Chapter 9

Could it be that this place doesn’t have pottery or glass?

After a bit of commotion, Legria finally emerged into the garden wearing the green dress. She sat alone at a stone table with no one else around, still wearing the dog collar and sporting a sour expression.

Lahik had burst out laughing at her protest. In that situation, he had been the only one laughing.

Then he had simply walked out while still wearing his own collar.

He hadn’t removed hers, either.

Still, the fact that Lahik ended up looking just as ridiculous made it slightly less unfair.

The rain just keeps falling…

The stone chair with a backrest was uncomfortable, but she considered it the price of being allowed to see the outside world.

Besides, Eos had brought her a waist cushion, a seat cushion, a blanket for her knees, and even a cloak, so she wasn’t particularly cold.

“[His Highness is currently in discussion with the Archbishop. If you wait just a little longer, he’ll be here soon.]”

Eos was trying hard to communicate something to her.

Legria had no idea what she was saying, but she hoped it wasn’t a complaint about how heavy she’d been.

After all, Eos was the one who had carried her here.

At first, Legria had been so startled that she’d struggled in her arms, but thankfully Eos hadn’t shown the slightest sign of difficulty.

She had simply carried her as casually as if transporting a small piece of luggage.

Has it been about an hour now?

Drip. Drip.

Rainwater trickled down from the roof overhead.

The impressive stone structure featured magnificent carved columns surrounding the central table, each supporting the roof above.

Small human figures were carved into the capitals of the pillars, and there were no elaborate flowers or fruit motifs.

It looked more Gothic than anything else.

The building visible from this spot was equally imposing. Its towering spires were so dramatic that she almost wondered if a typhoon would snap them in half.

It probably really was Gothic architecture.

Overall, she found it utterly uninviting.

For the first time since arriving, she was properly seeing the place where she’d been staying.

Her brow furrowed.

It looked like an ancient cathedral built with obscene amounts of money.

But calling it a cathedral felt strange.

What cathedral had such a vast courtyard and forest spread before it?

There were no crosses.

No statues of suffering monks.

If it wasn’t a cathedral, then it was simply a castle…

What a headache.

Her theory that this was a place completely beyond the reach of police, government, or any administrative authority was growing stronger by the day.

She carefully examined her surroundings, hoping to find something that might aid an escape.

So far, nothing.

What she had learned for certain was simple.

Around the castle stretched a broad circular courtyard without a single large tree.

Beyond that lay nothing but forest.

“[Would you like some more tea?]”

“Thank you, Eos.”

The water in the wooden teacup had long since gone cold.

The tea they served here tasted awful enough that she wouldn’t drink it even with her eyes closed.

Still, she wanted to remain outside as long as possible.

Once she returned indoors, there was no telling when she’d be allowed out again.

“[Oh dear, it’s become far too bitter. I’ll bring a fresh pot. Will you wait here for a moment? His Highness should arrive soon.]”

Eos displayed the teapot with an embarrassed expression.

Legria absentmindedly nodded.

Eos gave a small bow and walked away carrying the teapot.

If they’re calling it Baraken, it probably means Lahik gave permission for me to come outside.

Lost in thought, she sat quietly by herself.

Then—

Rustle.

The bushes suddenly shook.

A group of girls burst out.

Several beautiful boys who looked almost like girls were with them as well.

“[Ugh, this is so annoying!]”

“[Why do we have to gather this stuff even when it’s raining?!]”

“[Look at me. My feet are soaked all the way to my ankles.]”

What had they been doing?

Did they live here?

As she watched curiously, one of the complaining girls suddenly made eye contact with her.

The girl was drenched from head to toe.

She looked pitiful.

The table didn’t hold much food, but Legria thought it might be nice to share.

Just as she was about to wave them over—

She froze.

A particularly nasty voice came from the girl’s mouth.

“[Ha. What’s this supposed to be?]”

Sometimes you didn’t need to understand a language to know what was being said.

Insults, for example.

Or blatant hostility.

After enduring racism her entire life, Legria was so accustomed to such things that they barely even irritated her anymore.

No cookies for you, then.

She calmly withdrew the goodwill she’d been about to offer.

She wasn’t hurt.

Nor was she frightened by the girl stomping toward her.

“[Why is she wearing something like a dog collar?]”

“[We’re working so hard… and the Holy One gets to sit there comfortably…. I hate it.]”

“[H-Hey, guys. Isn’t that a little too harsh? What if she understands us?]”

One girl was openly venting her irritation.

Beside her, another girl fidgeted nervously, trying to stop them.

Legria’s eyes lit with recognition.

Brown curly hair.

Plump rosy cheeks.

Gentle drooping eyes.

She looked somewhat like a poodle.

Legria recognized her.

She was the girl she’d seen immediately after waking up on her first day here.

“[Honestly, do you have no pride at all? Are you trying to get ahead by sucking up to that stupid Holy One?]”

“[T-That’s not it, Anita! She must be confused and struggling too. Gathering herbs is our job… We shouldn’t t-take our anger out on her.]”

“[Stop stuttering, idiot!]”

How noisy.

The oldest and most domineering girl among those showing hostility toward Legria suddenly exploded at the poodle-like girl.

Then she shoved her hard.

Oh dear.

The basket the poodle girl had been carrying rolled across the ground.

The herbs inside scattered everywhere.

No one helped her.

As though this sort of thing happened all the time.

If her legs had worked properly, Legria would have gone over herself.

But she couldn’t even stand unaided.

“[See? That Holy One doesn’t care about you at all. Why don’t you give up on becoming her attendant priest? Who do you think you are, trying to become a priest before me?]”

“[A-Anita….]”

“[Take a good look at what’s around her neck. It’s a dog collar. If you want to stay by the Holy One’s side so badly, maybe you should become a dog too. Go on. Bark.]”

The angry girls formed a circle around the kneeling poodle girl.

The boys simply stood behind them with folded arms, watching.

From that formation alone, Legria immediately understood who the leader was.

The entire group was united by bullying a single girl.

How familiar.

The world truly was the same everywhere.

No matter where she went, there were always people like this.

They said that humanity needed a common enemy to unite.

But the smaller the group became, the less they needed an enemy.

What they really needed was a victim.

“[I-If I bark… then you’ll just go inside afterward, right? Anita?]”

“[That’s right. Bark once. And if you don’t do it properly in this rain, just wait and see what happens after we get back inside. Let’s see how long you keep defending the Holy One.]”

Eos should be returning soon.

Legria quietly watched the poodle girl.

Ideally, things would remain unchanged until Eos came back.

Eos probably wouldn’t care much about the girls bullying the poodle girl.

But insulting her?

That would likely make Eos angry.

Servants harassing someone their master had acknowledged as a guest was unacceptable.

If the poodle girl testified, the others would almost certainly be punished.

And afterward… I want the poodle girl transferred somewhere else if possible.

Leaving her here would only result in more retaliation.

Even if they couldn’t communicate properly, they’d managed somehow before.

Legria intended to talk to Eos about it.

Just as she reached that conclusion—

“Bark. Bark…!”

The poodle girl barked.

Legria was so shocked that it took a moment to process what she had heard.

The rain grew heavier.

The vast courtyard, devoid of flowers, smelled strongly of wet grass.

Some of the boys looked uncomfortable and seemed ready to leave.

The girls remained.

As though they were witnessing the judgment of a criminal.

A few girls toward the back covered their heads from the rain or looked away, indirectly revealing their guilt.

But one girl—

A blonde girl with a hooked nose—

Remained completely still.

She watched the poodle girl bark until the very end.

I can’t watch this anymore.

I really can’t watch this anymore.

Huh?

Again.

Once more, a voice echoed from inside her.

Almost simultaneously with her own thoughts.

Then her body suddenly slipped beyond her control.

No—

Not just her body.

Her facial muscles.

Her vocal cords.

Everything.

Someone had taken control.

Her lips parted on their own.

Her tongue moved.

Her throat vibrated.

And then—

“Hey. You. Come here.”