Odalisque - Chapter 103

“Adelinde Girls’ School was one of the candidates you considered back when you were searching for a school. It has a good reputation, and there are many subjects to learn.”

“But…!”

Corida furrowed her brow at the thought of the possibility that, in addition to medical expenses, they might also have to pay school fees. However, Liv cut her off, knowing her concern.

“I made a good amount of money in Buerno, so don’t worry about the tuition.”

It wasn’t enough to spend extravagantly, but if she managed their expenses carefully, they could get by. They just needed to reach Adelinde quickly and find a suitable job.

Liv tried her best to stay optimistic. No matter how much power the Marquis wielded, he couldn’t scour every city in Beren like searching for a rat. At most, he would search Buerno and its surroundings. Adelinde was a city quite far from Buerno.

The Marquis would tire soon enough. No matter how much he liked Liv’s body, he wouldn’t go through the trouble of searching the entire country for one runaway woman. After all, his basement was full of treasures far more valuable than Liv’s body.

So they just needed to reach Adelinde safely…

“Ah… is this the only route available?”

“Yes.”

Liv sighed as she looked at the limited options with a troubled expression.

Had she gotten off the train too hastily? She should have disembarked in a bigger city, even if it had meant pushing herself a bit harder.

But it was useless to regret it now. Liv carefully reviewed the options available to her. Considering the departure times, there were very few practical choices.

Biting her lips, Liv finally purchased a ticket. No one stopped the sisters as they entered the platform.

The deserted station, where the wind blew coldly across the long tracks, seemed eerily empty. After a while, the black train engine appeared at the end of the tracks.

The strange feeling began to grow when the train was nearing the fourth station.

They were sitting in the dining car to grab a light meal when several people took seats nearby. They didn’t order anything and instead began complaining loudly.

“Who do these people think they are?”

“Seems like they have a convict on board.”

“Come on, really?”

Their voices were so loud that it was impossible not to overhear their conversation.

“Even if it’s true, does it make sense to corner people like that and search them?”

“Well, judging by their appearance, they didn’t seem like actual police officers.”

Liv’s hand, which was breaking off a piece of bread, gradually slowed and then stopped completely when she heard the word “police.” Corida, sensing the strange atmosphere, quietly set her utensils down.

“Sister.”

Liv pressed Corida’s hat down with a tense face. She adjusted her hood again, then put on her own hat and picked up her bag.

Their seats were in the direction the people had come from. But if they returned now, they would encounter those who were “searching the passengers, though not looking like police officers.”

Maybe those people had nothing to do with the Marquis…

Leaving their half-eaten meal behind, Liv led Corida toward the front of the train.

It wasn’t the day they had escaped anymore; several days had passed. She doubted the Marquis would be searching the train at this point. But it couldn’t hurt to be cautious.

Their determined steps quickly came to a halt when they reached the locomotive. With nowhere left to go, Liv reluctantly led Corida to the stairs by the exit.

“Let’s just stay here for a bit.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, Sister, but wouldn’t it be better to talk things through honestly?”

Liv, who had been anxiously watching the hallway, paused at Corida’s words.

“He was different from how everyone said he was—cold to everyone but not to you. So if there’s a misunderstanding…”

It seemed Corida was still caught up in a romantic fantasy. Liv didn’t want to crush that baseless dream.

“There’s no misunderstanding, Corida.”

Liv smiled bitterly and looked out the window. The train was slowing down, probably nearing a station.

“It just turned out this way.”

From the end of the hallway opposite where Liv stood, there was noise. It didn’t seem like it was just people bustling to get off at the station. After some hesitation, Liv stood close to the train door. They were far from their intended destination, but there was no choice.

Once again, she would have to waste a train ticket.

Clunk!

The train finally came to a stop. The hallway door at the far end opened almost simultaneously with the train door. Liv avoided looking down the hallway and quickly disembarked.

Fortunately, unlike the last stop, this station was relatively crowded and busy. Seeing the station sign, Liv realized it read “Elke,” and she strode toward the ticket gate.

Was it just her imagination? It felt noisy behind her. She wanted to look back, but it seemed like a bad idea.

After passing through the ticket gate and stepping outside, she saw several carriages lined up. The drivers were calling out, competing for passengers.

“I’ll take you safely!”

“Take us to the largest inn.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

As Liv caught her breath, she glanced toward the entrance of the train station through the window of the carriage. All she could see were passengers coming and going. Liv bit her lower lip.

…Was it all just an overreaction?

***

Elke was larger than Liv had anticipated. It turned out that the city was home to a famous casino.

The driver took Liv’s request to go to “the largest inn” to mean “the largest casino.” In truth, it wasn’t entirely incorrect—the biggest casino also served as an inn.

She later asked to be taken to a regular inn, but the driver didn’t understand her request. He explained that every inn in Elke was connected to either a large or small casino.

That was how the sisters ended up in the casino district, a place they had never thought they’d visit. Liv wanted to leave the city entirely, but she couldn’t shake the unease she had felt at the train station.

So she decided they would spend the night at the most well-maintained, clean-looking place. She figured that a larger establishment would have better security than a run-down gambling den.

“I’m going to buy some food. Wait here, Corida.”

Since it wasn’t appropriate to take Corida along the bustling streets lined with entertainment venues, Liv left the room alone.

In the lobby, there was a roulette table for guests to casually play. Inside the casino, there were probably more games set up, while the lobby seemed to offer some entertainment to lighten the mood.

Liv took a quick glance at the bustling roulette table and tried to walk past.

“Did you hear the news from Buerno?”

She might have done so if she hadn’t heard those words.

“Oh, yes, I did.”

“What a commotion to have during the Cardinal’s visit.”

“Still, it sounds quite amusing. If I’d known, I would have gone to watch.”

Giggling, the women placed their bets and continued their conversation.

“Right? I was wondering why Lady Malte joined the Peace Pilgrimage, but I guess that explains it.”

“But just how handsome is that Marquis, anyway?”

“Who knows? But I’m curious.”

On the spinning roulette wheel, the dice rolled.

“Shall we make our next trip to Buerno then?”

“Oh! But it’s such a dull place—no casinos, no decent venues for parties!”

“I hate that idea.”

One of the laughing women let out a low gasp.

“Oh my, I won!”

“You seem to be having a lucky day, Madam!”

The topic quickly shifted, and Liv resumed walking. Under her hood, her expression had hardened.

Apparently, a new rumor was sweeping through Buerno, this time linking the Marquis with Lady Malte. Liv wanted to know more but also felt it wouldn’t do any good.

If it involved the two of them, it was obvious. A romance, no doubt. It was said they had once been engaged.

Perhaps the rumors served to show just how quickly the Marquis had lost interest in his runaway mistress. If word of a new scandal had spread beyond the city so soon after Liv left Buerno, that certainly seemed to be the case.

As she passed through the grand entrance, Liv caught a glimpse of her reflection in the glass doors. The image was of her, bundled up in several layers to disguise herself as a man, her face hidden beneath her hat and hood.

She had assumed that he would pursue her, which was why she had disguised herself so desperately. But was it really necessary to go this far?

Liv pulled down the uncomfortable collar she had tucked high beneath her chin and let out a sigh.

Maybe her escape meant nothing to the Marquis. Perhaps this dramatic flight was just her own inflated sense of self-importance.

Maybe she was just playing the fool, pretending to be pursued when no one was after her…

Liv closed her eyes tightly at the thought. If she kept thinking like this, she’d drown in an endless pool of despair.

Whether she was being pursued or not, her plan was to take Corida and head to Adelinde.

That was the only thing that mattered.