Blood and Lilies - Part VI

As much as I wanted to think of Tessa in a good light, I couldn’t. Instead, I saw her in a strange, yet helpful way.

The words I was about to say to her were harsh. I didn’t mean them, but they had to be said.

I had to be the villain.

"..."

"Tessa!" I screamed, forcing her to look my way. Although she looked shocked and stupefied by the scene before her, everything was about to change.

"Y-yes, Master?" the timid Tessa said, turning toward me.

Perfect.

A cruel smile spread across my face.

"Where's Clara?"

"Master…? Clara is with your eldest sister. I thought I had informed you already… Is something wrong?"

"I'm gonna kill her!"

Game set.

As I had expected, Tessa’s killer instinct surfaced. Her expression shifted into pure anger, her hidden side emerging. She quickly slipped a kitchen knife from her maid's dress pocket. From the other pocket, she pulled out a screwdriver.

— Damn, she hides all that there? What’s next, a full pencil case collection under her dress?

But it was exactly what I anticipated.

Surely, if she killed me now, I could go back in time and save Alice. I didn’t know how, but I had to try.

"What… did you say…?" Tessa crept closer, her shining utensils poised.

"Tessa, what do you think you’re doing?" Karen reprimanded her. "And Elias, apologise now! What are you saying right now?"

I remained silent. 

And that only enraged Tessa further. She dashed toward me with terrifying speed, stabbing viciously. Instead of rage, her face twisted into a sadistic smile; she was enjoying this. It must have been all the pent-up frustration she harboured against me. Yet despite the pain, I met her gaze and simply smiled. Seeing my unexpected reaction, she struck even more aggressively.

Karen froze, unable to move, witnessing the horror unfold. One by one, the events played out as I had to let them.

I whispered softly, "I’m sorry, Karen… but I promise I will save you… all of you…"

With those parting words, I lost consciousness completely.

"..."

"Ahhh!"

I gasped as light flooded my vision. Slowly, my consciousness returned, but not where I had expected. I thought I would wake in my bed, frail, writhing in illness, my body twisted with deformities.

But no.

A cool morning breeze brushed my skin, carrying with it the warmth of the sun.

"!"

"Are you alright, Master?" Clara asked, worry etched across her face.

"I'm fine, just yawning."

I was outside. One arm rested on Clara’s shoulder, the other on a cane for balance. The so-called checkpoint had shifted forward. Now, I stood watching Alice and Karen prepare for their cruel journey to that bastard’s mansion. Knowing what awaited them, I steeled myself.

"Alice! Karen!" I called out.

The two bustled about with their packing. Alice glanced over with a cheerful smile.

"Awh, did you come to see us off?" Karen teased.

I wanted to answer lightly, but the truth weighed on me. My stern face betrayed it.

"What’s wrong, Elias?" Alice asked, her tone soft but curious.

"Sisters," I said, meeting their eyes, "could I speak to you both alone?"

They exchanged looks before Alice nodded. "Of course. What’s wrong?"

"Let’s talk in the gazebo," I added, glancing at Clara. "If you don’t mind, could you give us a moment?"

Clara, oblivious to the gravity of the moment, smiled warmly. "O-Of course, Master. I’ll be glad to."

With the help of Clara, we made our way to the gazebo. Father was nearby, barking strict instructions to the knights escorting my sisters. His care for them showed, even if they weren’t his by blood.

At the gazebo, Clara helped me into a seat. I asked her to return later, once Alice and Karen had left. She bowed politely. “As you wish, Master,” she said before departing.

"What’s wrong, Elias?" Karen asked, patting my head gently, as if I were a child.

"I…" My throat tightened. "I had another premonition."

Alice’s expression darkened. "It wasn’t good, was it?"

I shook my head.

Karen tried to lighten the mood, nudging me with a wink. "So, did we survive or not?"

"Yes," I said quietly.

Their faces lit with relief, until I continued.

"But…"

They froze. "But?" they echoed.

I fixed my eyes on Alice. "Unable to bear the shame… 'You' ended your life."

Alice staggered back, stunned. "I see," she whispered, hollow and distant, as if she already knew. Karen, too, fell into silence.

"Aren’t you going to ask me why!?" My voice broke. "You gonna believe me just like that!?"

"..."

They said nothing.

Guilt gnawed at me. Why was I even pressing so hard when they already carried so much? "I’m sorry… I didn’t mean—"

"No." Alice raised a hand, silencing me. "There would be only one reason I would do such a thing."

Her hollow eyes met mine. "He forced himself on me, didn’t he?"

I couldn’t speak. She wasn’t entirely right, but it was close enough to her suspicion. 

Should I tell them the truth? Should I expose their secret from the previous loop?

"..."

No. 

Why was I even debating this? 

I had to.

"Not exactly," I said, voice low. "He... blackmailed you."

Alice blinked, her hollow eyes still present. "Blackmail?"

"..."

"He knows your secret."

"..."

Both sisters’ eyes widened instantly.

Karen stammered, panic clear in her tone. "Wh-what do you mean, Elias? What secret?"

It was obvious now. They had no other secret but that one.

"I’m sorry," I said softly. "But I know your secret, something that even Father doesn’t."

As I was about to speak further, Alice pressed a trembling finger to my lips, silently begging me not to continue. But I couldn’t stop here.

I gently lowered her hand and clasped both hers and Karen’s tightly in mine. Their tense shoulders eased at my touch, as if reassured that, despite their terrible secret, I would still accept them. Their faces softened, no longer resisting.

"You’re not my real sisters, are you?"

Their eyes widened briefly, then relaxed. Alice sighed. "Yes. That’s right. I guess I couldn’t keep it from you forever. Your premonitions… I used to think they were strange. But now… I’m starting to believe they might be real."

"You sometimes scare me, Elias." Alice lightly chuckled.

"Sorry," I whispered, ashamed.

Alice shook her head and stroked my hair. "No, Elias. It’s fine."

Her voice then trembled. "I guess, you don’t see us as your sisters anymore, do you?"

Karen’s sad eyes echoed the question.

"What are you saying!" My voice rose, loud enough to draw glances. I bowed apologetically toward the onlookers, then lowered my voice. "Blood doesn’t matter. Whether we’re related or not, you’re still my sisters. I’ll always love you for who you are."

"..."

The words broke them. Tears streamed down their cheeks. For so long, they had carried this secret in shame, hiding in silence. And now, at last, they were accepted.

With what little strength I had, I pulled them both into my arms.

From afar, the others assumed it was a simple farewell. Father even smiled warmly, touched by what he saw. He did not know the truth.

One day, I hoped he would, and that he would accept them as his real daughters.

Even if it wouldn’t be easy, I believed he could.