Odalisque - Chapter 188

A disconcerting feeling of foreboding grazed the nape of his neck. Demus’ gaze traveled to the desk this time. He noticed a piece of paper lying on the meticulously arranged desk.

Everything else was neatly organized, but the paper sat there conspicuously in the center of the desk, as if it was meant for someone to see.

Demus reached for it as though compelled by something. Flipping it over, he saw a neat handwriting. Demus’ countenance turned ashen.

[Pardon my unbearable fear, which makes me back away. You’re a great collector, so I’m sure you’ll quickly find something of value, my Lord. Though regrettably, it wasn’t me.]

Bang!

“Master!”

A resounding bang echoed as the entrance door was hastily flung open.

“The Rhodes sisters have disappeared!”

His grip tightened on the paper. The handwriting, which mirrored the writer, crinkled.

Demus felt as though blood was draining from his body.

***

There was a cold sweat between their clenched hands. Coryda, noticing Liv’s nervousness, searched her face with concern.

“Are you okay…?”

“I’m fine, Coryda.”

Liv whispered to Coryda in a weak voice and adjusted her hood for no reason. Even though she wrapped her cloak around herself and pulled her hood up after dressing up like a man, she still felt uneasy.

Liv walked cautiously with Coryda, who was also dressed up like a man, similar to her sister. Over the shoulders of passersby, Liv spotted the shared carriage they were about to board. She could hear the guide shouting that the carriage was about to depart.

“Two people.”

She pulled out some money that she had prepared in advance and handed it to the guide, who gave her two tickets. Coryda, standing next to her, took the tickets coldly.

Once in the carriage, Liv’s guard remained high.

She had intuited that the Marquis had deployed people to follow her. After all, the Marquis had spoken of her every move as if he personally witnessed it. Liv doubted that she would be able to escape his scrutiny simply by dismissing the carriage and coachman he had assigned her.

Thus, Liv spent several days dressed in the most common garb she could find on the streets, riding in the cheapest shared carriage anyone could ride in, and blending in with the crowds. All the while, she wondered if it would really work. With the Marquis monitoring her closely, such a ruse would be impossible.

It was Camille who gave her courage. Camille, who had a lot of experience snooping around, knew the difference between being trailed and being observed. Camille informed her that the Marquis had let Liv off the watch even more loosely than she presumed.

From the beginning, the people the Marquis had assigned were there to monitor Liv’s daily routine, not to prevent her from escaping.

Escaping.

Liv swallowed dryly, feeling the carriage begin to move slowly.

Yes, this was an escape.

From the Marquis, who could easily abandon her tomorrow; from Buerno, where her reputation had been ruined beyond repair; from her life, in which she had become no better than a clown.

“Where… are we going?”

Coryda whispered in a small voice as she stared at the rapidly passing scenery.

There was no time to explain things to Coryda properly. Liv’s decision to flee had been made at the spur of the moment, and the preparations had been hastily made. Although Coryda’s face was filled with questions, considering the sudden change in Liv’s appearance, she did not protest.

“… The train station.”

“What about the tickets?”

“We’ll figure it out there.”

It couldn’t be helped, since she was afraid she’d get caught if she bought the tickets in advance. She planned to pick the earliest available leaving train as soon as they arrived at the train station.

“… Are we not coming back?”

“Yeah.”

Shortly after answering, Liv added with a sigh.

“I’m sorry.”

This time, they could have settled down until Coryda’s health was restored. Then maybe they could have even prepared for Coryda’s academic problems and beyond. If only she held on a little longer.

Liv couldn’t bear the humiliation, so they had to escape like a criminal.

The Marquis undoubtedly would be furious. After all the favors he had granted Liv, it was only natural that he would be angry. Although she couldn’t give up all of the financial help the Marquis had given her, Liv had left as much of it at home as she could. As a result, she didn’t have much to carry.

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