掀開地圖，地圖背面用紅字寫了一句：「你所憎恨的終將成為你追求的；你所渴望的終將成為你討厭的。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28kq2dw17G
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoxa8TO52w
貝吏刻唐繼續在房間東翻西找也沒有任何實際線索，只好先找幾個守衛守住入口再隱身回到迪斯普身邊。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bOTe7plIu
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwqfxuNNnw
明明只是過了一次午餐的時間，貝吏刻唐卻覺得很漫長，漫長的感覺也許是從不解而來。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP1Q6QFi74
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixhjcoDSHR
難道打倒巴烏卡之後還有更大的危機等候他們嗎？聯邦人又在計劃甚麼？236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3ol3QsyxH
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiDYngxSH5
貝吏刻唐一邊用迪斯普和荷芳的對話作背景音樂一邊祈求有人能給予他答案。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ971m5ROIWr
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2654i5EZO
同一時間，帝國的地下監獄。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqZ3Z6ywNP
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWNCn1eu85
在監獄深處的「貴賓室」裏，囚禁了一位刺殺女皇未遂的聯邦人，這位聯邦人每天都會有一位訪客，今天也不例外。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVJlSXd6aI
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpLUf92vVT
墨藍霧中，穿著似玩偶的女孩托著飯盤赤腳走到鐵門前：「又是時候吃飯了。」她的語氣就像已經送了一百年的餐般麻木。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pRetKerqF
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hqRLKLgsJ
與一般人所認知的不同，她不是從門下方的缺口遞盤子，而是直接用鑰匙打開門和聯邦人共處一室。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHILXDQX0S
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseHQV3AkNq
縱使內裏空間非常寬敞，擺設僅有一張床和書桌椅。書桌椅上放了一頂油燈以供聯邦人書寫和閱讀書信之用。桌上的信多得疊了幾疊，仔細數的話應該有近百封。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjwuz32r9X
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtbcawn4QH
那位聯邦人聽見鐵門移動依然坐在椅上靜靜讀信，待女孩直接遞上膳食。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDMElOgesz
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnB519NBM5
身穿囚服的聯邦人—葛蕾斯・雅士，她臉上充滿絕望，地板亦散落著屬於她的粉紅色頭髮。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ec6TTbKCB
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKLZAw9aN6
不僅因為刺殺行動完全是她擅作主張，失手後被困在此處，她的同伴似乎也不再對她抱有期望。簡單地說，她被當成棄子。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljXcighp0e
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUub0Hyvvu
帝國和聯邦的關係並沒有因為這件事而大幅改變，但聯邦喪失了獲得帝國內部情報的機會，沒有人從中得益。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNW2nEFfme
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSH1E1xeDm
另一邊廂，應該在比監獄更深的祕密設施研究禁物，現在卻獨自和企圖刺殺自己恩人的囚犯相處的女孩表現得比她更輕鬆。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefQkJWUzz9
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53V7p9ktRQ
女孩坐在床上，「今天沒有信嗎？」葛蕾斯問。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmIIgZzKpq
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60tB54caUS
「沒有。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ0Wc2C9US
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9evMmirhoq
剛用完午膳就馬上要為「囚犯」送餐，原本的小娜應該很不願意這樣做，但她總覺得能從這位「囚犯」身上學到些甚麼。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0yw4pYOHn
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiqLB0YkP5
葛蕾斯放好信後開始用膳，小娜途中一直觀察著她的樣子。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsbH5ZFJgW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxy2Xx5eG2
平淡又不安，彷彿是在和誰鬥氣一樣。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqjrlSULmC
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1vk0pt8sb
直到葛蕾斯吃完飯收拾好，小娜才準備開口。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea7pSKmuPK
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWwOX1iazk
「妳不後悔嗎？」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrXOVpkrbH
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU13YvJABgy
「很多事我都後悔。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv2HDwJAOh
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1DQmhAgMI
來自不同國度，本應是敵人卻因第三勢力而變得關係曖昧，小娜認為葛蕾斯是個極佳的研究對象。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO261pCTzlT
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPamJSYRGwj
葛蕾斯隨便拿起一封信，上面用英文寫著：「我們對妳很失望！」之類的意思。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCjGgHxqA4
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbVDlBgAle
「雨娜小姐。」「嗯？」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvDaEm3nBm
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kIxPJJYG6
「我還能出去嗎？」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM89bkUq7nS
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7kcqgC3VZ
「我從某個蠢材口中聽過一句很有道理的話：『一次不忠，百次不用』妳應該明白吧？」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhiOppjgv2
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzmbhbpUyR
「明白。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6knnEXYJv
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMShupH50UF
獄卒檢查過每一封葛蕾斯和聯邦來往的書信，當中固然沒有重要機密，反而內容乏味。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAltl79jEB
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GNTeOiSWa
只是用不同的話語拒絕她無數次。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6exT8nMnb
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFjVv21b7f
帝國和聯邦都不接納她，她很有可能會投靠其他勢力，例如大陸中東部尚未統一的各個小國。所以在決定如何處置她前，囚禁她是最好的辦法。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WgEJ6b80V
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpvN7x6hNh
「妳恨我嗎？」小娜問了個對方也會問的問題。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSKyxEJYaa
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTqSJRWh5R
「總會有一點點。不過更可笑的是，人在魔法面前居然無能為力......」葛蕾斯苦笑。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPub33VHVqb
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbrPOAHvAH
人抗拒未知的事物。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmQKxIUvTo
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0hvm8CyYK
人往往先排斥而非嘗試理解從未見識過的事物，就像小孩子不願意吃沒吃過的食物一樣。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6D6Mp3tH2
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnarZ3BtQJT
如果吃完發現很好吃，會自問為甚麼要「以貌取食物」，往後不再排斥它。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKCR2yDAGo
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqyQeNCzJA
但若味道與預期一樣，就像個知道火很熱仍然要伸手進火的「聰明人」般抱怨父母為甚麼要逼自己吃。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxT7Jp1ecQ
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHAnChJH1g
魔法也是如此，目前魔法只為人類帶來恐懼、不安以及死亡，少數掌握魔法的人卻能控制多數人，也許根本不應該嘗試接觸魔法。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMykAjUy6A
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfnIdT12uD
小娜自覺沒有話語權，繼續聆聽葛蕾斯的話語。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTImpORLVv
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDjumgXaUn
「妳也可以在這裏直接扭斷我的脖子......一切只在乎妳想不想吧？我根本無能為力，我甚麼也不想做，我甚麼也做不到......」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpvnasa3Lm
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAN1aakjXe
葛蕾斯的眼神非常空洞，張著眼卻彷彿甚麼也看不見。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGFzNUulB7
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYkWiG5kEb
「我活著的意義是甚麼？我死了是不是就可以讓你們輕鬆一點？我錯了嗎？我錯了嗎？」葛蕾斯對小娜大叫。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvRqHp0ry0
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCPhJpEesl
「錯與不錯有甚麼關係？」小娜無奈地回應：「我們都被拘束著，就算知道那些事是錯的也阻止不了。」小娜想起小時候哥哥帶她找到帝國的回憶。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg3fKNDN1j
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi5FZHJoZQ
「就算看見很多人在做錯事，阻止不了就是阻止不了。即使之後成功糾正他們，他們造成的傷害一直都存在，遲來的正義不是正義。」小娜低頭盯著冷冰冰的地板。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPrtAyN2EV
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtM1mmrcLD
「那麼我可以去哪裏？」葛蕾斯問。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzu4SSOuKYv
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHLMbsIsg9
「接受現實，在這裏活一輩子。」小娜站起來準備離開：「我不是沙卡美。如果她願意下來跟妳說話，她應該會鼓勵妳。但想到妳曾經......她應該不會來這裏。當經歷過很多失敗之後，我們很難強迫其他人一起接受失敗，因為很難受。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBNoKdehxO
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogOihYPp3b
「而且妳身為一個軍人應該已經有覺悟了吧？妳也很清楚自己要做甚麼，只是妳不願意正視妳自己的能力。」小娜托著盤子離開牢房。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZflRQsbWX9
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyB143Mtqn
她回到禁物儲藏室，沙卡美就在門前等待她回來。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfHWIA3spl
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWehPUI8zsI
「小娜，她怎麼樣？」沙卡美笑得很燦爛。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVor7xo5Sl
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7v6DuiM7K
「依然像個空殼困在自己的心裏。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5UuPvlELH
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LhAYyBY4s
「其實我剛剛收到一封信。」沙卡美遞出一封白色信封的信。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2XMLPqa6I
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF85vqRenY
小娜不明白葛蕾斯和這封信的關聯：「我可以看嗎？」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwHer8tWwz
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ8G8iwSmY
「看吧。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBNVNcq0Ne
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhIqjW6MuU
小娜接過信封拆開信，讀完信後收回信封內。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m9LMTDCLX
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzSL9NqBf8
「因此我要到普利王國幾天，妳可以幫我告訴貝弟弟嗎？」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHM4uLMZcre
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9alDxZM2F
普利王國的國王駕崩，沙卡美被邀請去國葬儀式。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF6DekPGom
