Ciara ran to her room, but when she got there, she had no idea what to do. She wanted to scream, to break something, to cry, to do something and get revenge on Katsuo for tricking her into an unfair agreement.
How dare he? How dare he? He never intended to play by the rules. The game was rigged before it started. It was all a game to him, while for her… she truly believed their feelings were mutual. That she had finally found someone who would be a partner. Someone she could trust.
She screamed in frustration.
“Screw it!” She picked up a vase and hurled it at the wall.
The clatter echoed in the room, and when it died down, the silence hurt. She walked over to the low table in the corner of the room and rummaged around to find some paper and a writing utensil. She found a brush and a block of solid ink.
“How do I even—?” Ciara tried to figure out how to use it, and her gaze landed on the broken vase. Water seeped to the tatami mat beneath it. She stood up and went to the water basin on the other side of the room. She carried the jug back to the desk.
She found a small dish and put the block of ink in it before pouring some water over it. The ink slowly colored the water. Too slow for her taste, but there was nothing she could do.
Ciara grabbed the brush and made her best effort to write down a note with the items available to her. When she was done, she quickly read through it once more. Uncertainty filled her chest. What if no one could understand? She didn’t know Japanese and still wasn’t completely sure how it was possible that she could speak it. It probably had something to do with that Kawa-something person with the black teeth.
“Bleh,” she grimaced as she remembered. Damnit, but it was the only chance she had. She had to go back there and find the mirror if she wanted to get back home. She wasn’t even sure how long it would take or which direction to go.
She couldn’t even remember that guy’s full name!
Ciara folded the note and left it on the desk. She turned around the room that had been hers for weeks. It was nice while it lasted. Too bad her experience ended like this.
She realized there was nothing she could bring with herself. She was already wearing comfortable clothes. The only thing she might need on her journey was money. She went back to her desk where she knew Yura had hidden the pouch full of money they had been using when visiting town.
She shook it and could hear the coins jingle inside. Nodding, she hid it in the folds of her clothes and headed out. She did not spare another glance to her room. Her confident steps led her to the courtyard and toward the gate. It was already dark, and a chilly wind swept through the castle grounds.
“Halt! Who goes there?”
“Ciara.”
“My lady! Forgive me, I did not recognize you,” the soldier bowed. “How can I be of service to you?”
“I want to go to town.”
The guard exchanged a glance with his partner.
“At this hour?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, but no one leaves the castle grounds after sundown unless they have special permission from Milord,” he replied.
“I have.”
“May we see it?” The other soldier asked.
“Oh. You didn’t say written permission.”
“That’s what he meant.”
“I see. Well, then, I’ll be back soon with his special written permission,” Ciara said, turning around.
“Milady,” the guards bowed as she walked away from them.
Damn. How do I get out of here? It really is like a fortress. Can I climb the walls, I wonder? Ciara took a right turn and investigated her chances. Unfortunately, guards patrolled the walls every few minutes, and it had been a long while since she had climbed a tree, which was way easier than scaling a wall.
She was just weighing her chances when someone unexpectedly spoke to her.
“How unusual to see you outside the main castle after dark.”
“Oh, Orihime,” Ciara acknowledged her. Great, just what she needed.
“Why the sour face?”
Ciara didn’t reply. Her attention was on the walls, contemplating. Orihime followed her gaze, and it took her only a moment to figure out Ciara’s intentions.
“Do you want to leave the castle grounds? I might know a way.”
“What?” Ciara snapped her head to the side to look at Orihime. Her need to get out overwhelmed the suspicion she felt toward the woman. “What did you just say?”
Orihime smiled sweetly. “As you may be aware, my accommodations are at the guest house, tucked in the other corner of the courtyard. However, that means less patrolling guards. I can show you the part of the wall they ignore.”
“Really?”
“There’s even a tree reaching outside.”
Ciara narrowed her eyes.
“Where’s the catch?”
“Catch? I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Orihime inclined her head. Her eyes were wide, innocent.
“Why would you help me, when we both know you don’t like me?”
“Well… you escaping means one thing. You want to be as far away from Katsuo-sama as possible, which coincides with my will. So why wouldn’t I help you?”
Ciara though for a moment then nodded.
“You have a point. Okay, show me the way.”
“Follow me,” Orihime said, taking the lead.