Chapter 4: The Trap of Original Sin (6)

Two days had already passed since returning to the mansion. Despite the intention of spending some quality family time together, Father didn’t seem particularly pleased due to the unexpected visitor.

“I’ll be going out.”

Father shot Jaylon a brusque remark. I glanced at Jaylon, wondering how he had managed to find out about my return to the mansion and appeared like a ghostly visitor.

“Yes, Your Grace. There’s a play I want to see with Licia.”

Father’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but he soon sighed deeply and expressed his approval.

“Make sure to return before dinner.”

An outing. It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. I still felt a cold sweat on my palms from the incident at the marketplace two days ago.

I wanted to refuse, but Jaylon’s persistent pleading made me reluctantly prepare for the outing.

Eventually, I put on a large hat to conceal my hair and stepped outside.

I walked to see the play Jaylon eagerly prepared for us. The destination was a somewhat shabby third-rate theater.

“Shouldn’t we sit closer to the front?”

“No, it’s fine. We’ll have a good view from the back.”

I said, adjusting the large hat on my head. I didn’t want to obstruct anyone else’s view because of the hat.

“This play is quite popular among couples.”

“Is that so?”

“…So I hope you’ll enjoy it too.”

I nodded awkwardly at Jaylon’s words. I had occasionally accompanied Father to watch plays, but this shabby theater was a first. The chairs were cramped and uncomfortable, and the theater sign seemed like it could fall off at any moment.

As people settled into the cramped theater, Jaylon nervously pulled my shoulder towards him, fearing that I might touch the person next to me.

“I should have bought another seat if I knew it would be this cramped.”

“It’s okay. It’s a popular play. If there’s space, it’s better to have one more person.”

Whispering closely, Jaylon’s cheeks flushed red like beetroots.

“Jaylon, are you feeling hot?”

“…Because of my long hair.”

Amidst the uncomfortable tension, the long-awaited play began. Cheap props and awkward acting by supporting actors filled the stage. When one supporting actor stumbled over their lines, uncomfortable laughter echoed through the audience.

Then, hastily, the female lead, who had been waiting behind the dark curtain, stepped onto the stage.

Her face, delicately poised on the verge of crumbling, scanned the worn-out stage. Like me, she had blonde hair and blue eyes. 

Oh, it was as if she existed in a different world all by herself. In an instant, I was captivated by her performance.

“Oh God, why did you choose me, someone dull, instead of other bright individuals…”

She cried out, reaching her hand towards the sky. The dreadful cries of a battlefield covered the shabby wooden stage.

“Once again, there is no answer… I now understand what I must do.”

Receiving a divine revelation, she soared onto the battlefield as a warrior, leading the war to victory. However, due to jealousy and suspicion, she was branded a witch as soon as the war ended, leading to her tragic demise – burned at the stake.

“Do not burn my body. Kill me and hang me in the woods, so hungry beasts may feast on my flesh and blood to fill their bellies.”

But contrary to her wishes, she was bound to the stake.

“Oh… There are still so many awaiting my salvation.”

Her poignant and beautiful voice echoed through the narrow theater. Until the very end, she did not assert her innocence or utter words of resentment. She worried about those left behind until her final moment, closing her eyes alone in the flames.

As the curtain fell amidst pouring cheers, Jaylon kept glancing at me.

“…I’m truly sorry. The play Jonathan mentioned wasn’t about this, perhaps it has already ended.”

Contrary to Jonathan’s description of a heart-wrenching love story, the heroine’s narrative in the play was striking.

“…No, I really liked it.” 

“Really?”

“It’s my favorite among all the plays I’ve seen. Jaylon.”

It felt like he had read my diary. I hurriedly left the theater, clutching my overwhelmed heart. Just as Jaylon said, the sign had recently changed to display a new play.

[Zandark]

Among the theater actors who had come to see the newly adorned sign, there was also the woman who had captivated my attention throughout the play. Even as she descended from the stage, she still radiated brilliance.

Lost in thought, two men leaving the theater briefly glanced at the blonde woman standing in front of the sign.

“In the end, someone always dies. There’s nothing to see except that woman’s face.”

“Then, weren’t all the people who paid to sit here just to see that woman’s face?”

“That woman was supposedly chased away after trying to undergo a purity test at the temple.”

“A Saint? That’s ridiculous. Just because she has a half-decent face, does that mean she can pretend to be a Saint at her age?”

As the men passed by, they left behind a lingering unpleasant laughter. A bitter smile spread across the woman’s lips.

‘Beautiful on the outside, rotten on the inside.’

Sua’s words from the past came to mind. Hearing such remarks, I could only hang my head in silence like a sinner, unable to respond.

“Let’s go, Licia.”

“Just a moment.”

‘Isn’t it nice to have people come and go because of your natural appearance? But how long will that facade last?’

‘You should live gratefully for that. If that pretty face gets burned, who do you think will bother to look at you?’

‘If only I was born with a less stupid and clumsy mind, maybe my face would be half-decent too. Don’t you think so?’

Without hesitation, I approached her, undoing the bonnet wrapped around her head. Her sweat-dampened golden hair fluttered in the breeze.

“…The play was really enjoyable.”

Despite her beautiful appearance, she poured her heart and soul into her performance on stage. Not a single glance or breath lacked passion. She didn’t want her efforts to be underrated beneath the flashy exterior.

“It was the most enjoyable play I’ve ever seen.”

I don’t want you to be hurt for the same reasons as me. Beneath the flashy exterior, I glimpsed your pure soul.

“…I’ll come to see you again. I promise.”

She didn’t respond, just quietly lifted the corners of her lips.

“Jaylon, were you waiting?”

“What’s with the sudden talk?”

“I said you might become a fan. We should come see the next play too.”

“It really touched you, huh? Then let’s make sure to come back.”

Thinking about holding hands with Sarahh when we came back to see the play made me feel warm inside. I awkwardly avoided responding to Jaylon’s suggestion of coming back alone together.

“What’s that over there?”

Drawn by the sweet smell, I approached with a trance-like state.

“Jaylon, come here.”

I stepped closer to where the tantalizing aroma was emanating. In front of me was a pot filled with bread generously covered in honey—a treat that Sarah would have loved.

“Jaylon, come on over…”

“Miss, how many would you like?”

Jayllon, whom I thought was following quietly, was nowhere to be seen. In that brief moment, he got lost in the crowd. I called out his name belatedly.

“Jaylon!”

As I shouted his name, all eyes turned to me. It was too late to put the bonnet back on my head, which I had just picked up.

“Would you like to try one?”

The man offered a tempting piece of bread. When I hesitated to take it, the honey dripped onto the dirt floor.

[It’s free for the Lady!]

Lost in the memory from two days ago, I stumbled backwards in a daze. Swept up by the crowd, I couldn’t tell if I was moving forward or backtracking along the path I had come. 

“…Sorry!”

I collided with someone’s sturdy frame. I was about to fall backward, but the man’s firm grip helped me regain my balance.

“It’s alright.”

It was a familiar voice. I recognized his voice.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

It was Martin Scott, a royal knight. He was Victor’s right-hand man, loyal to his master above all else. He was assigned to me by Victor when I first became the Crown Princess, to help me adjust to palace life.

“…No, I’m fine…”

And when Victor’s white horse stamped its hoof on my back, leaving its mark, he was one of the knights restraining me. Martin was dressed in civilian clothes.

“But there was no way I couldn’t recognize him.

My body reacted before my mind could catch up. Memories of terrible abuse made my legs tremble as if they would give out any moment.

Just keep walking forward as if nothing happened. Just pass by. But moving my body wasn’t as easy as I thought.

‘Jaylon… Jaylon, where are you.’

“Are you alright? Your face looks pale.”

As Martin took a step closer, my body, lost in confusion, weakly fell backward. I expected to collapse onto the ground, but surprisingly, I remained intact.

“I’m sorry, did she make a mistake or something?”

“…Oh, no. I was just asking if you were hurt from the collision.”

“You tend to stumble often, so don’t worry about it.”

The firm touch against my back felt unfamiliar. I glanced briefly at the large palm wrapped around my waist. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to the face of the man holding me.

“Why are you…!”

Unable to hide my confusion, I squirmed, but the man pressed tightly against me whispered softly.

“If you don’t intend to provoke, just stay still.”

“Provoke…?”

“If even I feel so blatantly tempted, there’s no hope for me.”

Feeling the warmth beyond the hem of my dress, I was at a loss for words. As I twisted my hips to escape belatedly, the rough handle of a hammer rubbed against my back.

“Please, just…!”

A hot breath grazed my ear. With a flushed face, I barely whispered my lips, and Martin, looking puzzled, asked the man.

“You two know each other, right?”

“Of course. She is…”

He slowly parted his lips above my neck and spoke.

“Would it suffice to say that we dine together and sleep in the same place?”

Martin covered his face with his left hand as if he couldn’t bear to witness such a scene even in broad daylight. It was a cheesy line that wouldn’t even make it into a third-rate play.

As I looked up at the man who had fallen into a shameless role of uttering cheesy lines, he glared as if he would devour me.

“Y-Yes. Dining together and sleeping in the same place…”

Strictly speaking, dining together and sleeping in the same place was accurate. After all, he was a priest in the monastery, and I was a nun.

Leaving Martin, who looked like he might vomit at any moment, behind, he dragged me along like a burden and headed down the alley.

“Really, what’s the point of running around like a headless chicken? What would you do if you were hit by a carriage or something, huh?”

He was close enough for his breath to reach me. His lips approached as if they would devour me.

“Father Edwin, what brings you here?”