It took me a while to process what was going on. Perhaps I'm becoming mad, or maybe I have these hidden powers to see ghosts and such that unlocks on my 15th birthday. Because there is just no way a girl of this level would ever even talk to me.
Unless of course... I am of use to her.
I gulped as I thought of all the possible reasons why an angelic creature would ever show up in front of me. One of those is the likelihood of me being invited to an experiment, me being the victim. I mean, surely the message of a "Demon Child" has been spread all over the country by now right?
Ha ha...
Uhm I'd rather die a quick death now, thank you very much.
Back to reality. At the moment, I and the girl were facing each other in the carriage's passenger seat in silence. A walled called awkward had already built itself right in between us. Ever since that time when she picked me up, never did she say another word after that. She merely looked outside the carriage window as if avoiding my gaze.
"Uhm... Are you going to kill me?", I asked her, hoping to break the silence. Moreover, it was also a question I spat out of curiosity.
It clearly grabbed her attention as I saw her flinch at the sound of my voice. She immediately shook her head. Setting aside her suspicious reaction, I thought that their motive at least is to keep me alive... for now I guess.
As a follow up, I asked again "... Did the chief know of this...?"
However this time instead of replying instantly, she hesitated. And finally she nodded after a long suspenseful pause. Then that means... this all was planned?
Puzzled, I just stared at the ground, thinking for a long while. I felt her blazing gaze on me as she awaits another question.
I wonder why she'd only nod or shake her head.
She doesn't want to speak to me that much huh? Then, as if to test my hypothesis, I asked her a question unanswerable by 'yes' or 'no'.
"What's... your name?", I finally asked, hoping for a proper answer. But this time was different. I did not see any other emotion from her eyes than confusion.
But why would she be confused?
I waited and waited for a long while, but she never answered. She simply just leaned back to look outside the window once again.
And then there was silence yet again. And here I thought that we could finally have a decent conversation with each other.
I began thinking again. This girl told me that they were not to kill me. So why did they take me? Perhaps they are really going to use me for an experiment of some sort. It's scary to think of that, but there just can't be any other way.
I began to wonder what the chief's reason for this all was. I thought the plan was to 'sacrifice' me on the day of my coming of age... which is today , but now... these people are transporting me somewhere else.
A public execution? Surely, that could be it. A 'demon' might be of use for the display of power. Especially since we are in the middle of a silent war between the continents; the Queen might be able to use me and my title to strengthen the morale of the people and provoke the country's enemies.
Yes. That could be the reason. But... didn't she just tell me I won't die...? Strange. I thought I got it all together. Maybe it was all just for an experiment after all...
Ugh, this is really confusing!
As I was sinking deep into my thoughts, the girl, who noticed, finally spoke only one word when I was not expecting it.
"Hungry?", she asked, now looking directly into my eyes. Her voice sounded like that of an angel, mellow and pleasing to hear. If I was not listening carefully, I might have even missed it since her voice was too soft.
"...What?"
Before I knew it, my thoughts had materialized for that one second.
I felt my spirits suddenly lit up from just that one word. No one has ever asked me that before in my whole life.
I can feel my face instantaneously heating up and my hands shaking. It is my first time someone actually cared if I'm hungry or not. Usually I'd be the one begging for food. But of course, there's that negative thought hanging out at the back of my mind that she might feed me some drugs or something... Hang on, cross that thought out.
Ah right, I forgot to answer!
I opened my mouth. But no sound came out. Suddenly I didn't know how to answer. Should I be polite, or should I use casual words like she does... I mean, we look about the same age, if she's not a little bit younger. And I just realized I have never really talked to other girls before except for the elders... What do I do?
Before I knew it, the right timing to answer had already passed. To think I actually wasted my opportunity to have a decent conversation with her... I'm so stupid.
"Adelia."
Wha-!
One word after another; I'm sure at this point I'd look more or less like a fool with his mouth open. I can't even process the last word she said and now this. What does that even mean anyway...?
Is it another language...? Does that mean she actually doesn't understand anything I was saying or-... But wait, she clearly called out to me while we were in the field. So...
Ah, maybe, it's her name? Right! It is her name, how stupid of me! It sounds pretty uncommon so I thought that it was just another word in another language.
Aware that I was panicking, I took a deep breathe. I gulped. Clenched the fists resting on my knees. And finally, I opened my mouth, this time I am determined to answer her but--
*GROWL*
Okay. That was a little bit unexpected. Now I don't really feel like speaking at all. I just want to bury myself alive at the moment...
I may be supposed to die today, but I won't give up my humility for anything. Ahh the shame!
Someone end me quick.
As if instinctively, I felt my face flush red. All the confidence I mustered suddenly withdraw after that annoyingly loud noise.
That just now, it was the sound of none other than my stupid, stupid stomach.
Yes, I guess I am indeed, hungry.
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