Chapter 112

“Tina!”

A scream that sounded like a wail.

Viviana rushed toward me with a frantic expression. Her arms wrapped tightly around me, so tight it made it hard to breathe.

“Lady Viviana…”

“What are you doing! Why are you hurting yourself again…!”

She was completely different from her usual calm and composed self.

“Are you angry…?”

“Of course! Why on earth would you do this again…”

I cautiously raised my head to look at her. Her amethyst eyes swirled with deep emotions.

Why is she so angry?

I thought this would help me at least a little in pleading for my sins, but was my judgment wrong?

I don’t want her to waste her emotions on someone like me. Yet, why did I ruin Viviana’s mood again?

“Please don’t be angry, Lady Viviana…”

I carefully grabbed the hem of Viviana’s clothes and pleaded desperately.

“Hmph.”

Her eyes trembled slightly as they met mine. After biting her lips tightly for a while, she gently took my hand.

Her touch was warm and tender.

Thinking about it now, Viviana has always been kind to me since the first time we met. What on earth have I done to her?

“Lady Viviana.”

“Speak.”

“Please don’t waste such emotions on someone like me.”

Viviana stared at me blankly. She blinked for a moment without saying a word.

“What?”

“Rather… please vent your negative emotions on me.”

I took Viviana’s hand and placed it on my cheek. Just like I did with Lillian.

“It’s okay to use me as an object to satisfy your desires. Please treat me as you see fit.”

“……”

“W-well, I think my face is decent enough… so it might be fun to ruin it.”

“Ruin you?”

“Yes…! You can hit me… or if you want, you can use me to satisfy your desires. Even kill me if you want…!”

There’s no greater joy for me than being ruined by Viviana. Because I love her that much.

But someone as great as Viviana has little to gain from someone like me.

All I have is a somewhat decent face.

If a useless person like me can be of any help to Viviana, that alone would make me happier than anything.

So please, treat me harshly. So that I can lessen the heavy burden of my sins.

Viviana raised one hand.

Was she going to slap my cheek? Or beat my body? Or maybe touch me for sexual purposes?

It didn’t matter. I would gladly accept any punishment Viviana gave.

But she did something unexpected. She wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled me into her embrace.

Then she hugged me tightly with both arms, so tight it was hard to breathe.

“Lady Viviana…?”

It was such a tender action that it made my resolve seem meaningless. I blinked at her in a daze.

“Tina, can you do one thing for me?”

“Y-yes…? Please tell me.”

“I’ll tell you if you promise to do it.”

It was a sudden request. Why was Viviana being so cautious about this?

But it didn’t matter. I would do anything for Viviana. I was ready to give up everything for her.

“Yes, I promise.”

Even if she asked for one of my arms, I wouldn’t hesitate to give it.

But contrary to my resolve, Viviana’s words were completely unexpected.

“Please… please don’t hurt yourself anymore.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t break your fingers, or your wrists, or bite your tongue… Promise me you won’t leave even a single scratch on your body.”

“Uh, that’s…”

“Promise me quickly.”

There was no mercy in Viviana’s eyes. She was determined not to back down until I promised.

This was troubling.

If I’m not allowed to hurt myself, how can I ever seek forgiveness from those I’ve harmed?

Self-harm was the only way of atonement a stupid and ugly person like me could think of.

“…I can’t do that.”

“Why?”

“Because… I’ve done too many wrongs. If I don’t hurt myself, I can’t possibly…”

Viviana looked at me without saying a word. Countless emotions tangled and untangled in her bright eyes.

“I’ll help you.”

She hugged me even tighter. As if to say I couldn’t run away anymore. She held me firmly without a single gap.

“I’ll help you until all your sins are gone.”

“……”

“So, promise me right now.”

I couldn’t understand. Why is she being so kind to me? All I’ve given her is pain, yet why does she always come to me first?

And every time, the guilt piercing my heart becomes even clearer.

Does she even know? How painful her warmth is to me.

But ironically, her tender words and actions made me so happy that I couldn’t help but cry.

“Really…? You’ll help me…?”

In the end, my weak will leaned on someone else’s hand once again.

The strong walls I built in my heart crumbled helplessly before the warmth of her affection.

“Yes, if you promise.”

I didn’t know how to atone without self-harm. So I knew better than anyone how selfish this promise I was about to make was.

But Viviana said she’d help. Maybe it’s okay to rely on her.

Unlike me, Viviana is truly capable. Maybe she can erase the traces of the sins I’ve committed.

And even if she can’t… then she’ll bear some responsibility too…

“Okay, I promise…”

“Really? Can I trust you this time?”

“Yes…”

I nodded repeatedly in Viviana’s embrace.

Only then did Viviana show me a bright smile again.

“Good, then let’s get out of here.”

“Huh…?”

The air around us swirled violently.

A purple hue mixed into the sharp currents and gradually gathered at Viviana’s fingertips.

And soon, with a loud noise, the prison door shattered into pieces.

The shock was so great that even the surrounding space began to shake.

“I didn’t like this place either. I’ve been thinking about something.”

Viviana drew a sword from her waist.

With a movement too fast for the eye to follow, the chains that bound me were cut in an instant.

Then Viviana lifted me up as if I were a princess.

Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around her neck to keep my balance. Viviana looked down at me with a satisfied smile.

“W-wait a minute. Where are we going…?”

“Where the sunlight reaches.”

With her firm answer, Viviana stepped outside.

Still holding me in her arms, she walked forward step by step.

Before long, sunlight that I could never have seen in the prison reached my eyes.

The light was brighter than I expected, and I reflexively squinted.

“Princess!!”

A sharp shout came from behind.

Lillian was running toward us with eyes filled with anger.

“What are you doing! Who said you could take Tina away!”

“Lillian.”

“You’re going too far, give Tina back right now!”

“Lillian, you know it too. You’re walking the same path as me.”

Lillian’s face twisted. Her voice was trembling.

“No! If you hadn’t shown up and messed things up… this wouldn’t have happened!”

Viviana looked at Lillian with a cold gaze and spoke firmly.

“Don’t push it.”

Hostile words were exchanged between the two.

Lillian insisted that I should stay here, and Viviana firmly stated that it was impossible.

In the tense standoff, Viviana ultimately took control of the situation.

“Can you confidently do what you’re doing to Tina in front of Lady Artasha?”

At those words, Lillian was struck dumb.

Yet Lillian didn’t back down. She glared at me with even sharper eyes.

“I have ownership over Tina. The Empire has acknowledged it. Are you going against the Empire’s will, Princess?”

“Bringing up the Empire to threaten me, are you saying you want to be my enemy?”

“……”

There’s probably no one in this world who would want to be Viviana’s enemy. Lillian was no exception.

Viviana was someone who always carried out her decisions. Knowing her stubborn nature well, Lillian bit her lip and trembled.

“But I can’t allow you to take her away like this.”

“Then come with us.”

“…Huh?”

And then something unexpected happened.

Viviana suddenly covered my ears with both hands. I was bewildered, but I didn’t feel like resisting.

After covering my ears, Viviana and Lillian began to talk.

Since I couldn’t hear anything, it seemed she had even used mana to thoroughly block my ears.

As Viviana’s lips moved, Lillian’s eyes gradually shook.

And finally, when Viviana removed her hands from my ears, Lillian’s face had regained its calm.

“…Alright.”

Just moments ago, she was furious, but now she was so compliant.

What on earth did they talk about to change someone so quickly?

I was curious, but I didn’t ask. I’m just a sinner. I have no choice but to comply with however Viviana treats me.

Viviana said she would help me atone for my sins until the end. I decided to entrust everything to her.

No matter what.

Even if I’m sold as a slave.

Even if I have to endure the pain of torture.

If Viviana orders it, I won’t hesitate.

※

“…That’s what I thought.”

I blinked blankly at the scene before me.

Soldiers laughing heartily, female mercenaries discussing serious matters with grave expressions.

This place, where all sorts of stories flowed, was a tavern located on the outskirts of the continent.

Given that it took three days of riding day and night to get here, it was clearly quite far from the Empire.

“This is a tavern I always stop by when I go to the battlefield. The food’s good, and the people are nice.”

Viviana pushed me toward the kitchen with a faint smile.

“B-but…?”

“Tina, forgiveness is something only those with power and money can truly give. Forgiveness without action is powerless.”

“…I, I have money.”

“Are you talking about money you earned yourself?”

I had no retort to that.

“……But why?”

“You need to earn money. First, earn enough money through your own efforts to seek forgiveness.”

I’ve seen Viviana’s smile many times before, but a smile as enigmatic as this was a first.

Viviana patted my head once and then looked up at a woman.

“Please take care of her, Grandma Miranda.”

“Sure, I’ll work her to the bone.”

The one who answered Viviana was an elderly woman.

Her white hair and the wrinkles on her face clearly showed the traces of time.

But her muscular build, which wouldn’t lose to any ordinary mercenary, made it impossible to see her as a frail old woman.

“Kid, are you ready to work?”

Her black eyes pierced through me.

Facing those eyes, I thought breaking my fingers might be easier.

‘I said I’d do anything, but…’

Did I really expect it to be actual work for money…?

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