , looking flustered.
"You. What was your na again?"
"Li-Lineta. Young Mistress."
Lineta's voice trembled thinly.
"Right. Lineta. Prepare so drinks in the parlor. Warm tea, if possible."
Lineta bowed her head like a frightened rabbit and hastily disappeared into the annex.
Levina began walking across the garden without a word.
I followed behind her.
Untad weeds, growing wildly due to neglect, brushed against my ankles.
"I've summoned Seraphina and Count Beluze. They'll be here next week."
Levina spoke.
"You just have to keep your mouth shut and sign.
I'll take care of the rest."
She paused for a mont, turned to , and said.
"Do you still have any lingering attachnts?"
"...I don't know."
She seed to have sothing more to say, but then turned her head and started walking again.
"By the way, the church was looking for you.
Did you cause trouble again?"
"No."
"The Saintess herself ntioned your na, really?"
Hearing that, my body flinched for a mont.
The more I die, the more sothing changes.
It felt like unseen threads were tangling, and paths that weren't there before were appearing.
But right now, I just wanted to rest here.
"Well. Never mind. It's not important.
It might just be a joke, anyway."
Levina continued speaking, then subtly twitched her fingers.
"Mother found out you're here."
She said softly.
Her voice was a little, just a little, lower.
"Nothing will happen. I'll stop everything."
Even as she said that, she didn't seem to believe her own words.
Her gaze briefly wandered in the air.
Levina stopped walking, took out a small ring from her pocket, and handed it to .
It was a small ring with a tiny blue gem embedded in it, emitting a faint glow.
"If, by any chance, sothing really happens, break this."
Her cold fingers brushed my palm.
"No matter the situation, I'll co imdiately."
I accepted the ring without a word.
The cold sensation of the gem in my hand felt unfamiliar.
The parlor slled of a mix of dust and old wood.
The tea set Lineta had prepared was on the table.
Levina told the other servants, excluding Lineta, to leave.
In the room were just the two of us, and Lineta, standing quietly by the door.
Levina sat on the sofa and elegantly picked up a teacup.
"Anyway, how's life here?"
She asked.
"Not bad."
"Really? That's a relief. Is your bed alright?
I ordered a bed from a luxury furniture store, but it's taking quite a while."
"So-so."
"als."
"That's a relief."
The aningless conversation continued.
We talked about everyday things, truly like ordinary siblings.
But no warmth could be felt in that conversation.
Then Levina's gaze turned to Lineta, who was standing beside .
"That child, you know."
Levina said, setting down her teacup.
"It seems you like her quite a bit. Seeing as you keep her by your side."
"..."
"Before, wasn't tornting servants your hobby?
You've changed a lot too."
At her words, Lineta's face flushed.
She kept her head bowed deeply, only looking down at her fidgeting fingers.
"So, is she useful? I assigned her since she's from around here."
Levina's gaze was directed at Lineta, who was standing by the door.
"Yes. She's fine."
"Good. It's a relief she seems obedient.
If, by any chance, she becos impertinent or does anything useless just because you've been expelled from the family, tell imdiately."
At those words, Lineta's face turned white.
Levina seed to smile faintly as she looked at Lineta.
"Still... it seems she's quite fond of you."
At Levina's words, Lineta's face this ti flushed bright red.
In embarrassnt, she tried to wave her hands, but then froze under Levina's gaze.
"Ah, no, Young Mistress! I'm not that...!"
Levina wasn't listening to Lineta's words.
She rely gazed at the flushed face with apparent interest.
Her eyes narrowed.
Levina didn't miss that sight.
Though it was only for a very brief mont, I saw a cold light flash in her eyes.
"Perhaps it's because his appearance is still decent. People keep getting entangled with him."
Levina murmured softly, as if to herself.
She pulled a small wooden staff from her pocket.
It was the mont I stood up from my seat and lunged to stop her.
Unintelligible words flowed from her lips.
The spell was far too fast.
And then.
Thwack.
There was the sound of sothing piercing flesh.
I looked down at my body.
From my chest, several sharp wooden thorns had sprouted, piercing through my shirt.
At the sa ti, Lineta's body swayed violently.
Her eyes widened.
There was no scream.
She rely looked from the wooden thorns blooming from her shoulder to Levina's face, and then to , with an expression of disbelief.
Red blood slowly spread across the pristine white shirt I was wearing and Lineta's maid uniform.
"Eh, ugh... choke..."
Bloody gasps escaped Lineta's lips.
She tried to reach out to , but her hand fumbled in the air a few tis before falling weakly.
"...Lavin?"
Blood flowed onto the floor, slowly soaking the carpet until the ground beca damp.
Levina's voice was heard.
For the first ti, I heard her voice waver.
She stood blankly, looking at the thorns that had sprouted from my body.
The hand holding the staff was trembling slightly.
Co to think of it, it was always like this.
Whenever 'Lavin' seed to get close to soone, Levina would always co and make things turn out like this.
And the next day, it would be attributed to .
Even coming to the Academy, while I wondered if sothing would be different, it seed not much had changed.
At least 'Lavin' never dared to throw himself in the way to stop it, so I must certainly be a better person.
I, I must be a more decent human being.
Because I'm not the trash of Edelgard.
I'm just an unlucky person who happened to open my eyes here.
The image of the place I used to live is starting to blur now, but it has to be this way.
Every ti I breathed, it felt like sothing was caught inside my chest.
It hurt.
At least it was much better than burning to death.
"...Levina."
My voice didn't co out properly.
A bloody cough burst forth.
With trembling hands, I gripped the corner of the table and barely managed to lift my head.
Levina's face ca into view.
Blurred.
"Sis, it hurts..."
The mont those words left my mouth, she staggered towards .
And knelt.
Her hand, trembling, reached out towards the thorns embedded in my chest.
"I only ant to scare her a little, foolishly... I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Lavin."
The mont Levina's hand touched , the thorns instantly scattered and disappeared like dust.
She stared blankly down at her own hand, stained with my blood.
"...I'll go get soone. Just hold on a bit.
It's just a superficial cut. You won't die."
Levina lifted onto the parlor sofa, then briefly looked down at Lineta, who was still lying on the floor with thorns in her shoulder.
And then, without looking back, she left the room.
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