episode_0057

After returning to the castle, Hilda said goodbye to No. 25 and said goodbye. The steps that had been so light when I went outside became heavy, as if I were shackled. Hilda, who returned to the annex with a dark expression, went into her room and immediately covered her head with the blanket.

When Hilda came in, the maid who shared the same room greeted her, but her words did not reach Hilda’s ears.

Hilda buried her face deeply in the pillow and let out a long, regretful sigh with a tearful face.

Exhale and feel mildly dizzy. I was thinking countless times about what to say the next time I met No. 25.

However, no matter what, all thoughts are just pathetic excuses.

Now, half of Hilda was in a state of deep-rooted regret.

Hilda’s closest classmate, Daisy, who was occupying the upper floor of the bunk bed, couldn’t help but roughly pull back Hilda’s blanket and tried to talk to her.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Hilda was still burying her face in the pillow, and only rolled her eyes to see Daisy’s face. Among all the maids in the castle, she is the only one with an oriental appearance.

He was a nice guy who gave off a cool impression to people around him, but he wasn’t the loud-mouthed type. I definitely wanted to tell someone about what happened today and get counseling. But not this guy in front of me.

It was obvious that in less than a day, word would spread to all the maids in the castle.

Hilda pulled the blanket that Daisy had half-naked back over her head and spoke in a tone as if telling her not to disturb her.

“Go.”

I didn’t really want to answer. Hilda, who usually spoke first with a smile, didn’t say anything, so only wild guesses were going around in Daisy’s head.

Unlike usual, he was neatly dressed in civilian clothes, went out excitedly, and returned a few hours later with a depressed expression. All clues pointed to only one result.

Daisy smiled mischievously and took off Hilda’s blanket again.

“Why? Did you even kick that slave?”

70% of the answers were correct, but they were fundamentally wrong. It would have been better if he had been dumped as Daisy said. Hilda carries the pain of heartbreak alone, and all she has to do is heal by saying that time heals.

However, the hurt that No. 25 felt due to a brief slip of the tongue was something else.

Seeing Hilda’s depressed face, which always seemed bright, could also affect the mood of Daisy, who was sharing the same room. Something had to be done before the atmosphere got any more gloomy.

Daisy offered a suggestion to the grieving Hilda.

“Why don’t we invite you here and have a party?”

“Party?”

“Okay. Isn’t it okay for a man to feed him some delicious food and give him a moderate gift?”

It could have been said to be crazy, but to Hilda now, even crazy things that had no chance of coming true seemed like a salvation. Hilda suddenly stood up and sat down on the bed to talk to Daisy.

“But will the devil or the maid leader allow it?”

“Do you really need to get permission? You can call me secretly.”

“Let’s call him secretly?”

“Then is there any way? Don’t you know that the courageous man wins the beautiful woman?”

Hilda was lost in thought for a moment. Since he has never been in a relationship anyway, he will not be able to find a way to comfort Number 25, a person of the opposite sex, even for the rest of his life. For now, I had no choice but to follow Daisy’s words.

Hilda’s expression became brighter than before, and Daisy was able to guess that Hilda had accepted her offer. Daisy smiled like a child who discovered a fun toy and immediately made a plan.

“Then should we do it this weekend?”

“Weekend? Isn’t it too fast?”

“You should do this right away when you think of it.”

Since I had decided to follow Daisy’s advice, I had no intention of contradicting her opinion.

One thing that Hilda overlooked was that Daisy, who at first glance appeared to be skilled in dating, was also, like Hilda, a single person who had never been in a relationship.

In other words, what she desperately grabbed was a rotten rope that could break at any moment.

●

I had a nightmare.

A nightmare in which everyone whose faces he remembers, people who died in the monster’s cage, grab No. 25’s ankles and lead him into a sticky mud with no bottom in sight.

Voices sound directly in your head, not through your eardrums.

Why are you the only one who is happy? It’s time for you to die too. There is no escape from this hell.

In fact, his family did not say that to No. 25. Rather, they were good people who wished blessings for the future to those sold into slavery. The sounds lingering in No. 25’s head were entirely auditory hallucinations imbued with a sense of disconnection from reality created by No. 25’s guilt.

Number 25 also wanted to escape from that hell with his family if possible.

Disturbingly cold hands gradually creeping over my body. The dead’s grip started from the ankles and slowly but surely moved upward and began to tighten No. 25’s body.

The grip that covered No. 25’s entire body led No. 25 deep into the mud. I wanted to scream, but the sound got stuck in my throat, and it disappeared beyond my throat without words.

Before we know it, the slush that covers No. 25’s face is gradually filling his mouth.

Just before he lost consciousness due to the slushy slush filling every pore of his body, No. 25 found a white hand reaching out to him and desperately grabbed it.

At the same time, the terrible nightmare that had been tormenting No. 25 came to an end.

The first thing No. 25 saw when he woke up screaming was Charlotte looking down at him with a worried expression.

Could this also be a dream? Number 25 carefully called Charlotte’s name, thinking that if he called her name, she might disappear.

“Charlotte… ?”

The voice was faintly trembling.

Fortunately, Charlotte stayed where she was. She gently touched No. 25’s sweaty forehead and spoke with an expression full of concern.

“Why are you sweating so much this morning? Did you have a bad dream?”

No. 25 said nothing and immediately fell into Charlotte’s arms.

She didn’t say a word, didn’t throw away No. 25, who was suddenly in her arms, and smiled benevolently, unlike before. Before I knew it, the hand that had been touching my forehead had gone up to my hair, which was matted with sweat, and was neatly tidying it up.

Number 25 felt Charlotte’s touch and let out a weak sound while still being held in her arms.

“I had a scary dream… .”

“Really? So can we stay like this just a little longer?”

Charlotte, who saw No. 25 nodding her head instead of answering, hugged his back tightly. The small body was still trembling, but the trembling gradually subsided as time passed. When the trembling finally stopped completely, Charlotte spoke.

“Are you okay now?”

“Yes… .”

The voice was definitely brighter than before.

After answering, No. 25 took his face away from Charlotte’s embrace, leaving dark tear marks like scars on his face.

Charlotte took out a handkerchief from her pocket, wiped away the tears, and reassured No. 25.

“Nothing bothers you anymore. I’m the only one who can bother you in this castle in the first place.”

No. 25 laughed loudly at the sound, unable to tell whether Charlotte was joking or serious. Charlotte touched No. 25’s hand and, unlike his innocent smile, gave him a sly smile and made a suggestion.

“Yes. To change your mood today, would you like to go for a walk with me at night?”

“Going for a walk with Charlotte?”

Although I have taken a walk alone with Aser, I have never taken a walk with Charlotte.

Number 25 nodded happily without even thinking about it. When Charlotte saw him, a light of joy appeared in the corners of her eyes for just a moment.

“Then keep it a secret from the devil, and come out to the yard at night.”

After finishing speaking, Charlotte kissed No. 25’s round forehead and left the room with a smile. Number 25 touched the forehead that Charlotte had just kissed with his hand and waited for night to come.

Before he knew it, the guilt and nightmares that had been plaguing No. 25’s mind had completely disappeared.

●

It is the time when all maids, except those on duty, finish their work and go to sleep, under the thick curtain of night.

The castle’s main gate, which couldn’t be opened, opened, and a small shadow noticed it and quickly slipped out into the yard.

The identity of the shadow was number 25, and he ran until he was exhausted and headed to the fountain where Charlotte was waiting.

While sitting at the fountain, Charlotte smiled and spoke to No. 25, who approached her.

“Are you here?”

Number 25 took a deep breath, nodded, and answered.

“Yes.”

The night was short. There was no time to waste time talking about trivial matters. Charlotte got straight to the point.

“Do you remember this?”

It was something Charlotte took out of her arms, something she could never forget.

What she was holding in her hand was the necklace she used on her walk with Aser right after No. 25 came from this castle.

The corners of No. 25’s eyes trembled. He looked like he couldn’t understand why that thing was in Charlotte’s hand.

Charlotte, who had already come within a stone’s throw, whispered into No. 25’s ear.

“It’s too much for the Demon Lord to be the only one who sees this cute side. I want to see you wearing this too, right?”

Charlotte placed the necklace in No. 25’s hand. I could have been forced to fill it, but such a relationship was an option. Charlotte just wanted to see No. 25 wear the necklace of her own volition.

Number 25 slowly raised his head and looked into Charlotte’s eyes filled with anticipation. A burning gaze, moistening my dry throat with hot saliva. A moment passed, and No. 25 made a decision.

If I could make her happy because she always works for herself, I would be willing to wear a necklace like this… .

No. 25 began to wear the necklace that Charlotte had given him around his neck.

No. 25, who finished putting on the necklace with clumsy hands that twisted it several times, asked Charlotte with his eyes turned to the floor, as if he was embarrassed.

“, can I do this?”

Charlotte smiled brightly and stroked No. 25’s head.

“Yes, nice.”

At her praise, the slight shame that remained in the back of my heart was sublimated into even greater joy.

The leash was pulled to the point where it was slightly taut. The second experience wasn’t as bad as the first.

No, on the contrary, I felt like I was her own property, and I even wanted to do this even more.

“Then let’s go.”

With Charlotte’s voice announcing the start of the walk, No. 25 followed her and disappeared into the moonlight.