It was evening and the inn looked like it would be closing earlier than usual. Nearly all the customers left shortly after the small celebration.
"I'll be back in a while", Mr. Semira said to Rima as he left the inn.
Rima lay slumped on a chair. She was exhausted and every part of her ached badly. Today had to be one of her worst days. She was about falling asleep when she noticed someone heading towards the door. She squinted a little bit and a familiar figure came into view. "Ravea! Where do you think you're going to?!"
"Shh!!!" Ravea ran over and covered Rima's mouth. "I'm going out for some fresh air." She instinctively replied but no sooner had the words left her mouth did she realize how stupid she sounded. "Okay, bad excuse."
Rima removed Ravea's hand from her mouth. "Thank the god's you're smart enough to realize that."
"Alright, I just want to go for a stroll", she said. "I'm aware it sounds dumb but really that's the truth. I doubt father and mother would let me leave the inn for a while. So I just...", She ran out of words.
Rima said nothing for a while, "You still owe me", she replied.
"And I promise to pay you back", Ravea said happily, hugged her then left.
It was almost sunset and while some people were getting ready to open their stalls, some were closing for the night. The ratio of people closing compared to those opening was about eighty to twenty, which meant there would be less lights on the street. This was a good thing for Ravea. By the time she arrived at her destination, it was the cover of night.
FIRST DAY
She glanced around to make sure there was nobody watching, but the hood on her head obstructed her vision as well as it hid her identity. She could see the ground though, and with how familiar she was with the place, that's all she needed to see to know where she was going. She walked for a while then stopped.
"Who goes there?" A voice asked ahead of her.
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"It's me", she said then added something in a whisper.
"You don't need to whisper your name, with what you've done to me I'd recognize just your voice in my sleep", It replied.
She sighed, "I believe your name is Jerome Dernewt", she said.
"What meaning those it have to you?" Jerome asked sternly.
"My name is Ravea Semira."
"I said I know who you are wench!!" He retorted angrily.
"Please keep it down, I wish not to attract the attention of other people", she pleaded.
"What do you want?" Jerome asked.
"I want to apologize for what I and the drunk did to you." She replied.
"Your apology will do nothing to ease my pain. But carry on."
"I also want to ask why you didn't defend yourself today when you were being judged. Why did you claim guilty?" She suddenly walked closer to him.
"It's nothing", He replied.
"You don't expect me to believe that."
"I don't care what you believe, leave and do not come back."
On normal circumstances, Ravea would have let her stubborn nature take over and insist to stay, but the circumstances weren't normal, so she left. But she came back the next day, this time with lots of food and drinks, and even a mat. "Now the circumstances are normal", She thought to herself as she laid down on her mat.
SECOND DAY
"What in the name of the gods do you think you're doing you stupid wench!" Jerome asked in shock.
"Huh? Oh this? I'm going to wait here until you're ready to tell me why you took the blame for the crime I framed you for", she replied then threw a grape in her mouth. "Do you want one?"
"You idiot! Are you stupid? You've broken multiple laws just by conversing with me, are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"I wasn't punished for the crime I committed and now I feel guilty about it, maybe I just want to be castigated", she threw another grape in her mouth. "You're sure you don't want?"
"So that's why you came here? Because you felt guilty for what you did." Jerome lowered his head.
"Of course, why else would I be here?" She dully replied.
"If that's so, then I'm never telling you why I did what I did", Jerome said, then smiled. "I hope the guilt eats you inside out."
Meanwhile on the day before, Mr. Semira went to see Mr. Dernewt. The thought Rima had put in his head haunted him so he wanted clearance, but when he arrived Mr. Dernewt wasn't home, only his wife.
"He went to the Sanctuary to pray for Jerome's health", She had said. Despite everything that had transpired between both their families, she was still welcoming.
THIRD DAY
"Hey Rima, I noticed Ravea sneaking out of the inn yesterday, where did she go to?" Hopas asked.
She looked at him like she had just seen feaces. "I'm not my sister, don't talk to me", she replied then left.
"Tch, that's why you don't have any friends." He downed the beer she served him. "But nevermind, I'll find out myself tonight."
Rima warned Ravea about Hopas but also proceeded to ask her what she does when she leaves the inn at night.
"What?! You framed him?!" Rima asked in surprise.
Ravea mildly nodded.
"Mhmm? And you even came up with the plan?"
"Yes, I already told you."
"I'm sorry, I just didn't know you to be that heartless. I mean I knew you were heartless enough to trick men out of there money but not heartless enough to frame an innocent man", Rima said with her hands on her chin.
"I'm not heartless", Ravea muttered under her breathe.
Rima heard her, "So you say, but the man you framed would definitely have a different opinion on that."