-拔舍巴&老婦蓓塔,樂土平原邊陲,居住處的女紅婦人
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「樂園到了,樂園到了。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAwxjfiR8IHQ
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旅者到了旅館,船隻行駛到了港灣181Please respect copyright.PENANArWdP4TfC3y
馬車在鎮口處的守衛前停下,詩人的歌聲終於在月亮降下時止歇181Please respect copyright.PENANAQDnhjmc7X1
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生者的啼哭即是終點,死者的淚乾即是抵達181Please respect copyright.PENANA2dRyaeICns
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所以暴風已過,天空該是和煦的模樣181Please respect copyright.PENANA78RC6bs7Ub
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月亮方降,晨光還在後頭靜待東昇。181Please respect copyright.PENANA1DgdtHGDNY
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日光的溫暖助生命滋長,也助一株因為急需養分而陷入調適期的「梅花」能在那三尊王八(他是指樂園的三尊神像,這說出來絕對會被殺)之一拿走他手臂的疼痛以後好好甦醒,好好護著他懷裡搖曳的火光。181Please respect copyright.PENANAnI3dvtTWkq
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至於那個「拔舍巴」啊……181Please respect copyright.PENANAdeQ57GXdwo
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在他眼中,拔舍巴著實就是錯誤儀式下的產物,龜裂的、破損的、碎得稀爛的……如果從一開始那些把玩法術的傢伙細心點幹,多想想幾個步驟,也不至於讓這麼一個「孩子」活成這副模樣。181Please respect copyright.PENANA7fIvccDUBO
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不過他同時也明白,這正是人之路。181Please respect copyright.PENANAtRGhsnJGcb
包含祂在內,所有無形的犧牲終將給世界堆砌出嶄新的面貌。181Please respect copyright.PENANAGurL8OqiwK
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對,他有什麼資格說嘴世界,說嘴神明呢……啊哈,有什麼「資格」?講述「資格」啊律法啊品德之前,任何往來都是因慾望而生,這時候的「非人」還能向「人」討要什麼尊重呢?當他睜開雙眼,拔舍巴已不在身旁,愣是觀察起周遭環境的姑方急著往他唯一能聽到的聲音而去。181Please respect copyright.PENANAgQiwbQYulA
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「唔……!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAM17VPx7yPI
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「哎呀,有沒有流血?!」「沒有……只是,針。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAwPkLKYBQyJ
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針飛走了,拔舍巴用手勢這麼表達。181Please respect copyright.PENANAOgBIuneuKv
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「嗯……這針彈力有這麼好嗎?飛哪兒去了,要是踩到就不好了,你先用我的!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAYW1VOGciV5
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喧鬧的談話間,一抹明顯突兀的低音似是在表露溫和,姑方卻聽得出他對手中粗活的專注。是拔舍巴跟那個讓人懷疑的老婦人?181Please respect copyright.PENANA87IP7j18hS
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「織好了,這樣可以賣幾個金幣?夫人。」181Please respect copyright.PENANATs5FQMQLvE
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「噢!好美……老天,神啊,你織的比我美麗多了,咱家的買主又不是上流階級的人,這樣子簡直要裱框收藏了!……我說過你叫我蓓塔就好了,不是夫人、小姐、女士,是蓓塔,蓓塔!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAD1XkbA5DNG
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「……這樣會找不到買主?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAWSURZgnFpZ
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見證這般奇景的姑方差點要抬頭直視陽光。181Please respect copyright.PENANAHO8D3VDQwJ
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「拔、舍巴……?啊、啊……?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAADK8mccVed
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看看這太陽位置,時間恰巧是正午。181Please respect copyright.PENANAGPjStXuHZq
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一身黑色布衣的拔舍巴坐在房屋門前的椅子上,平靜地向老婦人「蓓塔」展示著手裡的蕾絲手帕,原先那莊嚴、漆黑,哪怕只是外袍也裝飾的無比華貴的套裝哪兒都不在了,一身手紮布衣的拔舍巴更是用黑布包起了他的長髮,瀏海也給布巾裹了個乾淨,露出了潔白的額頭。 181Please respect copyright.PENANA0cfAGbiYI3
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村姑──他差點這麼想像,姑方卻被拔舍巴手裡的手帕給美了一眼。181Please respect copyright.PENANAmI4MszWQ8r
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「你在這兒織什麼漂亮東西!!!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAwRHlxGwM6h
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不顧他那戲劇性的大聲如何,拔舍巴展示的手帕美得確實能讓人驚呼,滾邊的蕾絲彷彿是史上最名貴的絲線編織而成,原先純白的模樣裡更是多了幾分金絲搭襯,在這裡,姑方不知而拔舍巴既知的是,當今貴族就喜歡這些雪白又金燦的東西。181Please respect copyright.PENANAwoFhMxH88i
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細細地為白手帕添上老婦人告訴他的大略樣子,這樣,一張能賣給古堡周圍那些上流人士的手帕就完成了。181Please respect copyright.PENANADU5tX40Mvy
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指定是「貴族喜歡的東西」,也是拔舍巴最清楚的範疇,這是在「樂園」開始調查的第一步,聽聽這位女士建議無疑是最優解答──經過一晚,姑方的聲音還是很大。181Please respect copyright.PENANANCfkNAFz8i
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這還是拔舍巴頭一回意識到姑方的音量會讓人耳鳴。181Please respect copyright.PENANADh6XggwCvm
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時間回到昨夜,他無須思考就能知道自己無法習慣這裡的床鋪了,洗好澡以後還是拿原本那件外袍披給自己,老婦人隨興地說要提前處理明早的家事,轉身就往房外去了。181Please respect copyright.PENANAS0cqnRt6jr
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見姑方躺在粗糙的麻布床上動也不動,好奇地聞聞嗅嗅,張口就吮上姑方手指的拔舍巴顯然沒把姑方的反應放在眼裡──這質感刮皮的床鋪讓他迷茫,游離的思緒間浮現了還在「啟示九夜」的回憶。181Please respect copyright.PENANAV2uOcU9UDb
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您的肉體是神聖的,為了保護您,我們給您的物品選用了最柔軟的材質……拔舍巴閣下,您也要記得,別碰廚房的粗布、別碰侍者的衣物,您容易受傷。181Please respect copyright.PENANAJyx4WoTfMw
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除了這以外呢?他記得自己當時對主教露出了疑惑的表情。181Please respect copyright.PENANAl70XVxFtoS
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這有很多原因,您屆時便會知曉全部──大主教如是說。而拔舍巴很快就知道「容易受傷」之外的原因了,自己本就帶傷的指尖、胯下與身軀一碰到這老屋子裡的床鋪就是一陣發癢,憋在喉頭的咳嗽化作幾陣顫抖的氣息,沉澱多時的髒汙開始讓他的肉體不聽使喚。181Please respect copyright.PENANAE3Ub0uc1w8
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他的肉體很脆弱──他了解了這「脆弱」的另一層意涵。181Please respect copyright.PENANAVCSVZh60IT
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放下姑方的手指,拔舍巴吃力地起身。181Please respect copyright.PENANAjCah98dfRP
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「……唔……」181Please respect copyright.PENANA93AMtNkhHj
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「……不叫了?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAZFvhaHaeXK
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剛剛被「吸一下」的姑方自己停止呻吟了。181Please respect copyright.PENANA6Y3LB2ekpw
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困惑地看著緊閉雙眼的對方,想要在房裡找到乾淨物品,拔舍巴掃視起整個房間,然而,他最後還是把視線落到了剪刀桶之上。剪刀桶第二,其他都落於榜外,轉頭望著姑方,這裡最乾淨的東西應該就是眼前的他了……難不成他要睡在姑方身上?181Please respect copyright.PENANAstIYRDkYro
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「嗯……」181Please respect copyright.PENANAtrox6GzEjo
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他覺得不好。181Please respect copyright.PENANA9KGtMzuVVk
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不過這不是失禮的「不好」,而是姑方能給予的面積太過「狹小」。181Please respect copyright.PENANAlJaBGmk4UI
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都怪這個「非人」給他的印象太過聒噪,除了思考上自動忽視禮儀以外,嘴上也沒了顧忌,明明說要睡到隔日正午自我恢復的,怎麼不好好休息?他不懂。不過,拔舍巴的表情隨後就從困惑轉成困窘。181Please respect copyright.PENANA9G1glatt0h
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這裡乾淨的是姑方,除此之外就沒有適合他皮膚的衣物與布料了。181Please respect copyright.PENANAxZHfEmXBqq
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只剩這件外袍……或許能加以改造?181Please respect copyright.PENANAzsxPVjPrv2
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吃力地支起身子拖著疲憊的步伐來到門外,老婦人正在煮著早上要用的玻璃瓶,是要用在哪裡?拔舍巴暫時把見到的情報置於腦後,看著婦人轉頭就給火爐多添了幾根柴,她看上去已經五十多歲了,泛黃生疣的肌膚與那雙透藍的眼珠形成反差。181Please respect copyright.PENANAfNwKVY0t7B
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「……請問……」181Please respect copyright.PENANAaESABkvfMg
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「哎呀,您睡不著嗎?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAwAk6URoRcq
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拉攏身上最柔軟的外袍,對上藍眼睛的拔舍巴反而多了幾分平靜。181Please respect copyright.PENANARcWpZ24U65
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「我叫拔舍巴(Bathsheba)。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAw6PR3RncmT
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或許是現場最聒噪的人不在,熟悉的寧靜反而讓拔舍巴有了開口說話的動力:「……妳,有製作過衣服嗎?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAreyxW65G5H
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「噢!當然有,怎麼啦,我已經給兩位仙女準備最好的床了……您、您兩位,需要什麼幫助嗎?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAG83V7aB9KK
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就算體膚骯髒,老婦還是那般熱情而慈祥,雪白的髮絲與火光輝映之下,她有些怯生的眼神這才透露了她對「仙女」的懼怕。手上的火絨一度在拔舍巴的注目下抖落了幾塊,她確實拿出了這裡最好的床鋪了,畢竟,丈夫的羊毛被都給她按照指示拆去了。181Please respect copyright.PENANA3t2GkfoRCX
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「……可以教我嗎?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAPyWySrhFbL
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不過,當他還在「啟示九夜」的時候,拔舍巴日日都能聽到這種驚得打顫的語氣。181Please respect copyright.PENANAboEoDlNfgs
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「嗯噢!?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAxqCIBSQ7ig
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他人的畏懼不足以構成拔舍巴停下探索的理由。181Please respect copyright.PENANAbpomDHXKhw
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滴答,雨水沿著屋簷滴至水缸。181Please respect copyright.PENANAmz9c9IPoL9
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該是和煦之日,拔舍巴卻依稀在日出前聽見了雨聲,原來下過雨了嗎?沒想到他們進入樂園時的晴朗只維持剎那,要是晚一點呼救,現在怕是成了水坑裡乾渴的魚吧。181Please respect copyright.PENANAneVwJdjeFr
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唰啦,那是布料摩娑的悶響,坐下來試著與婦人談話的拔舍巴表示自己除了這件袍子外就沒有衣物了──所以,能不能用這種布料改出長裙呢?老婦人又是露出了他體會不了的驚訝。181Please respect copyright.PENANApFVRoX69Mb
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「唉呀,唉呀……」181Please respect copyright.PENANAco95j2j7Mt
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「……妳叫什麼名字?」181Please respect copyright.PENANA0UbfBc8h2S
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他該怎麼安撫這個害怕的老婦人?181Please respect copyright.PENANAyvMc4mct5C
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以往,教堂裡出現這種畏懼表情時都有其他人來處理的。看是大主教在場,還是其他祭司在場,現場職位最高的「大人」會負責低下身對嬌小的侍者說話,他們都說了些什麼?彼時,總專注在施法上的拔舍巴無暇顧及,他沒有實際安撫人的經驗。181Please respect copyright.PENANAIXb8ro1yfX
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「唉呀,我叫蓓塔……!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAbcf2tmL9eq
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「蓓塔小姐,感謝妳的收留……打理好衣物以後,我能不能幫上什麼?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAqYXXDCRMq9
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現在要安撫這位女士才行。仔細回想,他想起所有「會晤」都是由主教對外主持的,見過主教收取錢袋的樣子,除了盛情的大公之外,一些怯生的夫人只要與主教談過便能破涕。181Please respect copyright.PENANArYc9uK2Gfj
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如此認定的拔舍巴循著他唯一的記憶伸手疊上她的掌心,粗糙的觸感與凹凸不平的肌膚有發霉木柴的氣味。沙啞中的聲調多了分柔和而清麗的暖意,拔舍巴的模仿在下一刻成了激發這位「蓓塔」熱情的開場──小姐、夫人、女士都不偏不倚地躲過了蓓塔實際在街坊裡的稱呼:「奶奶」。181Please respect copyright.PENANAsmjrYjZS0h
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是的,就算頭髮還沒花白,她也是給人叫奶奶的年紀了……被這麼美麗的人叫「小姐」的婦人在驚怖中發出了近乎哭腔的嘆息,臉上顯然多了幾分悔意,這麼好的一個仙女,她為什麼要怕成這樣呢?181Please respect copyright.PENANAG2fwA50dza
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「神啊……」181Please respect copyright.PENANArFTMECTC93
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從第一次見到這兩位來客開始,拔舍巴與他旁邊那位旅伴(姑方)就是她此生碰過最為美麗的人,聽命於丈夫的她哪裡能懂藝術之美如何?她甚至想像不到那歸來的丈夫會如何看待收留這兩位客人的她。181Please respect copyright.PENANAVg6CrsaVdD
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可她實在忍不下這般直觀又具衝擊性的美了。181Please respect copyright.PENANAzTqKG00dYU
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拔舍巴(Bathsheba)很美,連名字也有種艱深到讓她困惑卻因此而美的那種美,把這個名字說在口中時,她會因為不清楚「Bath」與「she」之間的銜接而感到敬畏,多困難的一個字啊,她那博學多聞的丈夫是不是更清楚這些?181Please respect copyright.PENANAGXBdqVFEAn
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「就剪裁現有的布料給您做一套衣服吧!嗯……我沒有見過這種布料,您能告訴我它是羊毛還是鵝絨嗎?恰好我們家最不缺剪刀,我盡量給您挑一個最好,最閃亮的……因為我丈夫的職業關係,他雖然不在乎家裡的生計、食物什麼的,但他最在乎這些器具保養的事了。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAGcPokaCF6l
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是那些剪刀桶裡的剪刀嗎?181Please respect copyright.PENANAoOOT5dnaii
一字一句聽著蓓塔的話,拔舍巴方才還這麼想:蓓塔……這個名字如此簡短,好像侍者名冊上的人選姓名一直都這麼短,像是給年輕孩子的小名。181Please respect copyright.PENANAzYgyimFmAT
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羊毛或者鵝絨有很重要嗎?181Please respect copyright.PENANAooUUFLo9bF
注意力落到了蓓塔的話語上頭,身上還裹著外袍,拔舍巴裡面什麼都沒穿。181Please respect copyright.PENANA3M5iqorAF1
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他不禁慶幸這位蓓塔沒有把她家裡的布輕易就蓋到他身上──同時,腦內也迅速轉著侍者洗滌衣物的模樣。他的衣服是什麼材質?確實有人講過這件事。181Please respect copyright.PENANAeI8m1pGhjy
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「……袍子本身是羊毛,這些點綴與外層則是絲綢。」181Please respect copyright.PENANA7SHxxtLhxX
181Please respect copyright.PENANAfzabJtgkM9
有最多飾物,穿在裡頭的內襯已經在樂園之外一去不回了。181Please respect copyright.PENANA5qMlhZjK1J
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從拔舍巴目前的處境來看,他已經踏上了一條非得要加長對話用字與情緒的路程,語調平板的描述事實是他目前最先能辦到的表達方式了。181Please respect copyright.PENANABCAsMaLmv3
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模仿出來的溫柔就像是曇花一現的流星一樣飄渺。181Please respect copyright.PENANAl3l7HufDsu
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「絲布!等等我……正好我丈夫有贈我絲布用的布剪子!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAD8JYqA8D59
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是要他習慣在一句話裡增加更多感嘆,才能正常回應他人的熱情──瞥見蓓塔興高采烈地拿出一把銳利的銀色布剪時,拔舍巴也免不去好奇,是什麼「理髮師家庭」竟貯藏了這麼多金屬跟剪刀?姑方又為什麼說她的丈夫有問題?181Please respect copyright.PENANAa4KFpITfrj
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咚咚、咚咚,看著蓓塔往一旁的房間踩著步伐而去,沒過多久,銳利的金屬碰撞聲就隨之傳來。181Please respect copyright.PENANAttwKbFvj0j
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「這些就是這家裡最好的工具了,連這針都是我丈夫叮囑我『要留給貴族』的,天啊,我真沒想到有用上它們的一天……仙女啊,您……」181Please respect copyright.PENANAElWfwB079L
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「叫我拔舍巴便好。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAtlBRdv23Q7
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「那個,拔舍巴……您需要點布料蔽體嗎?若要剪裁布料,您得要……」181Please respect copyright.PENANAFa8fEWIfax
181Please respect copyright.PENANAUXUESeCYQa
窗外傳來陌生的鳴囀,距離日出還剩多少時間呢?可能是他途中昏過去的關係,莫名覺得時間過了許久的拔舍巴這才從蓓塔羞怯的反應憶起過去「會晤」時,女子最常見的反應。181Please respect copyright.PENANASrAVWBBogK
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「我不介意,若覺得不好,我轉過去或者回房都可以──」181Please respect copyright.PENANAz8e2vAYgRL
181Please respect copyright.PENANA8Gn1HHHZNE
「我不是那個意思!」擅長女紅的婦人蓓塔人如其名,有著鄰家姑娘才有的那種最純澈而無知的憨笑,天知道她是如何用這怯懦的笑容迷倒她丈夫的?也可能從一開始就沒有情愫可言,「……就是,我得要量量您的身材尺寸才好判斷如何給您製作衣物,哪怕是我教您,我也要看過……」181Please respect copyright.PENANAUIQxwesg6U
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「……妳不是看過……」181Please respect copyright.PENANAiDAPqkkNwe
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拔舍巴一愣,愣得他連平靜的語調多了一分由困惑而成的鬆垮,她不是該看過了嗎?清楚知道自己是被這位婦人抱進浴池的拔舍巴歪了歪頭。結果,她那臉蛋反而在拔舍巴歪頭歪腦的疑惑下尷尬地紅了起來。181Please respect copyright.PENANApDkp3PBh1M
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「我沒有看,那是意外,仙女……拔舍巴!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAy2E1ylFZhK
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她在害羞嗎?181Please respect copyright.PENANAn1CGnoxq8s
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他看不出這位女士的害臊底下有什麼除了驚怖、怯懦以外的情緒,是一種不知所措嗎?他知道貴族會露出這種表情,同樣知道「啟示九夜」裡的人與這些情緒豐富的人不同,現在的他又知道了一般人類與貴族的不同了。181Please respect copyright.PENANANyG5nXTbNT
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或許他得等一下?與對方持續談話下去,就能知道這位「蓓塔」的丈夫是什麼人了。181Please respect copyright.PENANArkpqP4Gbsb
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「……妳可要用碰的來丈量尺寸?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAijayHD1f1N
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碰到什麼問題就試著思考吧。越過婦人害臊的情緒,心想著要減少傷害的拔舍巴直接開口。他得融入這裡才行。181Please respect copyright.PENANAAcuZQpJ4Q0
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「不用,您脫下外袍後轉一圈便是,我用看的就能量好了。我可以給您裁布再教您縫紉方式!」181Please respect copyright.PENANASWawuUqLqC
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──而拔舍巴融入環境的速度也是超乎想像的迅速。181Please respect copyright.PENANAACSzY7CNJ1
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先是兼具遮面與包頭兩種功能的黑色頭紗,就用袍子外層的絲綢來做。181Please respect copyright.PENANAI4UhkFySDg
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「包頭髮的還是多給您一條,若要遮著您的傷口,就要多留個方便綁起的空間。需不需要我幫您裁布?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAPVzauzK6Gd
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「妳真貼心,蓓塔小姐,我可以自己來,裁布……是這樣裁嗎?」181Please respect copyright.PENANA2fBXR2Xo75
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再來就要節儉地裁起這柔軟的羊毛布料,均分上半身與下半身要用的尺寸,這位精通女紅的老婦蓓塔可沒想過自己會在仙女的誇獎下飄飄欲仙,臉頰發燙。好像又回到她出嫁以前純真無邪的時候,她的皺紋擠成了一朵初綻的花。181Please respect copyright.PENANAAlJeCf7OGh
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「是、是!哎呀,您學得真快。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAss0e5PFK7e
「是這剪刀保養很好,是妳很用心。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAR0IfKITZeu
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「哎呦呦!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAuhCH70roJQ
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讓拔舍巴意識到「與她交流並不困難」的當下,這段只需要動手編織、裁布與誇獎的對話就比起頭順利許多。181Please respect copyright.PENANAmyMWktbnUw
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拔舍巴學得很快。181Please respect copyright.PENANArh3T7ESi4U
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很神奇,就像魔法一樣──從小就開始做女紅,整整花掉了三分之一的人生,編織技藝才稱得上純熟的蓓塔是真心這麼想的。181Please respect copyright.PENANAFBNpxjMXxx
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「我還需要蓋臉的布……」181Please respect copyright.PENANA0a60WdyYsd
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「那麼,用頭紗的方式如何!看,就像這樣綁起來……」181Please respect copyright.PENANA3TobFgHVfU
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「好,就這個。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAKAL4ganHRd
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不只轉眼間就給上衣收了線,拔舍巴手中的布料還能精準地在該轉彎的時候轉彎,運針之靈活,活像一隻翩翩飛舞的蝴蝶,懂得往它該去的花叢裡前去,將牠細長的口器安放到正確的洞裡。181Please respect copyright.PENANAunzgi9H7gm
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「你可真厲害,拔舍巴……噢,這樣一套衣服就完成了!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAylBQIm7Cum
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「……見笑了。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAI0r3mfI1DU
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乘著蓓塔的熱情,他們暢談無阻,直到太陽升起。181Please respect copyright.PENANABhXGfoM4uh
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直到暖陽灑落,拔舍巴知道了這位居民的一生,更是知道了她出嫁的光景,抓準對話的訣竅不斷對蓓塔提問,他因此知道她之所以那麼擅長女紅的起因。「蓓塔·羅西那」,出生在一個滿是姑娘的家庭,女兒人數多得對一個家庭來說無疑是詛咒的程度了,莊園裡之所以沒人抨擊她,是因為「羅西娜」的姑娘各個都是精於女紅,特別有名。181Please respect copyright.PENANAHKm6PqmaSV
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出嫁的姑娘得到的待遇優渥無比,五十年前,年僅八歲的她顯然是個幸運的孩子,能在八歲就得人收留,九歲就順利出嫁,十歲的她因此跟著與她相差十五歲的丈夫順利離家。181Please respect copyright.PENANAjcq1bo4AEc
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她出身低微而他高不可攀,兩者之所以能走到一起,全是因為男方的財富與職業關係。181Please respect copyright.PENANATsZGrHcyAU
這樣還能叫「樂園」嗎?這是拔舍巴最先浮現的疑惑,至於那最讓人在意的職業,拔舍巴總覺得自己聽過這個「理髮師」的傳聞,說是替人剪頭髮吧?好像還有別的……181Please respect copyright.PENANA7RKbT83sl1
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她接著提到了通貨──蓓塔說,最近這附近常有人流亡到此,身上沒有金錢,半路餓死的也很多,說他和姑方還能從「神像森」那麼遠的地方身負重傷地走來簡直是奇蹟中的奇蹟──並不覺得神像森跟莊園有多遠距離的拔舍巴為之一愣,若她說的是真的,那表示有很多「樂園」的參加者死在路上?181Please respect copyright.PENANAV9HjUCooDa
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他甚至發現從頭到尾,蓓塔的話中都沒有提及「樂園」一詞。181Please respect copyright.PENANAivvNrqaAZa
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「這是我們這交易用的金幣,真沒金幣,用織品換東西也行,通常都是在中央廣場的噴水池附近做交易的,在那兒擺地攤的人也很多。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAx7kSzK3dag
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「這種金幣?」181Please respect copyright.PENANA5zq6XmiezI
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「對對,除了下田務農以外,我晚上也會做這些織品提供給我丈夫認識的人脈販售……所以生活還稱得上溫飽,我很感謝他,他不只是我的丈夫,也是我的恩人。」181Please respect copyright.PENANArvtEzs4y48
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……這是夫妻之間會有的感謝嗎?181Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZG3t8Y95N
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拔舍巴對這種「感謝」沒什麼見解,男女問題在「啟示九夜」裡更是少見,晨光和煦,公雞初啼,先是對蓓塔問起金錢問題,從窗外射入的陽光照上了拔舍巴手中的金幣。他想起了自己還沒翻閱的小冊子,直覺告訴他,不能在這裡的居民面前拿出那本守則。181Please respect copyright.PENANAz3wL8w1sbe
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「……我有辦法在蓓塔小姐這裡工作嗎?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAgP7xV1hDoA
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既然這裡的居民能供養一家溫飽,應該也能成為他探索「樂園」的第一個休憩地。181Please respect copyright.PENANAd1ELompfiN
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「當然可以,你做得這麼好!不介意的話另外一位要一起也行,這裡正缺人力吶!還有,別叫我小姐了,叫我名字就行,蓓塔!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAXVf1xFjvQj
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聊到這地步,這位理髮師的妻子已經放下先前的拘謹了,這裡也不是「啟示九夜」,心向「咒文」的拔舍巴唯一要面對的問題只有蓓塔那濃厚的口音。181Please respect copyright.PENANAxMeCOfyIVC
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慶幸他還是能聽懂她的話,看她喜上眉梢,像是時空回溯到她再也回不去的兒時似地,在那裡,蓓塔·羅西那不再是坐在馬廄裡編織的女工,而是能在陽光底下與朋友談笑風生的好女孩……即使這只是剎那間的幻覺,蓓塔看起來也因拔舍巴這位「仙女」而得到了幸福。181Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4tkApktL0
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她忍不住欣喜的表情一路持續到天明──拔舍巴的安寧也在姑方起床的那刻煙消運散。181Please respect copyright.PENANA95VC3jjnB9
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安靜。當他如此開口,姑方皺著眉頭反駁。181Please respect copyright.PENANAT3FX23QuJi
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「你你你……你這傢伙憑什麼叫我安靜?你真是怎麼搞的,一晚上不見就開創自己的事業了?噢,我叫姑方,我沒事了,您叫什麼名字?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAqztaSXJ5Ki
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「嗯、哎?我叫蓓塔,您身上的傷──」181Please respect copyright.PENANAUCHhHgBhQK
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反駁他一輪以後,姑方就要湊到旁邊的蓓塔去搭訕了。181Please respect copyright.PENANALr9Ak0yGmM
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「……請小聲點。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAFvcTaxnqbG
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耳鳴讓拔舍巴忍不住開口。被這麼回嘴,姑方禁了聲,瞇起眼。181Please respect copyright.PENANAPZCUUm9yVH
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看著那手裡精緻過頭的蕾絲手帕被拔舍巴平整地摺好,放到了清洗過的竹籃裡邊,自己的本體負傷的現在,姑方夜不能寐,剛起床人就不見,探索樂園的進度也遠遠落於人後──181Please respect copyright.PENANASAk46VCfaq
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昨日,正在運功恢復的姑方被吸住手指的衝擊著實讓裡頭的「梅花」嚇得「炸毛」了,因不知這樂園的成因如何,被動給這個空間隔絕了他與鯤島的聯繫屬實是「祂」無法忽視的致命傷。181Please respect copyright.PENANABZOF7IS2Dw
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結果就是姑方用一夜重新疏通自己的感知,安撫了沉睡的靈魂。181Please respect copyright.PENANANFtiQ0UwcO
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「……我安靜就是了,呿,羅西娜女士,我的旅伴還好嗎?」181Please respect copyright.PENANA61Jb3VQoak
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「咦、」181Please respect copyright.PENANA0QroCHe6KN
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蓓塔·羅西那有些驚訝──那是她原本的姓,也是她婚後捨去的姓。181Please respect copyright.PENANAf4PlHXb4LN
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現在,她叫作「蓓塔·巴托羅」(Berta Bartolo)。181Please respect copyright.PENANAjRZqbAoACl
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「您放在床頭的照片邊框就刻著這個啊,我看那照片上的姑娘跟您很像,您看起來沒怎麼變呢!我躺著的是您的床吧?我見樓上最乾淨的那房間沒什麼動靜,也上鎖著,我們待在這裡是不是會給您不便?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAV19ZhhJRXK
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姑方的語調變得比方才柔和許多,說起話來也一副「就是這樣啊,是你沒察覺」的樣子──即使他說話依然高亢得讓人直打哆嗦,搭配的笑容也讓蓓塔睜圓了眼睛。181Please respect copyright.PENANAl6m64JEYUt
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「噢,我不是蓋住它了?!……不、不過,沒事的!」181Please respect copyright.PENANABVDI9yO8Ej
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見蓓塔朝他望來,端看蓓塔狀況的拔舍巴轉頭面對姑方。181Please respect copyright.PENANAU2WXxR3EnV
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「……蓓塔答應我可以在這裡工作,看你願不願意。」面對這滿身芬芳到即使只穿著一件內襯就走出來,看上去也沒因為那張床而染髒身體的姑方,拔舍巴平板的語調裡莫名多了一分無力,「要在這裡生活需要金幣。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAqcwPDw4WIM
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工作?聽他這麼一說,姑方眨了眨眼。181Please respect copyright.PENANAhmO8aSDgcP
啊──是守則上畫的金幣圖樣嗎?趁醒來那段時間閱讀了手冊的姑方挑眉。181Please respect copyright.PENANA9ENRdTifrT
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沒料到拔舍巴已經跟居民交涉到此等地步,姑方單手插腰,往前彎身,直勾勾地盯住了他一身黑羊毛布衣,只見頭紗底下,已經緊閉的右眼窟窿不見一絲好轉──情況跟他一樣。181Please respect copyright.PENANACHhn0QcTxz
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「說要工作,我當然不會拒絕,只是想說要跟這裡的一家之主打個照面才是,我想你我誰都不希望因為多了兩個『多餘的人力』害到您……您這兒看起來根本沒有客房,我倆是不是暫時露宿比較好呢?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAysxDBsvBty
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即使語調和緩,姑方的態度依舊不變。181Please respect copyright.PENANAxRbBgW2rKL
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「唉呀、唉呀……噢、不……不是多餘的,真的……」181Please respect copyright.PENANAvArQ1eMTcZ
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惹得蓓塔·巴托羅用單手搓揉起她鬆垮的臉頰,就說這個家有詭異了,這神態看起來完全不像是一個「理髮師」家庭的女主人表現出來的樣子,蓓塔更像是女傭──一個壓力極大的女傭,即使她有管事,這點名分還是改不了她舉止間的羞怯。181Please respect copyright.PENANADtsTpkuBTx
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拔舍巴幾乎能看到她的淚水。181Please respect copyright.PENANAO5xnlop4nB
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「……巴托羅先生今早才捎信來說會晚幾日回來,先前他們也有收留流亡者的經驗。」181Please respect copyright.PENANA9RrHsBNQQk
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拔舍巴邊說邊蹙眉,一股熱度成了不常說話的他繼續發言的助力。181Please respect copyright.PENANAWBnIGfImMl
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「先生確實對蓓塔擅自收留流亡者有過意見……但是只要幫點忙,禮尚往來即可。」181Please respect copyright.PENANASg1NI1j7v3
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在「啟示九夜」, 「主教」只是給了他書本與簡單的敘事,以往坐在馬車上的「聖處子」也沒有得到明白的答案,您見到了什麼?他從主教那兒得到的是疑問句,一個本當無解的問號,但──181Please respect copyright.PENANAKkkKZN6MN6
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「還有,」他現在有了自己的答案。181Please respect copyright.PENANADRKW5Rb0OZ
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「與貴族結婚的平民只能住在客房是很常見的事,不要這麼……『大驚小怪』。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAYyGCWdlnLt
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「──你說我大驚小怪!?你這!!」181Please respect copyright.PENANAI3MjL0ExKS
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姑方不是瞎子,靈力弱化的他依然有自己作為「梅花」的特性,對別人的情緒感受敏銳得很,敏銳的他依然不把別人的感受當一回事自有其道理,這家有鬼,拔舍巴憑什麼袒護她?氛圍劍拔弩張之際──想要從這位如同幫傭的夫人身上逼出男主人來歷的姑方被拔舍巴反擊個徹底。181Please respect copyright.PENANA6GGh4ih0az
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就非要這麼袒護人類嗎?孩子,你要傻到什麼程度?……不、不如說,原來這孩子是個能如此袒護人類的種族?181Please respect copyright.PENANAf8acZjS0X3
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「……唉。」姑方撇過了頭,這是真正的「認輸」了。181Please respect copyright.PENANAnFlgmkUWVc
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「唔,兩位……」181Please respect copyright.PENANAjIRzjvYtN4
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沒料到這位仙女性格竟如此暴躁,蓓塔努力從酸澀裡抽離出來,她怎麼就忘記遮起相框呢,怎麼就沒有細心點藏起這些秘密?她差點就忘了自己之所以在半夜醒著的原因,她藏起來的相框會被她拿出,陪她度過丈夫不在的夜晚……不過,單純蠢笨的她還是單純的,不會因為姑方這番刁難,仙女就從天上墜下來變成惡魔。181Please respect copyright.PENANA9ElleJsFFN
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「拔舍巴,親愛的拔舍巴……那個,我沒事,這位敏銳的仙女……辜、方?說得對,是的,確實是有出過事情,只是我覺得自己不應該說出口,這是很私人的事,我丈夫也說過,千萬不能跟人講……」她想努力開口。181Please respect copyright.PENANAViLCtIp23S
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「……什麼?」但是,轉頭過來關心她的拔舍巴那別緻的面龐還是讓她語塞了一瞬。181Please respect copyright.PENANAW4jLb1j3Fy
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「……噢,就是、就是,」她開始口吃了,「我的丈夫很忙碌,對,他非常忙碌……他回來的時候,我們會聊到一些他工作上的事情,他會告訴我他需要什麼織品、剪刀與針筒,一開始情況都很好,然後,他要我一起去見病患……」181Please respect copyright.PENANABYEZjtPjqX
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「接著……我就什麼都不記得了。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAYesD3EN2ga
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聽著老婦人誠懇的陳述,拔舍巴與姑方各自露出了截然不同的震驚。