A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 16.2
The next day.
With Nancy’s help, I put on a maid’s uniform and quietly slipped out of the mansion using the servants’ passageway. With my face and hair completely covered by a cleaning bonnet and mask, no one recognized me.
‘I thought they’d keep a close watch and make sure I couldn’t go out…’
It was so much easier than I expected!
‘Well, if it were Edith, she’d have thrown a fit at anyone who dared block her way, but…’
She would never have thought to sneak out disguised in a maid’s outfit like this.
Clearing the last hurdle—the back door—I passed through easily and climbed into the carriage waiting outside as if nothing was amiss.
Tap.
“Hello?”
“Who…?”
When I pulled down my mask for the startled passenger to see, her eyes widened.
“Y-Your Ladyship?!”
“Call me Nancy while we’re outside.”
“What in the world…!”
Thankfully, after a night’s rest, she seemed to have recovered quite a bit.
‘Looks like she didn’t use her ability at all last night.’
Knock, knock.
After confirming her rampage score was unchanged from yesterday, I tapped on the wall of the carriage. The coachman took it as a signal to depart, and the carriage started moving.
In no time, the carriage rolled across the duke’s estate. Watching the grand mansion recede through the window, I finally turned to face my companion.
“How long will it take to get to Tollen?”
My even-toned question made Eston’s face twist in frustration.
“Is this why you wouldn’t let me go home?”
“Why bother asking when you already know?”
“This is just too much!”
Unable to hold back anymore, she practically shouted at me, her anxious eyes fixed on mine.
“To you, this is all just a game, right? You can sneak out and come back whenever you want and it’s all fine for you!”
“……”
“But me! If I don’t go home even for a single day, I’m in real trouble! I’m already spending half my wages to rent this carriage just to get to and from work—!”
“……”
“My mouth was dry all night with worry. And all for this…!”
“That’s enough.”
Since I knew her unfortunate circumstances from yesterday, I was prepared to tolerate a certain amount of complaint. But this outing was also important for me.
‘Do you think I want to be stuck here with you? You think I’m doing this for fun?!’
I couldn’t listen to her escalating tone any longer.
“You’re awfully loud for someone addressing her superior.”
“……”
“Even beasts recognize the person who saves their life. I saw enough yesterday to know you’re not even at that level. You don’t need to show it again.”
“…Ugh.”
The air in the carriage went cold at my icy words, and Eston pressed her lips together.
After a moment of tense silence, she finally lowered her head.
“…I’m sorry.”
“……”
“These days… I feel like I’m not myself.”
Her voice, heavy with regret and self-reproach, came out barely above a whisper.
Hearing that, my anger subsided a little.
‘That’s understandable.’
Anxiety, trouble regulating emotions, and intense mood swings are all classic precursors of rampage. Even though I’d purified her, Eston’s score still wasn’t stable, and she was surely suffering from the aftereffects.
‘Yeah. There’s no point in fighting with someone who’s sick…’
I was about to turn back to the window to signal I didn’t want to argue anymore, when suddenly, I heard quiet sobbing from the front of the carriage.
“Honestly, I’m so scared…”
“……”
“Blacking out over and over… And my healing power doesn’t work on my brother anymore… Hic, hic!”
Eston started to cry, her tears falling like raindrops.
‘Seriously…’
I stared at her blankly. I’d snapped at her for her rudeness, but I hadn’t expected her to burst into tears.
‘She’s not a child… Wait. She is a child, isn’t she?’
Remembering that Eston was about Nancy’s age, I let out a sigh and quietly unfastened my apron.
“Here, at least use this to wipe your face.”
“Hic, sniff! Waaaah!”
She obediently took the apron I offered and immediately started blowing her nose.
“That’s Nancy’s, so wash it and give it back.”
Trying not to frown, I forced myself to sound gentle.
“For now, you don’t need to worry. I’ve purified you to a safe degree.”
“Hic, sniff!”
“But don’t let your guard down and use your ability recklessly. You’re still not out of the danger zone.”
“Then, what about—?”
“That’ll depend on how you act from now on. You’re holding onto my weakness, so I need some insurance too.”
“Huuu… Waaaah!”
I was trying to reassure her, but Eston just glared at me with teary eyes and then broke down into another fit of sobs.
“Mom… Uwaaaah!”
Now she was calling for her mother.
‘Why the hell is this happening…!’
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