Chapter 73: Out of the Wardrobe
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 73: Out of the Wardrobe
The woman snatched the cigar from her mouth and erupted in anger.
"Damn it… Where did the princess go?"
"Oh…"
"What are you gaping at, you idiot? This is all your fault!"
"Ah, we can just find her. How far could a little girl with a head injury have gone?"
"You can say that after we find her!"
Tossing the cigar aside, the woman smacked the man’s back and rushed out of the room. The man followed close behind, muttering curses.
In the wake of their noisy departure, a chilly wind from the forest drifted in through the open window. The breeze brushed against the embers of the cigar the woman had carelessly tossed near the ashtray. Fanned by the wind, the embers caught on the tablecloth.
The tiny spark quickly grew, consuming the fabric before spreading to devour the table and the adjacent sofa in a fierce blaze.
It was as if the fire was mocking the voices of the man and woman echoing from the forest nearby.
The rapidly growing inferno consumed the wooden furniture, churning out thick, black smoke that filled the room with a hazy gray. It seeped into the wardrobe in the corner—and, of course, to Blair, who was hiding inside.
...Smoke?
Blair frowned, her nose catching the distinct, acrid smell of something burning.
At first, she wondered if it was her imagination. Being inside a wardrobe felt just like the day of the fire… but this was real.
"Cough, cough…"
The smoke invaded her lungs, forcing an instinctive cough from her lips. Instantly, her eyes and throat began to sting. Then came the heat.
It wasn't her imagination.
Outside… there’s a fire…
The mere thought sent a wave of terror through her. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and her breath grew shallow.
I have to get out. Quickly.
Blair struggled to move, to escape the wardrobe.
At that moment, a throbbing headache struck, and a hazy memory surfaced. It was the same scene she'd witnessed in countless hypnosis sessions, both in this life and her last—the one memory she could never escape.
No, pull yourself together. Please…
Blair fought against the rising fear, but her body and mind refused to cooperate. She could no longer tell if her ragged breathing was due to the smoke or her trauma.
Just as her consciousness began to fade from the lack of oxygen—
Close your eyes, then open them.
Herdin's voice, a memory from before, echoed in her ears like a phantom.
Through the haze in her mind, Blair instinctively followed his voice, slowly blinking.
Breathe slowly, too.
Guided by the words, she took a slow breath in and out, just as she had practiced with him every night.
It's okay.
And just as he said, her terror began to subside, her breathing steadying. Her hands still trembled at the thought of the fire waiting just beyond the door, but she couldn't stay trapped in here forever.
It was time to get out of the wardrobe.
Blair steadied her breathing amidst the acrid smoke, adjusted her posture, and kicked the door.
Bang!
The wardrobe door flew open, and a wave of acrid smoke rushed in, engulfing her. It was so thick it instantly blurred her vision and stole the air from her lungs.
Squeezing her eyes shut and then opening them again, she saw the room completely engulfed in flames.
"Ah…"
Strangely, despite being surrounded by a sea of fire, despite the suffocating terror that threatened to consume her, she felt a profound sense of relief. A weight lifted from her chest, like breaking free from shackles she had worn for a very long time.
...Let's get out of here.
Staring at the inferno that threatened to swallow everything, Blair slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. The terror that had begun to rise again receded.
Just as Blair dragged her heavy body up to step out of the wardrobe—
"Ugh…"
This time, a headache of incomparable intensity struck. The pain was so sharp that her vision blurred instantly. As she gasped in agony, a memory from the past superimposed itself over her vision.
A blindingly bright, roaring fire, a room filled with smoke, and…
A blood-stained candlestick in her hand.
This is…
As Blair stood frozen, trembling in shock at the sudden rush of memories—
"Blair!"
The door burst open, and Herdin rushed in.
"...Herdin."
Blair stared blankly as he strode toward her through the flames. His eyes, like icy lakes in the fiery chaos, reminded her of Esmeralda's.
Let's play hide-and-seek. You must never come out until I tell you to, Blair.
Memories flooded in like a burst dam.
The lost memories of that day.
Unable to withstand the deluge crashing over her, Blair collapsed.
* * *
Blair, who had been asleep, felt her body float into the air. She forced her heavy eyes open. The first thing she saw was Esmeralda.
"Your Majesty?"
"...Blair."
Hearing Blair's voice, Esmeralda froze. For a moment, her expression seemed terrified, but it was hard to see clearly through the things obstructing Blair's view. It took a moment for the half-asleep child to realize the obstructions were clothes, and that she was inside a wardrobe.
Rubbing her heavy eyelids, Blair asked, "Why are you putting me in the wardrobe?"
"Blair, let's play hide-and-seek."
"Hide-and-seek…?"
"Yes. You must never come out until I tell you to. No matter what you hear, no matter what happens, absolutely never. Do you understand?" Esmeralda kept glancing nervously over her shoulder as she spoke.
Blair found it strange to be playing hide-and-seek right after waking up, and Esmeralda's odd behavior was puzzling. But she was too drowsy to resist and simply nodded.
Through her heavy, closing eyelids, she saw Esmeralda offer a sorrowful smile.
What made you so sad, Your Majesty?
Normally, she would have asked that and hugged her, just as Esmeralda always did for her.
When I wake up, I'll be sure to ask. I'll give her a hug…
But Blair could not overcome the wave of sleepiness and drifted off.
How much time had passed?
Crash!
Gasp!
The sharp crash of something hitting the floor startled Blair awake. A few more similar sounds followed. She was instantly wide awake. A chilling, instinctual premonition washed over her in the silence that followed.
And then, the smell.
The smell of something burning bypassed her nose, seeping deep into her lungs.
Her instincts screamed at her. Death was near.
Blair quietly held her breath and peered through the crack in the wardrobe door.
Someone in a maid's uniform was in the room. Blair could only see her profile, not her face. And in front of her…
Your Majesty?
Esmeralda was lying on the floor. But she didn't look asleep. The Esmeralda she knew was the most beautiful, elegant, and dignified person in the world; she would never simply lie on the floor to sleep, no matter how tired she was.
What is she doing?
Her view through the narrow crack was limited, and she couldn't see what the maid was doing to the unconscious Esmeralda. Blair edged closer to the crack and shifted her gaze.
At that moment, an unbelievable sight unfolded before her eyes.
The maid was wrapping a cloth around Esmeralda's neck and tying it to the ceiling.
Even a young princess, sheltered from the world's darkness, understood what the maid was trying to do.
The maid was trying to kill Esmeralda.
This wasn't a learned fear, but something primal. Blair's pupils trembled. Tears spilled from her eyes before she could even process the terror.
Why?
She didn't know why this was happening, but one thing was clear.
She had to save Esmeralda.
But… I'm scared.
What can I even do if I go out now? Can I beat that maid? What if I can't save Her Majesty and I end up dying too…?
The smoke grew thicker, choking her. Blair trembled all over, suppressing a cough that threatened to burst out.
She wished all of this were a dream. If only it were a night terror that would vanish when she opened her eyes, cried, and was held in Esmeralda's warm embrace. If only someone would rescue her from this nightmare…
But she had to accept the cruel reality that wouldn't disappear, no matter how much she cried or shook her head.
No one can save me.
The only one who can save me is me.
Blair clenched her trembling hands into fists. She roughly wiped away her tears and peered outside the wardrobe once more.
The maid was standing on the coffee table, struggling to hang Esmeralda.
Instinctively averting her gaze from the horrific sight, Blair spotted a candlestick among the items scattered near the wardrobe. The sharp candlestick gleamed, reflecting the crimson light of the fire.
Upon seeing it, Blair's heart began to thud wildly.
She only had one chance.
Blair slipped out of the wardrobe and crept toward the candlestick. Fortunately, the maid was too preoccupied with Esmeralda to notice. Blair felt as though her pounding heart was about to leap out of her throat.
She crept forward and grabbed the candlestick. There was no time for hesitation.
Blair gripped the candlestick tightly. Then, she rushed forward and swung it at the maid's leg.
"Stop!"
A child's blow couldn't inflict a serious wound, but her sudden appearance was enough to startle the maid.
"Agh!"
Losing her balance, the maid tumbled off the table. At that moment, Blair could finally see—
The face of the culprit who had harmed Esmeralda.