Chapter 86
He seemed to be repairing me in the workshop. Was I that badly damaged? His voice sounded strained.
I had to get up and see!
Rattle, rattle! The chain wouldn’t budge.
“Why did he tie me up! Did he really think I would run away? How did he even know?!”
As I struggled like a fish out of water, the noises coming from the workshop suddenly stopped.
And then I heard familiar footsteps. The soft crunching of flowers being trampled.
He was coming!
Should he see me awake now? How would he react to seeing Anna, whom he had desperately tried to revive for five years, suddenly open her eyes?
I didn’t want to see his reaction, I wanted to run away.
He was the one who had tied up this near-corpse body. If he realized I could move, he might lock me up somewhere.
That wasn’t my style!
“Squeak! Chirp!”
Zomrat suddenly ran towards me.
“Zomrat! Where did you go? You were here all along?”
His face was covered in pollen. While the young master and I were fighting zombies, this traitor had been busy eating flowers.
“You traitor! Help me!”
“Squeak!”
He sniffed at the chain I was trying to break. I heard the clicking of his teeth against the metal, but nothing happened.
He wiped his snout with his paw and then walked away.
“Hey, hey? You traitor! You have to help me more enthusiastically! Where’s your loyalty?!”
The young master’s footsteps were getting closer. This was bad! I had to play dead!
I quickly lay down on the bed and exhaled. I would hold my breath when he got closer.
“Anna. It’s time for your medicine.”
His melancholic voice approached. I closed my eyes tightly and held my breath, pretending to be dead.
“…Did she move?”
The bed dipped as he sat down. I could feel him close by. Don’t breathe, don’t breathe…
“Squeak!”
Zomrat scurried around, squeaking.
“You’re the one making noise.”
“Squeak.”
“I’ll let you off the hook since you’re Estella’s pet. Go away.”
He seemed to have dismissed the idea that I had moved. Phew. Zomrat, I’ll trust your loyalty.
“Anna. Are you hurt? They couldn’t have gotten in here.”
He took my hand. I was suffocating. I wanted to breathe, but he would notice if I gasped.
I felt a warm sensation on the back of my hand. He had kissed it.
This was my chance to breathe. He was probably looking down, so he wouldn’t see me.
I took short, shallow breaths. That was better.
I heard him rustling something.
“I can’t stay long today. Estella is injured. It’s my fault. I should have controlled my magic better, I was worried the zombies would damage her…”
It was his fault, but don’t worry too much! I’m fine!
Should I tell him? Should I reveal that I was Estella, and also Anna?
I was still unsure what to do when he gently lifted my head.
Huh?
His lips, carrying the medicine, touched mine. Before I could react, the medicine flowed into my mouth, followed by a warm sensation.
Was this what healing felt like?
I instinctively reached for his arm. And then, gasp! I took a deep breath, and a wave of dizziness washed over me.
“Anna? Anna! Are you awake? Anna!”
He lifted my upper body. I couldn’t hold my breath any longer and gasped. Even though I wasn’t a mage, I could feel his magic.
I clung to his sleeve, my mind hazy, and whispered,
“Young… Master…”
“Anna! Anna! Do you recognize me? Are you awake?”
He looked down at me, his face filled with emotion, and kissed my forehead repeatedly. Wait, wait a minute…
“You’re finally awake. Finally! Anna, all this time, I…”
“Young Master.”
I raised my hand and covered his mouth. He started kissing my hand. He really couldn’t read the room.
My body went limp, and I leaned against him.
Gasping for air, I said breathlessly,
“You should ask permission before kissing someone… Why would you suddenly kiss someone who’s sleeping…?”
“What? Wait, that’s not important right now…”
I lost consciousness before he could finish. I just wanted to breathe normally.
“Anna? Anna!”
“Aaaah!”
I opened my eyes, and the garden was gone. I was back in Estella’s body.
Or rather, it didn’t feel like I had a proper body.
“Something’s wrong.”
I tried to move my hands, but I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn’t move my legs either. Did he tie up Estella too? Then I should at least feel the restraints, but I felt nothing.
I considered the worst-case scenario and rolled my eyes to look around. My premonition was correct.
“I’m completely disassembled.”
Estella’s body must have been badly damaged by the zombies. He was taking her apart and putting her back together.
I was lying in pieces on the workbench. Ah, this was horrifying.
I should just faint and return to Anna’s body.
I closed my eyes, trying to go back, but it was impossible. I would have done it already if I could.
But I had learned something important.
I was alive! Perhaps there was no need to use the elixir to turn Estella into a human.
I just had to return to Anna’s body. Based on my experience so far, it seemed like I returned to Anna whenever Estella was damaged…
But it was risky. I might really die if I recklessly damaged Estella’s body. I didn’t want to die now.
I had no choice but to wait for the young master.
Since I was bored, I started singing. Sparrow, hearing my voice, hopped onto the workbench and chirped along.
We were both terrible singers.
“You’re a bird, and yet you can’t sing.”
“Chirp, chirp, cheep.”
After a while, the young master returned, his footsteps heavy.
“I heard a strange noise. Estella, were you screaming?”
He asked anxiously. I was dumbfounded.
“Excuse me! I might not be musically talented, but that wasn’t a scream!”
“That was singing? That’s a relief.”
He walked over to me and started working. He was assembling my limbs and body first. I had so many things I wanted to complain about.
“Young Master, I’m very dissatisfied with this process. Let me tell you politely, as your maid.”
“Don’t talk. Just be quiet. My mind is a mess right now.”
He looked distraught. It must have been because Anna had suddenly woken up. It was a good thing he had come to repair Estella instead of clinging to Anna.
But I had to prioritize Estella now. Since I was currently inhabiting her body.
“I understand you’re confused because Anna suddenly woke up, but there are a few things we need to address. First, where are my clothes? I know you made me, but could you at least dress me before assembling me? It’s embarrassing.”
“Wait, what?”
“And second, why are you assembling my limbs first, and not my head? I’m lonely! Can you attach my head to my body first?”
“What did you just say?”
He asked, his voice trembling. I repeated myself,
“So, first, put my clothes on before assembling…”
“How do you know that Anna woke up?”
His voice dropped, low and dangerous. This wasn’t something I should be scolded for. I said confidently,
“We greeted each other earlier. I was surprised that you suddenly kissed me.”
“I… I don’t understand.”
His hands slowed down. I sighed.
“I’ve told you countless times.”
He already knew what I was about to say.
“That you’re Anna.”
“Yes, I’ve told you about 532 times, and you didn’t believe me even once.”
“…”
He stood up and placed my arm on the workbench with a thud.
“Could you handle me with more care?!”
“You’re Anna? You’re really Anna?”
“This is the 533rd time I’m telling you. Yes, I’m Anna. I can tell you 600 more times. I’m very patient.”
He stared at me blankly for a moment, then resumed assembling me at a faster pace. He didn’t answer any of my questions.
He was so focused on his work that it was as if he had forgotten how to speak. I was so bewildered that I even wondered if Anna wasn’t that important to him after all.
But that couldn’t be true. He was flustered. His face, even his fingertips, were flushed crimson.
“Young Master, are you alright?”
“…”
“Are you really alright? You don’t look alright at all. Even if you’re not, you still have to assemble me properly.”
“…”
He continued working, his face bright red. He finished assembling my body, and now all that was left was to attach my head. I was excited, but he seemed hesitant.
“Would it be too much if I asked you to hurry up?”