Chapter 5
“Hmm?”
“I’d like to go out.”
The marquis, who had been smiling brightly at my enthusiasm, suddenly looked as if someone had popped his balloon with a needle.
Not only him — even the marchioness, Benjamin, and the servants attending the meal froze mid-motion.
“How about tomorrow? I’d love to look around the town.”
“…Rozelita.”
His voice was low and heavy, a clear prelude to refusal.
No way, I’m going. I really, really wanted to go there!
I hurried to speak before he could object.
“I’m fine. The doctor said I’m perfectly healthy.”
“Father, if I go with her—”
“When you’ve fully recovered, we’ll go together. I’ll accompany you myself.”
Before Benjamin could finish, the marchioness cut him off firmly. The marquis nodded in agreement.
“Yes. It’ll be nice if our whole family can go out together then.”
“…”
The marquis’s neatly conclusive words made it impossible to argue further.
There was no point in pushing it. Fine. I’ll convince Chloe tomorrow morning and sneak off to Chellenica.
I solidified my resolve.
Unaware of my determination, Rozelita’s family busied themselves trying to comfort me — as if worried I might be upset.
Strangers caring for me without contempt… it felt strange.
I awkwardly fiddled with my hair, then turned my head as I felt someone’s gaze.
Standing by the window, facing the table, was Rozelita.
Her expressionless face was staring directly at me.
Clatter!
“Oh my, are you all right?”
“Rozelita!”
I could feel everyone’s worried gazes, but I was too shocked to move.
Even as the servants hurried to clean up the spilled salad and shattered dishes, I remained frozen, staring at the window.
When they noticed I wasn’t breathing properly and followed my gaze, they saw nothing unusual — and soon turned their attention back to me.
“Should I call the doctor again? Are you feeling unwell?”
“…N-no, I’m fine.”
My stiff tongue barely managed to form the words.
“Did you remember something from before?”
The marchioness’s face hardened with fear, but I just shook my head.
There were three reasons why a dead body — an empty vessel of a soul — was not suitable for inhabitation.
First, the vessel retained no memories.
Second, it had extremely low divine affinity, making holy power difficult to use.
The third reason overlapped a little with the first: a vessel’s body sometimes retained traces of memories.
Although memories were stored in the soul, strong ones — habits or traumas — could linger in the body.
But I had never heard of such vivid afterimages appearing like this.
“Rest for today, dear. We shouldn’t have disturbed you.”
No one else seemed to notice the ghostly figure — only me.
Can’t they see it?
Even as the servants cleared the table, Rozelita’s image remained, watching silently.
Her afterimage stood there all night, disappearing only at dawn — faint, broken, barely holding shape.
When I touched it, it scattered like dust, then slowly re-formed in place.
It wasn’t Rozelita’s soul. It lacked the calm, gentle aura of a peaceful spirit.
Even if it had been calm, such a state couldn’t possibly be peaceful.
It was unstable — fragile, ready to shatter at any moment.
At least her family couldn’t see it.
With no way to figure it out immediately, I decided to think it over later and gazed out the window at the garden, already busy with early-morning workers.
I should’ve recruited Chloe last night after dinner, I thought bitterly. Rozelita’s sudden appearance had ruined that chance.
Still, I couldn’t delay my trip to Chellenica — Chellenica, of all places!
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Chloe entered, carrying a basin of wash water. Her reaction to my short plan was brief and firm.
“If you’re planning to sneak out without permission, I can’t help you.”
She rejected me without hesitation.
“…”
I lowered my gaze and sighed faintly — a perfect picture of sadness.
Rozelita’s naturally delicate face came in handy at moments like this. I couldn’t give up that easily.
If I wanted to sneak out, I needed Chloe’s help. I barely knew anything about this mansion, let alone the city of Lodea!
“That expression won’t work on me, my lady.”
“Chloe…”
“Do you know how worried everyone’s been since you collapsed — the madam, the master, all of us?”
Got her.
The bait worked; Chloe’s eyes softened as she tried to reason with me.
“They’re just worried about you.”
“And you think hiding in this room forever will help them?”
Chloe gripped her apron tightly, unable to answer.
I raised my eyes slightly, gazing at her with just the right touch of wistful determination.
“You know we can’t stay hidden forever.”
“My lady…”
Her firm tone faltered.
“It won’t take long, and I won’t make Father or Mother worry.”
Chloe hesitated, then finally sighed in defeat.
“You’ll keep your face covered — and your hair too, right?”
“Of course!”
I nodded quickly before she could change her mind.
“And you must take at least one of your guards with you.”
“But…”
Wouldn’t that increase the risk of being caught?
Seeing my reluctance, Chloe shook her head sternly.
“No buts. Chellenica is safe, but there’s no harm in being careful.”
Since she wouldn’t help otherwise, I reluctantly agreed.
“Just one guard.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“And tell him to wear plain clothes.”
Everything proceeded swiftly after that.
I didn’t know Chloe was this efficient!
She dressed me in a modest gown favored by well-off commoners and gave me a hat with a dark veil that hid my face almost completely.
The limited vision was inconvenient, but worth it for anonymity.
I twirled once before the mirror — not bad at all.
All right, now I just have to get out safely.
“Is there a secret passage or something?”
That had been my first thought while planning my escape — big estates always had secret tunnels for emergencies, right?
“There isn’t one,” she replied firmly.
Ah. Chloe was as decisive as ever.
I’d half expected her to say yes — stories always had secret passages!
Seeing my disappointment, she chuckled softly.
“Even if there were, only the master’s family would know. Surely you’d know if one existed.”
True. That’s what made it secret, after all.
I nodded, letting go of my brief hope.
“Then what now? We’ll have to reach the garden to slip out through that hole in the fence.”
At that, I pointed to a spot by the window.
Chloe followed my finger — and gasped.
“No, absolutely not! That’s the second floor!”
At the end of my finger stood the evergreen tree I’d spoken to before — thick trunk, sturdy branches, not too far from the window.
“It’s close enough. It’s not dangerous.”
“If you fall, you’ll—! My lady!”
Before she could finish, I grabbed my dress, climbed onto the window frame, and pushed off.
I wrapped my arms around the trunk as I landed — though I bumped my head, the descent was a success.
When I looked back and grinned, Chloe’s face had turned pale.
“I’m fine, really.”
“I’ll get a ladder! Don’t move a muscle!”
She dashed off, breathless.
While waiting, I gauged the distance to the ground.
Too high to climb down slowly in these shoes.
Without further hesitation, I jumped.
Thud! Dust flew up.
“Ow.”
Should’ve taken off my shoes first. Pain tingled up my legs.
Still, I believed — irrationally — that trees and plants wouldn’t hurt me.
Besides, there was another reason for my confidence:
The body of a god cannot die.
In Lodea, where divine powers were restricted, it was the one privilege granted to us.
To balance the sealed divine force, gods were given indestructible bodies.
Even if stabbed, poisoned, or their necks snapped, a vessel carrying divine essence wouldn’t die — unless decapitated completely.
And with that resilience came great strength.
They said one could bend metal with bare hands — monstrous by human standards.
A clear message: Don’t die embarrassingly in a gutter, O divine one.
Still, I’d rather they just let me use divine power again.
As I rotated my sore ankle, Chloe appeared, panting.
“How did you get down?”
“Gracefully.”
Ignoring her disbelief, I gestured for her to lead the way.
She guided me toward a secluded corner of the garden, where she brushed aside some bushes to reveal a small hole.
“This is the passage you used when sneaking out before, my lady.”
Without hesitation, Chloe slipped through first, and I followed.
Outside, our waiting guard offered his hand to steady me.
I looked around, dazed. The world looked completely different from the window — vivid and alive.
It felt like stepping into a painting I’d only admired from afar.
My chest swelled with excitement.
“My lady, please walk slowly. You’ll trip,” Chloe puffed.
But I couldn’t help myself. Half running, I made it to the carriage rental before she caught her breath.
“Welcome! What kind of carriage are you looking for?”
I skipped the greeting and pointed to the nearest, plain-looking one.
The shopkeeper blinked at my hasty choice but soon smiled politely.
“That’ll be five shillings and thirty pounds.”
Five shillings and thirty pounds.
I froze. Oh no. I forgot the most important thing.
The shopkeeper patiently waited as I stood there blankly. I turned desperately to Chloe, but she shook her head.
“I’m wearing my work clothes. I don’t have a single coin.”
“I didn’t bring anything either.”
I’d been so excited about Chellenica that I’d forgotten my purse entirely. No money, no jewelry — nothing to barter.
As we patted down our empty pockets, both our gazes slowly turned… toward the escort knight
