Chapter 3
The first rule of discrete escaping is to carry only a little belonging. This is why I had chosen a handbag instead of a suitcase. It looks suspicious otherwise. A thorough person like Mary would order to track down every maid for questioning, especially one that has luggage.
Now, light a candle.
I take out a pen and several papers. One quick notice addressed to the school, apology for suddenly quitting; one for classmates, I am well and deciding to go on an overseas trip; one for close friends and family, I am leaving the Claes manor on my own will, I am well. A note requesting Tom to please deliver these and 'thank you'. Please do not look for me.
"This time I won't die! I definitely won't die!" I repeated to myself.
I moved the letters to Tom's wooden desk. He will be here in the morning to get his gardening overalls. My overalls won't be brought along, unfortunately. I blow out the candle.
Next to prepare is..nothing I guess. It took long enough to get from the bedroom to the present garden shed. This shed faces the South, and it can be seen from Keith's window. I've held his hand enough nights to know my little brother will be sound asleep now and that the Claes' footman won't come by for patrolling at this hour. In my pocket is a duplicate key of the gates. I have an hour left until sunrise. Stepping out of the shed, I gaze at the Claes manor.
"Goodbye!"
I whisper splendidly.
The mirage of a short haired girl vanished with the touch of pink dawn.
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"Everything set. Escape!"
I entered a game mode mindset to help plan my path. The second rule of discrete escaping is to walk normally to blend in with everybody. Where to go from here? Initially, my mental image of self-exile was making an overseas trip like Mary always fantasized about, or crossing borders to migrate to another country.
What a big problem. I don't know how human scheming work, but I don't want to be tailed. The learning of an entirely new language and culture when I repeatedly failed Ancient Script tests sound intimidating, too complex for me.
At least my letter would throw the scent off my track temporarily.
Fortunately, Sorcie was a big kingdom. As long as I stick to a smaller, more obscure village, surely they'd never find me. After all, they'd assume that a spoiled, idiotic rich girl couldn't hack it in a backwater rural town. Yes! The countryside. That's where I'll go to. Somewhere rural but not too out of contact range, a place with at least one wealthy merchant who could provide security assistance if theft occur.
"Hiiiiihhh, Neigh!!"
I turn around at hearing a horse whinny. How lucky I am to find exactly what I was looking for the moment I stepped into town!
There were several carriages filled with food and luggage. The drivers seem to be taking a short rest before delivering materials to the public market. The hood of the carriages are pulled down, protecting the items inside it. By carriage, I could cover a lot of ground rather quickly, all the while concealing myself from potential pursuers.This was my big chance!
"Excuse me, Sirs, but are there any carriages traveling toward the East?" I asked.
"Thank the Lord above! Young lady, are you lost?" one coachman was surprised to see a girl who look like she's from the eastern kingdoms so early in the morning. It wasn't common to see such facial semblance in Sorcier.
"I'm not lost, thank you for your concern." The syllables roll in my mouth, not quite as musical as my usual voice. I swallowed all remaining doubt and clear my throat. "I'm looking for a carriage that can transport people going eastward. I'm going to work as a farmhand there."
"A farm maid huh. Are yer relatives livin' up there?"
"Yes. I'm visiting them and helping them with the farm work as well." It wasn't a complete lie, I did have experience helping my grandma with her farm.
The coachman looked a bit sympathizing. "Guess nothin' new is really under the sun huh. Get on the cart. I'll give you a ride to the main street. There're loads of people-carriages there. Yer bound to catch one."
The goods carrying drivers gave me a short ride to the main street of town. They advised me to catch a people-carriage here. Since there's many I'll surely find one!
In the meantime I decided to try remembering my name, just in case.
Before five minutes had passed, I'm already clutching my head.
Not a chance! There's no way I'll remember the name I have from my last life! I already tried recalling it countless times!
My Japanese name was needed for roll call when I was late to class, but it didn't have much practical use anywhere else since people mostly used nicknames for me.
Hmpph.. What did my friends often called me? A Child (子供 kodomo)? It's true I could be immature sometimes but that's a little harsh.
How about the girls? They called me Saint-like (聖女 seiyo). Hehe. Maybe they just meant Unrestrained-like (勢女 seiyo). Together with my nickname from my last life, Monkey (猿 saru), it'd be Unrestrained Monkey (勢猿 Sei Suruga).
That's not a name. Who name their daughter that?!
The alternative would be Seiko 聖子.
I ran into a proverbial wall again. That's not a real name either.
My nose catches a whiff of sugar. It was only then that I noticed my stomach growling. How careless of me to ignore such an important task! I follow my primal instinct to a bakery. Food is first priority no matter the situation.
Woah! This bakery has cake made from watermelon slices! How cute! I have to get one. It reminds me of summer for sure. My mouth is already watering!
I eyed the scrumptious sweets, lined on the shelves like jewels. Ahh, it feels luxurious to pick out sweets! I can eat a whole sea of fluffy clouds, and sail my mind on just-rightly browned biscuits. If only Maria was here, I'd eat Maria's sweets all throughout the day. A single bite into Maria's muffin feel like embracing the definition of love itself! It's not a habit that I should tell others about, but this gluttony I hold in my heart is too easy to show through my actions. Today too, I'm determined to express my lust for life by finding a lovely sweet!
It would turn out that there isn't as much money I could afford to spend on sweets now than when I was a Duchess. Bummer.
Nevertheless their appetizing sandwiches look great. I'll have to hold back on getting too many, but don't mind me stacking some away for later.
With my mouth happily stuffed, I come back outside after completing the side quest of "breakfast snack". I hold my arm up for carriage seeking.
So continue self inquiring.
Japanese high school students had the knack of nicknaming their friends by last name Kanji. Uhh. Summer snacks. Monkey.
Oh.
I did it! I remember my past life's name!
It's Chinatsu Saruyama (千夏猿山)! Written with the character for Summer (夏 natsu) and Monkey (猿 saru)! I recalled my name kanji without having to write a cheat note on my eraser this time!
Right now I'm the happiest girl in the world.
Such a name would stand out though. How bothersome.
Well, I can shorten it to just Chi!
A carriage carrying several people stop by me.
"Where're you headed?" The bald coachman pushed the standard query.
"To the Eastern farms." I say, smiling.
" That'll be 2 silver coins. No tomfoolery, keep your hands to yourself, save space for your elders. Them's the rules. We'll arrive in 'bout 4 hours. Got all that?" he casually stated the guidelines.
"Yes. Here." I took out the proper amount for paying.
"What's your name?"
The last name Claes was risky to hand out.
"Chi. Chi Clae--Chi Clayton." I responded as smoothly as possible. Better get used to this sooner than later.
As the carriage rolled along to the clopping of hooves, the capital's scenery spread before me. This is the road to the academy, white bricks warming with incoming day heat. Here is the river that run through the city, blue and emerald that reflect the moon at night. How dignified the buildings look, like the expression of a soldier whose heart is pleased.
Before, at least my looks would fit right in with the local flowers of the academy, nestled in someone else' physique. But now, my voice is different. The way my scraggy hair falls against the nape of my neck, my fingers that idly twine into the brown fabric of my dress, the breath that I can finally feel I can take once I'm settled, hidden in the safety of strangers' huddling. It's all quite different. I reach up to stretch, feeling stiff. The arm length span that I have is no longer as long as before.
Perhaps my view too must change with my body.
The view became grander the further we came away. A place filled with magic and life, gradually unreachable.
I stopped looking at the view of what's behind and instead turned my attention toward the front where the road stretch forward. Lines of pine trees, from old to saplings, guide the travelers all the way, up into a green forest. Shadows cast by wild flora, ever swaying, almost sound like giggling voices.
A world under a sky largely untainted by human made lights. Not half bad.