TAVBZ 6

Chapter 6

“I beg for your forgiveness and offer my apology… but even if you can’t forgive me, even if you hate me, I’ll understand.”

Of course, it would still be a long time before Lillia gained the strength to truly protect me, but even so, her words comforted me.

Just knowing there was someone in this fortress who didn’t hate me—someone who thought of me—was enough to ease my heart.

“Still, I want to at least try… so that maybe, someday, I can be forgiven.”

Lillia looked up at me with that sweet, gentle face of hers, saying something so endearing that it was impossible not to love her for it.

I wanted to tell her how grateful I was for saying that.
I wanted to apologize for snapping at her when she’d been the first to welcome me when I arrived.

But I was Penelope Lloyd.

Penelope Lloyd—the one who used to grind her teeth and torment Lillia Swidi.

“A poor little baron’s daughter who can’t even afford a single dress, so she doesn’t show up to parties… Swidi might be used to that kind of life, but I’m not.”

Even on the road as we fled for our lives, I scolded Lillia whenever I could, picking fights over every little thing.

“Stop loitering in front of me!”

And even when climbing the mountains, I had nearly put Lillia in danger several times.
Of course, Lillia wasn’t the type to just take it quietly.

“It’s true our family isn’t wealthy, but that doesn’t mean I’m used to this kind of life, either. I’m just enduring it because of the situation. Unlike you, my lady, I don’t want to make things harder for everyone else just because of me.”

“My lady, it’s dangerous—don’t push me. And I did say you could take the lead if you wanted.”

Lillia always stood her ground and responded with dignity no matter how much Penelope tried to trample her.
And so, in no time at all, they’d become sworn enemies.

That’s why I had thought Lillia hated Penelope too.

Yet here she was, genuinely worrying about me—and even apologizing first.

How could I possibly hate someone like Lillia Swidi?

“Then, Lillia, could you grant me one favor? If you do that, I’ll forgive you.”

I deliberately made it sound conditional.

“…What kind of favor?”

Lillia looked at me with a slightly fearful, anxious expression.
She seemed both hopeful that I might forgive her—and worried that I’d ask for something unreasonable.

And… yes, it was unreasonable.

But to save the genius who was likely spending the night in a tree, watching the movements of the zombies—the Crown Prince’s close friend—it had to be done.
And the only suitable candidates were Lillia and Wuben.

But how could I possibly ask this of a nine-year-old child?
A child barely up to my waist, with hands and feet so small… I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
Besides, he would never agree anyway.

So Lillia was my last hope.

“I need your blood. Quite a lot of it.”

The Crown Prince couldn’t shed blood since he had to leave the fortress, and the Grand Duke couldn’t either, since he would be the fortress’s only defense once the Prince left.
If he reeked of blood while patrolling, it would draw the zombies in.

The only ones who could safely give blood were Wuben and Lillia—those who stayed inside the fortress.
I could have, but as a zombie, my blood was useless.

“…My blood?”

“The Prince is going outside the fortress tomorrow. Zombies react strongly to human blood—if we use that…”

“They react to blood?”

Lillia’s eyes widened. It seemed the main characters hadn’t figured that out yet.

“Yes. So if you could spare a little, the Prince will be able to return safely.”

“…His Highness is going outside?”

Apparently, Lillia hadn’t yet heard that Isdorian would be leaving the castle. She repeated my words softly, blinking slowly, deep in thought.

“So, you’re asking for my blood… for the Prince’s sake?”

“…Well, yes.”

Something about the way she asked made me hesitate, but all I could do was nod.

“I understand, my lady.”

After a brief silence, Lillia nodded.

“But please—keep it a secret that I asked you for this.”

Lillia nodded again without protest.

If the Grand Duke or Crown Prince found out, they’d insist I do it myself.
And though I couldn’t feel pain, my blood wouldn’t work.

“There were some small glass bottles in the kitchen—would filling one of those be enough? Or maybe more, just to be safe? Three, perhaps?”

“…One will be enough.”

Lillia thought for a moment, gesturing to show the size of the bottles as if trying to help me picture it.
She must have really wanted to be of use to Isdorian.

“Thank you.”

Her hand froze mid-air at my sudden expression of gratitude. She stared at me, lips parted in surprise.

Penelope Lloyd would never have said such a thing—never even felt what I was feeling.
But I had to say it.

It couldn’t be easy—to deliberately hurt yourself and fill a bottle with blood.
Especially for Lillia, the beloved youngest daughter of a noble house.

And yet, she was willing to do it. She was even the one who had first approached me with kindness when no one else had.

I was grateful for all of it.

“…My lady?”

“It’s nothing.”

I quickly pushed Lillia out of the room and pressed into her hands the bandages I’d received from Isdorian.

“I’m tired, so I’ll rest now.”

“What about the blood?”

“It’ll be useless if it clots, so tomorrow morning.”

“Then… shall I bring it to you in the morning?”

Lillia looked oddly cheerful, and I found myself staring blankly at her before finally nodding.

“Ah, and please drink the tea, my lady. It’ll help your stomach feel better.”

She reached out hurriedly, insisting. I nodded to show I’d heard her, but she went on.

“You haven’t eaten in days—are you sure just those potatoes are enough? If you’d like, I can make you some soup.”

“…I’m fine.”

“If you ever feel sick or need anything, please come to me,” she said, pointing down the hall.

“My room is right over there.”

Her light-green eyes sparkled, almost pleading for me to remember.
Unable to ignore her gaze, I leaned out through the doorway to see where she was pointing.

“Two doors down from yours.”

“…Got it.”

When I nodded, she smiled brightly, clearly expecting a response.

“If things go as you said, I’ll come find you.”

“Ah—but that doesn’t mean I want you to get sick!”

She waved her hands frantically, shaking her head.

“I know, Lillia.”

Only then did she calm down, falling silent—though her persistent gaze told me she still wanted to say more.

“Is your room comfortable enough?”

Eventually, she found another question, and I couldn’t help but laugh softly.
She clearly wanted to keep talking, even a little longer.

Lillia definitely liked me.
Maybe it was because I’d thanked her just now.

That one small word had erased all the bitterness that had built up between us.

How can someone so soft survive in a world like this?

I couldn’t help but worry for her.

“Thank you for caring, but really, I’m fine. I just want to rest.”

“Ah, of course.”

At last, Lillia began to back away.

“See you tomorrow, my lady.”

She said it to the closing door.

And for the first time since coming here, I truly felt—
maybe it hadn’t been such a bad idea to come to this fortress after all.