Lucina POV
“Woah. You’re out and about, my best friend!”
She runs up to me and hugs me. Tsk, when did I start accepting hugs?
“Let go of me.”
“Kay! So, what happened?”
“I’m still pissed off but I wanted to cool off but I got pissed off again when I saw what happened.”
“Let me guess, you still don’t know what to do about it.”
“Shut up. Old man, close your shop for today. Let’s go to my house to talk.”
“Come on you two. Follow us, she won’t eat you, probably.”
“The hell do you mean by probably? Just shut up and follow me.”
Juliet kept on trying to make small talk but the duo just won’t budge. When we arrived in my house, I asked them a question.
“Are you a mother and her daughter?”
The older woman nods.
“As I said earlier, you can stay here. Don’t make any trouble and make sure to clean the place. I don’t know when I will be back but don’t destroy it. You can take care of a place, right?”
Both of them nodded. I introduced each room in the house. It wasn’t much but it was still big for two people. I guided them throughout the day and they have fallen asleep.
“Woah. I’ve never seen you that kind before. Why aren’t you like that normally?”
“Shut up.”
“Let me guess, you see yourself in them and you pity them?”
“I said, shut up!”
“That’s my best friend!”
Juliet hugs me again. I have calmed down somewhat so I just let her be.
“Alright. That’s enough. Take care of those two, old man.”
“Sheesh, you just got back and you’re already making this old man do work.”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“Don’t worry. I was planning on doing that anyway.”
“Good. You’re not going to ask?”
“About what?”
“I assume that she already told you. This girl’s mouth is something else.”
“Hey! What does that mean!? You don’t know what my mouth can do!”
The old man and I look at her. I grab her head and shake it.
“What the hell has she been teaching you? That perverted bastard!”
“Why are you getting mad!? You’re the one who got kissed first!”
I grab her head with both of my hands and shake her harder.
“That wasn’t my fault, you are a dumbass!”
We both stopped when we heard the old man laughing. He continued to laugh for a while longer.
“Sorry. I just couldn’t help it. Your parents would be proud of you if they see you know.”
“I’m not sure about that. She already told you that I know who it is right?”
“Yeah. She did.”
“Do you want me to tell you?”
A variety of emotions passed through the old man’s face. I waited for him to answer.
“No.”
“Why?”
“I already said to your friend that we can’t do anything about it but emotions are hard to control. I feel like if I knew who it was, I won’t be able to stop myself from trying to take revenge.”
“I understand.”
“To be honest, I have nothing to lose so I would just go on a rampage but seeing as you are here, you found something you don’t want to lose, right?”
“I did and she’s annoying.”
“Is it me? I know it is! Huggies, best friend!”
I stayed silent as Juliet kept hugging me. If I knew what I know now, I would never have made any friends. It is both a blessing and a curse. It prevents me from risking it all but I think about that face. The face of that bastard and my anger explodes within me again. I don’t think I can stop myself if I see her again.
“Old man.”
“What?”
“Should a father’s sin also be applied to their daughter?”
“Are you saying you know the daughter of the noble who did this?”
“Yes.”
Another series of complicated emotions flow through the old man’s face. Juliet has turned silent but she is still hugging me.
“By logic, it shouldn’t be but emotionally, you can’t help it.”
“I know. I don’t know what to do.”
I try to remove her face in my mind.
“What I suggest is for you to talk to her first.”
“Talk?”
“Yeah. Did she know about it? Was she involved? Did she help in any way? These questions could help you with figuring it out.”
“I don’t think I can do that.”
“Why?”
“I don’t think I can talk to her without trying to kill her. Just remembering her makes me mad. I don’t know what I would do when I’m there.”
“In that case, is there anyone else you can talk to?”
“What?”
“She should have people close to her, right? Why don’t you try talking to them?”
“Why?”
“They should know her better than you at least. Well, you don’t have to do it if you don’t have to.”
“That’s easy then. You know all of them bestie.”
“Wait. Are you close with the daughter?”
I looked down and didn’t reply.
“She took her first kiss.”
“Why the hell would you tell him that, you moron.”
“Let me guess, you only found out after all of it.”
“Yeah.”
“Damn. That sucks.”
“I know.”
“You’re the only one who can figure this out. I can’t help you. Your problem isn’t if the daughter is also at fault. Your problem is that can you kill her father and still be close, right?”
“Hah!? What are you smoking old man? Why the hell would I want to be close to that bastard!? She’s a motherfucking piece of shit, alright!? She’s annoying!”
“Annoying? I see.”
The old man smiles and I realize what he’s referring to.
“N-no! That’s not what I meant!”
The old man puts his hand on my head.
“Good luck. Whatever you decide, just remember that this old man is on your side. If you ever get in trouble, you can always come here.”
“I know.”
I still don’t know what to do but time moves on. Juliet and I eventually leave and go back to school.
“What about you? If I tried to attack her, would you stop me?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yeah. I don’t know what to do either.”
