金瓶梅第2部

Medousa stumbled out of the infirmary... It took her several minutes to get her body limber enough to walk normally.

Maybe she should have taken the physician's advice. Who was she to question someone who probably went to a school for their profession? She was an idiot. By the Flame. Doe was an idiot.

People on the streets stared at her.

Was it because of her stupid walk? Or was it because they knew she was naked underneath her ratty cloak? Were they looks of pity? Or were they out of disgust?

She knew she wasn't supposed to care about what people thought. Even still, the burning stares caused her face to redden and made her limp just a little bit faster.

She had to take several breaks from walking, sitting on benches or taking a knee when she needed to. It wasn't particularly warm outside, but she was sweating from just how tiresome it was to walk. Bits of her brown hair stuck to her forehead, painting her ten more deep shades of gross and homeless.

Maybe she should have asked the physician for a hair tie. That girl wore a ponytail. Ponytail girls always have extra hair ties... But no... the kind woman had already gone above and beyond her duty. Asking for even one more thing would have broken Doe's heart.

After over a bell of walking, Doe's legs ached terribly. She wanted nothing more than to collapse on the cool roadstones. But her goal was right there-- the golden gates of House Vanzano.

Just a few moments more...

She limped through the gates, onto the overgrown grass, resisting every urge she had to collapse and fall asleep.

There he was... he stood amongst several other people in the courtyard, amongst... what looked like... traveling packs?

A green-haired man with golden eyes shined through the crowd in his silver armor. He was a man in military uniform, untouchable... at an unreachable standard. At the time she didn't realize just how attractive the Decanus was... a literal Tyrion hero, so brave... and so strong.

And young... so incredibly young.

Also, really rude... but... honest. He hadn't lied to her... he didn't string her around. That made him a thousand times better than any man she had ever met. At Doe's darkest point, it was the Decanus who offered her a second chance at life. She wanted to repay that debt... no matter what it took.

She also wanted to grab him and cry into his chest for a bell or two... but that would be awkward. He didn't even know her.

...Why the hells was she here? He didn't even know her!?

Her feet just... took her to this place. All that time and she didn't even think about what she would do when she arrived! By the Flame, how are you this stupid, Doe?!

...But she had nowhere else to go. She could go back to Madame Virgil's... but... she didn't want to work in the brothels, anymore. And with her body the way it was... it really wasn't an option.

Five sets of backpacks and supplies were set out in front of the Vanzano manor. The Decanus was holding a piece of parchment, talking to a taller man with a mustache. She didn't recognize that person.

Doe did recognize Lady Athena Vanzano, the baby-faced, blue-haired daughter of Lord Greer. And there were two more people who she'd seen before-- Vanzano manservants.

"Everything appears to be in order," The Decanus nodded solemnly.

"That's a relief," The taller man smiled. "I know we checked the night before, but sometimes... things just go missing."

The Decanus narrowed his eyes, looking upward, "I am familiar with the phenomenon. It is the reason why I am checking your gear and you are checking mine."

"Sir Tycon!" Athena called out, "THIS RECRUIT is ready for inspection!"

The Decanus sighed and shook his head as he approached the young Vanzano mistress, "Please do not call yourself that. It's demeaning and I only associate myself with professionals."

"Ehehe... Sorry, Sir." She chuckled. Looking over to a silver-haired youth, she whispered, "I'm a professional."

So the Decanus' name was Tychon... It wasn't a common name, but it was distinctly Tyrion. Like her proper name, Medousa, it was derived from the Ancient Language.

Maybe she was saved by that coincidence... The Eternal Flame granted her a miracle.

"Um, Sir Tycon?" Athena tilted her head.

"Yes, young lady?"

Doe felt her heart tighten. Sir Tychon had called her the same exact way. Was she jealous? Of a teenage girl? Ughhhh. Why had she come heeeeere?!

The young Mistress looked over to Doe.

Oh, no... What was going to happen? Was she going to be chased away? She barely had any strength left... If Athena had her servants chase her away, she was going to get beaten...

The young Mistress... she smiled. It wasn't a sneer or... a malicious smirk. It looked like... an actual smile?

"Is that one of your friends?" Athena asked.

Sir Tychon glanced over. Doe felt her heart begin to pound. She was going to faint.

"She looks like a vagrant," A rude looking blonde man interjected. "Shall I escort her off the property? Lady Athena? Sir Tycon?"

"Unnecessary," Tychon returned his gaze to his paper. "Miss Athena, your gear is accounted for... save your rations?"

"I've got them," The silver-haired footman answered for his mistress. He had the most... unfriendliest eyes. There was a Vanzano footman that chased away House Galanis' collectors before... and Doe had a feeling it was him.

"Mister Tanamar, treat this as training." Tychon firmly insisted, "The young lady will have no issues carrying a few additional librae. Return them to her."

Doe frowned. She was being ignored. She thought she heard something crack-- was it her heart breaking? All of her willpower, all of her courage drained out of her body at once, and she only felt cold and numb. She hadn't even tried to speak to Sir Tychon... but it wasn't worth it. There was nothing for her in House Vanzano.

She plopped to the ground in her tiredness. She wanted to cry.

...The tears flowed forever when she was in the dungeons. But right when she wanted them back, they were nowhere to be found. She chuckled to herself. Doe... poor, foolish Doe. Why had she chosen life? Was that what she really wanted?