Chapter 2 - Nabel (1/2)

Chapter 2 – Nabel

Count Rieda, her father, regarded the boy with disapproval. Even without him, Ronée was already a thorn in his side. For Count Rieda, she was no more than an existence which caused unpleasant rumors tarnishing the reputation of his House to spread.

“Get rid of him as soon as you grow bored of him. That you would dare to bring a filthy lowborn into my house…”

She likes things which remind her of herself, it seems.”

Her step-mother, the Countess, who was a mage, thought of nothing else but what she could take from the House of Rieda. Like Count Rieda, she too detested Ronée more than anyone else.

“Cursed girl.”

It was a story that began when Ronée had turned five. When the holy magic had had no effect on her, the priest had thrust his cross at her, proclaiming that this child had been abandoned by the Gods. From that day on, those she called her parents had looked upon her with loathing.

“Hey. Dust is going everywhere.” Her stepmother, the Lady Rieda, called to a knight and gestured towards Ronée with her chin. “Shut them up in her room so they can shake the dust off their bodies there at least.” She coughed exaggeratedly and looked away from Ronee. Her eyes showed how lowly she thought Ronée was.

“Yes, my Lady!” The knight grabbed Ronée’s arm roughly, showing no respect for her in his manner.

“.…!” Ronée’s mouth gasped open. She tried to plead that he was hurting her, but the knight dragged her down the hallway as though she were a criminal.

“Ah!” Ronée let go of the boy’s hand in shock and looked back at him immediately. She discovered that the boy was looking at the knight with even fiercer eyes than when he had been locked up on the slave cart.

His eyes were fixed on the knight, as though he were seeing something quite different. His gaze was that of a young, injured beast.

“Get in there, please!” Only his words were polite. The knight who had just thrown Ronée into her room also grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck and threw him in after her.

Surprised, Ronée caught him in her arms instinctively. Thud!

The boy who had been thrown and the girl who had caught him rolled onto the floor in each other’s arms, their bodies aching from the impact. “Ah…”

Bang! The knight slammed the door shut.

“Cursed girl…”

That, too, she heard clearly. Once they were gone, Ronée turned to the boy. It had always been this way for the poor child; it wasn’t a surprise anymore. But, the boy seemed shocked.

“…You can leave whenever you like.”