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nt1v: Still in a flashback

nA few days have passed since then.

nIn the meantime, I haven’t seen Alastair.

nSomehow I heard the news that he woke up.

nI was very relieved by that.

nWhen I saw the blood flowing from his head, I thought he had died.

nEven now, the memories of that day are clear, and I tremble when I pass the stairs.

nI sighed, full of confusion, and my anxiety filled the room.

nI was in the gallery hall where the paintings collected by Duke Melford are displayed.

nA commonality between all the pieces she collected is that they all look twisted and bizarre.

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nThe picture in front of me was no different.

nIn the painting, there was a couple, a man and woman, with perilous appearances.

nThe woman was backed into a corner. She had no place to retreat from the edge of the cliff. Her expression crumbled hideously into a tearless despair and silent scream.

nIt was disgusting.

nIn front of her, the man hugged the woman’s waist at the edge of the cliff. It looked so uncomfortable that it would not be strange if he fell off the cliff soon, perhaps because his limbs were twisted.

nCreak—

nSomeone opened the door and entered the room.

nI knew who it was without looking.

nI wasn’t annoyed today.

nBecause I wanted to check his condition.

n“You······.”

nI frowned over the white bandage around his head.

n“Are you worried about me?”

nHe laughs happily.

nIf it were me in the past, I would have felt unpleasant, but today it was different.

nIt was the first time that I had no reluctance in seeing him.

nEven if there was a slight discomfort, the sight of his white bandage around his head made it subside.

n“…… I’m sorry. Back then, it was an accidental mistake.”

n“I’m okay.”

nHe hugged his arm around my waist.

nI was pushed back by the force that embraced me against the picture I had been observing since a while ago.

nHis unhesitating touch made me uncomfortable, but I did not show it.

nLooking at his white bandaged head reminded me of the moment when I pushed him away—the moment when blood was flowing from his head.

nI couldn’t bring myself to do anything because I was so sorry.

n“I was rather happy.”

n“What·······?”

n“It’s a wound you gave me. So I’m glad. No matter what you do to me, I’m amazed.”

nDisgust like acidic bile rose up my throat.

n“And now I’m hurt, so Seri won’t push me away, right?”

nHis purple eyes contained a distorted joy.

nI shouldn’t have looked into those eyes.

nA spooky sensation took over my whole body.

nI lifted my hand, leveraging against the picture, and pushed him.

nHe fell a few steps away from me.

nI couldn’t accept him anymore and hurried out of the room.

nSince then, I’ve been avoiding him all the time.

nGuilt and disgust coexisted, making it harder than before to be in his presence.

nThe only thing I could do was to avoid bumping into him as much as possible.

nBut we met again like two cogs interlocked. In the worst of circumstances.

nUntil then, I really didn’t even think about it.

nThat I’ll do more than push him off the stairs, the accident of that day really happened in an instant.

n“Haaah……! No!”

nHe struggled to shake off the hands of the Duke’s servants.

nHowever, as adults, their strength was stronger, and Alastair was dragged away by them.

nIt was always a repeating routine.

nAlastair resisted entering the Hall of Hallucinations and being brainwashed until the servants dragged him away with force.

n“Stop it… ! No!”

nHis movements to get out of their grasp, while twisting his whole body as hard as he could—suddenly paused. Purple eyes touched me.

n“Serina!”

n“…………”

n“Seri·······!”

nHe called me desperately.

nOther than that, there was no backstory, but I didn’t know what he wanted me to say.

nHe’s asking for help.

nBut there was nothing I could do.

nI turned my head.

nI turned my back on that desperate call.

nI didn’t want to know or help him with his request.

nShouldn’t I take care of myself first?

nHow can I help you?

nBelieving it, I snickered and walked as fast as I could, as if running away.

nI don’t know what’s going on behind my back.

nThe feeling of guilt that was deeply suppressed creeps up on my heart.

n‘I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s natural.’

n“…… Don’t go, Serina.”

nA murky voice longed mournfully.

nI haven’t heard anything.

nI repeat it to myself dozens of times.

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n“Do not throw me away.”

nI haven’t heard anything.

nI didn’t hear anything.

nKkkkkkrrrreeeekk—

nI stopped at the eerie sound of scratching my eardrum.

nWhoosh—

nA gust blew from behind me, and my silver hair fluttered around, and the blue hem of my skirt fluttered in the air.

nThe aggressive wind swept my skin.

nIn the place where the wind passed, a long line became messy, and blood sweeped out.

n“Run away my lady! It’s dangerous!”

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