「……」339Please respect copyright.PENANA4kK03BPQJe
339Please respect copyright.PENANAa4aoa79g08
自己難耐著焦躁,在待客室等待著管家到來。339Please respect copyright.PENANAaOiF0b4nEJ
隨著急急的腳步出現在自己面前的管家馬上就察覺了自己的異樣,稍稍靠近了些開口詢問:339Please respect copyright.PENANA72f5eU0qJE
「老爺,請問有什麼要緊事嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANA23HBiGc1bi
339Please respect copyright.PENANAFF5qjBcPQI
自己抬起頭,難忍嚴肅的神情看向管家,但在確認原因之前是不應該隨意動怒的,自己壓抑著心頭的焦躁向管家提出了問題。339Please respect copyright.PENANAxAZm1jqj5Z
339Please respect copyright.PENANAhsEr43pFnL
「我那天看到他去應門,那是你教他的事嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAl1Gm4tvj34
339Please respect copyright.PENANAR7Ko0P4R6x
「啊,是的,前陣子他似乎對在門外等待的送貨商人必須等小的過去應門有些在意,所以跟小的說他也可以幫忙……所以小的就教他哪些人可以讓他們進來,哪些人要打發他們走。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAENQzk8fbyf
339Please respect copyright.PENANAFYRBudFAhD
「……以後別讓他去做應門這種事了。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAJpS2Hp5W2C
339Please respect copyright.PENANApamdznHYt1
「老爺……小的明白了。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAQceQRRfVrI
339Please respect copyright.PENANA81asGpXQrl
即使知道可能發生了什麼事也沒有多說一句話的管家,目送著自己起身離開了待客室。339Please respect copyright.PENANABU4bQdN1PP
339Please respect copyright.PENANAr6C0MOX96u
回到書房,那讓自己不由得感到心痛的身影仍是安靜地、佇立在有著盆栽的窗口,默默地看著那盆適應了盆栽泥土又繼續綻放花朵的植物。339Please respect copyright.PENANAnPymREfaMi
339Please respect copyright.PENANAQp6K6ME2Hj
自從那天他應了那商人的門之後,只要自己沒有派給他事情做,他就會像這樣默默地看著那盆栽動也不動。339Please respect copyright.PENANA0JaEJ98NK4
339Please respect copyright.PENANAYZt6rk1BK6
即使自己用盡方法希望他開口,他也像在那一瞬間就失去語言能力般,什麼話都說不出來,表露著彷彿失去生氣的模樣,讓自己打從心裡感到不忍。339Please respect copyright.PENANAOjxZ4KX7dd
339Please respect copyright.PENANARH0xkGyXL8
「來替我抄寫地址。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAuLNXCTxZk3
339Please respect copyright.PENANAn0Wh3io6a4
聽到自己的吩咐,緩緩轉過身走向書桌的他,默默地找出地址簿安放在閱覽架上,接著熟練地將羽毛筆與墨水擺到桌上後坐了下來,等待自己拿來空白信封。339Please respect copyright.PENANAwuR7Kyftlv
339Please respect copyright.PENANABkjWwh0a63
「……第二排第十個、第十二個。」339Please respect copyright.PENANA3EaLN6AFsT
「第三排第一個、第四排第六個。」339Please respect copyright.PENANABXqPKmiU7k
339Please respect copyright.PENANAwheZyowqRB
自己一一將信封擺到他面前,聽過自己的吩咐後,他一句話也沒有地動筆開始抄寫地址。339Please respect copyright.PENANAqlMaWOX3SS
隨著書寫傳來羽毛筆劃過信封的輕微聲響,臉上沒有半點表情的他,彷彿只是一具會動的人偶。339Please respect copyright.PENANAFwXBhiw1Zo
339Please respect copyright.PENANAUyWCaY3q2k
到底發生了什麼?339Please respect copyright.PENANAgRb0tQbqiG
339Please respect copyright.PENANAio5QqBZaoq
原以為他只是因為看到了那奴隸商人,感到不安害怕而已。339Please respect copyright.PENANApALsHHciVD
但自己對他說了再多安慰的話語也不見他從這副模樣裡恢復,即使特地邀他一起共進美味的晚餐,他也只是默默地吃著食物,彷彿完全感受不到料理的美味。339Please respect copyright.PENANA8VpSFa9EKi
339Please respect copyright.PENANAb08knFVSo1
即使是在夜晚的寢室,自己懷抱著他、親吻著他的身軀的時候,將手輕放在自己頰邊的他也像是失去了靈魂般無法注視著自己。339Please respect copyright.PENANAScyj6Zo3k7
339Please respect copyright.PENANA0kkZTlmZgO
即使早晨他仍會輕柔地伸手將自己喚醒,迎接自己的,也是他失去生氣的面容。339Please respect copyright.PENANA5WAYTIUbNZ
那雙美麗的眼睛裡透露著的,深不見底的什麼,自己無法理解。339Please respect copyright.PENANAvKbtxrOfwU
339Please respect copyright.PENANAD5TxWQpXJB
339Please respect copyright.PENANAiJvNMvia6w
———339Please respect copyright.PENANAQsIdrxhuqK
339Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5qIlwXrY5
339Please respect copyright.PENANAkd8IKG60ho
今天他又在窗台邊看著那叢越發茂盛的花朵。339Please respect copyright.PENANAjQ4zhHwujm
自己實在不忍注視著這樣的他,在處理過庶務後,走進了庭院。339Please respect copyright.PENANAiWQbnk0tum
339Please respect copyright.PENANAaPYPTQdRuA
339Please respect copyright.PENANAH5zzWSxp7J
「老爺!庭院最後一朵玫瑰開了喔!」339Please respect copyright.PENANAwWdlaAOeDI
遠遠地,朝自己揮著手裡的帽子,園丁帶著笑容走向了自己。339Please respect copyright.PENANAsBeNaNdrnY
339Please respect copyright.PENANApzEhzs4gw3
「辛苦了……開的好嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAuN8CJKdfg0
339Please respect copyright.PENANAHvWyWsUw7p
「開得很美呢!要為老爺摘下來嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAmuEDuVQ6Fa
339Please respect copyright.PENANAtOQJyEQnSK
「……不了,讓它開吧。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAttLqrbhdqB
339Please respect copyright.PENANAliznE65WiH
自己現在實在沒有那個心情,一邊婉拒著園丁,同時,某件事情突然浮現在了心頭。339Please respect copyright.PENANARaToNecvtK
339Please respect copyright.PENANA0DCsDT845z
「……那天,你在庭院嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAqwFSCcNRCP
339Please respect copyright.PENANATjeOaS7Bgc
聽到自己的問題,園丁挺起胸膛。339Please respect copyright.PENANAd9KrPJ8lGg
339Please respect copyright.PENANAEJYo1gEqwS
「小的每天都在庭院裡盡責地照顧老爺的花草!」339Please respect copyright.PENANAZu8EzYrjtu
339Please respect copyright.PENANAefO52ZJ2kz
「嗯,辛苦你了……那天,就是奴隸商人來的那天,你有聽到什麼嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANArvtgncXrVA
339Please respect copyright.PENANAFR27bHpm3n
「奴隸商人?啊,是帶著一些髒兮兮的丫頭的那個胖男人嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANApD6yKH0QpY
339Please respect copyright.PENANAOQyUCBWwTj
自己雖然想否定園丁所說的髒兮兮只是奴隸先天的膚色這件事,但既然園丁有看到,那最重要的事情,應該是……339Please respect copyright.PENANA0evJR7DqNo
339Please respect copyright.PENANAxqp6bzKUNG
「沒錯,他們有跟他說什麼嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAfyiZQCIIPH
339Please respect copyright.PENANAkIQaiGCtxZ
「他?」339Please respect copyright.PENANA0TKP9VCZtV
339Please respect copyright.PENANASdItQVGLYz
「嗯,之前跟我一起來向您借鏟子的那位。」339Please respect copyright.PENANA0LEIXQ7pYu
339Please respect copyright.PENANAX8MNceNFnV
「啊、有的!那裡面有個丫頭朝他大吼。」339Please respect copyright.PENANADwzzW9NJ5P
339Please respect copyright.PENANAhNFLdyYvDD
「……她說了什麼?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAyPCc7LDs8G
339Please respect copyright.PENANAivWk3NbBUK
聽到這回答,自己難忍心中的不安,壓著眉頭盯著園丁,園丁似乎因為自己的視線而變得謹慎許多,摸著下巴回想了許久,才緩緩把那句話語說出口。339Please respect copyright.PENANAYrgTPF39jj
339Please respect copyright.PENANAWdYnUY2Irh
339Please respect copyright.PENANA6sWyqh6TEN
「她說……吉娜的死都是他害的。」339Please respect copyright.PENANANo2DapKTLt
339Please respect copyright.PENANAj7XsKqQIyH
「他是個背叛者。」339Please respect copyright.PENANA9BCDxevv7K
339Please respect copyright.PENANATBpt9T5FGT
339Please respect copyright.PENANAeHwaujoDW5
———339Please respect copyright.PENANAhJDW6dwVEx
339Please respect copyright.PENANAI98WVsO7rH
339Please respect copyright.PENANAGI8vEXrNkt
已經一整天都沒有聽到他的聲音了。339Please respect copyright.PENANAJWPqmVq99U
339Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2cyBn45eN
在自己的命令下,與自己一起踏進澡間的他,默默地洗完了身子之後,在自己的注視下踏進浴池。339Please respect copyright.PENANAQA34eBjJZ5
雖然與自己在同一側的池壁,但卻背對著浴池坐著的他,只是注視著空氣中模糊的一點,動也不動。339Please respect copyright.PENANADp4c2e61Hu
339Please respect copyright.PENANAzL0u9MVJqA
這令人心痛的模樣,讓自己想起園丁說的話。339Please respect copyright.PENANAzafH7tEiJs
如果自己向他詢問了卻沒有結果怎麼辦呢?339Please respect copyright.PENANA7bLLk8EdpF
如果……因為自己的詢問而回想起難受的事情,讓他跌入了更深的黑暗之中的話,自己該怎麼辦呢?339Please respect copyright.PENANA08eJnK34R3
339Please respect copyright.PENANAkafylMqLgd
他現在的模樣簡直與剛來到這裡、自己第一次見到他的時候一樣。339Please respect copyright.PENANAFNYaFPOhGo
不礙著自己,也不做任何表示,像個物品般地,呼之即來,揮之即去。339Please respect copyright.PENANAtmol8sHEVZ
339Please respect copyright.PENANAR6wDo2PHy9
但他確實……曾經碰觸過自己的心,也稍稍地、讓自己聽見過他內心的聲音。339Please respect copyright.PENANAQjhBm2KEqq
給予過自己屬於他的溫暖與期盼,即使他始終沒有親口告訴自己,卻也無法忽視那些、存在過他眼裡的,說不出口的話語。339Please respect copyright.PENANAgVi9TLcLO6
339Please respect copyright.PENANAijthGfdaxo
他是怎樣從那一番話裡跌落到了原本的深淵裡,自己不明瞭。339Please respect copyright.PENANAPC1e5tqJKK
僅有手裡握著的這一絲情報,如果他仍舊不告訴自己的話,還能做什麼讓事情有所改變呢?339Please respect copyright.PENANAbmIqPQIeyW
339Please respect copyright.PENANAanpxSmEGHx
咬了咬牙,即使自己在這裡猶豫不決,情況也不會因此好轉。339Please respect copyright.PENANAk9XM8snmBB
339Please respect copyright.PENANA5laAMS3BCp
自己緩緩地靠近背向這裡的他,即使自己毫無掩飾地靠近也不為所動的他,是不是即使現在對他做了任何不合理的事情,也會默默接受呢?339Please respect copyright.PENANAHvc9c9eXoo
自己隱隱地感受到將會觸碰到他一直不願讓自己明瞭的真實,那會是自己能夠接受,並說服他的事情嗎?339Please respect copyright.PENANAAZQmF1czK9
339Please respect copyright.PENANADL2jNRqN7Q
搖搖頭,自己拋下那些不著邊際的思緒,趨向前伸手抱緊了他。339Please respect copyright.PENANAZk24o6fJjW
就像夜裡被自己緊緊抱著的時候,絲毫沒有掙扎或者一絲反應的他,在自己說出那句話以後終於有了一絲不同。339Please respect copyright.PENANAvcFcacs0OS
339Please respect copyright.PENANApKY6dzgbs8
「……吉娜是誰?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAJjsUHq6JbC
339Please respect copyright.PENANAqJtyfuadlu
即使只是微小的顫動,緊抱著他的自己也察覺了。339Please respect copyright.PENANAv9uMmCc7t3
339Please respect copyright.PENANAKgj5mvqlIN
「是某位奴隸嗎?告訴我。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAwuOIQheNni
339Please respect copyright.PENANAHulcVYhCLS
因為認真而變得粗糙的聲音,自己著實不想用這樣的語氣跟他說話。339Please respect copyright.PENANAu1CbKvQiD1
但如果不這樣做的話,他會知道自己是認真的……一直都是,認真地希望能夠知道他的事情嗎?339Please respect copyright.PENANADzx23G5qLo
339Please respect copyright.PENANAdsVX0A7AgP
沉默許久,背對著自己的他緩緩地點了點頭。339Please respect copyright.PENANAU7sh1pfaWB
339Please respect copyright.PENANANVOmZcNjIW
「……為什麼吉娜的死跟你有關係?你已經來這裡這麼久了。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAHyTW5Bb5GK
「背叛者,又是怎麼回事?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAy1wIaJ4e2E
339Please respect copyright.PENANAJoACMu5ZyL
自己將他抱得更緊了些,不讓他因為緩緩低下的頭而與自己拉遠了距離。339Please respect copyright.PENANAtEaxO3J2OR
即使如此仍然沉默著的他,微微顫抖的身軀讓自己心裡湧現了一股酸楚。339Please respect copyright.PENANAQN3HQzmkgD
339Please respect copyright.PENANAqDrUakJAe9
「……你答應過他們什麼嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAy0cekcC3IS
339Please respect copyright.PENANAWyPcNSWGMo
他微微地搖了搖頭。339Please respect copyright.PENANA7BH6RmYkeV
339Please respect copyright.PENANAiWBuAIfRoL
「在來到這裡之前,你負責做什麼?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAT18ft9vigo
「告訴我,否則到水冷了我也不會離開這裡。」339Please respect copyright.PENANALrPC1UHaM2
339Please respect copyright.PENANAv1q3WdMFLR
聽到自己這般要脅的話語,他的身子變得有些僵硬。339Please respect copyright.PENANAnrqtlhS1B9
沉默著,直到自己真的要以為他要等到浴池的水都冷了的時候。339Please respect copyright.PENANAei2YG38Qek
久違地,屬於他的聲音才緩緩地流瀉。339Please respect copyright.PENANAODld6PLIB8
339Please respect copyright.PENANACcxfrXkWoW
「……試用。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAMVNhVV4Ijh
339Please respect copyright.PENANAWhCSwFLyT7
「像那時候那商人說的一樣嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAYoKIVef0Jk
339Please respect copyright.PENANAyHPRUpRhLi
聽到自己的問題,他點了點頭。339Please respect copyright.PENANA6edjHDXRdG
自己想起那時候,那奴隸商人所說的話。339Please respect copyright.PENANAv4wdT83ue9
原本以為試用這件事只是因為自己選中了他,而不論是哪一位奴隸都會有的慣例。339Please respect copyright.PENANAy2HsnuZiJB
339Please respect copyright.PENANAEtUkj3TBI6
「試用之後呢?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAhyINE95Ser
339Please respect copyright.PENANAzWA7wa0ejK
「…………回去。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAXnsAukumSy
339Please respect copyright.PENANAtzx8Jsld6v
「回去商人那裡?那買主呢?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAdumVEd43FG
339Please respect copyright.PENANAF3AmJjCHm8
他低垂的頭,讓自己下意識握緊了他緩緩顫抖的手。339Please respect copyright.PENANAPMKlQJgT64
339Please respect copyright.PENANAV97X9AhPYi
339Please respect copyright.PENANAtxNe30WEFA
「……我、試用……主人喜歡……買、別人。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAybxoX8tMIG
339Please respect copyright.PENANAqPNOFV6zGM
339Please respect copyright.PENANAAK0A3Ryc3y
這讓自己說不出話的答案,幾乎要讓腦袋一片空白。339Please respect copyright.PENANAeE21pzdeKI
339Please respect copyright.PENANAs8IUzicedS
339Please respect copyright.PENANANoMDnzz1Wp
之所以他認為他不能露出面容,認為他醜。339Please respect copyright.PENANAV62TU4lP4Y
之所以他認為他骯髒,要用那種粗糙的刷子才能洗乾淨。339Please respect copyright.PENANAvKyxOamakz
339Please respect copyright.PENANAQPbkt9sBOT
之所以他對任何痛苦與不合理都毫不反抗也不表達。339Please respect copyright.PENANAMNVZRBjyVK
之所以他只是默默地承受這些,溫柔地對待著自己,卻對自己的承諾絲毫沒有接受的意思。339Please respect copyright.PENANAjDSuK9LEtF
339Please respect copyright.PENANARCQkL8Wxos
——都只是因為,他認為總有一天會回去那個地方。339Please respect copyright.PENANAQWa3nqls01
339Please respect copyright.PENANAUATFRU5IN3
339Please respect copyright.PENANAGYAGvaMjDR
而他所做的一切努力,都只是為了讓買主開心,認為買下奴隸值得,所以願意在試用之後,買下其他奴隸。339Please respect copyright.PENANAqGHq5NRjE3
339Please respect copyright.PENANAjLNLWYVqUd
「……那跟吉娜的死有什麼關係?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAM0y5JFuY8Z
339Please respect copyright.PENANAPxer2DJrTL
開口才察覺到的,自己話語中帶著的哽咽。339Please respect copyright.PENANAhK3LbmuMk3
或許是因為聽到了自己變化了的音調,他緩緩抬起頭。339Please respect copyright.PENANAQncbHxSKFG
339Please respect copyright.PENANA0gW7QfIuv0
「……女孩,試用……痛、難受……不吃飯、死掉……」339Please respect copyright.PENANAh7TYozUtx0
339Please respect copyright.PENANAqV7QwfOjlK
「……所以你代替她們去給買主試用嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANApffYqWOOrG
339Please respect copyright.PENANAuLhzZlaat1
面對自己的話語,他輕輕點頭。339Please respect copyright.PENANAevsXVz3shE
339Please respect copyright.PENANAJGABZZbN8G
339Please respect copyright.PENANAniBb9GPtBm
自己靠在他的背上,已經分不清楚模糊眼前的是浴池凝結的蒸氣還是眼眶裡滲出的液體,強忍著心頭的情緒,試圖理清腦中那自己從未想過的,殘酷的真相。339Please respect copyright.PENANAbE8YnZKjee
339Please respect copyright.PENANAJj1UhSY72M
不,自己其實是明白的吧?339Please respect copyright.PENANAGj38V7cksW
339Please respect copyright.PENANAGai82exupb
察覺他熟練那方面的事情更甚於好好地吃飯的時候。339Please respect copyright.PENANATeGN152suJ
發現他對自己給他的承諾沒有一絲欣喜的時候。339Please respect copyright.PENANAKQbrqMqdcI
注意到他得到了真正屬於他的物品的時候,露出懊悔的瞬間。339Please respect copyright.PENANAosuLZ46pfj
339Please respect copyright.PENANAHT1uyQpgrh
339Please respect copyright.PENANAKFGr3tLnbn
「……你沒有虧欠她們什麼。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAYVTDQQcJB2
339Please respect copyright.PENANA3P09T7pnAz
自己幾乎要使盡全身的力氣才能一字一句地說出話語。339Please respect copyright.PENANAr9tJ2eLUxl
隨著這股情緒抱緊他身子的力氣,或許會讓他感到有些難受。339Please respect copyright.PENANAZwaAK8wAeu
但自己已經沒有任何方法能夠證明自己想緊緊地抓住他了。339Please respect copyright.PENANAl5Gsa35LfI
339Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZDlrDw5au
「你被這樣對待,就不會痛、不會難受嗎?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAF0FJxUDjvO
「但你知道要好好地吃飯、好好地維持自己的樣子、好好地……取悅著買主。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAJfyimZLSQm
「因為你的努力而被買下的她們,那不是她們的努力。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAecjM0yutrw
「你承受了的痛苦,她們當然也不會知道……」339Please respect copyright.PENANAXkyR2KutdC
339Please respect copyright.PENANA2ssgmelM5t
「你以為替她們擋下了痛苦,實際上她們什麼也不會知道,更不明白自己為什麼不需要任何努力就能被買下……你明白的吧?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAFUCIJbKLWV
339Please respect copyright.PENANAD55J05sSZs
隨著自己說出口的話語而顫抖的身子。339Please respect copyright.PENANAkFcnLfj9m6
因為止不住顫抖而喘息的身軀,讓自己稍稍地鬆開了緊抱著他的手臂。339Please respect copyright.PENANAJp3n5gybvw
339Please respect copyright.PENANATW2Wl9bx4d
「誰都沒有資格說你是背叛者。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAXXJygZbBqw
「不論是誰,因為痛苦不吃飯、最後衰弱而死,也不是你的責任。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAsx8EUGuwt4
「那是她們自己的選擇,因為她們只想依靠別人替她們承受那些痛苦活下去……」339Please respect copyright.PENANAbH986tsI9R
339Please respect copyright.PENANAx8DhUHRHdG
「……別再……說……了……」339Please respect copyright.PENANAQAhYdD8v41
339Please respect copyright.PENANAf6r810jsoN
自己眼前顫抖的身軀開口打斷了自己的話語。339Please respect copyright.PENANAMtZylvpPgH
那自己從未聽過的、濃重的鼻音,帶著掩飾不了的啜泣不住顫抖著的身軀。339Please respect copyright.PENANAYOGz8CwHw8
339Please respect copyright.PENANAeKWIPea8CP
自己再度靠上前,緊緊抱住了他的身子。339Please respect copyright.PENANA2y4YV8O5Yd
339Please respect copyright.PENANAdZmGJD9axO
「……我不會放你走的。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAxPIVPTVIcF
「你就是你,是被我買下了、我重視的人,誰都不能代替你。」339Please respect copyright.PENANA0Zpu3XgROj
「你不屬於任何人,沒有替誰受苦的責任,你只能……待在我身旁,只為了你自己,活下去。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAFY7Vjw792Q
339Please respect copyright.PENANAxHrJAFX3ga
直到自己因為逐漸冷涼的池水而將他帶離浴池,擦乾了身子與頭髮的他,也無法從那彷彿出生以來就沒有哭泣過、止不住的淚容之中脫離。339Please respect copyright.PENANAfmMuylNGCU
339Please respect copyright.PENANAJcDCgPCjCs
這是因為他從未為了他自己哭泣的關係嗎?339Please respect copyright.PENANAO2eK2Zg97J
但自己,卻從那晶瑩的淚水之中,看到了他活生生的情感、躍動的靈魂。339Please respect copyright.PENANA9z2BIy6b4q
339Please respect copyright.PENANAyG1EucuKBS
一切都能好轉的,對吧?339Please respect copyright.PENANAGGnYOtj3ZI
339Please respect copyright.PENANAcZfE2qs42p
339Please respect copyright.PENANA2Iep4iktVv
339Please respect copyright.PENANAbwlZYGDBcJ