"I'm just happy that he's alive. Relieved to the point I could let all my lungs' air out in one sigh." The mother leaned back. In the morning her skin glowed beautifully. You wouldn't expect her to be a mother of 2 old kids this old. In fact, she barely looked old enough to be a mother at all. Not a single wrinkle and a body that was more in shape than mine.
She must have been as young as me when she birthed the sister.
"I still can't believe that oaf of a man rescued you." This sister was nothing to scoff at too. No wonder Master Elyan looked so good. It ran in his family.
"I wouldn't call him an oaf, per se." I twiddled my thumbs.
"Ehehe... look at the kid blushing. You know he has a fiancee right?"
"He does?! First I've heard of it."
"I mean, he went to Rottheim to meet her there." I was curious and disappointed. I hadn't ever heard of her mention. Even once.
"I see."
"Well, it's alright. You can have him. Since you gave us the best news we could have asked for, you rank higher than her now."
"Thanks, I guess." The tip of my ears was burning up. And then suddenly-
"I'm sorry." Eh? An apology out of nowhere? I turned to see the sister with her bittersweet expression.
"Wha-"
"Even after Elyan entrusted you to us, we are leaving for Ohnicht after all. Leaving you alone." Oh, so that's what this was about. Kindness ran in his family too seemingly.
"I'm going with you too."
"Huh?!" They promptly turned towards me, faces plastered with surprise.
"I can't just let you go there all alone. Now that I told you about everything that is going on, it is my responsibility to make sure you are protected."
"But-"
"Or else I won't be able to look Master Elyan in the eyes." I had to make sure they met.
It was true that I still feared the outside and that I might still be under watch. But I was already mentally prepared to head back to even Rottheim had Master Elyan wished for it. Maybe that's just how much I trusted him and Miss Vivi to protect me.
But if I'm stuck in my past forever, the future will run away.
This was just another party. I wasn't strong, but I still wanted to do everything in my power to protect them, as my benefactors protected me.
Master Elyan and I are similar in some ways. I was a woman with blinkers on and with them gone I had nothing I wanted to do, no one I wished to trust. But I was blessed with trustworthy people right out of the gate.
Master Elyan didn't experience that. We were the same products experiencing two different circumstances.
I have a future right in front of me I don't have the courage to chase it. So I will grab onto it before it even decides to leave.
Was this out of love? Adoration? Admiration? I couldn't tell. I did feel something towards Master Elyan, but I don't think it was romantic. I idealised him in the short time we spent together. After all thanks to him, I had a chance now. Not a one-track path I was forced to follow, but multiple avenues I could take.
In all honesty, I lied. I didn't feel any responsibility for their safety, I just wanted to do one more thing that could lead Master Elyan towards happiness.
"Then we can't stop you. I hope our acquaintance remains blissful." The two of them offered their hands. I took them.
###
The rumbling wood under me. The red curtains grazing my nape. The clatter of the wheels on the never ground. We were in the carriage the same morning. Mister Gern was up ahead as the rest of his family was all around us.
"By the way Anino." Linda, the older sister tugged my sleeve. I was still wearing the t-shirt Master Elyan lent me.
"Yes?"
"You're sure no one would recognise you, right?"
Suddenly, a lightning bolt of a tragic realisation hit my head. We were headed to Ohnicht, which was quite far away from Rottheim. But Luoris was well connected. I could never be a hundred per cent sure.
If someone from Luoris was there then... then-
THEY TOTALLY WOULD! No calm down, there had to be a way to fix this. My appearance. How do I? Uhh... Appearance. I looked over at my reflection and then just as quickly an idea overcame me.
And another lightning bolt of inspiration hit my head.
"Mr. Gern can you stop for a minute?"
"Ehhh? What happened? You wanna puke?" He said while having the driver pull the reigns.
"No, just a minute." I took a shard and ran outside.
In the middle of the woods, with the birds chirping. I gave my hair a swish and the rest flew with the wind. I thought cutting it off would be refreshing or would indicate a new start.
How naive. None of those happened. But my head did feel a lot lighter.
I let out a long sigh. I wasn't quite sure what I was doing anymore. I never expected myself to be the type of girl who would jump out of a carriage to cut her hair on impulse.
But the fact that I could do this without any repercussions made me happy.
'Washing my hair would be a breeze.' I hopped into the carriage again. And looked at my reflection again. Bangs that covered my forehead and hair that barely covered my nape. These small breasts of mine helped too. They were good for something.
"Oh my. What a pretty boy."
"Ehehe." I ruffled my hair and found some stray strands. "Mr. Gern can I take a belt?"
"Yeah, sure."
And with that, all the pieces were in place. And all of them were starting to make the move. Things were going to get messy.
But that's what you get for messing with Master Elyan.