In the corner of the carriage, seeing that Ecaros had done nothing to them nor spoken a word, the churning fear and anxiety within the two little Sarkaz temporarily subsided.
“Sister…” Theresis, who had been shielded by Theresa all along, called out timidly in a small voice, using the Sarkaz language to address the blood-kin who always protected him.
“Brother, don’t speak yet.
That woman is still here.” Though the younger sister, Theresa was far sturdier in build and physique than Theresis.
She too used that obscure and difficult language to caution her brother in a whisper.
“But…
I’m so thirsty.
We haven’t had water in so long, right?” Theresis was somewhat dejected.
He actually didn’t think his whispered conversation with his sister would be overheard by Ecaros.
After all, the Sarkaz tongue was arcane and complex; few people were willing to learn it.
Not to mention, the Sarkaz dialect used by Theresis and Theresa was an older variant, even harder for people from other nations to understand.
Of course, by the same token, they couldn’t understand the earlier exchange between Ecaros and the slave trader either.
Because Ecaros and the slave trader had spoken in the common tongue of Terra.
The two uneducated little Sarkaz dumplings hadn’t learned it, so it was only natural they couldn’t understand.
“Endure it a little longer, Brother.
I…
I’ll try my best to find you some water.
And don’t be afraid—we’ve already left that hateful man’s cage.
Later, I’ll find a way to help us escape.
We…
we will definitely go home!” A flicker of pity passed through her eyes.
Theresa stole a glance at Ecaros, and after confirming that Ecaros was still reading and paying no attention to them, she gently comforted her brother and vowed to bring him home.
This moved Theresis to the verge of tears; they welled up in his eyes.
He clung tightly to his sister, shedding silent, furtive tears.
Theresa froze for a moment, then hurriedly looked at Ecaros.
Seeing no reaction from her, she sighed in relief.
Then, while murmuring softly under her breath, “Brother, you’re a boy, why are you crying?
Even I’m not crying.” She also fought back the sting in her nose, gently embracing her blood kin and whispering comfort: “We’ll go home.
Father and Mother will watch over us from the heavens.” But in the end, as Theresa comforted Theresis, she too couldn’t help but cry.
Although both little Sarkaz ultimately made no sound with their tears.
Still, the commotion earned them a cold glance from Ecaros.
After all, while few people learned the Sarkaz language, she was clearly not among that number.
As an outstanding graduate representative of the Royal Academy of Londinium, Ecaros was proficient in the vast majority of languages across Terra.
Though Theresa and Theresis’ Sarkaz dialect was slightly nonstandard, it was not enough to render it unintelligible to the young woman.
However, faced with this pitifully touching scene, Ecaros only found the two little Sarkaz tiresome and annoying.
If not for the sake of that girl, she would probably have kicked the pair out of the carriage by now.
Ecaros was not a cold-blooded person, nor was she truly devoid of compassion.
She had simply learned, from a very young age, that tears were the most worthless thing in this world.
Venting and revealing emotions was utterly meaningless.
Just as no soldier on a battlefield would lay down his blade because a child cried, and no one in the midst of slaughter would cease attacking because their opponent wailed in agony.
No one would grant you special treatment because of the tears you shed.
Thus, even though the two little Sarkaz cried in secrecy, Ecaros still felt irritated.
Especially seeing the two of them clinging together, nestling against one another.
The girl’s heart felt even more embittered.
One could even say the more she looked, the more annoyed she became.
Therefore, Ecaros abruptly used her Arts to halt the carriage, the sudden inertia breaking the two little Sarkaz’s embrace.
And as they instinctively suppressed their tears, Ecaros slowly set down the book in her hand, picked up her cane, and approached Theresa—who had once again shielded Theresis behind her, meeting Ecaros’ eyes with vigilance.
Using the tip of her cane to gently nudge Theresa’s smooth chin, Ecaros looked directly at her.
And Theresa did not flinch, allowing Ecaros to closely observe those pale golden eyes, filled with unyielding defiance and fury.
For some unknown reason, her cool, clear face briefly smiled.
Then, that arcane ancient Sarkaz language slowly spilled from her thin lips.
“You—come out with me first.
As for you, spread out the blankets here.
Remember to use this key to remove your shackles and fetters.
It’s still a long journey to Victoria.
Prepare yourselves to spend a considerable amount of time in this carriage, little Sarkaz.” With that, Ecaros casually tossed down the key that could unlock their handcuffs and ankle chains, pointed with her cane at a chest containing blankets, and promptly turned to leave the carriage.
And from beginning to end, Ecaros did not register the change in the eyes of Theresa and Theresis the moment she spoke.
Clearly, she didn’t care about it.
But that change did indeed occur.
Visibly, shock surfaced in their eyes, followed by a wave of fear and dread.
After all, they had assumed Ecaros didn’t understand the Sarkaz language, which was why they dared to converse in the quietest of voices.
Even if Ecaros had noticed their exchange, they could’ve pretended not to understand her words to mitigate the risk—the worst-case scenario would’ve just been a beating.
But if Ecaros understood Sarkaz, things were entirely different.
What if she had happened to hear their conversation?
And why would she suddenly give them the key?
Did she have some scheme?
Had she already heard their exchange and was now planning to teach them a lesson?
And spreading out blankets, going out alone…
What exactly was her plot?
Should they even obey?
And…
facing a woman willing to simply hand them the key, could they truly ever gain their freedom?
A flurry of uneasy doubts, alongside fear, surfaced in the hearts of both Theresa and Theresis.
But Ecaros had already left the carriage.
Now, only Theresa and Theresis remained in the compartment.
After a moment of silence, Theresa picked up the key from the floor and unlocked the shackles that had bound her for who knew how long, then helped Theresis remove the restraints that bound him as well.
Finally, looking at her brother, she said softly: “Let’s…
do as that person says for now, Brother.
Of course, we will definitely go home.
Don’t be afraid.
Trust me, Brother.” “I’ll head out now.
Remember to spread out the blankets…” She gave Theresis one last comforting look.
Theresa offered a gentle smile to reassure her brother, and then, without giving Theresis a chance to say anything more, resolutely turned and walked out of the carriage.
The smile on her face was replaced by a calm expression the very instant she turned away.
To be honest, she wasn’t really much better off than Theresis.
Of course she was afraid of their current situation.
But Theresa understood that she could not afford to be afraid.
Because she wanted to protect her family, to lead her brother back to freedom.
Thus, before achieving that goal, she absolutely could not shrink back, nor could she show fear.
This was also the final promise between her and their parents.
Unless this body falls completely, never turn your blade against your blood-kin, never abandon your family…
…
Outside the carriage, observing the images through her Arts and perceiving the emotions she sensed from Theresa, Ecaros rested both hands on her cane, silently watching the setting sun.
A breeze brushed past her ear, stirring the strands of her ash-gold hair with a slight sway, making the girl momentarily lose herself.
She sensed the similarities between Theresa and herself.
And she keenly perceived the fundamental differences between them.
For some reason, Ecaros lost interest in the plan she had originally conceived in her heart.
Suddenly, Ecaros no longer wished to forcibly make this Sarkaz girl submit to her.
Instead, Ecaros wanted to play a game with Theresa.
A game…
that would decide Theresa’s future—and perhaps even her own.
Maybe, under this other self’s ‘assassination,’ her hollow heart might also gain a satisfying experience?
Ecaros felt an inexplicable anticipation…
[Options detected.
Please make a selection, Host.] [Branch 1—If it’s a game, then discard all morals and ethics!
Directly follow your inner desires and monopolize every part of Theresa.
Let both of you surge, skyrocket, and explode in each other’s embrace!
Love love love love love!
Break through the heavens with sheer Slaanesh!!!] [Branch 2—A game is a game.
Don’t go overboard.
I want to raise a villainess, so I should do what a proper villain would do.
Let’s just kill Theresis and see how Theresa reacts!] [Branch 3—The middle path might lead to the ultimate ending.
A game naturally requires both sides to place their bets.
You can choose a wager to decide your and Theresa’s futures.
Trust me, by staking equal chips, you will receive an unexpected ‘surprise.’]