"It's up to you to decide how to deal with me... um..."
The gazes of the two girls were too sharp, and Pace could no longer face them. He closed his eyes slightly and sighed.
If you are guilty, take responsibility.
Besides, haven't I already decided that I will never escape this time?
Pace lowered his head, awaiting the judge's final decision.
Unexpectedly, the "judgment" did not come:
"But, Young Master, you have saved me many times, right?"
"Eh?"
Pace suddenly raised his head and looked at Perlis who was sitting opposite him with some disbelief, feeling a little at a loss.
Carly turned to look at Perlis in surprise, a little hesitant:
Under the gaze of the two, Perlis rarely showed a lovely smile:
"Well, when I first went to Lorton, I had no money and nowhere to stay, so it was the young master who helped me get a room at the Grand Hotel so I had a good place to sleep."
"Yes...that's right," Pace said in a panic, "but...I..."
"When I was fighting the Angel in the big square, I was careless and almost lost my life. It was Young Master who ran out and risked his own life to save me from that super scary sword."
"But... Little White Flower," Carly looked at Perlis, eager to interrupt, "He hurt you..."
"In the end, I was almost beheaded by the Executioner. At the critical moment, it was you who showed up and protected me, and even took me away from the execution ground."
Perlis looked at Pess, and a brilliant smile blossomed on her pretty and lovely face that Pess had never seen before:
"So, Young Master saved me three times and only cheated me once. I think that can totally make up for the mistakes."
Pace stared at Perlis's smiling face, not knowing what to feel.
It was not until then that Pace truly realized the qualities in Perlis that he had always ignored.
Even though the cold world has given her a cruel mask, the beautiful qualities in her soul have never changed.
This trait made her trust Pace, a stranger, in the tavern, and also made her choose at this moment -
"I forgive you, young master."
Perlis slowly stood up and extended her left hand to Pace.
"Hey, little white flower!" Carly was a little anxious, "You can't..."
"This is between me and the young master, Carly, don't interrupt!"
Perlis pouted slightly in a somewhat willful manner. Seeing this, Carly wanted to say something, but finally she just sighed softly.
"Fool..."
"..."
Staring at the little hand that Perlis stretched out, Pace was a little at a loss.
The originally flawless white hand was now covered with tiny scars, which were the marks left by Wanren Mountain on the girl.
Should I really...be forgiven by her?
After watching for a while, Pace stood up slowly as if he had made up his mind, and his black eyes met with Perlis's.
After a little consideration, Pace said:
"Thank you, little princess, but I think this is so unfair to you."
Pace's tone was extremely firm, as if he had made an important decision, which made Perlis stunned:
"Eh?"
"If I hadn't stood in your way, you would have succeeded in taking revenge on Ivar by now, wouldn't you?"
Pace spoke very seriously, which made Perlis a little confused. She slowly lowered her raised hand in the air, her face full of confusion:
“..Indeed..That is indeed the case, but…”
"In the name of the former head of the Monarch family, I swear—"
Before Perlis finished speaking, Pace swore an oath in all seriousness:
"—I will help you find Ivar and help you take revenge on him."
Seeing Pace's look, Perlis was a little at a loss. She tilted her head in confusion, her big red eyes full of doubts:
"..Young Master..?"
"It's too early to forgive me now. Wait until then, when you feel that I have paid off all that I owe you, and then you can make your decision."
“But…but…”
"This is not only for you, but also for my father and my sister Lianna."
Memories flashed back to him, and Pace clenched his fists tightly, his mind once again occupied by that image:
The body by the fireplace.
For so many years, this picture has been looming before his eyes like a nightmare, like a ghost that cannot be dispelled.
It was not until the end of this trip to the Iron Fortress that Pace finally realized a fact: if he wanted to escape from the nightmare, the accumulation of time alone was definitely not enough.
He needed to personally make peace with Ivar and personally make peace with Venia.
In the black pupils, there was a gleam of fire. It was a flame born from the extremely cold [Burial Land of Ice], the most blazing flame in the world:
"I want to avenge them, but my power alone is not enough. In this case, please let me accompany you on your journey of revenge!"
Pace's tone became more and more excited. He suddenly lowered his head and clasped his hands together above his head:
"Give me this chance, Perlis."
Pace pleaded with Perlis very seriously, and the expression on his face became more and more nervous.
Perlis stared at Pace in slight surprise for a while. She first scratched her head gently, as if she was thinking about something, and then she smiled faintly:
"You are so bad, young master. Are you going to use me again?"
"Eh? No, no!" Pace raised his head in panic and explained hastily, "I am doing this to atone for my sins! Atonement! This can't be..."
"I accept it!"
A bright smile bloomed on Perlis's face again, like a flower in spring, as if it could release light that could melt the ice and snow.
Then, she reached out to Pace again:
"Thank you for your guidance, Pace Monarch."
"Uh...ah..."
Looking at Perlis's brilliant smile, Pace was a little dazed for a moment. That brilliant smile was so familiar that it reminded him of a small figure with black hair.
This time...this time I must not lose the girl I want to protect again.
Pace closed his eyes, smiled indifferently, and held the hand that Pearlis extended.
"Please advise!"
The two men stared at each other, the Commonwealth man and the Thebiter, red eyes versus black eyes, the betrayer and the abandoned.
At this moment, two parallel lines that would never intersect, met together in this ordinary Wilkin morning.
After this, what will they do?
"Hey! That's enough!"
Carly angrily snatched Perlis's hand from Pace's and looked at him resentfully.
"Huh?" Pace was a little confused.
"Just shake hands! Why are you still holding on to me?"
Carly looked jealous and held Perlis's hand tightly, even a little too hard.
"Um... Carly... it hurts..." Perlis wanted to retract her hand, but Carly squeezed it even tighter, "Ah...!"
"Since you have said so much, I can't interfere."
Carly pursed her lips, with the word "distrust" written all over her face.
"But! If you make her sad again, you will suffer the consequences, okay?"
"Okay, okay, okay..I know..."
Looking at the strange scene in front of him, Pace sighed helplessly - Carly's possessiveness of Pearls was so outrageous that he was speechless.
But..this is also good..
Pace sighed, then sat back in his chair, happily grabbed the unfinished piece of bread and stuffed it into his mouth.
This story has just begun, well, it has just begun.
......
8) Wilkin's Rain (Part 5)
"Hey..I really want to go to the sea of flowers..."
Perlis raised her head slightly, closed her eyes contentedly, and felt the sunshine of Wilkin.
Under the soft sunlight, Carly was supporting Perlis and walking slowly in the back garden full of white flowers. Although it was winter in the continent of Ardmir, the climate in Wilkin was still mild and suitable, not at all as cold as the ice prison in Thebite.
Looking at the little white flowers enjoying the sunshine, Carly felt warm too.
Ever since she reconciled with the boy from the Monarch family, Perlis has been in a good mood.
What a strange fool. She should have been more ruthless.
Thinking of this, Carly smiled slightly and said;
"The flower sea is not far from here, but you have to wait until your body recovers a little before you can go there, okay?"
"Yes, as you command~"
Perlis answered cheerfully, and Carly felt like laughing at her good-looking appearance.
"Are you pretending to be obedient now? I haven't forgotten how you tried to kill me on Mount Wanren, have you?"
"Then what should I do? Didn't you say you couldn't bear to leave me?"
"Hey, even if this is the case, you can't be so willful. I can't promise that I will forgive you next time."
"Oh~ okay."
"That's too perfunctory! Do it again!"
"I was wrong, I was wrong, Lord Philos," Perlis pretended to be pitiful, "Please forgive me..."
"Pfft," Carly pinched Perlis's face in an expression of both anger and amusement, "Okay, stop it."
Even though Carly said this, she actually cherished this side of Perlis. As the Blade of Babel, she would never show this little girl to others. She was always so cold and ruthless to others except Carly.
Between the cold [Blade of Babel] and the little white flower smiling brightly in the sun, Carly felt that she really preferred the latter.
Thinking of this, Carly's mouth curled slightly and she said:
"By the way, when we get back, you have to let me help you apply the medicine, okay? Don't be willful..."
"What a nuisance! Carly, stop nagging! Listen! The wind is coming."
Perlis scolded Carly for being too talkative, and a happy smile broke out on her face, just like a girl of her age should have. She closed her eyes in the sunshine and listened to the breeze blowing past her ears.
She is supposed to be such an innocent and lovely little girl, isn't she?
Seeing that the usually gloomy Perlis was in such a good mood, Carly smiled with relief and said nothing more. She gently supported Perlis and walked slowly and lightly on the stone road between the grass. The dew between the leaves gradually disappeared under the sunlight, but the damp smell after the rain still permeated the entire back garden, mixed with the fragrance of flowers and the faint chirping of birds.
After a long time, Perlis, who had been silent all the time, suddenly spoke:
"It would be wonderful if we could walk in this garden forever."
Hearing what Perlis said, Carly turned her head slightly to look at her - the white-haired girl was slightly tilting her head back with her eyes slightly closed, letting the soft sunlight fall on her face, casting a faint golden glow on her soft and pretty profile.
"Why not? Little White Flower,"
Carly spoke softly, stroking the ends of Pearlis's hair.
