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烏爾莉卡.西蒙納多蒂爾,出生、成長於一個極北地區的王國。在那裡、極長的白晝與極長的黑夜共治整片銀白色的大地。855Please respect copyright.PENANA7rEoztWueF
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儘管身為一名主教私生女的身分相當敏感,但烏爾莉卡的父親是個極具影響力的人物。她得以接受貴族式的教育,從小就懂得書寫超過四、五種語言,並且在馬術或劍術上的表現上都出類拔萃……或許太過頭了。855Please respect copyright.PENANA6stZhG0fv7
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烏爾莉卡年輕時就以高超的技巧打贏眾多男性騎士,也在外族入侵時指揮領地內的民眾奮力抵抗,直到國王派軍馳援;因此她還被稱為『極光,帶給人民的白晝之光』傳為佳話。855Please respect copyright.PENANAnrQ1DCCwsC
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假如烏爾莉卡是個顏值平平的女子,這頂多就是個短暫的熱門議題。但烏爾莉卡偏偏明媚動人,身材婀挪多姿,一頭亮麗的銀色髮絲更添韻味。曾有個見過她的公爵說過:『此女未滿二十,是我見過最迷人的女人。她有白皙的肌膚、誘人背棄天堂的想一親芳澤的雙唇,以及令聖人也不禁心動的藍眼珠。』855Please respect copyright.PENANANFuYmpDari
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無論這句話否誇張過頭,她身邊那群貴族男性肯定沒有誰立志成為聖人。855Please respect copyright.PENANApBU6Gs6adU
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所以當烏爾莉卡成年後,她就在父親的牽線下嫁給一名二十多歲的年輕伯爵,也是王國的攝政王;就跟當代所有女性的命運一樣,嫁做人婦生子是女人最好的歸宿。而且貴族女子有幸與一名年紀相仿的男性結婚,理當是可遇不可求的好事。855Please respect copyright.PENANAkKSM2tQtG5
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然而,她有點像是受困籠中的老鷹。855Please respect copyright.PENANAUOlWwaqdGE
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之所以受困籠中,大抵是行事作風不夠圓融——她的座右銘是『只求榮譽,不求虛名』;因為她的身分,使她努力證明自己的能力。她做得幾乎都是對的事,方法卻不符合身邊貴族文化對女性的要求。更甚者,她為丈夫帶來一位女兒後,就再也沒有生出孩子了。855Please respect copyright.PENANAHwo2mWpLiB
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這件事,彷彿也對烏爾莉卡的未來敲響一記警鐘。855Please respect copyright.PENANAvRjieRGYUx
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婚後第十年,烏爾莉卡捲入一場激烈的權力鬥爭。最終她不只被丈夫解除婚約,還和她的女兒一同遭流放至更加北邊的荒涼邊境小島上。在這之後她根本不奢望能看見外面的世界,只求能與女兒平安度過餘生。855Please respect copyright.PENANA0LgIScuT74
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沒想到運命女神似乎不肯善罷干休,更險惡的命運不知不覺悄然驟降。855Please respect copyright.PENANA52HoMsOFCd
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「咳咳......咳咳咳......」855Please respect copyright.PENANARo8OOPTlVv
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「莎薇、莎薇......」855Please respect copyright.PENANALRbF4kbSiY
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一聽見女兒的乾咳聲,烏爾莉卡立刻上前關心她的狀況。855Please respect copyright.PENANA0gsT1phgLY
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此刻莎薇正綣曲著身子躺在她身邊,臉色極為蒼白。自從這艘船啟程出航後,莎薇的身體變得更差了,偶爾痰中帶有血絲。這讓烏爾莉卡感到極為心疼,卻又完全束手無策。855Please respect copyright.PENANAgrQn7v0iF5
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「莎薇,妳還好嗎?」烏爾莉卡彎下腰輕聲問道。855Please respect copyright.PENANA2e7Bpwg05G
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「媽媽......我們還要多久......會上岸......」莎薇閉著眼,虛弱地詢問母親。855Please respect copyright.PENANAmMw3ctWiw8
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「快了,就快了。再睡一覺就會到了。」855Please respect copyright.PENANAzSYxPNVf6Y
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烏爾莉卡對女兒說了謊,她根本不曉得這艘船正航向何處。855Please respect copyright.PENANAweFqkphRcw
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此時此刻,兩盞掛在頭頂上的油燈散發出昏暗的橘黃色光芒,照亮了船艙內幾十張蒼白的面孔。他們身穿羊毛或粗布織成的外衣和褲子。這些人渾身骯髒、髮絲糾結再一起,無論男女老少全都是一副無精打采的模樣。至於艙內則瀰漫著一股微妙而難以言喻的臭味。855Please respect copyright.PENANAXdmyGuoqvY
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啊,我人在船上......855Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3jFQueRGe
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這幅悲慘的景象加強烏爾莉卡內心的第一個想法。855Please respect copyright.PENANALZz1wjzEEx
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啊,我和女兒都被海盜俘虜了!855Please respect copyright.PENANAR0qLaiopQ6
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第二個想法則使她感到更加絕望。855Please respect copyright.PENANAWe8KR52GRe
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一支由南方野獸蠻族組成的海盜船,竟突然襲擊這片天寒地凍的邊陲島嶼。這群海盜闖入並俘虜佔了島上居民三分之二人口,將近兩百多人!855Please respect copyright.PENANAiEQibnONsp
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烏爾莉卡原以為遭流放後人生不會變得更糟。她不僅連一點點平靜的生活都無法享有,甚至還淪落成蠻族海盜的俘虜,一路隨著他們航向異鄉。855Please respect copyright.PENANAs8abIKTL15
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如今,她現在是以商品的身分困在一艘海盜船上。855Please respect copyright.PENANA8wGUqRjS40
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烏爾莉卡感覺周遭的世界些微微微顛簸晃動,不是往左就是往右,不是往上就是往下。她頓時產生一股強烈的噁心感,彷彿連五臟六腑都在劇烈起伏著。855Please respect copyright.PENANA6O5I1fUQUi
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「嗚嘔......」她摀住嘴巴好不讓自己吐出來,再次意識到自己非常討厭搭船。855Please respect copyright.PENANAl4fshGofQj
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她這輩子只搭過三次船:一次是離開家人、一次是被放逐、第三次則是這個當下;現在想起來,每當她上船就代表發生了不幸的事情。855Please respect copyright.PENANAlE3XVPstfz
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更別說前兩次航程僅有短短幾天,但這一次她已經在被困在船上十幾天了!855Please respect copyright.PENANA9I6SWBnAU8
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不過對於烏爾莉卡來講,真正讓她感到宛如永恆的並非時間長短,而是內心的煎熬。她感覺似乎一切希望都破滅了。一想到這,她便沒出息地哽咽起來,多麼希望眼前的一切只是場惡夢。855Please respect copyright.PENANAfTQ8NnyU1j
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「那個......不好意思,打擾一下......」855Please respect copyright.PENANAEz7ydZ00f3
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就在此刻,稍嫌不合時宜的男孩嗓音忽然響起。855Please respect copyright.PENANAC0DuzeLvJT
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「你是......」855Please respect copyright.PENANABF9guwycz7
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這時候,一名鬣狗少年端著食物走上前。上頭擺有一塊白淨的麵包、一碗米粥,還有一杯酒水。855Please respect copyright.PENANAIbO2c2i15n
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「我帶來了麵包和蜂蜜酒。這都是妳們島上的食物,我從糧倉那拿來一點。我本來就是管理食物的人手。」855Please respect copyright.PENANA84pSTMmfcR
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「蜂蜜酒?」莎薇的眼睛頓時一亮:「是蜂蜜酒耶!我們好久沒有喝蜂蜜酒了。」855Please respect copyright.PENANAy2cldMMAni
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一看見莎薇期待不已的神情,烏爾莉卡咬了咬下唇,又像是陷入一股天人交戰般地緊緊皺起眉頭。855Please respect copyright.PENANA1sFNqVtXGf
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最終,烏爾莉卡從獸耳男孩手中接過陶杯。855Please respect copyright.PENANA9rDXB1dXnw
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她將杯緣湊到了嘴邊啜飲起來,冰涼的液體中夾帶著蜂蜜的芬芳甘甜,接著淡淡的酒香一下子便從舌尖竄升到了鼻腔。烏爾莉卡感覺自己被一股清新舒暢的暖意給包圍。她記得自己小時候也很愛喝這種飲料,如今就連這份令人懷念的味道都得來不易。855Please respect copyright.PENANAk7f79Nw5V6
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烏爾莉卡只喝了杯中三分之一的量來潤喉,剩餘的蜂蜜酒則全都給莎薇喝光。只要看見女兒滿足的表情,烏爾莉卡覺得這比任何美酒佳餚都要值得。855Please respect copyright.PENANA4eIxdAmoQS
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莎薇津津有味吃著白麵包的同時,烏爾莉卡將注意力轉向身旁這名獸耳男孩身上。855Please respect copyright.PENANA5mYDK7XxdB
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「呃,你是......?」她問。855Please respect copyright.PENANArmgcIEG3Hw
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「我......我的名字是艾塔奇,我是鬣狗族獸人。」艾塔奇吞吞吐吐說:「我負責照顧你們的起居生活。」855Please respect copyright.PENANAf721brPE8A
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「艾達......不對,艾塔奇嗎?」855Please respect copyright.PENANAuxb9x0IJgd
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自稱為艾塔奇的鬣狗少年點了點頭,耳朵還抖動幾下。855Please respect copyright.PENANAnGFseUUKeY
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「艾塔奇,你怎麼會講我們的語言」緊接著,烏爾莉卡微瞇的眼睛之中,射出了一股冷峻且懷疑的目光。她問:「你是一名野獸人,你是從什麼地方學會人類的語言的?」855Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ65qKfvWI
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「夫人有所不知,我居住的城市叫做阿爾及爾,那裡有很多來自不同地區的獸人和人類。所以平時不管是做生意,或是日常買東西都要懂很多不同的語言才行喔!」855Please respect copyright.PENANAfGsPkMfiAR
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烏爾莉卡搖了搖頭,依舊不敢置信:「人類的語言有非常多種,你卻能夠如此流暢地與我交談.....你到底是誰?」855Please respect copyright.PENANAqmMpz94Rpm
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「因為我母親很細心的教過我嘛。」855Please respect copyright.PENANAfvQLAuDd7y
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「母親?教你這種北方語言?」855Please respect copyright.PENANANUPgSlQtmk
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艾塔奇凝視著烏爾莉卡的臉好一會,微微開闔著嘴,臉上露出欲言又止的模樣。855Please respect copyright.PENANAPPCnYWpYzE
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「總之就是這樣啦!我倒想請問夫人貴姓呢?」或許是為了轉移話題,艾塔奇趕緊問道。855Please respect copyright.PENANAT8i3vRzP96
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「我叫烏爾莉卡.西蒙納多蒂爾,這位是我女兒莎薇。」855Please respect copyright.PENANAL7F74onOlK
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「假如夫人您需要任何東西,隨時都可以跟我說。」855Please respect copyright.PENANA5I196wpIy3
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「哼,你能幫我們做什麼?放我們自由嗎?」烏爾莉卡冷冷道。855Please respect copyright.PENANAsorGCWK2N2
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「除了那個之外都行......」855Please respect copyright.PENANA41eDBYv36E
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「那你就沒任何用處了。我們人類之中有一句老話,狼不會無緣無故給雞帶禮物。」855Please respect copyright.PENANAsYKBI4hFGb
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「可是在這段航行期間,我們獸人並沒有虐待您吧?」855Please respect copyright.PENANAn4ckSYvl29
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「這......」855Please respect copyright.PENANAkMZR49UTzf
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這是事實,烏爾莉卡不得不承認。855Please respect copyright.PENANAIyyVg8bDoR
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野獸人海盜對待俘虜的態度恭敬有禮,俘虜身上不僅沒有鎖鍊,甚至還被允許在船上移動。烏爾莉卡還注意到獸人海盜從他們自己的私人藏匿處給孩子們額外的食物。一名在船上分娩的婦女受到了有尊嚴的對待,海盜為她提供了隱私和衣服。855Please respect copyright.PENANA1p7K9wSwGZ
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更令烏爾莉卡感到驚訝的是,獸人海盜之中有男有女,她甚至發覺女性獸人海盜的數量要比男性還多!855Please respect copyright.PENANAPeMxL7P3UA
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「所以,我希望夫人能多信任我一點。」艾塔奇微笑道。855Please respect copyright.PENANANjga8fGnu5
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「信任?這是野獸人才懂的笑話嗎?」烏爾莉卡冷冷斜睨他一眼,說:「當初是你們這群海盜突擊我所居住的島嶼,把島上的男女全抓起來,還要當作奴隸商品販賣出去。你卻說要我信任你們?」855Please respect copyright.PENANAETJY4aj4pj
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「誤會啊,夫人!這是誤會!這艘船本來是以經商目的出航,我當初也是以雜工的身份簽約上船工作。誰知道船長竟中途違反契約轉而劫掠人類王國,還俘虜了這麼多人類......」855Please respect copyright.PENANAWLYCC3Jvoe
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「俘虜?什麼俘虜?你不知道你的同伴如何稱呼我們這些人類嗎?奴隸!我們已經是準備要被抓去販賣的奴隸了!」855Please respect copyright.PENANApI0oE4M4rf
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「其實只要付得出贖金,俘虜都會被好好對待而不會被販賣為奴......」獸人少年試著解釋,但好像越描越黑。855Please respect copyright.PENANALPcGwKqhgF
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「你們所劫掠的地方,只是一座被冰雪覆蓋的小島罷了。要上哪去生出你所謂的贖金?而我只是個沒人要的貴族婦女......」855Please respect copyright.PENANAsqGMumXDGu
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「我......我心裡面也非常不好受啊......其實我的母親也......」855Please respect copyright.PENANAYi0Ih0y5gD
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「夠了,我不想跟海盜多說什麼!你們當中根本沒有一個人是無辜的,就像雪崩發生時一樣,沒有一片雪是無辜的......你走吧。」855Please respect copyright.PENANA5HtNPSZnFG
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「等一下,烏爾莉卡夫人。還有什麼我能幫上忙的嗎?」855Please respect copyright.PENANAk9My2DBLPt
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「我叫你走開。你當真想幫忙的話,那就想辦法幫助這裡的俘虜......幫助我女兒別讓她成為奴隸!」855Please respect copyright.PENANAsMzcD0leSs
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「夫人——」855Please respect copyright.PENANAFgRPeyw7Al
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烏爾莉卡不再搭話,而是將莎薇摟入懷中。艾塔奇只好垂頭喪氣地走開。855Please respect copyright.PENANAhUdjQNuXYg
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她望著這名少年繼續向其他俘虜分發食物,就算被咒罵或吐口水卻一點都不介意,只是眼神有點哀傷。他似乎真的對身邊發生的事情沒有好感。855Please respect copyright.PENANAsnd63dluQ6
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縱使如此,烏爾莉卡也看得出艾塔奇只是個孩子,他根本不可能改變她和女兒的遭遇。855Please respect copyright.PENANAFubQFzfFRi
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身為一名『前』貴族,烏爾莉卡深知自己會是個十分珍稀的商品。855Please respect copyright.PENANAeiXXWNJs9s
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首先,海盜會向她出身的王國要脅一筆經額龐大的贖金,但烏爾莉卡是名早已流放外島的帶罪之人,王國內不會有人支付贖金。因此奴隸販子會把她和女兒作為奴隸賣掉;這還是她和莎薇沒被拆散為前提的情況!855Please respect copyright.PENANAKUNJclCD5z
855Please respect copyright.PENANAuVyXsVKtxl
我會成為某個野獸人家庭的僕人嗎?還是被老鴇買回去當作妓院紅牌?抑或以小妾身分獻給野獸人的酋長、領袖一類的人物?855Please respect copyright.PENANANhxnGF4mLH
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烏爾莉卡只知道在接下來的奴隸生涯中,她願意做任何事來保護莎薇的安全。就算是最低劣的寵物也會對主人搖尾乞憐。烏爾莉卡未來只能藉由伺候、討好她的買家來換取自身與女兒的生活。855Please respect copyright.PENANAglPwSBruzF
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「呵,反正我不也曾對丈夫言聽計從嗎......」855Please respect copyright.PENANAhib12sguOa
855Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ube0djnBB
儘管嘴裡發出苦笑一聲,烏爾莉卡的眼角卻流淌出了一絲晶瑩剔透的淚水。855Please respect copyright.PENANAldhLL0lOMt
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***回憶結束***855Please respect copyright.PENANAA8v6rDYVfP