Chapter 7 (1/2)
Ah, this was clearly a test, a test to see my resolution.
“…..”
“Come to think of it, when you go outside the castle gate, you can see flowers blooming sometimes in this weather, it’s just… It’s too dangerous for you to leave the gate alone at night.”
Chloe had a cigarette in her mouth again, and then the white smoke came out of it again, and she said, “There could be wild animals roaming around, and monsters who have lost their night-time path can also walk around.”
She lowered her voice as if to frighten me. “More than anything else, you have to wander alone on the dark, rough road to find the flowers.”
The smoke covered Chloe’s expression just like a while ago. I didn’t see what kind of expression was in her face, but I knew what words would follow. I don’t know why she suddenly changed her mind, but Chloe was trying to give me a chance.
“You might die trying to find a flower. Would you still bring me some flowers? Why not turn it to red cotton flowers?”
“If you don’t mind the flowers that are bent, then as many as you want.”
And there was no reason to reject the offer. So with my resolute answer, the swirling white mist reflected the light around the corner of her mouth. There was a very satisfying smile at the corners of her mouth.
Chloe seemed satisfied as though what I said was the right answer, but not the boy next to me.
“Mother! What are you talking about? Where are you going to send her in the middle of the night?”
The pale-faced boy’s desperate attempt seemed unfamiliar to me. Perhaps because it was the first time I saw someone who didn’t despise me and was really worried about me. I looked up at him unknowingly. When he noticed my eyes, it embarrassed him for a moment, and he cleared his throat and began to dissuade Chloe again.
“Please put a different condition. This kid looks terrible… If something goes wrong, she might get hurt. These days, the forest is booming …”
“It’s Daphne’s choice, why are you stubborn?”
Chloe’s words suddenly shut the boy’s mouth and, feeling it was unfair, he quickly distorted his expression and looked down at me. I nodded because it seemed like he was asking me if I would really do it. Then in dismay, he raised his voice.
“She just looks like she’s barely five or six years old!”
“I’m seven years old, and I came this far because I ran so well.”
At my resolute answer, he looked at Chloe, not me, with a look of being fed up. As if it didn’t concern her, she looked at him and asked, “What’s the problem?”
“Now that Daphne set the fire, it will be easier than you think to go out of the castle gate, and there will be no problem since she has a strong will.”
Chloe stroked the boy’s head once and looked at me.
“But I don’t really like to wait, so you’d better hurry up and come back. Bring it before dawn.”
After giving the conditions clearly, Chloe disappeared from that spot with the smoke. It was a strange sight to see for the first time, but now was not the time to watch it. Recalling that there was not much time given, I tried to head to the castle gate immediately.
When given the opportunity, you have to take action quickly!
“…..”
It was good to be ready to go out eagerly, but I quickly relaxed my posture and slowly looked up at the boy.
“I do not know where the castle gate is.”
“…..”
“Can’t you just guide me there?”
“…..”
The boy had been silent for a long time and soon sighed and said, “I think you should put on your shoes first, so please wait a moment. I’ll take you to the gate.”
***
The green-haired boy, Lennox, was quite kind to me, unlike the people I’ve met before.
“You said Daphne, right? My name is Lennox Benedito.”
Lennox kept me waiting, the one who was trying to run out right away and came with a small pair of shoes. Perhaps it was the smallest pair of shoes he had, but it was a little bigger for me.
Looking at it, Lennox had a pitiful expression. The light-green eyes, which harbor not contempt but concern for me, were so unfamiliar.
‘…He’s a strange man.’
I don’t know if he was originally a sympathetic person, but this was the first time that I received the kindness given to a child and not the daughter of a wicked woman, so my fingertips were a little ticklish.
Lennox watched me put on my shoes with complicated eyes and then held out something again.
“It’s cold outside. I’m sure you’ll catch a cold if you go around like that.” He gave me a little robe, but I guess he didn’t like it.
“It’s a shame that this is the only thing I have for now. Just bear with it this time.”
I nodded, kindly, without saying a word at the promise of the next.
“… It takes a while to get to the castle gate, so it’s better to walk holding hands, right?”
His hands were shaking like me a while ago, but I didn’t want to refuse. Lennox carefully grasped my hand, and slowly accompanied me to the castle gate, matching with my pace.
“It’s going to be really dangerous outside the castle gate, so if you’re scared and want to give up, It’s okay to quit and come back.”
“Then you can’t get flowers.”
“But it’s really dangerous out there. More than you think.”
There was only one answer I could give to that remark.
“There’s never been a place in my life that hasn’t been dangerous to me. Since the road I walked on was this thorny one, so just because the road ahead is a little dangerous doesn’t make any difference.”
It was nice of him to treat me warmly.
“So you don’t have to pretend to be so worried.”
But, you don’t know if this is an act or not. Recalling Ulinee, I stopped talking for no reason and deliberately lowered my head to turn away from Lennox. Since then, there has been no word between us.