Kira and I turned our backs to Lady Mamaropa to speak in hushed whispers.
“Evelyn, what kind of letter did you write?” he asked.
“A-A normal one! I did make it poetic and sentimental, but it was a totally normal letter!” I insisted. I further insisted,very adamantly, that I had no memory of writing anything as alarming as a letter lamenting my existence.
Kira gave me a look, muttered, “Poetic and sentimental,” then said in a defeated tone, “No, that’s my bad. I should’ve given it a read. Sorry.”
“Your apology is only making this worse!” I’d have felt better if he’d yelled at me, actually!
After we finished our secret conversation, I turned back to Lady Mamaropa.
“Lady Mamaropa, did Lord Theodore say anything else?”
“Oh, let’s see... Now that you mention it, he said he wanted to ask for advice about his engagement.”
“Huh?” What about the engagement?!
“He seemed so somber. I didn’t press for details, but I’m a bit worried.”
My heart beat irregularly. No way, I thought. That’s ridiculous, I thought. But the anxiety that had been gnawing at a corner of my heart suddenly sank its fangs sharply into me.
Does Lord Theodore...want to cancel our engagement?
Now that I thought about it, the writing had been on the wall. Sure, he likely had much to learn from Lord Jackson about managing their lands, but still, he hardly ever spent any time at the estate anymore. He left early in the morning and returned late at night, looking exhausted.
H-Has he grown tired of me? Or is he cheating? Could there already be another woman...?
On top of everything, I’d left a note and run away from home. It wouldn’t be odd if he’d lost his patience with me.
My mind began to spiral. A chill ran through me, and I wrapped my arms around myself. If Lord Theodore were to break off our engagement...what would I do? I’d have to leave the Manilas home, of course. But in the face of a breakup, could I just meekly nod? Could I smile and wish Lord Theodore happiness?
“Evelyn, get a grip,” Kira said, shaking my shoulders lightly.
I gasped. “R-Right. Sorry, Kira.”
“I wonder what happened to Lady Evelyn,” Lady Mamaropa said mournfully. “It’s been so rainy these past few days. I hope she didn’t catch a cold...”
Her concern for the missing former saint was painfully visible on her face. I couldn’t keep the truth from her any longer. I had to tell her.
“She didn’t, Lady Mamaropa,” I said.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Well, because I’m—”
Before I could finish my sentence, that terrifying voice whispered darkly to me, “Obey me, or I’ll make sure you regret it, baaa... Prebaaare yourself...”
Eeeeeek!
A chill ran through me again as the sky suddenly flashed and thunder roared in my ears.
“Hyah!”
I jumped, startled, as thunder echoed from all around. It wasn’t raining, but various parts of the sky seemed to be competing to see which could light up the brightest. It was bizarre and utterly terrifying.
Back at the Grand Basilica, I’d heard the sounds of thunderstorms, of course. But in the stone-built structure, the sounds of nature had felt far away. This was the first time in my life I’d heard thunder so close.
W-Would it be dangerous to run into the woods? Should I get in the tent? Under the tarp?!
I’d read in a book that lightning struck high places. Some part of my brain was vaguely warning me that it would be dangerous to hide under a tree, but the sound filled me with so much dread that my capacity for sound judgment wasn’t there. I was frozen in place.
“Both of you, crouch down!” Kira shouted.
“O-Okay!” I replied, immediately complying. Kira had to have a very good reason.
“Put your weight on your toes and cover your ears with both hands!” he continued. “Keep your posture as low as possible!”
“Ah, the lightning crouch,” Lady Mamaropa said, impressed. “Your outdoor knowledge is very extensive, Kira!”
“Now’s not the time for praise!”
Frantically, I assumed the posture Kira had described, putting my hands over my ears and squeezing my eyelids shut.
“What’s that?” I heard Kira’s muffled voice ask, sounding befuddled.
I hesitantly opened my eyes and followed Kira’s gaze. My mouth fell open.
“I-Is that cotton?”
Under the glowing sky, a mass of multiple white...somethings was crawling out of the woods. They wriggled as they moved closer to us. I strained my eyes to get a better look.
Not cotton... Those are...
“Sheep?”
Indeed.
Spilling out of the forest as if to hide every last hint of green were countless sheep. Sheep on top of sheep. Sheep below sheep. Sheep on both sides of sheep. Fluffy, wooly sheep.
They noticed us.
And they came barreling toward us, kicking up clouds of dust as they ran!
“J-Just how many are there?!” I asked.
“Ten... A hundred... A thousand! I have no idea! There are too many!” Kira shouted.
The thunder had stopped, but now these fluffy animals were painting the scenery a despair-inducing white. They seemed to have been summoned by the thunder—and they were coming straight for us.
“Oh dear, what shall we do?” Lady Mamaropa asked as she ominously gripped a knife she’d produced from somewhere. “There are too many to butcher.”
Indeed, even for a chef, butchering over a thousand sheep would be impossible. At this rate, we would be swallowed by the woolly sea. Being run over by a flock like that would leave us with wounds worse than broken bones. I could use healing magic, but if my healing were even a fraction too slow, the worst could happen!
Then...!
I made my decision, then and there, and took off running toward the lake.
“Evelyn?!” Kira called out.
I didn’t stop. “Kira, protect Lady Mamaropa!”
Running wasn’t my forte. I was slow. But I desperately pumped my arms and legs and kept going, gritting my teeth.
I looked over my shoulder, breaths ragged, to see that the sheep had changed course and were now heading toward the lake. I knew it!
They’re after me!
The mysterious voice was probably related to the herd.
Did the owner of that voice summon the thunder and the sheep?!
I’d never heard of such magic, but I was undeniably in the middle of being attacked by a bunch of sheep.
And though I never stopped running, I was no match for the speedy sheep running down the slope.
“Ah!”
I stumbled at the lakeshore, and the sheep leaped at me all at once.
“Baaaaa!”
“Gah!”
Several hooves mercilessly struck my back, and the next moment, I was falling headfirst into the lake.
“Evelyn!”
“Evely— Guh.”
I thought I heard Kira and Lady Mamaropa shouting. I wanted to respond, but only a mass of bubbles came out of my mouth, and I couldn’t form any words.
Wait, can I... Can I swim? I’d never swum before, so I had no idea what it was like.
My whole body was engulfed in cold water. I opened one eye and began to move my arms and legs in what I assumed was the correct way, but my body kept sinking. That was when it hit me: I couldn’t swim at all.
What do I do?! At this rate...!
I might die.
When that thought surfaced, I remembered his face. The face of that man, who fell into bodies of water so often. His grayish-blue eyes, always gazing at me so softly. He was...not the most reliable, but he was kinder than any other. My most beloved.
I thought of his voice calling my name so lovingly.
Lord Theodore!
Bubbles gushed from my mouth. I might never be able to say his name again. My heart froze with fear.
If only I’d known, I’d have... Oh, Lord Theodore...
Even if we were going to break up, I wished we’d had the chance to talk first.
My silver hair swayed, fanning in the water.
And then I heard a light singing voice in my head.
And rising from the bottom of the lake, as if speaking to my fading consciousness—
One sheep. Two sheep. Three sheep...
Baaa... Baaa baaa... Baaa...