Chapter 117 – Chapter 4: Murderer – 2
Tia’s eyes shook with fear.
“Didn’t you hear? “I told him to take off his hood.”
The soldier reached out his hand to forcibly remove the hood.
How can we avoid this situation?
Should ‘Tia Ann Shea’, who is on a badge and charged with murder, say that she is not herself?
However, in this tale, the red-haired girl meant Tia.
The people of Taildon know Tia’s face very well.
In fact, this soldier will recognize Tia as soon as he sees her eyes, nose, and mouth, even before she takes off her hood.
He was a celebrity in a good sense.
I don’t understand.
Why is there such a ridiculous poster posted?
The people who used to know Tia well would know that Tia is not a child who would commit murder.
Teacher Bean, Aunt Lily of the pastry shop, and the owner of the tavern…
Everyone will prove it.
But… There was no one to protect this helpless girl right now.
Sak.
Tia, terrified, took a step back.
She then realized that she had unconsciously groped around her waist to retrieve her knife.
The soldier’s eyes changed when he saw that.
The intention of the attack was read.
“This…”
Hwaak-!
The moment when big fingers try to snatch the hood.
Taaaaak!
A dull sound rang from the back of the soldier’s head.
Soon something bounced out and fell in front of Tia.
It was a stone.
The soldier who was ambushed looked back.
“What?!”
“Uncle Cougar! Let’s play!”
There were children giggling there.
“You bastards! “Can’t you see I’m working?!”
“Can’t you see Guo working? Ebebe.”
“Damn… You guys, just stand right there!”
“Aaaaah! Run away!”
The angry soldier chased the children.
Tia was released unexpectedly and stood there in a daze, trying to console her shocked chest.
Kkwaak-.
Suddenly, someone tugged on my coat.
“… !”
When she turned her head, a small child appeared in the narrow alley.
Tia immediately recognized the mischievous face.
“Vincent?”
“… Shh.”
The little boy put his index finger to her lips, telling her to be quiet, as Tia had done, and she gestured.
“Come here quickly. “Sister.”
Without even knowing why, Tia followed Vincent.
After passing through several narrow alleys and crawling through holes that only small children could pass through, we eventually reached the back of the warehouse of a bar and inn.
Vincent said, shaking off the dust.
“This is a place only our children know. Uncle Cougar doesn’t know.”
“Thank you…”
“But- but- what’s going on? My sister committed murder? “There are posters everywhere!”
“I-I don’t know…”
“I heard that your sister killed Ritsu-hyung? Is it real?”
“… “What?”
Tia, startled, shook her head.
“Oh, no! How did I get the Ritz…”
“Right? I didn’t believe it either. How could my sister kill Ritsu-hyung? But the lord said that such a ridiculous lie might be true-.”
Tia asked with a trembling voice.
“Vincent. “Have you heard anything?”
“That’s-.”
The kid scratched her head.
“People from the upper village just came down yesterday? It was fascinating, so I went to see it with the kids, but Youngju started screaming and asking where Ritz went. So, the people there are saying that Tia killed Brother Ritz-.”
“…”
“So who would believe such a lie? Everyone was laughing at me, but the lord said I had to listen seriously and told me to catch Tia first.”
Vincent, who explained up to that point, giggled.
“But I remembered the ‘hide and seek’ my sister explained before-! Ah, I thought I was playing hide and seek with the lord and Tia this time!”
Unlike the kid who was smiling brightly, the girl’s expression became increasingly dark.
Fortunately, Vincent knew the relationship between me and Tia well, so he didn’t seem to even suspect.
Also, he was still smiling as if this situation felt like just a fun play.
Tia said in a calm voice.
“That’s right. I’m playing hide and seek. So, I hope Vincent can help me.”
“It’s good! Good!”
“Can I get from here to the port without being noticed?”
“Huh! Follow me!”
Vincent took the lead and took Tia to the port.
All the people there were sailors.
Because we were on a boat all day, the rumors going around Taildon had not yet reached us.
Tia entered the window where ship operations were managed.
And she took out a letter to send to the royal doctor.
The manager was embarrassed.
“Sending a letter to Deseo? The atmosphere in Deseo is strange these days, so I don’t have a stomachache…”
“Any boat will do. “I just need to be able to send it quickly.”
Jinglang.
Tia added a few more gold coins without people knowing.
The manager, who looked troubled, stroked her beard.
“Uh huh-.”
He took the letter, swiping the gold coin.
“Well, it’s not like I’m completely hungry. “Let me tell you my story.”
“Thank you.”
The letter left Tia’s hand.
Now all that was left was to wait for a reply.
Vincent deliberately took a large tour of the village.
Through secluded outskirts, unnoticed by people, he finally arrived at the foot of the Dragonez Mountains.
The kid said.
“I’ll keep it a secret that I saw my sister today! However… Just let me know. Where is Ritz-hyung now?”
Tia hesitated, then she answered.
“Stay with me.”
“Right? Also! Please come with me next time!”
“Huh. Okay. “I promise.”
“Promise!”
Leaving behind the child who enthusiastically saw her off, Tia went up the mountain again.
There weren’t many places for this poor girl to turn now.
She became an outcast in Brisden.
In Taildon, he became a murderer.
Sabak. Sabak.
Honestly, Tia must have been worried.
I was thinking of going to see the lord in person to clear the false accusation.
And by showing me my stiff body, she may have been trying to let me know that she was still alive.
But Tia didn’t do that.
Because she can no longer trust anyone.
I could tell.
Tia… She was no longer the lively, courageous, and cheerful Tia she once was.
The appearance of an innocent child has disappeared.
With her wings broken, all that remains is a bird abandoned by everyone.
Brisden, Taildon.
There is only one place where Tia, who cannot go anywhere, can stay.
General store in Posao.
It was all there.
Crash.
Like that, Tia entered the general store.
As soon as she came in, she sat down.
She leans against the wall with her tired face, like a duster that has been used and thrown away carelessly.
After hearing the popularity, Posao came out of the bedroom.
“Tia!”
The guy waddled down the stairs to the first floor.
“Uh, where have you been? Ha, I’ve been looking for it for a while!”
“… “I went to Taildon.”
“But why, why are you like this? I don’t look good. Was it difficult?”
Tia said with a blank face.
“… No. It’s okay.”
“P, if you need anything, let me know.”
“Yes…”
Tia got up from her seat and came to my side as I lay in her hospital bed.
She seemed to be speaking with clouded eyes.
Now the only hope left is to wake myself up.
“Wait a moment, Ritsu. If I get a reply… Because it’s all over…”
* * *
Three days passed.
By now, Tia was used to living at Posao’s house.
When I wake up in the morning, I make up the bedding, wash it thoroughly, and clean the first floor.
And she goes up to the second floor to wake up Posao, who overslept.
When I shook Posao, who was sleeping with all her chest hair exposed, she woke up slowly and yawned in her bulging underwear.
When the morning routine began, Tia moved diligently.
She could hardly be seen resting.
Making medicine, cleaning my body, managing embers to always maintain a constant temperature, doing laundry, heating the bath water, and cooking.
On the other hand, Posao did almost nothing.
All I did was wake up, zone out, eat the food Tia made, take a nap again, and scratch my stomach.
It was like living a different life in the same space.
Posao didn’t bother to bother Tia.
He just watched with a sinister laugh and left them to freely use their own home.
He didn’t ask me to do anything burdensome, as if he had really become a father.
She just asked me to stay at home.
“Naaaaa- there’s no need to go this far-.”
In front of the fancy dinner table prepared by Tia, Posao scratched her head.
“I’m always grateful… “I was thinking about how I could repay you, and I tried my best.”
“Okay, eat well, Tia!”
Rattling! Rattling!
Posao was devouring the food ravenously, then looked down at his plate.
“Uh? Oh, the meat is all cut up?”
“Ah yes. You had a hard time cutting meat and eating it. So I cut it in advance.”
“Hihihi-! Well, you know! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.”
Tia came to see me lying on her hospital bed with her bowl of stew.
Then she took a spoonful and poured it into her mouth.
“What do you think, Ritz? Is it delicious?”
“…”
But I couldn’t answer as I was lying dead.
Even if I put my ear close to it, I couldn’t even hear the sound of breathing.
“Are you okay… It’s okay now, I’ll wake up later… Say ‘it’s delicious.’ Loads. A lot… Until I got sick of it and told him to stop. Tell me it’s delicious…”
“…”
It was time for Tia to smile her bitter smile and turn around.
“T, Tia-!!”
Posao jumped up and grabbed Tia’s shoulder.
“… Oh?”
“Wow, it’s delicious! It’s the most delicious dish I’ve ever eaten! As expected, Tia… “Amazing!”
“Ah… Haha… Was it delicious?”
“Well, then! “It was so delicious!”
Posao already showed the empty bowl.
Hee-. I ate everything. “Can I have some more?”
“If you eat too much, you will gain weight…”
“B-but Tia is so good at cooking… “Can’t we continue to do this in the future?”
Tia asked back with a blank face.
“… Was it that good?”
“That’s right! Hee hee! Tia wow, I’m so glad you came to my house!”
“…”
Tia wiggled her fingers.
When Posao saw her hesitation, he clapped his hands.
“Ah! Are you busy taking care of Ritz? Well, I’m sorry for asking too much…”
“Oh, no! It’s not like that…”
Tia said in a quiet voice.
“There’s not much to do anymore… Because all that’s left to do is wait. I have time to cook. Therefore…”
No.
Tia was really, really busy.
Just taking care of myself is very difficult, and I don’t even have time to cook for Posao.
Nevertheless…
Tia nodded her head.
“… I can do it.”
That is.
Breakfast lunch dinner. In Tia’s time, who spent every day just for me.
It was the first day when ‘Time for Posao’ intervened.
