◈ Episode 064

October 3rd. Around 1:00 p.m., the castle of Bastitera.

"Huh, heh heh heh. Eh."

A humming sounded in the garden of the villa called the Crystal Palace. A slender woman, Pecatum, no, Castus, sitting in a pavilion, swung her legs back and forth.

Far from being a dignified lady. The dark-skinned Tabes woman sighed secretly. She had become accustomed to the old manners of a servant, but her master was still the same in many ways.

She shows all her emotions without any reservation, whether it's sadness or joy. It was the owner's fatal flaw. It may be a strength for a person, but... when I think about her position, it's hard to look at it positively.

But it was still too new to let out a bitter word. Can a person change with just a few words? It would be better for my mental health to just let it go.

"Ainoa, you look like you're in a good mood today."

"Really? Isn't that basically how it feels?"

"Yes, but you look even more excited."

"Do you understand?"

As he turned his head, his silver hair fluttered. A lighter color than the usual gray-white of Castus. On the other hand, his irises were blue.

Although they had been together for quite some time, the servant would be amazed whenever he saw his master's face straight on. He would be able to find him easily even if he was placed in a crowd of a thousand people.

It was a striking appearance.

"Are you really looking forward to your birthday?"

"Not to that extent… but that's not really the case…."

Ainoa twisted my hair around with her fingers. But the fidgeting lasted only a moment before she smiled brightly.

"Well, this year is special."

One week from now.

Ainoa becomes an adult on her birthday. Although it is unclear what will change other than her legal treatment, it is definitely an important event in her life that she will never forget.

"On a special day, dressed up in a special way, and receiving congratulations from so many people that it's hard to count them. How many days like this will come before I die?"

"Were you embarrassed by the greeting?"

"Only that day is okay. I'm happy even if it's just an empty word."

The seed nodded after thinking calmly.

"Well, that's true. I don't think I'd hate it all that much. I think I've become such a great person that I deserve to hear people congratulate me, even if it's just empty words."

"I didn't mean it in such a sinister way…?"

"It's sinister. I think it's a very natural desire."

Ainoa's mouth tasted sour at his confident attitude. Jongja and Sesa often spoke strangely like this. Perhaps it was because of their difficult childhood.

It was a long time ago. Now, Se-sa is living a life of luxury that is the envy of others. As Ainoa's long-time friend and reliable bodyguard.

"By the way, how are the preparations?"

"Ready… Sorry. Did something happen?"

"I'm talking about going out. It's Monday of the second week."

Ainoa used to leave the castle once a month. As the expression "leaving" suggests, she didn't follow any formal procedures. She could get permission, but doing so would mean being inspected.

The performers had no choice but to follow one after another. That was completely different from what Ainoa wanted. She wanted to spend her time much more freely, ordinarily, and simply.

It was a common royal escapade.

"…You're going out this month too? Your coming of age ceremony is just around the corner?"

"That's that, and this is this."

Sessa furrowed her brow at the seemingly obvious request. However, Ainoa was very honest about this hobby. At least it didn't cause any social controversy.

Around 3 p.m., near the castle of Bastitera.

"I always think about it, Se-sa is really talented."

"It's only developing in a strange direction."

"Strange, you're just the right person to serve me."

Escaping from the castle isn't as easy as it is in romance novels. There are things like secretly climbing over the wall or having a hole that no one knows about... It can't be that sloppy.

Sesa worked tirelessly to get his master to do something wrong. He figured out the guards' shift changes, bribed a few of them, and even created a fake identity for Ainoa to get a pass.

She looked at Ainoa's appearance. Her hair, covered with a wig, was noticeably darker than its original color. Her simple clothing, which emphasized comfort, also did not look out of place when walking among the common people.

"...Although the appearance changes to some extent when touched, it is not perfect. I have said this repeatedly, but please do not let citizens get close to it. Please also refrain from talking to it."

"Really, I'm so worried. It's been almost a year and there haven't been any problems."

"Of course. If something went wrong, my neck would be cut off."

"Stop saying scary things and let's go!"

Around 4pm, downtown Magnu.

Ainoa sat on a bench in the square and watched the street. This was something she had been repeating for nearly a year. The initial freshness had disappeared, but she didn't feel bored.

It felt lively. The city seen from the castle felt somehow mechanical and artificial, like a model garden with moving soldiers.

But now it's this close.

The expressions of the citizens came into view one by one. I realized that they were people who lived their lives with the same joys and sorrows as me.

'It's amazing every time I see it.'

Ainoa rested her chin on her crossed legs. At the end of her gaze, Sessa was haggling with a street vendor, spitting. It was completely different from her attitude in the castle, but it felt very natural.

The fact that he had both lifestyles. It must have been quite difficult for him to adapt, but Sesa never showed it. Ainoa highly regarded Sesa for his quiet efforts.

'But isn't it too much to tell me not to open my mouth?'

I needed a new stimulus. As the janitor of the castle, 'Noah', wouldn't it be okay to make one acquaintance? The problem was where and how to become close.

That was when.

"Sister, why are you sitting still?"

"…Did you call me just now?"

"Yeah. It's Monday afternoon, but my sister isn't working."

A girl around 10 years old approached me. It was the first time. Although there were people who approached me while I was out on a date, before, Sesa was always right next to me.

As I was wondering how to react, the girl pointed to the left.

"I work there. My dad bakes bread, and my mom and I sell it."

"Oh, I see. That's great."

"The fortress is empty. It's a recession."

Some of the nobles said that the commoners were dirty and had a bad smell, but this was not the case at all. At least this child was better than the pigs who smelled of disgusting perfume.

"Dad, the bread is delicious."

He muttered gloomily and glanced at me. I thought he was quite clever. So, he came to sell to me, who seemed to have nothing better to do.

'Hmm. What should I do?'

I glanced in the direction where Sessa was. She was still chattering as if something minor had happened. It seemed that Ainoa wasn't the only one who had gotten used to going out.

'Will it be okay for a moment…?'

Sesa will probably be furious. But she will forgive him. A week later is Ainoa's birthday. A special birthday, her 20th birthday. Sesa is the one who will bless her more than anyone else.

It'll be okay. At least for today.

4:43 p.m.

Magnu city center, shopping street.

"Uh, uh...?"

A rough sensation touched Ainoa's cheek.

It's a piece of stone. It's closer to the ground than usual. Rather than being close, it's stuck. The road was this bumpy.

'Going Out' gave her a variety of first experiences.

Eating food of questionable hygiene from street vendors. Petting animals that are not kept in the capital. Smelling the scent of simple wild flowers… … .

It was a fresh and enjoyable experience. That was why. I followed the child, expecting a new stimulus. I thought the biggest price I would pay would be to be nagged by Sesa.

No it wasn't.

My head was spinning. My body was paralyzed and wouldn't move as I wanted. I didn't even know why I had fallen. My entire back just felt hot as if it was on fire.

I heard voices.

"...Yes. The compensation...is possible, right?"

"In the box at the back… uh. Take it… okay."

Then came the sound of footsteps. They were urgent, as if they were trying to get out of the alley. Soon after, one of the sounds disappeared.

But the other half hasn't left yet.

The shadows that had fallen grew darker. Ainoa's blue eyes rolled slowly. There was a man covered in a shabby cloak.

"Who, who...."

"You don't have to know."

He crouched down nearby.

Soon, a sharp pain struck. I realized later that something sharp was stuck in my neck. Something smaller than a blade. Something like a needle, for example. Then came the unpleasant foreign body sensation.

I was injected with the drug. It started to take effect at a rapid pace that was frightening to realize. My already dazed mind began to sink deeper and deeper.

The unfocused eyes finally took in the man's face. It was covered by a hood, but it wasn't too bad to see. Looking up at the angle, I could see about half of his face.

An expression that seemed to show a complicated mind. Funnily enough, Ainoa was more concerned about that expression than the fact that the man had no horns. Although she herself did not know why.

Finally, I heard breathing.

"...ha."

It was a sigh, as if he was relieved.

* * *

I regained consciousness occasionally.

Every time, Ainoa felt suffocated. It was a narrow space with no light. With her limbs tightly bound, it was impossible to escape.

Rattle, rattle.

There was only one thing I could tell. I was being carried somewhere like a piece of luggage. Every time my body shook uncontrollably, my shoulders and head would hit each other with a thud, thud.

I wasn't scared to the point of going crazy. I can't say I was that scared, but I was so shaken up inside that I wasn't in my right mind. I fell asleep for a long time without even realizing the passage of time, and I kept waking up every now and then.

And which awakening will it be?

Pot.

The vision suddenly brightened. The eyes that had been accustomed to the darkness for so long were crying out in pain. Ainoa frowned and looked straight ahead.

"Oh, you're awake."

The man was there.

He was wearing a jumper with an unfamiliar symbol on it. Although his attire was different, Ainoa was no fool. He must have been the same person as the monster he had seen in the alley back then.

"What the hell are you…."

"He seems to be of sound mind. He hasn't had a sip of water in days, but his voice is clear. I knew he'd be okay, but he's better than I thought, so that's a relief."

"As expected, Pecatum is Pecatum," he mutters.

Ainoa stared at the man and then turned her head. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the light, and she was able to look around without any problems.

The walls were in white and blue tones. The material was smooth metal. I thought it was a basement warehouse somewhere, but it didn't seem to be. The furniture, such as the bed and desk, gave off a sense of life.

"I'll explain it all at once later. To put it simply, um."

The man hesitated for a moment, then added:

"You've been kidnapped."

This explanation couldn't be clearer.