Escape (3)
Escape (3)
The next morning, a knock on the door woke me.
It might be more accurate to say I'd just kept my eyes shut and drifted on the edge of sleep.
I slowly got up, moved to the door, and turned the handle.
"Just a moment."
I went back inside and started packing.
There wasn't much to pack.
A revolver I'd kept at my waist, a pen with nearly dried ink that I used to write letters to Serepina now and then, and a few changes of clothes—that was all.
I stuffed everything into an old leather bag.
Slinging the bag over my shoulder, I felt an unfamiliar weight.
Levina stood in the hallway.
Arms crossed, she leaned against the wall waiting for me.
She wore the same academy uniform as yesterday, not a single thread out of place.
"Is that everything?"
Levina asked just as I was stepping out.
Her voice was as dry as ever.
"Yeah."
She didn't ask anything else.
Bag in hand, I left the room, and she headed down the hall ahead of me.
We walked down the corridor in silence.
Students passing by glanced at us, but no one said a word.
If I'd been alone, the whispers would have swarmed me.
But with Levina beside me, no one dared open their mouths.
A black carriage stood at the academy's main gate.
It was the carriage bearing the Edelgard family crest—one the original Ravin had seen ever since he was a child.
The coachman opened the door and bowed his head.
Levina didn't get in; she stood beside it, watching me.
Without a word, I climbed into the carriage.
Leaning back against the soft leather seat, I caught a familiar scent.
Old leather and a faint trace of perfume.
I could see Levina outside the window.
She was still standing there, looking at the carriage.
"There won't be many servants. I haven't informed the main house yet."
"I don't mind."
"I'm not so sure. Make sure you keep at least one with you at all times. You never know what might happen."
The carriage lurched and started moving.
Levina's figure grew distant.
She stood there until the last possible moment.
The carriage followed a familiar road.
The academy's high walls came into view, then the bustling city streets.
The streets I'd walked with Serepina.
The alley where I'd smoked with Estelle.
And we passed the square where I'd been burned to death.
The carriage left the city and turned onto a quiet road.
The scenery outside the window changed.
Instead of cramped buildings, wide fields and rolling hills stretched out.
Occasionally, old farmhouses came into view, guarded by nameless trees.
I rested my head against the window and stared blankly at the scene.
I wasn't thinking about anything in particular.
My mind was empty.
How long did we ride?
The carriage slowed and came to a stop.
The annex's rusted iron gate screeched open.
I looked out the window and saw the coachman struggling alone to open the gate.
I could have gotten out to help, but by then he'd already nearly finished.
An old building came into view.
The annex Levina had mentioned didn't look as bad as I'd expected.
Ivy covered the walls, and moss thickened on the roof.
The coachman opened the door.
Stepping outside, the damp smell of earth and grass hit my nose.
Three servants stood by the entrance, heads bowed.
"You must have had a long journey, Young Master."
The oldest-looking one spoke for the rest. Deep lines marked his face, and wariness glinted in his eyes.
It was obvious he was afraid of me.
Not surprising—around here, I was a notorious scoundrel.
Back when this body lived in the main house, the original Ravin had enjoyed demeaning the servants, forcing pointless tasks on them to patch up his paltry pride.
He'd hand them tiny scissors and order them to trim the sprawling lawn to exact lengths, or serve them their meals in a dog bowl, or promise them a day off if they could beat their own shadow in a fight—stupid, cruel games like that.
"We prepared the room in a hurry, but if you find anything unsatisfactory, please let us know."
I nodded.
I followed them inside.
The interior was larger than I'd thought, but there wasn't much furniture.
Furniture draped in white cloths stood like ghosts.
My footsteps echoed loudly in the hallway.
My room was at the far end of the second floor.
A large bed, a desk, and a single wardrobe—that was all. A bleak room.
The window was large, but the view held only a barren garden and a gray sky.
"If you need anything, tell this child. Your meals will be brought as soon as they're ready."
The servant spoke carefully, gauging my reaction.
He gestured to a girl behind him, just out of adolescence, wearing a maid's uniform.
The maid was terrified, staring fixedly at the floor.
I gave him a nod.
The servant looked relieved, bowed, and left the room.
Only the maid remained.
I set my bag on the floor and sat on the edge of the bed.
I took out the revolver and placed it on the desk.
The clink of metal made the girl flinch.
The creak of old floorboards.
The wind slipping through the window gap.
And the servant's faint breathing.
Other than that, there was no sound at all.
Before long, a knock came, and the same servant entered with a meal.
On the tray were a fragrant soup, fresh white bread, and a glass of wine.
"I hope it suits your palate."
"Thank you."
The servant flinched at my reply.
He stared at me with surprise for a moment, then hurriedly bowed and withdrew.
He'd never imagined I'd say something like that.
The soup was quite good.
The hot broth slid down my throat, as if thawing something frozen deep inside me.
The bread was soft.
It wasn't any different from an ordinary meal.
But maybe because I'd escaped the academy, it tasted unbelievably good.
Chewing the bread, I cried soundlessly.
Tears dripped into the soup bowl.
It was just too good.
Somehow, for the first time in a long while, I felt alive.
The bread Serepina had brought me in the underground prison had been terribly tasteless.
I'm sure nothing would have tasted good down there.
"......"
The maid beside me was staring at me oddly.
Wiping my tears, I held out a piece of bread to her.
"Want some?"
The girl flinched and shook her head. Her face turned bright red.
"I-I'm fine, Young Master."
"Quiet and eat. It's good."
The maid couldn't refuse; she took the bread with trembling hands.
Then she took a tiny bite. Like a child bracing for punishment.
From her expression, it didn't seem to taste that good. She wore a grimace.
Outside the window, darkness was falling.
I lay on the bed and closed my eyes.
I wasn't tired, but there was nothing else to do.
That was how the first night passed.
The next day, I strolled through the garden.
The girl followed me like a shadow.
As if she'd been ordered to.
I didn't bother to ask.
"What's your name?"
I asked.
The girl's eyes went wide, as if she couldn't comprehend the question.
"...Rineta, sir."
It took her a long moment to answer.
Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's whine.
"Rineta."
I repeated her name softly.
She lowered her head again.
"Is there anywhere to wander around here?"
Rineta stared at me blankly for a while, then belatedly nodded.
"There's a small forest behind the annex, and beyond the forest, if you cross a little river, there's a village. But the Heir Apparent said not to go too far......."
She recited the words as if from a script.
"I see."
I started walking toward the forest.
Rineta hurried after me.
"Young Master! The Heir Apparent said you mustn't! You can't do this!"
I ignored her and kept walking.
The forest wasn't as deep as I'd thought.
Before long, a river appeared.
A shallow, clear river.
I took off my shoes and crossed.
Cold water enveloped my feet.
Rineta stood at the bank, utterly at a loss.
Eventually, she also took off her shoes, gathered up her skirt, and carefully crossed.
On the other side, a small village came into view.
Smoke rose from chimneys, and I could hear children playing.
When we entered the village, people recognized Rineta and greeted her.
Flustered, she bobbed a bow at them.
"You live here?"
I asked, and Rineta nodded.
"Yes, Young Master. I used to live in this village. Then I applied to be a maid, and... I became your servant."
Just then, a middle-aged woman approached us.
"Rineta! Aren't you supposed to be working? Who's the good-looking young man with you?"
Rineta's face went pale.
She looked at me, at a complete loss.
I patted her shoulder lightly and spoke first.
"We're out skiving off work together."
Rineta and her mother both widened their eyes.
It was a ridiculous excuse.
My clothes alone made it obvious I wasn't an ordinary servant.
But the woman stared at me for a moment, then broke into a smile.
"Oh my, oh my! I just made lunch—come in and eat before you go!"
She practically shoved me toward the house.
Rineta followed behind us, still looking dazed.
"Mother! What are you doing?! This is...!"
"Shush! Quiet, you silly girl. Don't be so tactless."
Rineta's mother whispered, poking her daughter in the side.
The house was small and modest, but filled with warmth.
On the table, there was steaming stew, bread, and a simple salad.
"If the butler finds out, I'm as good as dead. Young Master, you must go back..."
Rineta fretted, urging me.
"It's fine. Let's eat first."
I took a spoonful of the stew.
Rineta looked at me, on the verge of tears.