My physical condition is so bad that I even had nightmares.
No, it started as a nightmare, but it was a dream that unfolded in a strange way.
Splash!
Splash!
In my dream, I was standing at the edge of a cliff. I was ten years old, and I had just been beaten from head to toe by Violord until I was covered in blood.
The reason is...
What was it again?
Actually, there wasn't any particular reason.
Because I was rude, because I misspoke, because I was framed, because I looked stupid. There were countless reasons, but none of them ultimately became the real reason. The person doing the hitting can just hit if they want to.
And so, one day when I was ten years old and couldn't take it anymore, I escaped from the Viollode mansion.
The violord liked to keep me locked up, but he didn't keep me locked up very diligently. The reason he was keeping me locked up wasn't because he was afraid I would actually escape.
He was just trying to insult me. He knew I was a kid who couldn't live without him, and he also knew I was born a coward.
The South is too dangerous for someone like you to live alone.
It was Viollode's catchphrase.
And if I go out right now, there's only a cliff outside the top bar. Where are you going to live? The sea? You probably think the ocean is made up only of water, right? Beneath the white waves, terrifyingly sharp stones are hidden. You'll die with your head smashed in.
Splash!
Splash!
I watched the white, crashing waves. The waves turned white when they hit the rocks, then clear again.
I want to disappear like that too.
Like bubbles.
Thinking that, I carefully took a step forward. At that moment, someone said.
It's dangerous if you go any further.
I looked back.
Is it my father's mercenary?
But what I saw was a delicate boy, like a fawn with white skin and red lips.
Fourteen years old...? I wonder if it's about that time.
He reached out to me anxiously.
Come this way. You'll get hurt if you do that.
You'll get hurt doing that? I looked down at my legs, covered in bruises and scratches, and grimaced.
"...Don't come any closer."
I wanted to swear, but I held back.
Okay. It might be too much to curse at a leisurely boy who has the time to reach out to a girl standing on a cliff as he passes by.
I cautiously stepped closer to the edge of the cliff, wary of him. Then his face visibly paled.
I'm not going. I'll never go that way, so... don't jump.
Oh, come on. You're saying not to jump because you won't come? Do you think I'm negotiating right now?
But this naive boy seemed to believe he could help me.
I decided to take advantage of their pure heart. With eyes that looked like they were about to burst into tears at any moment, and huddled up as if terrified, they said this.
"...Really?"
And with a slight tremor in your voice.
I looked into his eyes. His red, ruby-like eyes.
He nodded. He had a kind face.
He said.
So you're not going to jump either, right?
I nodded. He sighed and ran his hand over his chest. Then he stepped back slightly.
How silly.
"...!"
The next moment, I took another step back.
The rough wind tousled my hair. The sea was above my head, and the sky was below my feet.
In a word, I was falling.
Ah, it was a magnificent sight.
A magnificent sight that will make my miserable life vanish into thin air.
You liar!
His voice, suitable to be called a boy, or perhaps just... a small human, echoed and faded away.
Oh dear... why would anyone believe what others say so easily? How will they survive in this harsh world if they're so easily deceived like that...?
Farewell, you naive young master!
✵ ✵ ✵
Someone's cold hand grabbed mine. It felt like my whole body was submerged in a pit of fire, so the refreshing coolness was truly welcome.
It's cool...
I murmured softly. I brought those cold fingers to my cheek and rubbed against them.
"...You're not actually asleep, are you?"
A familiar voice was heard. I lifted my heavy eyelids and looked at the person speaking.
Red eyes. A kind face. Red lips and white skin.
I chuckled.
It's Eric.
Oh, I was so busy admiring Eric's face that I completely forgot the details of the nightmare I just had. I definitely had a dream, but I can't remember what it was about.
I can't even remember if it was a hint of the future, a recollection of the past, or a projection of present desires...
"Pfft..."
I exhaled, as if letting out the heat that filled me.
Does it hurt a lot?
Eric touched my forehead with concern.
The cool hand seemed to gently bring down the fever on my forehead. Now that I look, a cool breeze has also come from somewhere.
The window is open.
I turned my head and looked out the open window.
Eric lightly shook my shoulder like that.
Snap out of it for a second. Take your medicine and go to sleep.
Medicine?
I scrunched up my face.
Nina said not to eat it...
So I snuck in.
"......?"
I looked back and forth between Eric's face and the window. I let out a ridiculous laugh.
"...You didn't climb up the wall of your own house, did you?"
Eric nodded obediently.
Oh my... what a waste of talent this is.
But I've been feeling this for a while now, they can break restraints, climb walls, and it seems like you learn those skills if you're in the Royal Knights... right?
Eric held out a glass of water and medicine to me with one hand, and with the other, he put a finger to his lips.
Shhh. Nina is waking up.
Oh, my goodness...
That's a fine thing to do. He's sneaking around his own house like a thief.
He couldn't finish what he was saying. It was because I was busy shaking the medicine and water into my mouth. However, when the water actually went down, my throat burned as if it were on fire.
"...Ugh..."
I covered my mouth and turned my head.
Cough! Cough!
The medicine I couldn't swallow spilled onto the sheet, soaked with water.
Ugh... disgusting...
But Eric, as if not very surprised, picked up a towel and wiped it off.
Does it hurt a lot?
Just... just leave it... Even without medicine, if I just get a good night's sleep for a few days... I'll get better...
I tried to grab Eric's towel, but it was no use. My hand didn't even reach Eric's towel; it just fell onto the sheets.
I'm going to die like this, I'm going to die...
I mumbled and hugged my pillow. Eric looked down at me worriedly, then got up. He walked toward the window.
Are you going? Goodbye... farewell..."
You thief who's burning down your own house walls...
It was when I weakly waved my hand. Eric slammed the window shut with a bang. His body remained in the room.
"......?"
He walked back toward me and sat down by the bed.
Because I thot it would be cold.
It's not cold... it's hot...
I touched my cheek with the back of my hand, which must have been burning red. It's piping hot.
Something cold and refreshing touched my forehead.
"Wet towel..."
I looked up at Eric wiping his forehead.
I'll cool you down with a wet towel, so stay warm.
I sniffled and nodded.
Seeing Eric wipe my forehead made me think of my mom.
When I was sick, my mom would sit by my side all nite and wipe my forehead with a wet towel like this.
Because of that damn valdeck, I came into this luxurious and magnificent mansion and then...
I'm all alone now.
"...My mom is doing well, right?"
I just saw it too. They are doing well. I doubled the security at the mansion.
"...thank you."
I felt a tingling sensation on the bridge of my nose.
Eric's eyebrows twitched. Come to think of it, I haven't properly said thank you until now.
"...Mom knew about it?"
The violist is alive.
Before I could even finish saying that, Eric nodded.
I see. As expected... you knew.
Damn Helena. So, knowing that, you stole the witch's ledger, right? Seriously.
I sniffled and pulled the blanket tighter around me. Every time I closed and opened my eyes, I felt a warm sensation in my eyeballs.
Even so, he's still my father, and he's leaving me with a cold until the very end.
In the end, I never saw his face, but just hearing about the Violord made my body ache terribly. It feels like I've been beaten up, with muscle aches everyplace, as if the memory is still fresh.
It was dirty meeting you, and let's never meet again, Father.
Eric looked down at me worriedly, then asked as if trying to change the subject.
"...Aren't you going to ask about Philip?"
I'm not interested in that punk's health...
Philip has no mercy.
This is a feeling you only understand if you have siblings...
Eric chuckled softly.
He dipped the towel he had used to wipe my forehead in water once, then wrung it out tightly. Then, as the bottom of his shirt began to get wet, he put down the towel and rolled up his shirt.