Huff… huff… huff oh great god! I can't anymore!
"Wh..why the hell should the hut be on a hill with such a steep slope?"
When you try to control your legs so that you don't walk faster than you should, it is even more tiring. If I walk normally, the steps will speed up anyway and in the end, I will fall and roll to the bottom of the hill and break my neck.
"If he has done this road with a child on his arms more than once up and down, I have to admit, give this man a medal for the 'craziest man' that can exist, what is the point anyway?
...
"I will endure this, below this hill is the food, think about the food, me."
When I was at the top of the hill, I could see a small village at the bottom of it, maybe the owner of the hut had to go there to get what he needed. If I go there, maybe they will call me a monster too and try to catch me and lock me up somewhere again. It will surely happen that way, even the children up there called me a Rapha and they were slaves just like me, the people of that village will know from the first moment they see me.
"It would be better if I hid this hair color, but this world has no hair dye, so I will have to use something alternative before heading to the village."
Around me, there were only bushes, rocks, and sticks. The sticks could help me in a way if I gathered my hair and put sticks in it, I would form a bun, but the red threads would show anyway and the leaves don't help me to cover them.
"I know it's disgusting, but I have to do it if I want to be calm for the time I'm going to stay there."
I took a stick a little thicker than the others and started digging and pulling out the mud, the top is dry so it will not help me, I have to dig deeper to get what I want.
After some time of digging, I found fresher mud that could stay in the hair with less water in it. I can't find water sources around so I had to spit a few times on the mud to finally put it in my hair and collect it with sticks.
"I think it will be okay, for a while, before the mud dries and falls"
Okay, here we go.
*
"Your grace!"
"What's the matter Alfred? I'm busy right now."
"Your grace what does this mean, this is an absurd task."
"Huh, what's this Alfred do you think the prince has lost his mind?"
"N..no of course not, I mean I just..."
"I have good reason to believe that in my kingdom there is at least one 'suspicious person' hidden somewhere. Something cannot disappear completely without leaving any trace. One day we might be in grave danger, so it's better to be safe than sorry, don't you agree with me? "
"Haa your highness, I totally agree that somewhere in a corner there may be a 'suspicious person', but looking for it will be like searching for a needle in a haystack and it will be a waste of time. Not to mention the expenses and… "
"Alfred that's enough! I gave you a clear order, and you have to carry it out. That's your job. Before you criticize me for the orders I give, you have to see if the work you have done is satisfying or not."
"Your highness I…"
"I know, you were the best adviser of the king years ago, but you made a mistake, and for that you were sent to work with a crazy prince, am I right?"
"…"
"Poor Alfred, you don't know how much I pity you, but I'm still waiting, so you'll do well not to make me wait even longer with such conversations. Did I make myself clear?"
"Yes your grace, I will issue the notice and get some soldiers ready to start the search immediately."
"Very well, look for the places I ordered and let me know about anything new."
"... then I will be taking my leave."
...
It would be nice if she was here right now. In the castle, she would be safer, in a place where I would watch her every move. In this life, I chose to live, and if she dies again my efforts will all go to waste. Here at least I have the power to search for her and keep it under control.
"If I fail… Sigh where are you now my little Lycoris?"
*Meanwhile*
WHAT VILLAGE IS THIS?
Great God, I can't just find a normal place for once, or my fate is that bad that I always end up in the worst places.
As soon as I entered the village I was almost crushed by a cart with grass stock, then people looked at me with suspicion from the collar, and the blood dried in my hands.
Of course, I can do nothing to get rid of the collar, so everyone will know that I am a slave, but at least they don't have to behave so badly with a child.
The only place I can rest for now is an alley between the buildings, if I stay outside for too long someone can catch me, who knows what happens to abandoned children or slaves if they aren't careful.
"Haa I just want something to eat and a shelter for tonight, am I looking for too much?"
"Of course, asking doesn't mean you will get it."
Heh ?!
"Wh..who is there?"
"You were so focused on your thoughts that you didn't notice me at all. Don't be afraid child, I will not do anything to you, if you stay as you were without saying a word it will be great."
"…"
An old man?! Where did he come from? When I came here, there was no one else. Was I so into my thoughts that I didn't notice another person standing in the corner? If so, I need to be more careful in the future. This person doesn't look dangerous, it even seems that he doesn't have any energy left in that old body, anyway I should go.
"I told you that you don't have to be afraid of me."
"...what is said isn't always the truth, so one must have at least an assurance that it will not be harmed."
"…"
Did he not understand or maybe he knows that I'm right. Well, whatever where should I look for food n... Ack!
"Uwa my head!"
"Miko, you have to be more careful when you walk, don't you see what you did?"
"Me? She wasn't looking ahead and bumped it into me"
What? What is going on here, where did this kid come from?
"And most importantly what is she doing here?"
"…"
"Hey, I'm talking to you, did you come here to steal Mr. Oscar's food? Don't even think about it, I worked hard to find that food and you are getting nothing."
Right now, did he call me a thief?
"That's enough Miko"
"But Mr. Oscar"
"She had lost her way and entered this corner to protect herself, we both know how good the alleys are to hide from someone who is looking for you."
"…"
"And she would leave anyway, apparently she is afraid of me."
"Haha fear of Mr. Oscar, that was hilarious. He can't even hurt a fly."
"Miko, did you forget something?"
"Huh? What?"