[131] What Comes First (2)
"Haha! No. Actually, thinking about it, I guess I was in the wrong for this afternoon. I did overcharge you. I don't normally take that much—must've been greedy. Let me make it up to you. I'll show you somewhere that's actually fun."
Tess put a hand on her hip as she spoke.
"No need. I'm already in a foul mood. Amy, just throw her out."
"All right, then. Bye."
As Amy reached to close the door, Jis shoved her hand between it and the frame with a panicked look.
There was no set script, but true to someone who'd been around the block, words tumbled out of her.
"W-wait! If your friends don't want to come, you can just come alone."
"Why would I? This is sketchy."
"Okay! Fine! I'll be honest. I really got into trouble."
"With who?"
"Even street touts have an association, you know. Word of what I did must've reached the higher-ups. They told me to show that rude guest around the island. They said if word got out, tourists wouldn't use the touts anymore. Could you just stop by for a bit and leave? If I don't, I'll lose my livelihood. I might have to beg like a pauper."
"Hmm."
Amy's expression stayed suspicious. Jis, half-terrified, waited anxiously for her verdict.
"All right, I'll just get a bit of fresh air. I'll change—wait for me here."
Jis straightened so fast her relief was obvious. She'd come for exactly that, but she hadn't expected such an easy yes.
Tess, who'd been listening, was stunned. She never thought Amy would fall for a tout's words.
Thinking Amy must still be upset over Shirone, Tess hurried after her.
"Amy! Why on earth are you going? How can you trust that girl?"
"It'll be fine. If it looks dangerous, I'll come back."
"Don't be like that—think about it a bit more. What about Shirone?"
"He's fine. He can look after himself. Rian's probably hungry—how long are you going to make him wait? This might be for the best. I'll eat outside, so you two can have some time together."
Amy changed, fixed her hair, and went down to the entrance. Tess kept trying to change her mind, but she was unmoved.
"Are you really going? Then be quick. Just get some air. If you're late, we'll come find you."
"I said I'll be quick. Rian, I'm stepping out for a bit. If Shirone comes back, starve him."
Rian was cautious. The ravenous look he'd had earlier was gone; he watched the situation with serious concern.
Was it right to let her go? If she were being dragged off, he'd intervene, but if she wanted to go, stopping her felt absurd.
"Her name was Jis, right? Let's go."
"Huh? Oh, yeah!"
Jis was in a daze. From the moment the girl in the girlish black dress started down the stairs, he couldn't think straight.
Once Amy left, the villa felt empty. Tess sighed and shook her head, her thoughts in knots.
"Ugh, how did this even happen? The mood was fine a moment ago."
"Wouldn't it have been better if I went with her?"
"You idiot, you don't get women at all. If someone else escorted her partner, how miserable would Amy feel? By the way, where did Shirone go?"
Rian walked to the window and watched Amy climb into the carriage.
The stars over the sea glittered as if they might spill from the sky.
* * *
Jis sat opposite Amy. With Amy in the carriage, the plan was already more than eighty percent successful.
"All right, let's get moving! Hey, come on, let's go!"
When the coachman nodded and snapped the reins, the pair of horses shook the carriage and bolted.
Jis jabbered without pause. True to being a local, she rattled off trivial bits Amy didn't need to hear—gossip about the vegetable seller and who he was seeing. Who cared whether he'd run off with a widow?
Amy hadn't said a word; she simply stared at the night view outside, lost in thought. Jis's chatter scarcely registered.
After a while, Jis noticed and went quiet.
In truth, just looking at Amy's face made her happiest. The calm settled over Amy now was completely different from the anger she'd shown earlier.
Was Palkoa really going to sell such a beautiful girl? At first it didn't feel real, but now, with Amy in the carriage, fear washed over Jis.
"How long will this take? Where are we going?"
Amy spoke for the first time, hitting the most important question. Jis jumped and blurted an answer.
"Um… it's a bit far. It's the best place in Galliant. You'll see—really, you'll know when we get there."
"Really? The boss who's set on me wanted to bring me there?"
Jis felt her stomach drop.
When had he known? From the start? If so, why put her in the carriage and stay quiet all this time?
Her face stiffened. Her mind went blank; no lie came to her.
"Yeah, well—"
"Don't bother lying. I can tell from your eyes. You're scared and begging; pretending not to know would be foolish. Anyway, do a good job. I'll only go along with this once."
"Go along… with it?"
"Yes. I don't know why you were chosen as the scapegoat, but after this, stop. I'm doing this because I feel sorry for you."
Heat flooded Jis's face.
"What! You feel sorry for me?"
"Of course I'm sorry. You think I'm jealous?"
"T-this is for real…!"
Before Jis could get indignant, Amy asked softly.
"You threw gold coins at me earlier, didn't you?"
"Th-that was…."
Jis looked away. Just thinking about that afternoon made her flinch. Palkoa had beaten her mercilessly for that—trauma she couldn't forget.
"People like you don't last long in this line. Those who have a lot to protect just get used and tossed aside."
"Tch, how would you know that? You've lived in luxury with your parents—noble and pampered."
"At least I know more than you. I used to hang around here too. Of course, I was in a much higher position than you."
Jis bit her lip. It was true. No matter how much she tried to puff herself up, she couldn't meet Amy on equal footing.
"Are you taking pity on me?"
"Yes."
"I don't want pity. Never."
"Then leave this place. This might be your last chance."
Jis lowered her head, defeated. Amy was right. Had Amy not taken pity, Jis and her sibling would probably be living in hell right now.
"Tch."
Jis clicked her tongue and Amy turned back to the window. The cool sea breeze seemed to lull her eyelids.
"I don't dislike people like you."
"Huh?"
"I mean the one who threw coins at me. If a man has that much nerve, fine. If he'd been just some alley thug, I never would have gotten in this carriage."
Jis's face flushed bright red.
"Damn. Give a wound and then a cure, huh? Nobles are annoying. They mock one person and protect another—always doing as they please."
Amy, chin propped on her hand, offered a small smile.
"Oh, Shirone? He's a commoner. That's probably why he told you not to do it."
"What? A commoner? Not a noble, but a commoner?"
Jis's eyes widened. At first she thought Amy was joking. Otherwise, why would such a beautiful girl be with a man of lower status?
"Yeah, a commoner. Does it matter? Well, maybe it does."
"But wasn't he your partner? They looked like a couple."
"Yeah, he's my partner. He brought me across the sea to an island far away and then disappeared… my partner."
Amy's smile had something catlike and sad about it. Watching the distant hurt in her eyes tangled Jis's thoughts.
Maybe she'd been wrong from the start. She should've just picked up the coin. Even if it bruised her pride, none of this would have happened.
Damn it. Unbelievable—taking pity on me and putting herself at risk? Does she even know what danger means?
This girl was thinking far too lightly.
Palkoa was the field captain of the Freeman organization. What was the Freeman organization? They were Galliant's rulers, commanding terrifying elite soldiers.
When Jis was young, the island's trade had been divided among several groups. There were occasional clashes, but the balance of power held.
Then, five years ago, the Freeman organization landed on the island and everything changed.
They expanded at an incredible rate. Existing groups were dismantled without being able to resist. An alliance tried to oppose them, but it collapsed almost instantly.
The war lasted only three months.
In just three months, the Freeman organization had broken apart every other group—a monster of a fighting force.
It's not just Palkoa. All the higher-ups in my line are terrifying. I'm taking this girl into one of those places.
Jis clenched her fists. She wanted to stop Amy, but she couldn't bring herself to speak.
Amy might be able to run—she was a mage, after all—but she wasn't Jis's sister. If Palkoa wanted, he could make a street tout's sibling vanish without anyone noticing.
I have to protect her. At least my sister… I must.
* * *
After parting with Marsha, Shirone reached the beach. He'd been running until his legs trembled, but the real test was just beginning—the villa sat halfway up the mountain, and he still had a steep climb ahead.
"Ugh, why has today been like this? All I've done is run."
By sunset, Rian and Tess were probably preparing dinner.
If Amy was still waiting, he had to deliver the bad news right away: he'd left the shopping bag behind.
Either way, I'm as good as dead.
Shirone gritted his teeth and pushed up the slope. By the time he reached the villa, he was out of breath.
He staggered to the entrance and, bent over, knocked on the door.
"Rian, Amy, Tess. I'm here. Open up. Whoa!"
The door flew open and Shirone nearly tumbled forward. It was a much quicker reaction than he'd expected.
"Shirone! Where on earth have you been? Do you know how long Amy's been waiting?"
"Ah, sorry. There were circumstances. Let's go inside and talk—I can barely stand."
There was no smell of food in the villa. Shirone felt worse; he'd have preferred they'd eaten without him.
"You made them wait for me, didn't you? Where is Amy?"
Tess faltered, unsure how to explain. Should she say Amy went out to kill time? Or that she'd been disappointed by Shirone and followed Jis?
"What's wrong? You look pale. Did something happen?"
"Well… this is awkward."
Tess hesitated because she didn't want to stir up unnecessary misunderstandings between them.
Rian, however, had already pieced things together.
"She went out with that Jis from the harbor."
"Huh? Jis? The one who overcharged us earlier? Why would Amy follow him?"
"She left suddenly while waiting for you. He offered to make up for the afternoon's incident, so she took a carriage and went somewhere."
"Amy just followed him? For no reason at all?"
Tess cut in.
"Yes! It's all your fault for being late. Amy was so lonely waiting. Tell us—what happened?"
Shirone delayed answering. This wasn't the time for arguing.
"Let's go. Do you know where they're headed?"
"No idea. Why are you so worried? If you were going to be like this, you should've been nicer from the start."
"I didn't make her go."
"What do you mean? Amy was furious!"
"Amy's quick to anger, but she doesn't act on impulse. Even if someone made her angry, she wouldn't do anything to worry others. She would've waited for me—and if anything, she would've beaten the person to a pulp."
Tess went blank. Shirone knew Amy well; his words probably rang true.
Thinking it over, it made sense. She was hotheaded but tender inside—sharp at the edges but considerate underneath.
"Still, could anything really have happened? It's just a tout. I heard she's outstanding at the Magic Academy?"