TEN minutes later, and the grasslands had quickly transformed into a picnic spot. Wolfie’s packed-to-the-brim rucksack was full of the lunches Charlotte had given them that morning.
“Anyways, you’re aiming too high in life,” Oswald lectured, “Be grateful you’re alive and live out a modest life that’s within reach. What’s your problem with prostitution? Every woman without a relative does it.”
“I don’t want that for myself. I’m going to find a way home and remove the seed that’s using my stomach as its host, and I refuse to ever give up on living, too. I’m a selfish creature.”
“This ham sandwich is yummy!” Wolfie cheered.
They were having a terribly crass conversation for a fun picnic, but it’d look like the picture of peaceful to any passerby.
Next to fluttering butterflies, Oswald shook his fork in front of his face to threaten her. “Let me be clear: coming with me means you’ll be hunted down. Just like what you experienced today.”
“I know…but still…”
Looking askance at the girl who had fallen silent, he pulled the fork from his mouth, then tossed it into an enameled cup and snapped his fingers. Cards appeared out of thin air and slid into his hand.
“Okay, let’s gamble on it then.”
“Gamble?”
He held two cards in front of her and spread them out. The ice blue of the eyes she saw past the edges of the cards narrowed in on her.
“One of these cards is the ace of spades. The other is a joker. I’ll bring you with me if you draw the ace.”
“And if I draw the joker?”
“I’ll drop you off at the next town.”
Nichika hesitated for a moment before pursing her lips and putting her hand on one of the cards.
“……”
His lips drew down in an arc.
The sky was free of clouds.
Her fate had been determined.