A Fractured Narrative

The fire devoured the surroundings crazily, and the scorching heat brought tears to the blonde girl’s eyes, nearly causing her to sob.

[The magnificent palace was instantly reduced to the burial place of two people]

She longed to scream, but her mouth was clamped shut by a slightly older, black-haired girl.

[Yet, as the firelight danced, the footsteps of their pursuers inexorably drew nearer—they had nowhere left to run.]

This was the beginning for the two girls, Lis and Isha.

****

Aile watched the story unfold in silence, never having imagined that the two girls’ beginning mirrored her own so closely.

“Sister, I’m scared.”

The golden-haired girl huddled in the black-haired girl’s embrace, weeping softly.

Even a slightly louder sound would invite a barrage of kicks and punches.

Though Lis’s body had sustained no serious injuries these past few days, it was only because Isha had held her tightly in her arms each time.

“Lis, don’t be afraid. You are a strong child.”

“W-w-w…”

“Someone will surely come to save us.”

****

[As princesses of a fallen kingdom, their identities held a unique value.]

[The army brought them back to the royal capital, where a s*ave merchant purchased them for a hefty sum.]

[The s*ave merchant intended to find them a suitable buyer, for in the imperial capital, depraved nobles with a penchant for ‘iced play’ (TL Note: A euphemism for sexual torture or abuse involving ice, often implying sadistic pleasure.) were abundant.]

[Moreover, with merchandise of such high caliber, even a substantial investment promised considerable profit.]

[Prior to that, to safeguard the value of his ‘goods,’ he naturally refrained from harming them himself.]

[The only drawback was the younger sister’s defiance; she refused to obey any command, lunging maniacally at anyone she encountered.]

[If her hands were bound, she would resort to her teeth, using any part of her body as a weapon.]

[Yet, the more she resisted, the more brutal the beatings became. The s*ave merchants separated the sisters, covering their wounds with long sleeves.]

[The merchant attempted to subdue her with violence, but the more forceful he became, the fiercer the girl’s resistance grew.]

[Countless times she was knocked to the ground, countless times she gasped for breath through the agony.]

[Still, the girl remained unbroken; her defiance escalated, causing any potential buyer to give up due to her untamable nature.]

[At that time, she saw everyone in the world as her enemy, save for her sister.]

[Just as the s*ave merchant was on the verge of giving up, the Duke appeared.]

****

Aile’s mind sharpened; she knew the story would truly begin here.

She would witness from the outset the rise of this malevolent Duke, and ultimately, his ruin.

She couldn’t believe that the man who had murdered countless witches, including her own mother and teacher, would possess the benevolence to save the two sisters.

“Sister, what will happen if we aren’t bought?”

“Lis, I’m afraid…”

“Sister, that man is coming towards us! He must be here to buy us! I, I absolutely won—”

****

[That day, you truly just happened to be passing by.]

[You instantly spotted the golden-haired girl staring at you with eyes that held a hatred for the entire world.]

[What did her life or death have to do with you?]

[You were neither a saint nor a benevolent soul.]

[Yet, saving others never required a reason. Many things remained undone not because we chose not to do them, but because we simply hadn’t seen them.]

[Accumulating virtue and performing good deeds would surely lead to positive outcomes.]

[You convinced yourself.]

[Handing your money pouch to the merchant, you purchased the sisters from him.]

[The first thing Chris did upon gaining her freedom was to sink her teeth fiercely into your arm.]

She bit with such ferocity that you almost wept from the pain.

Yet, you merely crouched down, allowing her to continue biting, while your other hand gently stroked her back.

Lis, bewildered, released her bite and looked up at you—

For the first time, your image was reflected in those eyes that had once burned with fury and defiance.

Her previously taut body trembled slightly, as if she couldn’t comprehend why you hadn’t pushed her away, hadn’t grown angry, or sought revenge.

“…Why didn’t you hit me?”

Remaining in your crouch, you met her gaze, your voice low yet clear: “If harming me can bring you even a moment of peace, then I will gladly bear it.”

Isha stood nearby, vigilant yet equally stunned.

She clutched her sister’s hand tightly, her gaze lingering with complex emotions between you and Lis.

You rose to your feet, not rushing to approach, but simply extended your right hand towards them—upon it, Lis’s teeth marks were still visible, faintly oozing blood.

“From today onward, you need not fear anymore,” you said softly. “I am not your master, nor will I ever be your enemy.”

Lis stared blankly at your wound.

“Don’t be afraid. Are you Lis? Let’s make a promise.”

“A promise?”

“Yes, a promise. If you were to die tomorrow, I would willingly end my life today. What do you say?”

“You…you mean that?”

“Yes, I do.”

****

Aile watched all of this, her fingers unconsciously tightening.

The narrative she had so firmly believed in now fractured for the first time—how could the man she detested with every fiber of her being, the one she considered pure evil, display such a facet of himself?

She continued to watch.

****

[After that day, the two sisters received new names.]

[Lis, the golden-haired girl, was named Chris, while Isha was called Eliza.]

[You never once reprimanded the girls, raising them as if they were your own family.]

[You spared no expense, dedicating all your resources to the girls, and through their prolonged companionship, Chris finally began to lower her guard around you.]

[As the girl matured, her strength grew exponentially, and it was then that she gradually assumed the role of the Duke’s personal guard.]

[That day, under a similarly dismal rain, acting on intelligence from a certain man, you took Chris to seek out a witch.]

[The instant you saw the woman, you judged her to be beyond saving.]

[You stopped Chris from intervening, personally ending the woman’s life, but to your surprise, a young witch managed to escape.]

[Chris asked if you should pursue her, but you merely shook your head.]

Witnessing this scene, Aile’s fury ignited anew.

“He killed my mother! This is the proof! Even if he saved them out of hypocrisy, he merely used them as tools!”

Yet, a certain feeling seemed to compel her to continue watching.

She skipped past Chris’s memories, searching for the most vivid point in her own recollection.

She saw glowing yellow dots; each time, it was unmistakably that day—the day she had followed the Duke and witnessed the death of her teacher.

The thought of seeing her teacher’s face after so long stirred a flicker of emotion within her.

****

But then.

[She saw Chris, looking up at the Duke.]

[No, that wasn’t right. This perspective wasn’t Chris’s own; it was Chris looking at someone.]

[She must have been following someone. Ah, yes, there was a girl ahead of her.]

[That girl was running erratically, violently, as if fleeing from someone.]

“Ah… this is…”

How could this be? It’s impossible! No, absolutely impossible!

Aile’s spiritual consciousness plunged into chaos, even causing a ripple in space itself.

[Just as she finally managed to put some distance between herself and those behind her, she encountered a man ahead.]

“Get lost!!”

“Don’t even think about dragging me back!!!”

“You… what do you want? Don’t think I’ll trust you just like this!”

“…I don’t want…to die like that…I can’t…let them laugh…save me…please…I must…live…I want revenge!”

“Please save me… I beg you, save me.”