Chapter 2: Crucial Missteps Happen More Than You Think

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Had she gone straight to Ghislan, thought Marissa, her life would have been completely different.

In the first place, she originally wanted to head to the Capital to escape. Moreover, she had overheard that Edith, a maid, had moved there. She had been a low-born maid working at the nearest noble house. She and the House’s youngest Master had fallen in love, and in order to stay together, they had decided to elope to Ghislan.

Edith’s location was supposed to be completely secret. If she was caught, she would be killed. To say that Noble House was angry with her was an understatement. They were furious with her. Despite this, Edith had told most of the village anyway. She had a very soft heart.

That’s why Marissa felt conflicted. On one hand, she knew she had no other place to go, no other allies to ask for help. On the other, she didn’t want to bring attention to Edith. She was her friend.

Thoughts like these were too brazen. After all, it had only been two days of walking. She had no idea where she was...

By now, her family must have realized that something was wrong. Even so, chuckled Marissa bitterly, they would never bring attention to it. They were surprisingly prideful people. These traits were strongest inside the hearts of Peter and Martin. The children were just children, yet Marissa noted that Andrew had begun to learn through his wretched father’s example.

Pride.. what a strange thing. Even though they were poor as can be, barely surviving from day to day, those two would always try to measure up to other villagers, saying things like: “Pastor’s clothes were spotty, what a disgraceful thing” or “Your girlfriend’s father works the furrier store, right? Get me the best fur, I’m her father-in-law after all.”

And her brother wasn’t much better. Dating the wealthiest man’s daughter in their poor village was only something he only did in order to leech off of her. His fiance had no idea.

Marissa had only met her once, and it was brief. Yet, as she saw how kind and in love that woman was, all she could think at that moment was: My brother has made a mistake.

It wasn’t a question of ‘if this relationship makes it’, it was a question of ‘when’. Because Martin Rice was many things, but faithful was not one of them. He was quiet, prone to parrot others’ words and make them into insults. He was a bully; and once he’d decided Marissa to be boring, he simply withheld his tongue around her completely.

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He treated her like air, seemingly for no apparent reason. He would steal their father’s money and go to the nearby village to drink more often than not. This pissed Marissa off. They were already struggling! Yet he just did as he pleased with no regard for how his younger siblings would survive. The nerve!

Once, when Marissa confronted Martin, her father managed to listen in.

It confused her when all he had to say was: “He is my son, it’s his nature. More than that, don’t you have work to do?”

Miserable creatures like that were only good at destroying everything they had in their possession. Marissa sighed as she trekked on, night falling once more. She should stop thinking about them, it wasn’t worth it. She was the only one who would suffer in the end.

Thankfully, she had neared a new town before it had gotten too dark. Two armed guards stood at the Town Gate. After she paid the sum of entry, she was let through.

Even as she passed through the quiet town, looking for an inn, her head was preoccupied with something else. She couldn’t help but be in awe of the guards. They stood tall, guarding the town even at this late hour. Their uniforms, dignified and elegant, were fitted and matched the intricate design of their scabbards. They looked strong. Marissa felt envy coarse through her for one pathetic moment, before she nipped it in the bud. She had to find a place to sleep!

Even though this Town was much more grand and spacious than her village, she feared the same evils lurking in the shadows. Drunks, shady characters, and pickpockets might roam the same streets she did. She had to move.

She didn’t know where the inn was, the night sky was growing darker, and she felt more protective of her wallet than ever. Scanning the small crowd, she decided to seek out someone her age or younger.

Finally, she saw a boy. He was a short brunette with freckles. Walking hand in hand with another girl, likely his sister, Marissa felt like this was her only choice.

She ran up to them, blocking their way. This angered the boy.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!” he exclaimed, while the girl moved closer to him.

Marissa gave her best smile, saying “Do you know where the town’s inn is? I’m at a loss for time,” and waited for him to reply. There was silence. Then, he tried to move past her.

Marissa looked at his back in shock. Did he just ignore her? Why!

She ran up to them once more, before saying the same thing. He started sweating, the pale moonlight exposed his tight knuckles and tight grip on his sister.

Then, she heard a small voice. “...Why doesn’t Brother want to help her? Does Brother... hate her?”

The little girl uttered the word as if it was forbidden. Marissa was very confused by their antics by now.

She sounded close to tears. This broke him.

"N-no, Claudia-chan, I don't!"

She didn't stop wailing.

"Look, Clau-chan! At how close we are! So, please stop crying?" The little girl removed her hands from her eyes but still sniffed.

A beat of silence. Then he said, “Fine! I’ll show you the place. But you better not fall behind, or I’ll leave you behind!”

"L-leaving behind, how cruel..."

His response prompted more crying from his sister. Then, he glared at her! Her! What did she do??

The little idiot didn’t seem to understand that he was the cause of his sister’s tears. They moved in silence or would have if it wasn’t for the older brother reassuring and then not so subtly throwing her rude glances.

Whatever. It wasn’t her problem anyway!

They arrived at the inn, and before Marissa could thank him, he ran off with his sister in his arms.

Marissa could only think: What a strange duo.