「……」321Please respect copyright.PENANACIuS8JSHs7
321Please respect copyright.PENANAepMVl3kqS2
自己難耐著焦躁,在待客室等待著管家到來。321Please respect copyright.PENANAxNix4dcF0q
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:321Please respect copyright.PENANAwoPJYZE5IQ
「老爺,請問有什麼要緊事嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAUfpypw2o2e
321Please respect copyright.PENANAZTCdD35bOl
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAsOziJ08KxW
321Please respect copyright.PENANAO86UAd58qk
「我那天看到他去應門,那是你教他的事嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAkc4FigCE3L
321Please respect copyright.PENANAqN8xl7jKM2
「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。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAWlUso20udz
321Please respect copyright.PENANAJIkdDGX4tO
「……以後別讓他去做應門這種事了。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAJJCvVEAxdG
321Please respect copyright.PENANAKVg13Qa47a
「老爺……小的明白了。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAS7zkOFSsI8
321Please respect copyright.PENANASpIsME1XJx
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAC4CSYLat7T
321Please respect copyright.PENANAaqtskPHxkQ
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAWBEu7qPlc7
321Please respect copyright.PENANAFtyloTKPiA
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAkfsdg0tYL7
321Please respect copyright.PENANAe4XYCYPcFM
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAcVyyJ8Pma2
321Please respect copyright.PENANAXCPA4rm4J8
「來替我抄寫地址。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAR5FAfdluVw
321Please respect copyright.PENANArXxFVNW7e2
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANA48hNM5wq3D
321Please respect copyright.PENANAM4m96QXpek
「……第二排第十個、第十二個。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAD24bvqUlf5
「第三排第一個、第四排第六個。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAmvQWSZxWcB
321Please respect copyright.PENANAGFinfSxOaH
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAvSTwYK9TiD
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAq8wWNS3KvV
321Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4nePnZXfb
到底發生了什麼?321Please respect copyright.PENANAMtGU47kJm6
321Please respect copyright.PENANAaiLHgQ9EcA
原以為他只是因為看到了那奴隸商人,感到不安害怕而已。321Please respect copyright.PENANADjr2GAaMpV
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAsyvDSzIaQo
321Please respect copyright.PENANA4jU57lhqSS
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAwfxEGzCqOk
321Please respect copyright.PENANAAcJJeMQSG4
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAJUXCxmNcpi
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANA40enH0ilWb
321Please respect copyright.PENANAhA2pxowgRP
321Please respect copyright.PENANAekbsG70NbZ
———321Please respect copyright.PENANAcMudbm5DJo
321Please respect copyright.PENANA7TuHLK59ld
321Please respect copyright.PENANA7RijuDaH9x
今天他又在窗台邊看著那叢越發茂盛的花朵。321Please respect copyright.PENANAzo0RnzNBMD
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAHCgGTA711o
321Please respect copyright.PENANAp6go9FTd6V
321Please respect copyright.PENANAVAhfMFYjGB
「老爺!庭院最後一朵玫瑰開了喔!」321Please respect copyright.PENANAzu6ohX9ZtH
遠遠地,朝自己揮著手裡的帽子,園丁帶著笑容走向了自己。321Please respect copyright.PENANAQyCainmvdq
321Please respect copyright.PENANA7GoT1zvcPE
「辛苦了……開的好嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAtniWFG6h24
321Please respect copyright.PENANALsQt43JJjI
「開得很美呢!要為老爺摘下來嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANADySjTZN4ZO
321Please respect copyright.PENANAcPMnyGe8SW
「……不了,讓它開吧。」321Please respect copyright.PENANACd14f0zIJj
321Please respect copyright.PENANAwhlBgPAXwD
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAwFHECsVKu3
321Please respect copyright.PENANAzii07Lq1Yb
「……那天,你在庭院嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAZMizrAvXWH
321Please respect copyright.PENANAISMJ5FvGB1
聽到自己的問題,園丁挺起胸膛。321Please respect copyright.PENANArwLrukyWiq
321Please respect copyright.PENANALbcgaxRIG6
「小的每天都在庭院裡盡責地照顧老爺的花草!」321Please respect copyright.PENANA0tbGDSiiQ3
321Please respect copyright.PENANAVFu6066zEi
「嗯,辛苦你了……那天,就是奴隸商人來的那天,你有聽到什麼嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANACt3oHCV0np
321Please respect copyright.PENANAYaBuUuTbNo
「奴隸商人?啊,是帶著一些髒兮兮的丫頭的那個胖男人嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAmkdgNqXQgY
321Please respect copyright.PENANAxKSscMxlqt
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……321Please respect copyright.PENANAN9PLNsANfe
321Please respect copyright.PENANAqTYjoFtz5V
「沒錯,他們有跟他說什麼嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAjVMsmmjPxU
321Please respect copyright.PENANA7gV4NWXKVl
「他?」321Please respect copyright.PENANA1REUKNFXQI
321Please respect copyright.PENANAquPMe8mhBo
「嗯,之前跟我一起來向您借鏟子的那位。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAwhXKZD9aL6
321Please respect copyright.PENANArp8Eshsxf1
「啊、有的!那裡面有個丫頭朝他大吼。」321Please respect copyright.PENANALtSj9tAvPR
321Please respect copyright.PENANA3jDVygKPjY
「……她說了什麼?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAr0jSofxD7b
321Please respect copyright.PENANA9DMT9ZmLkl
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAizrRRLQXvb
321Please respect copyright.PENANApGseNP5TI8
321Please respect copyright.PENANAlrIC0z9c9E
「她說……吉娜的死都是他害的。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAIYoxO0ldCO
321Please respect copyright.PENANAGl7DldYwkJ
「他是個背叛者。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAoLonQ54GbA
321Please respect copyright.PENANARFV9iEOElE
321Please respect copyright.PENANAuyFvFfgcEU
———321Please respect copyright.PENANAb7TO5WKHKT
321Please respect copyright.PENANAbkselUBVLM
321Please respect copyright.PENANAQbbhx79ySn
已經一整天都沒有聽到他的聲音了。321Please respect copyright.PENANA9NUdCUnESn
321Please respect copyright.PENANAA2FLM8W42t
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAmFZ1VC9880
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAKLqMGFuSAf
321Please respect copyright.PENANA9SmA0clf9V
這令人心痛的模樣,讓自己想起園丁說的話。321Please respect copyright.PENANA0LRPIg32AH
如果自己向他詢問了卻沒有結果怎麼辦呢?321Please respect copyright.PENANAcIAcGgxWX7
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?321Please respect copyright.PENANAUIgCMYsjeC
321Please respect copyright.PENANAxiKFVRfedr
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAv3BdTLM8Ox
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAKH1v0QGdJT
321Please respect copyright.PENANAhLaQOjZD0J
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAMrKIVQLw1Z
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAehUyFWkch8
321Please respect copyright.PENANAV6e5LKCIpM
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANArAhcEasSFb
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?321Please respect copyright.PENANAcDIalVtvlO
321Please respect copyright.PENANAoXUyutdNGi
咬了咬牙,即使自己在這裡猶豫不決,情況也不會因此好轉。321Please respect copyright.PENANA8VplUWgbVf
321Please respect copyright.PENANA5zhKzOzczo
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?321Please respect copyright.PENANAFgnW1NcWgW
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?321Please respect copyright.PENANAezGdsb2M7b
321Please respect copyright.PENANAwPnHf4TZds
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAhqojOXBj4d
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANA1xPSRicyo1
321Please respect copyright.PENANAzaeWuTG4Lp
「……吉娜是誰?」321Please respect copyright.PENANABVs17b0Lbh
321Please respect copyright.PENANAeYuwprh2Pm
即使只是微小的顫動,緊抱著他的自己也察覺了。321Please respect copyright.PENANAPjGyKu5siV
321Please respect copyright.PENANAuSxqDtGWtZ
「是某位奴隸嗎?告訴我。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAVJyfanTDlg
321Please respect copyright.PENANAU7fozwjVwx
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAZC7NzMaAce
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?321Please respect copyright.PENANAVkoK9g7NRy
321Please respect copyright.PENANA9gJ7vLwAap
沉默許久,背對著自己的他緩緩地點了點頭。321Please respect copyright.PENANAveWlgS6ThR
321Please respect copyright.PENANAvlOJYu4sbn
「……為什麼吉娜的死跟你有關係?你已經來這裡這麼久了。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAVYpcpukJBd
「背叛者,又是怎麼回事?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAUQCWaOjxs0
321Please respect copyright.PENANAmXEJSdm1m4
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAgPG7JBoXoB
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAj66OnDhDwr
321Please respect copyright.PENANAFia6jWPYkS
「……你答應過他們什麼嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAqe57F6bWsB
321Please respect copyright.PENANA2sgOhUZqOU
他微微地搖了搖頭。321Please respect copyright.PENANAF9RW8JR4vI
321Please respect copyright.PENANAyi0BlFHhmE
「在來到這裡之前,你負責做什麼?」321Please respect copyright.PENANASYLaXTyeej
「告訴我,否則到水冷了我也不會離開這裡。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAc8UedCQ1rv
321Please respect copyright.PENANATvfdWYQMQ5
聽到自己這般要脅的話語,他的身子變得有些僵硬。321Please respect copyright.PENANAp5G9jkWi1m
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAa44vO8wY4i
久違地,屬於他的聲音才緩緩地流瀉。321Please respect copyright.PENANA6aXckjKVtP
321Please respect copyright.PENANAT5smhK8Hnz
「……試用。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAVmoPVdlQry
321Please respect copyright.PENANAyF3KC3oMHi
「像那時候那商人說的一樣嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAXCwW7bMyIt
321Please respect copyright.PENANAu5wQUgEkEl
聽到自己的問題,他點了點頭。321Please respect copyright.PENANATIl3QUvGH6
自己想起那時候,那奴隸商人所說的話。321Please respect copyright.PENANAG3HLxITbyJ
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAznkrSnBUXZ
321Please respect copyright.PENANAa7TdCud3Db
「試用之後呢?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAYyQP3ztCoZ
321Please respect copyright.PENANAVdmL9J3RI6
「…………回去。」321Please respect copyright.PENANADZVM5Q0WCc
321Please respect copyright.PENANAphEzPvSxdR
「回去商人那裡?那買主呢?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAxSFcML1G9M
321Please respect copyright.PENANA2jcVnBLV6m
他低垂的頭,讓自己下意識握緊了他緩緩顫抖的手。321Please respect copyright.PENANAOHSrSIrT7J
321Please respect copyright.PENANAJq5bCnZqla
321Please respect copyright.PENANAdPWSYWn9FN
「……我、試用……主人喜歡……買、別人。」321Please respect copyright.PENANArxgs7pU4kI
321Please respect copyright.PENANAwRFy1lg7Lc
321Please respect copyright.PENANA5UrU0TVNJO
這讓自己說不出話的答案,幾乎要讓腦袋一片空白。321Please respect copyright.PENANAnhZbCXz0e7
321Please respect copyright.PENANAtERFnYOF6Q
321Please respect copyright.PENANAOvLKqC062U
之所以他認為他不能露出面容,認為他醜。321Please respect copyright.PENANAh3dKFGMj6F
之所以他認為他骯髒,要用那種粗糙的刷子才能洗乾淨。321Please respect copyright.PENANARCC3jSgaYP
321Please respect copyright.PENANAbTvyxJyAUW
之所以他對任何痛苦與不合理都毫不反抗也不表達。321Please respect copyright.PENANAY0pbFQWv3z
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAAj5KRm5ZwW
321Please respect copyright.PENANAYlVIo7chPT
——都只是因為,他認為總有一天會回去那個地方。321Please respect copyright.PENANAaGvyg4lzAl
321Please respect copyright.PENANAdH5a9GzHXN
321Please respect copyright.PENANAKzg1Rh17xK
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAsp4JHk5qhM
321Please respect copyright.PENANAvahVH4oDT7
「……那跟吉娜的死有什麼關係?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAZzWheWkdN4
321Please respect copyright.PENANAd9PLaUPIIj
開口才察覺到的,自己話語中帶著的哽咽。321Please respect copyright.PENANABcKwKLnNIe
或許是因為聽到了自己變化了的音調,他緩緩抬起頭。321Please respect copyright.PENANAiFbiJ8flTM
321Please respect copyright.PENANAIQArUrnh0B
「……女孩,試用……痛、難受……不吃飯、死掉……」321Please respect copyright.PENANAgDPXuqbb8V
321Please respect copyright.PENANAr2YOI0ncB8
「……所以你代替她們去給買主試用嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAIHrVzWHdWu
321Please respect copyright.PENANAQAfrnQlWg5
面對自己的話語,他輕輕點頭。321Please respect copyright.PENANAcHyUQO2Eyr
321Please respect copyright.PENANAH8ljK4XtTo
321Please respect copyright.PENANAtJ97L0soo5
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANA7WwSFuamvX
321Please respect copyright.PENANAxHWjMTLA8X
不,自己其實是明白的吧?321Please respect copyright.PENANA15UKajxDzk
321Please respect copyright.PENANAsIRN9TX5vf
察覺他熟練那方面的事情更甚於好好地吃飯的時候。321Please respect copyright.PENANAOn5dgwepkL
發現他對自己給他的承諾沒有一絲欣喜的時候。321Please respect copyright.PENANANigU57wH8q
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAT5wP4VCfoq
321Please respect copyright.PENANAjT9lxrxyZx
321Please respect copyright.PENANAKatN8yFg9E
「……你沒有虧欠她們什麼。」321Please respect copyright.PENANACMxuIu9SQW
321Please respect copyright.PENANAqhfMWCCMdg
自己幾乎要使盡全身的力氣才能一字一句地說出話語。321Please respect copyright.PENANA7dIZxykFIa
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAc42uvifQ2N
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANApJfPNQ9b9T
321Please respect copyright.PENANAHnUNyIQ1rZ
「你被這樣對待,就不會痛、不會難受嗎?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAugCFg2jReY
「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。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAkfzMxTAjV6
「因為你的努力而被買下的她們,那不是她們的努力。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAX6CRqNDPfh
「你承受了的痛苦,她們當然也不會知道……」321Please respect copyright.PENANAonEVjoxeXF
321Please respect copyright.PENANAViYUebiOs7
「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?」321Please respect copyright.PENANAktOk6D4ptB
321Please respect copyright.PENANA1vlrnHQsud
隨著自己說出口的話語而顫抖的身子。321Please respect copyright.PENANAKOwzQsQO5c
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAhLDrNxswbn
321Please respect copyright.PENANAmCUb7MMrfp
「誰都沒有資格說你是背叛者。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAJMvWuiVkmO
「不論是誰,因為痛苦不吃飯、最後衰弱而死,也不是你的責任。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAnhPRzlv5sH
「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……」321Please respect copyright.PENANAv4pnDcgWFG
321Please respect copyright.PENANAH29xABESej
「……別再……說……了……」321Please respect copyright.PENANAwCYEe8ogbQ
321Please respect copyright.PENANA0P34Phn3Lk
自己眼前顫抖的身軀開口打斷了自己的話語。321Please respect copyright.PENANAlTbh8kbDxT
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAJFYqVNCeYW
321Please respect copyright.PENANAsdvXRmAJZL
自己再度靠上前,緊緊抱住了他的身子。321Please respect copyright.PENANA4Hg5wzZ5TW
321Please respect copyright.PENANAFUCYuOZJxR
「……我不會放你走的。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAle26mrYHXf
「你就是你,是被我買下了、我重視的人,誰都不能代替你。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAqqbo7jyaJw
「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。」321Please respect copyright.PENANAskGELIx9t5
321Please respect copyright.PENANARR6yEce2MI
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANA5h5JeonxVO
321Please respect copyright.PENANAlLihBKDRZ8
這是因為他從未為了他自己哭泣的關係嗎?321Please respect copyright.PENANA5QVmtB4vwp
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。321Please respect copyright.PENANAD81AVK8hOa
321Please respect copyright.PENANAKtIW5nTiVn
一切都能好轉的,對吧?321Please respect copyright.PENANAmZJOKIWdgN
321Please respect copyright.PENANAG3Lw5VaLox
321Please respect copyright.PENANAcFQXIOAfEj
321Please respect copyright.PENANAm79v4d8XPa