Breaking the Cage (8)
“Please change your clothes into this. It’s from the Commander.”
Once Larissa and Paulina finished their meals, Edith began to speak.
And every time Scarlet was mentioned, Larissa felt uneasy; even the seemingly kind gestures came to her as a burden.
Her act of rescuing her from the vile touch of the men, her act of allowing her to meet her daughter, her act to prepare a modest breakfast, and her act to give new clean clothing, replacing the torn nightgown–everything seemed to be amiable acts. However, they only deepened Larissa’s fear with each passing moment.
‘That’s right, she’s just being kind, nothing more. But why?’
Even if she put aside what she had done 7 years ago, Scarlet was still the one who broke in with an army and wreaked havoc overnight.
So why did she do all of this?
Larissa didn’t even know if there was a revolution or riot outside, as she had been locked in this room since last night.
However, she wasn’t that dense to not know that her home had been taken away by people who detested her, or more precisely, detested her husband. There was no reason for her to be treated with such care and attentiveness.
True she might be locked in a desolate guest room without a maid, giving the impression it much harsher than the usual life of a duchess. But considering she was essentially a prisoner, this treatment was almost like being treated as an honored guest.
‘Indeed, these were all acts out of kindness. No matter how terrifying it was. Why, though? It even seemed like Scarlet’s unilateral action.’
‘She undoubtedly used her position as a commander to protect me and my daughter. Surely there are others who are dissatisfied with this.’
The dark-haired woman alone was giving Larissa a disapproving look right now. Moreover, last night, there were men who attempted to rape her.
The people who took over this place either hated her guts or presence.
Only one person was on her side, Scarlet. No matter what Scarlet truly felt inside, at least from the outside, her action–from preparing breakfast to providing clean daily clothes, everything–seemed considerate. There was no other way around.
Dejected, anxious,
Her life turned 180 degrees overnight,
Confusion about her daughter, her past-love, and herself,
Worried about the well-being of the maid who was taken away last night,
Curious about the fate of her captured husband,
In many ways, her head felt like it was going to explode.
Amidst the feeling her head wanted to blow up, she still felt the need to change her clothes.
Larissa carefully picked up the clothes that Edith had laid on the bed. They were made of soft fabrics with a light navy color. It was a shirt and pants, more like the work clothes of a town worker than the everyday attire of a noblewoman.
“Please rest. I will bring another meal at lunchtime.”
Edith dipped briefly before taking the empty dishes and leaving. Paulina, who was full, spaced out while Larissa was getting changed. Wearing pants for other purposes besides riding felt awkward for Larissa.
Absent-mindedly, she glanced at herself in the mirror. Without fancy lace or jewelry, it looked odd. She reached out and touched the mirror with her hand. Eventually Larissa turned away, unsure if she liked what she saw.
Strangely, the day went by peacefully. It shouldn’t be, yet their room was quiet.
Of course, strictly speaking, it wasn’t technically quiet. Paulina babbled non stop, and Larissa kept up with her by always responding to her. Although the lively five-year-old chattered away about various topics without any particular context, Larissa never got bored while engaging in conversation.
It was more comfortable than when she engaged in forced conversations with women of her social class.
And then, it hit her.
This sense of comfort, it wasn’t right. She shouldn’t feel this way.
She knew nothing exactly about what transpired last night, she didn’t even know if her husband, parents, her little brother, and the others were safe or not.
Did her parents’ house burned down by fire? Was her little brother taken away like her husband? Her relatives didn’t experience something as dreadful as her… right?
She fell silent.
Her body trembled. For a moment, her very existence seemed like a sin.
Seven years ago, Larissa abandoned her lover to choose a convenient life. Now, thanks to the questionable mercy of that abandoned lover, she once again ensured her own safety.
How shameful.
As Paulina began to be drowsy, Larissa found herself engulfed in painful memories while gently caressing her daughter who had sound asleep. Always, without fail, it ended with one face.
Larissa closed her eyes and breathed shallowly.
The smooth skin damped with water flashed in her mind. Maybe because of sweet-scented oil mixed with warm water–or maybe not–the damped area appeared to be more enticing.
Under the pretext of taking a bath, she would call for that person. Thus how their little heaven was created, just the two of them. With no one else entering the bathroom, they could freely explore each other.
There were days when she was engrossed herself in the deep slumber, getting lost in the warmth.
When Larissa opened her eyes after reminiscing about the past, she found her cheeks were wet with salty tears, just like they were back then.
For lunch and dinner, two other women–not Edith–brought respective meals. They all wore military-style uniforms with swords at their waists, just like Scarlet and Edith. No one introduced themselves, just silently observed until Larissa and Paulina finished their food then they disappeared again, carrying the trays with them.
Larissa wondered if this was going to be her new daily routine. It was only the first day but it felt like a thousand years.
At that moment, a new woman entered the room. Without expression, she politely bowed.
“Commander invited you to join her for tea. Please follow.”
Hello everyoneeee,
I’m sorry I’ve been gone for months, works load has been crazy these past months and I’ve been pulled an all-nighter almost everyday and every weekend 🙂 And finally got a little time for myself, huft.
Also! Decided to change appearance of the site, how does it look?? And I changed the purpose of this site to only translate GL novel, hehe.
Okay, I’ll stop. Hope you enjoy the two chapters!
MoonStar 
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