harleyscars Chapter 61: Foreshadowing
Chapter 61: Foreshadowing
When the wind spirit returned, Cecilia was already getting sleepy from waiting.
Hearing the window being flung open, she yawned, rubbed her eyes, and called out, "You've had a long day. Did they say anything?"
The wind sprite first circled around her happily a few times, and then pulled out a note from somewhere that the boy had prepared in advance because he knew Cecilia couldn't understand him.
Cecilia walked to the table, sat down, and unfolded the note.
The above content is very simple; it's the plan the group had discussed in the cave to help Cecilia escape.
Although Cecilia had the wind spirits tell them that she was safe for the time being, no one could truly feel at ease as long as she remained in Vanila's hands.
Although the escape art book project can no longer continue, it seems that the response to the art book is already nearing saturation, and there's no need to drag Cecilia down with it.
Cecilia felt a warmth in her heart as she read the boy's words in the note, declaring that they would never abandon any of their companions.
The Lawrence family's class consciousness was deeply ingrained. Even before the kidnapping, when Cecilia could freely enter and leave the Lawrence mansion, if Mr. Lawrence discovered that she had any contact with commoners, he would sternly stop her and afterwards ask Mrs. Deselin to punish her in other ways.
However, most of the nobles of her age were boys, and few of them were willing to interact with her while following behind Buck.
Therefore, Cecilia had never had a friend before; the boys were her first.
Family trials... She suddenly wanted to start praying that this was real and not an illusion.
As if sensing Cecilia's emotions, the wind sprite snuggled into her arms and nuzzled her cheek.
"Of course, you're my good friend too." Cecilia smiled and tapped his head.
The wind sprite tilted his head and looked at her, not understanding why she would suddenly say this, but being personally acknowledged as a good friend by Cecilia was enough to make him happy.
*
The following days were peaceful. As she had said, Vanillari did not mistreat Cecilia in any way. Three meals a day were delivered on time, which made Cecilia feel a little guilty for sending the wind sprite out every night to observe the defenses of Lawrence's house.
According to the boy's plan, once they figured out the loopholes in the Lawrence family's security, Gunnhildr and Legnford would be responsible for attracting the attention of Vanilla and her men, while the boy would sneak over to open the door for her and take her away.
Thinking of this, Cecilia glanced furtively at Vanilla, who was having dinner across from her.
The plan was set for tonight, but before the boy and his friends could act, she needed to work with the wind spirit to get the key to the room from Vanilla.
He only said he was "using" it, but in reality, Vanilla had already finished eating and was looking down at the documents he had brought with him, as if he was waiting for her to finish eating so they could clean up together.
—She was very strict with Cecilia, and she wouldn't even ask the maids to do this kind of thing, but did it herself.
Cecilia felt that this situation was not quite reasonable, but there was obviously not much time for her to think about it in detail. She could only deal with the key issue first.
She nervously swallowed the last mouthful of oatmeal, preparing to say something to distract Vanila Rui so the wind spirit could make its move, but before she could think of anything to say, Vanila Rui spoke first: "You seem to have been watching me all day?"
As she spoke, the woman did not look up, still staring at the documents in her hand, as if she were just asking a casual question, but Cecilia's vigilance instantly reached its peak.
The hand hidden under the table made a gesture, and the wind sprite, which had been poised to attack, immediately stopped its movements and quietly hid again.
After waiting for a long time without a reply, Vanilla looked up at her and asked, "Why aren't you saying anything?"
Cecilia's expression stiffened, and she stammered, "I was just wondering how long you intend to keep me locked up?"
Vanillari smiled: "Didn't I say I'd keep you locked up until you're willing to give an answer?"
Cecilia knew this was just an excuse she was using to fool herself. After all, apart from today when Cecilia asked, she had never asked Cecilia for an answer. However, she had only asked casually and did not want to dwell on Vanillari’s true thoughts, so she nodded casually.
But Vanilla seemed quite dissatisfied with her attitude.
The woman stood up from the table and walked around to her side.
Cecilia tightened her grip, but could only watch helplessly as Vanillari pressed her into a chair—this high-ranking matriarch always spoke with unexpectedly sweet tones when threatening people, but her actions were the complete opposite, brutal.
She said, "Although I rarely rush you, my dear Cecilia, you need to understand that my patience is not indefinite. You must make that choice as soon as possible, only then—"
Only in this way could she decide Cecilia's final destination.
She didn't say the rest of the sentence.
Vanilla looked at Cecilia's lowered eyes with satisfaction, guessing that she was probably already aware of the danger, before letting go: "Alright, it's getting late, I won't disturb your rest any longer."
"I hope tonight will be a quiet night as well, Cecilia."
With that, Vanilla left with her plate.
As soon as she left, Cecilia jumped up from her chair, lifted the tablecloth, and asked anxiously, "How did it go? Did you get the key?"
That's right. The reason she looked like that just now wasn't because of the sense of crisis that Vanila Rui thought, but simply because she was nervous about whether the wind elf could steal the key from the mistress. When Vanila Rui unceremoniously pressed her down into the chair, she was certain that Vanila Rui would focus all her attention on her, which was the best time for the wind elf to make her move.
Sure enough, Vanilla didn't notice that one of her keys was missing from her waist until she left.
The wind sprite crawled out from under the table, clutching the key, his ahoge (cowlick) bobbing happily. However, he knew that there was no time to lose; the boys were still waiting for news outside the Lawrence mansion, and he had to hurry and get the key.
Cecilia watched his figure disappear beside the bed, and for some reason, she suddenly felt a pang of fear.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly afterward. The wind spirit returned successfully before nightfall, bringing with it a message from the boy.
"Gunhild and Legnford are ready. They will set fire to an empty warehouse in the mansion three-quarters of an hour after nightfall to attract Vanila's attention. You will then wait for me in your room."
During these days, Cecilia had noticed how much Vanila Rui cared about his family, so she specifically asked the boys to choose a place that wouldn't hurt anyone as a starting point, in order to prevent Vanila Rui from refusing to give up later because his people were injured.
Anyway, let's hope we don't have to use this backup plan...
Cecilia held the wind sprite and waited quietly by the window, anticipating the moment when the sudden burst of flames would dye the sunset crimson.
(End of this chapter)
The author says: I'm experiencing writer's block! I'm dying from writer's block, sob sob QVQ
Why does something as annoying as Calvin exist in the world?!