The Villain (3)
Killing all the soldiers who stormed the mansion changed quite a few things.
First, the food. We finally had the breathing room to gather a bare minimum of provisions and utensils. Most importantly, we could pack Vivian's belongings as well.
Second, the other servants. I had neither the intention nor the means to bring them all along, but I gave them enough time to flee. Whether they got caught afterward was none of my concern.
And finally, Saren. With ample medicine and water, plus traveling on horseback, her condition looked good despite the heat. Though I wasn't sure if that was entirely a positive outcome.
"That was delicious, Vivian."
I set the wooden bowl down on the ground as I spoke. Across from me, with the campfire between us, Vivian responded with a gentle smile.
"I'm not sure if it suited your taste."
"Everything you make is delicious, so don't worry."
"Thank... you."
Her eyelids grew heavy as she spoke.
It was sincere. Her cooking skills were still exactly like the Vivian I remembered. The familiar flavors that made me crave them once I returned home. The kind of taste that made me want to share drinks and chatter for hours. So achingly familiar that it stung somewhere deep in my chest.
"Brother."
Saren leaned her head against my shoulder. Out of habit, I stroked her hair.
......No. This wasn't my habit.
"What could all this mean... Father committing treason... Is it really true?"
"Who knows."
"Will both of them be safe? If they've been captured by the imperial family and tortured..."
"They're dead. Both of them."
Saren's head, resting on my shoulder, jerked sharply. Vivian's hands, which had been tidying things, froze mid-motion.
I pressed down firmly on Saren's head as she tried to turn it.
"......Brother?"
"......"
In truth, at this point, I didn't know if they were dead or alive. I'd never seen them once since arriving in this world. Their deaths were simply inevitable in the prologue; I had no idea when or how it happened. Even if they were still alive, I had no desire to go rescue them. The story would twist immediately if I did.
"Hic... Hiccup..."
It seemed Saren felt differently. Well, they were her parents, so that was only natural.
"Brother... Hic... Hiccup..."
"......Yeah. I'm sorry."
All I could do in this moment was offer a meaningless apology and mechanically stroke her hair.
Before long, it was the deep hours of the night. High in the sky, clouds drifted slowly, obscuring the stars.
Saren slept soundly in my arms, breathing softly and evenly. The tear tracks on her pale cheeks made it clear she'd cried herself exhausted.
Come to think of it, she'd never once asked about our parents before now.
Not when she slit Chloe's throat. Not when she crushed my neck. Not even when her own throat was torn open.
No matter how many times we ran, she'd never asked about our parents' fates, let alone the reason we were fleeing.
Was that the strange part? Or was this the strange part? When I actually thought about it, this current flow felt like the most natural progression.
Saren crying without understanding why. Serion comforting his little sister.
So was this the right direction? Was I guiding things properly according to the prologue?
"Mmm... Brother..."
Saren's warm breath brushed against my neck. Once again, I instinctively patted her head gently. Of course, this wasn't my habit either.
When I turned my head slightly, I saw Vivian lying quietly on the ground with her eyes closed.
Had my attitude today hurt her? Didn't she want to hold my hand? Didn't she want to kiss me?
Meaningless thoughts filled my head.
Chloe had called Vivian a heretic. A heretic meant a religious figure who'd committed murder, stripping them of their holy status. But I didn't take her words at face value.
I couldn't imagine Vivian killing anyone, and above all, the Grand Saintess Marian had welcomed her warmly. There was no way someone of her position wouldn't know about such a thing.
The issue was her healing ability. In truth, that could be proven anytime. I could wake her right now and ask her to show it.
But what terrified me was the truth I might learn if I did.
"Brother."
Saren's voice came from against my chest. Clear and sharp.
Which meant she'd been awake for some time.
"Yeah, why are you awake? Uncomfortable?"
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I couldn't..."
"And why." Saren cut me off cleanly. Her voice carried a strange, damp undertone. "Have you been staring at Vivian this whole time?"
"......"
I didn't need to look to read her expression from her voice alone. It would be a cold face utterly devoid of emotion.
With a soft rustle, since I didn't answer, Saren sat up and looked down at me where I lay. Sure enough, her face was cold and emotionless.
"I'm asking you. Now that it's night, are you thinking about another maid again?"
"It's not like that. And keep your voice down—Vivian's sleeping."
Oops. Even I could tell that was a problematic thing to say.
As expected, Saren's expression changed. From cold to something chillingly, utterly devoid of warmth.
"Why? Can't she wake up?"
"......"
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
"What are you suddenly talking about out of nowhere?"
"At the mansion. On the way here. From the moment we ate until now. All day, your eyes have only been on Vivian. With those longing, sorrowful gazes. Right?"
What was I supposed to say to that? A heavy silence fell while I pondered for a moment.
Then I sat up as well and spoke quietly.
"It's none of your business."
Was that the right answer? I saw the red gleam in her eyes toward me grow icy cold.
She could put her hands on my neck like she had at the church last time. I wouldn't be helplessly overpowered like before.
"Do you love Vivian?"
"......"
But she remained composed. Her voice dropped low and calm.
"What about me? Do you not love me anymore? Weren't we once..."
"That since we were born on the same day in the same place, it would only be the two of us until we died?"
She nodded silently.
"Don't misunderstand. That doesn't mean I love you. Were we ever in a relationship where we could love each other in the first place?"
"......"
Leaving her dazed behind, I stood up fully.
"I'm going to get some air. Go back to sleep."
The moment I turned my head.
Shunk— A horrifying sound of flesh being pierced grazed my ears.
The problem was that it wasn't my body being pierced. Had she hurt Vivian?
"Brother."
"......"
I swallowed hard at the low voice coming from behind me.
"Why won't you look at me?"
Because I didn't know how I'd react if I saw it. Because I might end up killing Saren, the one I was supposed to save.
Shunk—
"Even now, you won't look?"
Another gruesome sound. Only then did I slowly turn my gaze toward her.
And at the same time, I held my breath.
Because there she was, stabbing her own hand with my dagger.
Not Vivian. Herself. Without a single change in her expression.
"What... are you doing..."
She pulled the blade out.
Squelch. The sickening sound of blood and flesh meeting the blade churned my stomach.
"You said you don't love me anymore?"
"Put that down first..."
Shunk—
"Why don't you love me?"
Before I could even finish speaking, Saren drove the blade into her palm again. Blood sprayed up like a fountain.
"Sa... S..."
Shunk—
"Saren doesn't understand."
Shunk—
"Just yesterday. The day before. Last week, last month, for the past several years."
Shunk—
"Where did the brother who came to me every single night and whispered that he loved me go?"
Shunk—
"Why... does it feel like you've become a completely different person overnight?"
The moment she pulled the knife out again.
"Stop...!!"
I urgently grabbed her wrist and pulled her into my arms.
My heart pounded violently, as if it would burst. I'd always thought she'd hurt me or Vivian at times like this. How could she do this to herself...
"Are you crazy!!?" Saren let out a small laugh. "I just lost my lifelong partner. Who wouldn't go crazy?"
Lifelong partner. Had Saren truly thought of Serion that way?
No. Right now, I couldn't afford to think about anything else.
I hastily threw aside the dagger she'd been holding and examined her stabbed hand.
"Ugh..."
Dark red blood gushed out from the mangled palm. I nearly retched. I'd cut countless people's throats before, yet for some reason this small, deep wound was enough to twist my insides.
This had never happened before. But why?
"Brother."
"......"
With that gruesome palm, Saren stroked my cheek and let out a soft laugh. The rough, wet sensation on my face felt painfully vivid.
"Do you not love me?"
Her pure, clear voice rang through the silent night air.