Chapter 53 - Trisha Remembers (1/2)

Chapter 53 – Trisha Remembers

“Take it out.”

At the guard’s instruction, two men came and held Trisha. She struggled against their grip but the difference in strength was too great. Diana was right in front of her, and she’ll recognize her when she sees her, but she cannot escape from the guards, which was a great despair for Trisha.

“It’s a misunderstanding, I’m really Lady Diana’s best friend!”

“That’s what delusion always says.” The guard ignored Trisha‘s pleas. Rather, it was evident that he thought of her as a crazy woman. Tears of resentment poured from Trisha’s eyes.

“I’m not delusional, I’m not! Let me see Diana, so I can clear up the misunderstanding.”

“Noisy! How dare you keep smearing that name.”

One guard kicked Trisha in the ribs with his knee to prevent her from making further fuss. Although Trisha was always exposed to violence, the kick of the trained guard seemed as heavy as a rock compared to the touch of his drunken old father. She was dizzy and out of breath as she felt the pain pierce her abdomen.

“You…you’ll regret it.”

“Take her away.”

“I’ll tell you everything! You’re going to have your throats slit!”

Some of the guests at the banquet glimpsed at this unsavory sight. Later, guards were sure to be reprimanded.

” Hurry!” The guard commanded. The two men lifted Trisha and dragged her behind the banquet hall. Awaiting Trisha behind the walls was violence — the conventional punishment. Trisha, 17, was a tough force to bear. She was thrown to the ground, and her consciousness faded from several kicks. Nevertheless, it did not stop. Blood spattered on the floor as she coughed.

“Okay, let’s go now.”

“Yes, this should be enough.”

Soon, the guards’ voices were heard afar. The violence had stopped, but the searing pain lingered. Immense fear paralyzed Trisha’s senses.

***

Trisha’s whole body was bruised and sore. She recalled the last moment when she was unconsciously dragged by the guards, and the contemptuous gaze of the nobles who had noticed. There was an invisible line between them and Trisha, as if they were looking at a street madman.

It began to rain. Trisha vomited blood in her mouth, still dizzy from being battered.

Oh, was Diana there?

Possibly. She must have been looking at Trisha with a taunting look. Diana’s deep blue eyes that see through everything made Trisha feel infinitely shabby.

“How much will you make me miserable…”

Trisha, who barely opened her eyes and was crawling in the shade of a tree to escape the rain, lost consciousness once again. A dreamlike fantasy quickly passed through the boundary between consciousness and unconsciousness.

In the dream, Trisha was smiling. And in front of her was Lucas. She was smiling ear to ear at Lucas, who looked at him equally affectionately.

“I…?”