Chapter 45
Escape (3)
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of knocking on the door.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that instead of sleeping, I had merely drifted in and out of consciousness with my eyes closed.
I slowly got up, approached the door, and turned the doorknob.
"Just a moment."
I stepped back into the room and began to pack my belongings.
There wasn't much to pack.
All I had was a revolver tucked into my waistband, a pen with almost dried ink that I sometimes used to write letters to Seraphina, and a few articles of clothing.
I crumpled all of it into an old leather bag.
As I slung the bag over my shoulder, I felt an unfamiliar weight. Levina was standing in the corridor.
She stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the wall, waiting for me.
She was dressed in her school uniform, as impeccable as yesterday.
"Is that all?"
As I was about to step out the door, Levina asked.
Her voice was as dry as usual.
"Yes."
Levina didn't ask anything further.
As I left the room with my bag, she stepped ahead of me into the corridor.
We walked down the corridor in silence.
Students passing through the corridor glanced at us, but not a single one opened their mouth.
If I had been alone, I would have been met with whispers.
But simply having Levina by my side was enough to silence any students who might have spoken.
In front of the Academy's main gate, a black carriage stood.
It was a carriage bearing the clear emblem of the Edelgard family, one that 'Lavin' had seen since he was very young.
The coachman opened the door and bowed.
Levina didn't get into the carriage; she stood beside it, watching me.
I got into the carriage without a word.
As I leaned back into the plush leather seat, a familiar scent reached me.
The smell of old leather and a faint perfume.
I could see Levina through the window.
She was still standing there, watching the carriage.
"There won't be many servants. I haven't informed the house separately yet."
"It doesn't matter if there aren't any."
"Well. I'm not so sure about that.
In any case, always keep one person by your side.
You never know what might happen."
Soon, the carriage jolted and began to move.
Levina's figure grew smaller and more distant.
She remained standing there until the very end.
The carriage travelled along a familiar road.
The Academy's tall walls came into view, and soon the bustling city streets appeared.
The path I had walked with Seraphina.
The alley where I had smoked cigarettes with Estelle.
And then we passed the plaza where I had burned to death.
The carriage left the city and turned onto a quiet road.
The scenery outside the window changed.
Instead of dense buildings, vast fields and hills appeared.
Occasionally, old farmhouses and nameless trees standing beside them came into view.
I leaned my head against the window and stared blankly at the scenery.
I wasn't thinking of anything in particular.
My mind was empty.
How long had we been travelling?
The carriage slowed down and came to a stop.
The rusty iron gate of the annex creaked open.
Looking out the window, I saw the coachman had gotten down and was struggling to open the iron gate by himself.
Even if I had wanted to get out and help, he had already opened it almost all the way.
An old building came into view.
The annex Levina had mentioned didn't look as bad as I'd thought.
Ivy vines covered the walls, and thick moss grew on the roof.
The coachman opened the door.
As I stepped out, the damp smell of earth and grass stung my nose.
Three servants were standing in front of the entrance, bowing.
"You must have had a difficult journey, Young Master."
The oldest-looking servant spoke first, as their representative.
Deep wrinkles were etched into his face, and his eyes held a wary gaze.
He was clearly afraid of me.
After all, I was notorious in this area.
'Lavin,' during his time at the mansion, had enjoyed giving useless tasks and insults to the servants to fill his meager self-esteem.
Things like forcing them to precisely trim the length of the grass paths spread across the vast garden with a tiny pair of scissors, or serving food in a dog bowl, or offering a day off if they could beat their own shadow in a fight.
"The room was prepared in a hurry, but please let us know if there are any inconveniences."
I nodded.
I followed them inside.
The interior was wider than expected, but there wasn't much furniture visible.
Furniture draped in white sheets stood like ghosts.
My footsteps echoed loudly with every step down the corridor.
My room was on the second floor, at the very end.
It was a bleak room, containing nothing more than a large bed, a desk, and a wardrobe.
The window was large, but only the desolate garden and a grey sky were visible outside.
"If you need anything, you can tell this child. Meals will be brought to you as soon as they are ready."
The servant spoke cautiously, observing my mood.
He pointed to a girl standing behind him, dressed in a maid's uniform, who looked as if she had just passed puberty.
The maid was looking down at the floor, her face filled with fear.
I nodded at him.
The servant, wearing a relieved expression, bowed and left the room.
Only the maid remained.
I set my bag down on the floor and sat on the edge of the bed.
I took out the revolver and placed it on the desk.
At the sound of metal clattering, the girl's shoulders twitched.
The creaking of the old wooden floor.
The sound of wind seeping through the window cracks.
And the maid's faint breathing.
Other than that, no sound could be heard.
Before long, the same servant from earlier entered with a meal, accompanied by a knock.
On the tray sat fragrant soup, pristine white bread, and a glass of wine.
"I'm not sure if it will suit your taste."
"Thank you."
At my reply, the servant's shoulders flinched.
He stared at me for a moment with surprised eyes, then hastily bowed and withdrew.
It seemed he had never imagined I would say 'thank you'.
The soup was quite delicious.
The hot broth, as it went down my throat, felt as if it was melting the ice within me.
The bread was also soft.
It was a meal not significantly different from usual.
But perhaps because I had escaped the Academy, it tasted incredibly delicious.
As I chewed the bread, tears streamed silently down my face.
Tears fell into the soup bowl.
It was excessively delicious.
Somehow, it felt as if I was finally alive.
The bread Seraphina had brought me in the dungeon was dreadfully tasteless.
Clearly, no matter what she had brought, it would have tasted awful.
"......"
The maid standing nearby was looking at me with strange eyes.
Wiping my tears, I offered her a piece of bread.
"Do you want some too?"
The girl flinched in surprise and shook her head.
Her face flushed crimson.
"It's alright, Young Master."
"Just eat it. It's delicious."
The maid couldn't refuse and took the piece of bread with trembling hands.
And then, very delicately, she took a small bite.
Like a child being punished.
Judging by her expression, it didn't seem particularly delicious.
Her face looked displeased.
Outside, it was already growing dark.
I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes.
Though I wasn't tired, there was nothing else to do.
And so, the first night passed.
The next day, I took a walk in the garden.
The girl followed me like a shadow.
As if she had received an order.
I didn't bother to ask.
"What's your name?"
I asked.
As if she hadn't understood my question, the girl's eyes widened.
"......It's Lineta."
The answer came after a long moment.
Her voice was as small as a mosquito's.
"Lineta."
I quietly uttered her name.
She bowed her head again.
"Are there any places to walk around nearby?"
Lineta stared at me blankly for a long time, then belatedly nodded.
"Behind the annex, there's a small forest, and if you cross a small river past the forest, you'll find a village.
But the Young Mistress said not to go too far......."
She spoke as if reciting a pre-prepared answer.
"Alright."
I walked towards the forest.
Lineta hurriedly followed behind me.
"Young Master! The Young Mistress said no! You shouldn't do this!"
I ignored her words and kept walking.
The forest wasn't as deep as I'd thought.
Before long, a river appeared.
It was a shallow, clear river.
I took off my shoes and crossed the river.
The cold water enveloped my feet.
Lineta stood by the riverbank, looking helpless.
Eventually, she also took off her shoes, lifted her skirt, and carefully crossed the river.
After crossing the river, a small village became visible.
Smoke rose from chimneys, and the sounds of children playing could be heard.
As we entered the village, people recognized Lineta and greeted her.
Lineta, flustered, gave them a polite bow.
"Do you live here?"
When I asked, Lineta nodded.
"Yes, Young Master. I originally lived in this village, then applied as a maid... and became your servant."
Just then, an elderly woman approached us.
"Lineta! Weren't you working?
And who's this handsome young man beside you?"
Lineta's face turned completely white.
She looked at me, at a loss, checking my reaction.
I lightly tapped her shoulder and spoke first.
"We came out together to slack off a bit."
Lineta and her mother simultaneously widened their eyes.
It was a ridiculous excuse.
After all, my attire was clearly not that of an ordinary servant.
However, the elderly woman stared at me intently for a moment, then soon burst into laughter.
"Oh, my, oh my! I just happened to be preparing lunch, come in and have a meal before you go!"
She gently pushed my back, leading me into the house.
Lineta still followed behind us, looking utterly bewildered.
"Mother! What are you doing right now! This person is...!"
"Shush! Be quiet, you rascal. Don't be so tactless."
Lineta's mother poked her daughter's side and whispered.
The house was small and modest, but filled with warm comfort.
On the table, steaming stew, bread, and a humble salad were laid out.
"If the butler finds out, I'm as good as dead. Young Master, you must go back quickly..."
Lineta fussed nervously, urging me on.
"It's alright. Let's eat first."
I took a spoonful of stew.
Lineta was looking at me, almost on the verge of tears.