A Caged Bird Doesn't Cry - Chapter 3 Part I
Chapter 3 Part I
It was said that there were mainly two types of sl@ve owners: those who laid hands on their slaves and those who did not. According to a sl*ve who had barely escaped and was recaptured, the latter was preferable. That sl*ve had asserted that, at the very least, one could die cleanly without suffering any harm.
So, which type was that man?
Laticia carefully removed the translucent residue of her own bodily fluid from the quill pen as she pondered. Did this count as laying hands on her, or not? Strictly speaking, his hands had never directly touched her, so perhaps he fell into the better category. In any case, it seemed unlikely that the man would summon her to his bed, and for that, she was grateful. Laticia furrowed her brows as she recalled the scene she had witnessed earlier.
The man’s... *that* was alarmingly large. It was her first time seeing a man’s body, but even so, she knew it was unusually big. There were universal standards in the world, and this was definitely not normal. The vivid expressions of the women who had writhed in pain beneath him were still etched in her mind. The fact that it could move like that—even as she watched, it was hard to believe.
‘Theo… would he do such things…?’
Had Theo ever been with a woman? The faces of the three entangled bodies overlapped with the face of the one she missed. It was an absurd thought. Why was she thinking of Theo at a time like this? That pure, affectionate Theodor Vuter.
‘No, he wouldn’t.’
Laticia firmly believed it. Theodor was not the kind of man who acted solely on carnal desires. Unless it was to connect with someone he loved, perhaps.
As far as Laticia knew, Theodor had never been with another woman. He had said so himself, hadn’t he? That Laticia was the first and only one he had ever cared for. So, Theodor was still... untouched. With that conclusion, she felt a sense of relief.
As her heart settled, hope began to sprout anew. If she could cure her new master’s insomnia, she would be freed from this cage, as promised by Locardi. The better she sang, the closer she would be to flying free like a bird, and the sooner she could be reunited with Theodor.
‘Then…’
She had to sing. Right now. Laticia glanced at the man lying motionless on the bed. He appeared to be asleep, but she was certain he was awake.
Phew... hooo.
When it came time to start, she felt nervous. Laticia quietly steadied her breathing. She had been careful, but her master had sharp hearing. The moment Andrea’s shadow shifted slightly, Laticia opened her mouth without further hesitation.
The moon opens its eyes.
A dance of starlight and the dark’s banquet.
A dream blooming in the clouds beckons to you.
The sweet blessing of the night calls to you.
It was a simple song, devoid of any elaborate technique. Yet, there was something about it—something that dug into a corner of the heart. Perhaps it wasn’t the song itself that felt so sorrowful, but the clear, pure voice of the sl@ve girl.
“They say a caged bird doesn’t cry.”
Andrea tilted his head slightly, looking at her through the bars with an amused expression.
“But it seems you still sing, even if you don’t cry.”
Despite the sarcasm, Laticia didn’t stop. Just as he was about to add remark about a new stubborn bird entering the cage, Andrea realized that the throbbing pain in his head, which had been pounding with every heartbeat, had completely vanished. The headache was gone, but his mood wasn’t exactly pleasant.
Should he let her continue, or should he stop her here?
‘Why is he like this?’
Did he not like the song? Laticia noticed the unusual look in Andrea’s eyes and felt a pang of panic. She had heard his insomnia was severe, but it was the first time someone hadn’t fallen asleep by the end of *Hymn of the Night*. She grew anxious.
‘What should I do?’
Under Andrea’s persistent gaze, she felt her confidence to sing the next song slipping away. But she had to sing. There was no other choice. She closed her eyes gently to focus, steadying her breath. She prayed that when she opened them, he would be asleep.
The wings of angels blanket the sky as night falls.
The shattered sunlight in their quiet fluttering becomes a beautiful star, shining brightly.
It melts into a tender smile on your lips.
Pouring her entire soul into the song, Laticia opened her eyes with a trembling heart. She was relieved to see the figure that had been sitting askew now lying flat. His breathing, noticeably different from before, was now steady. Andrea was deeply asleep.
Once she confirmed he was asleep, a heavy drowsiness settled over her own eyelids. Looking back, it had been an exhausting day. She had woken up at dawn, washed, trimmed her hair, and been dragged around to be adorned with jewelry and makeup. Then, she had been shaken around in an uncomfortable cage for hours, only to witness a scene she had never seen before…
‘But at least it’s over.’
Her new master was asleep, and she could see a faint glimmer of hope. A brilliant light of hope. If she worked hard for a few more days and the Duke showed signs of appreciating her song, she planned to ask him to commission a portrait from Theodor.
Even if it was presumptuous, even if it meant enduring harsh punishment, she was willing to bear it for Theo. Theodor was worth it.
‘Theo…’
Laticia gradually drifted in the sweet dream she had created for herself.
***
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