The Escape Plan, Step by Step (1)
Elijah's wrist bore a blue and red bruise, clinging to her skin like mold. What the hell was that? Why would such a mark appear on the youngest legitimate daughter of the Bebel family, one of the continent's premier ducal houses?
Not like she got hit by someone, right? Bruises don't always come from blunt trauma. They can appear around surgical sites too. Optimistic reasoning, sure. But that spot, that shape—it couldn't be from any medical procedure.
Someone... hurt her. My mind reeled. Elijah wouldn't just stand there and take a beating. The moment anyone laid a hand on her, they'd be reduced to ash. Which meant she shouldn't have bruises at all.
In other words, Elijah didn't fight back. Either against an opponent she couldn't counter, or because she lacked the strength to yet.
A step away from Elijah stood her maid, Lia, her black eyes fixed steadily on me.
Shouldn't you be watching Elijah pet the moon deer...?
Lia. Red-haired personal maid to Elijah. A face I didn't remember from the future timeline I knew.
Who is she...? Someone important enough to influence Elijah, probably.
My thoughts shattered at Elijah's voice.
"That's enough."
"Ah. Yes."
I snapped back to reality.
"The maid in charge of your temporary service will explain the rules for staying in the annex."
Lia approached and wiped Elijah's hands clean.
"Your stay lasts until Tuesday or Wednesday. Depending on circumstances, you might leave sooner or later. How you spend the remaining time is up to you, but if you need to go out, tell your attendant."
It flowed out smoothly, as if she'd planned it ages ago. Just moments ago, petting the moon deer, she'd seemed almost childlike. Now she was back to her usual self.
"We'll view the moon deer together every day at 7 p.m., after dinner. Though it may shift with my schedule."
Not a request for agreement—just a notification. She was in a position to issue them. I nodded without protest.
"Yes."
"Oh, and the prize money..."
Elijah turned to me, tilting her head.
"Shall I praise you publicly in front of the others? If you want, just say so. I can grant that much."
"...No, that's fine."
It wasn't some grand tournament, and the prize was modest. A fortune compared to my pockets, sure, but still. Calling everyone together now for a belated pat on the back would look odd. Embarrassing, even—like showing off.
"Then I'll tell Miguel."
Her expression blank, Elijah glanced down at her palm. Her red eyes stared blankly. The sudden silence threw me off for a moment. Then she looked up and flashed a smile.
"You always exceed my expectations by miles."
"......"
"I can expect it again, right?"
No. Please don't.
"...I'll do my best."
The words slipped out against my will. People are creatures of facade and truth, after all.
Elijah left with that gift of a smile. A gift that brought me no joy.
With nothing to do, I petted the moon deer while waiting.
"Ahem!"
The stable hand cleared his throat awkwardly, inching closer. Like he was begging me to notice him first. Burdensome, but impossible to ignore.
"Uh, yeah. So you're that Judah, the guard knight candidate, huh?"
The moment I looked his way, he jumped in.
"You know me?"
"Know you? Ha! Everyone around here does."
The servile demeanor he'd shown around Elijah was gone. Now he was just a cheeky uncle type.
"You're the talk of the mansion these days. No one hasn't heard."
"...Me?"
"Yeah! Lady Elijah, who never gave a damn about guard knight training for years, shows up at the camp herself. All for you."
"......"
"Miguel and Sir Gawain keep their mouths shut, so it's all rumors. 'What kind of guy could captivate the lady?'"
Horrid choice of words. Captivate? Impossible. And if anyone did, they'd be dead. By her hand.
"Well, you're a pretty-faced kid, sure. But the lady ignores all those political marriages—she wouldn't pick based on looks alone..."
He's spouting treasonous nonsense without a care. Here, that meant torture at best, execution at worst. Borderline noble insult.
"Anyway, everyone's excited. Finally, her first guard knight."
"First? Don't the knights guarding the mansion count as her guards?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Different thing. They protect the estate, not her personally. They're dispatched from the main house—loyal to House Bebel, if you want to split hairs. They tag along when she goes out, sure."
So Elijah had no dedicated guard knight. First or not, I had zero intention of becoming one, but my curiosity was sated.
"Whoops. Keep what I just said secret, yeah?"
At least he knew his mouth ran too loose.
"Uh, yeah. I'll, uh—gotta grab hay for this deer!"
He bolted. Wondering why, I glanced back. Miguel had arrived, with a woman in maid attire beside him.
"This is your attendant for the duration."
...Wait, hold up. I'm not comfortable with this. A young guy from modern society, suddenly attended by a young woman? My Confucian-tainted chastity ideals screamed in protest.
"C-could you switch to a male attendant?"
"...?"
Miguel scowled and shook his head.
"Guest of the lady or not, know your place. You're not hired for demands like that."
"......"
"I don't know what impudent fantasies a kid like you has, but nothing of the sort will happen."
Impertinent fantasies...? Still a long way to go adapting to local norms.
She looks just a few years older than me, at most.
The bright blonde maid remained impassive through it all. When the talk ended, she bowed slightly.
"I'm Anna. I'll serve you diligently during your short stay."
"Ah, yes... Judah. P-please take care of me."
Miguel smirked, eyeing me like a trivial child.
"All communications go through Anna. Tell her for outings too. And take this."
He pulled a heavy pouch from his pocket.
"Prize money. 100 florins."
Money. My money, to spend freely. It felt reassuring somehow.
Miguel left once business was done. Anna spoke politely.
"I'll show you to your room."
Unlike my discomfort, she was utterly composed. Routine for her. Thinking of her as service staff eased my mind.
"One moment."
I petted the moon deer before leaving.
"See you tomorrow."
Its massive head nuzzled me like a puppy's, careful not to gore with its antlers. Kinda cute. Fur so soft.
"Heh."
Thankfully, it didn't follow. Seemed to accept this as home now.
I followed Anna, leaving the moon deer behind.
*
The grounds held more than just the grand mansion. Scattered annex buildings dotted the estate. Mine was one: a modest brick house for guests, a bit removed from Elijah's mansion. Not oversized—good. Close to the stables—even better.
"Use this building. I'm in the small room on the first floor if you need anything."
...Hate this. Uncomfortable.
"You can roam the gardens freely, but permission is required for other buildings."
No plans for that anyway. Anna explained the rest: simple rules. Meals, sleep, outings—all cleared through her, otherwise free rein.
Once done, I cautiously asked what nagged me.
"No other family here with the lady?"
She eyed me suspiciously; I hurried to explain.
"Just in case I run into someone while wandering. Can't afford to miss recognizing them..."
Sounding like an overly cautious kid, she nodded.
"Only the lady bears the Bebel name in this mansion."
That tiny girl, alone on this vast land, no family. Felt lonely for a second. Insane. Elijah wouldn't feel that. Must be this young body's influence. Really.
But who bruised her like that?
"However."
Anna added, "The Duchess visits occasionally."
"I see."
Duchess—Elijah's birth mother? I knew the name: Narcissus di Bebel. Dead by game start. Killed by Elijah. Details scarce on why.
That bruise... no way.
Why'd I have to see it? Now it nagged me.
Not certain, so no jumping to conclusions.
Arsonist murderer Elijah. Villainess supreme. Even so, ignoring a bad injury on that kid's wrist wasn't easy. Laughable meddling. What could change? If even she couldn't fight back, what could I do?
I'm nobody special. No heroics, no redemptions. Worlds apart from crushing Kael's balls and exposing him.
...Tch. Bitter aftertaste.
But I knew myself. I'd keep watching her, couldn't help it.
Watch I will, but to survive, I need an escape plan too.
First, I asked Anna for lunch. While she cooked, I toured my temporary home. Second-floor bedroom and bath. First-floor living room and kitchen. Unused but spotless—not neglected. Regular cleaning, maybe.
Lunch: sandwiches. Worlds better than training camp rock bread. Moist, soft bread; salty, nutty bacon and cheese; crisp veggies—all harmony.
Noble life, huh...?
Felt the class divide anew. Still lacking, though. Nutrition-poor.
More protein would be ideal. Elijah won't tweak candidate diets...
Regret meant seconds. Anna marveled at my appetite. No big deal. I'd eaten more in my past life.
Is 'past life' even right? Why am I here?
Chewed on futile questions, finished, then headed out. Place to visit. Told Anna haircut. My unkempt hair was bothersome anyway.
Problem: Anna tagged along.
"Shouldn't you stay at the mansion?"
In the carriage, across from her.
"Attending my charge outside is my duty. I've reported already."
Efficient. Too much.
Carriage rolled to the busiest shopping street. She sat ramrod straight, unmoving. Not uncomfortable? I was.
Like a machine, not a person...
Topic? None. Silence it is.
But to reach my spot, gotta ditch her.
Easy plan formed.
*
Down at the street entrance. Carriages barred beyond. Time to split from Anna.
She followed; I asked carefully.
"Any gifts a noble lady might like?"
"...A gift?"
"Yeah. Nothing big—just thinking of buying something for the lady with my prize money..."
Anna raised an eyebrow, staring. Perplexed. Fair. Who gifts whom? 100 florins: my fortune. To Elijah? Pocket lint.
A lowborn like me gifting a grand noble? She'd hate it. Can't match tastes anyway.
I knew all that. But this naive ploy was all I had.
"The haircut was a lie. Sorry. She took me in, so this life—gotta repay somehow..."
Acted the clumsy kid. Worked?
"Surely you're not... harboring feelings for the lady..."
No. Bad misunderstanding.
"No plans to die young."
Voice came out firm. Ruined the kid act. Anna skeptical, but answered.
"Most universal gift? Flowers. For her age, freesia or anemone..."
"Could you buy it for me?"
"Pardon?"
I shoved 10 florins at her.
"Gifts mean more if the giver picks personally..."
"If I choose, it'll summon a demon with black magic."
Flowers? No clue. One bloom? Disaster. Better her, who knows.
Florists arrange well anyway. Excuse, really.
"Got my own thing in mind. Meet back here later!"
"Wait—!"
I bolted, dodging crowds.
Won't get in trouble, right...?
Kid worry. Fine. Worth it.
Sure she wasn't following, headed to target. Streets unfamiliar yet familiar. Bebel Duchy shopping district from the game. Past era, so different vibe. Layout same. Path unchanged.
Central plaza: wide space around grand fountain. Busiest spot.
Mountains visible over fountain = north.
Target there. Busy tavern midday. Cafe two doors down.
Door chime tinkled. Elegant interior, refined tastes. Patrons all proper gentlemen and ladies. Good I'd bathed and changed at Elijah's. Rags? Beggar, booted out.
Counter clerk eyed me curiously.
"Alone?"
Kid sans attendants?
"Yes."
Nodded, slid 1 florin across counter. Whispered:
"Here for the mouth and ears."
"......"
She blinked rapidly, frowning in disbelief. But couldn't refuse the signal.
"What in the... Anyway, this way."
Behind counter, storeroom. She shifted crates, felt wall. It rotated straight. Gaps opened.
"Innermost room's free. Go there."
"Thanks."
Handed another florin, slipped through. She stared, incredulous to the end.
Finally.
Faction to secure escape if I flunked. Useful post-failure or flight for survival. Everywhere and nowhere.
Helios Empire and Bebel Duchy split the continent. Third group: smaller, freer.
Info guild branch.
*
Dim corridor. Flickering candles only light. Spaced guards stood statue-still, silent. Not human, really. Paths branched; I went straight. Innermost room.
One customer, one guild per room for deals.
Recalled, reached door. Knocked twice.
"Come in."
Sultry, sticky woman's voice.
...Sounds familiar?
Odd, opened door. Desk under lamp. Woman's back: snow-white hair. Puff of smoke. Sweet peach scent assaulted nose. Tobacco? Didn't smell it.
White hair, sweet smoke—identity clicked.
Why her...?
She turned. White lashes like hair. Violet eyes gleamed like gems. Pipe in hand, she grinned at me.
"Even a kid's a customer... but how'd you find this place?"
Eurydice. Info guild master.
Stunned, but hid it. Few knew she led.
No—perfect, actually.
I knew futures, guild secrets. Bebel ignorant, but world-savvy.
Especially today's info—gold for her.
No backing down. Sat boldly before her.