Odalisque - Chapter 221

If Demus really thought Liv would be able to shoot him, then he still didn’t have a good grasp on why she ran away.

“… Well, the Marquis and I have some disagreements, and it’ll take a while to come to an agreement. I want to get to your side as soon as possible, but—”

“Liv, you know what.”

Liv spoke cautiously, but Coryda cut her off with a firm voice.

Seeing Liv’s puzzled expression, Coryda hesitated for a moment, but then took a deep breath and spoke in a calm voice.

“Mr. Adolf has been looking into the admission procedure for Adelinde’s girls’ school.”

Liv’s expression immediately changed.

“Did that person—!”

“I asked him.”

Liv was about to raise her voice, but Coryda’s reply stopped her. In that pause, Coryda spoke quickly.

“Dr. Thierry says that seeing how I held up after all that traveling, my body has really improved.”

She sounded nervous, but it didn’t sound like she was speaking on impulse. With their hands clasped together, Coryda stood and looked up at Liv with serious eyes.

“Liv, I’m tired of running away, and I don’t want to.”

Liv’s expression wavered wildly. She was speechless as she listened to Coryda before parting her lips, stammering.

“I won’t, run away.”

“It’s not simply that I don’t want to run away…”

Coryda shook her head in frustration.

“I don’t want to be your excuse.”

“Coryda!”

“If you really think I’m not an obstacle in your life, then you should understand the pressure I feel.”

Liv immediately opened her lips, but Coryda spoke first before her.

“Get me out of your life. I want you to just do what you want to do from now on.”

Coryda was outspoken as if she had been preparing her words for a long time.

Seeing her sister staring at her blankly, Coryda smiled bitterly. She didn’t seem surprised, as though she had already expected Liv’s reaction.

“Don’t run away because of me, and don’t get shackled because of me.”

Coryda glared at Demus.

“Actually, I talked back to him when you were unconscious, and I don’t think he’s going to kill me.”

Liv, who had been unable to find the words to reply, frowned at the comment.

“Don’t say scary things like that!”

“I’ve been thinking, if he messes with me, you’ll hate him for the rest of your life, so maybe that’s why he can’t touch me.”

Coryda lifted her composed gaze and locked eyes with Liv. Looking into those eyes, Liv suddenly realized — that her sister had grown so much.

That the space in the big cage she’d built to protect her was now too small.

“Coryda…”

“So, I’m okay.”

To soar, one must learn to flap their wings.

“Do what you want, Liv.”

What a grown person needed was not a safe, cozy cage, but a world outside the cage, a place where they could fully spread their wings.

For Coryda, and for Liv, too.

***

As it turned out, there was more than one building in the mansion.

If Liv and Demus were in the main house, there were several annexes and servants’ quarters behind the main house. Coryda, Demus’ men, and the employees were staying there.

After they returned to the annex, only Demus and Liv remained in the main house. Demus, whom Liv had expected to drag her to bed as soon as the mansion was empty, had somehow left her alone. This allowed Liv time to think.

Liv didn’t particularly appreciate it. She’d rather be making out with Demus, so she wouldn’t have time to dwell on unnecessary emotions.

“Looks like your conversation didn’t go well.”

Liv, who had been sitting by the window facing the annex, lost in thought, glanced over. She’d thought he’d treat her like a plant all day today, but apparently not.

Demus perched on the armrest of the sofa not far from where Liv sat, puffing on a cigar. Liv stared at the burning, flickering end of the cigar, then spoke up.

“Don’t tell me you ordered—”

“I didn’t order anything.”

Demus cut her off as if he’d guessed what Liv was going to say. Then, with a frown, he said.

“I realized in that brief glimpse that your sister is just like you.”

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