165 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

--- Today was a rare day when Ashies found herself alone. Karami had temporarily left her side, citing numerous preparations that required attention elsewhere. "Remember, don't wander off alone. Make sure to go anywhere with Perka." Karami made sure to leave her with this reminder. Following Karami's instructions, Ashies kept Perka within her sight at all times. Similarly, with nothing particular on his agenda, Perka sat on a bench watching people work around them. "Seems like everyone is so busy. It feels like we're the only ones not occupied in Doomheim." Everything happening was orchestrated by Karami. Perka had witnessed Karami persuading the dwarves with his unique and convincing speech, creating a situation where resistance was futile. Watching Karami command people as if they were extensions of himself evoked a sense of awe and a chill down Perka's spine. Perka sensed it instinctively. More than respect, it was reverence. Coupled with fear. "I don't get what his true objective is." Outwardly, Karami appeared to do his utmost for Ashies, but in truth, he played God with the lives of slaves. The stark contrast between rumors and reality was so vast that it was beyond the realm of understanding of the average person. That such a person was Ashies’ master was a cause for concern. If he genuinely sought Ashies' wellbeing, he would free her from her slave status and treat her as an equal. "He must be harboring ulterior motives." It's hard to predict what someone like him might do to someone as innocent as her. Already, Karami's negative influence seemed to have reached Ashies. She was repeatedly placing her hand over her chest and tilting her head. What could possibly be wrong? Perka asked apprehensively. "What's wrong?" "Here... it's strange." "Excuse me?" Perka was taken aback. The place Ashies put her hand was over her heart. In panic, he pressed his ear against her chest. Thump... Thump... Thump.... Though the heartbeat was slow, just like her easygoing master, it was steady and strong. "Seems fine to me? Are you sure you’re not feeling unwell?" Ashies shook her head. With her hand still over her chest, she recalled yesterday's sensation. "It… it became fast. Thumping. My body felt warm, too…." When she had experienced that sensation, Ashies was taken aback. The warmth she never thought she'd feel flowed from within her, despite usually being surrounded by cold. "A cold, perhaps? But, can a snow maiden even catch a cold?" The idea of Ashies catching a cold seemed laughable to Perka, considering her immunity to cold weather, plus he thought it unlikely. "And you don't feel that way now?" "Right." "When did this happen?" "Yesterday… when I was watching Rami…." "When you looked at him, your heartbeat quickened, and your face heated up?" Perka quickly came to a conclusion. "Could it be anger?" "Anger…?" "You know how he made you a slave. Seeing him must have made you angry." Karami had once personally given Ashies a compiled collection of emotions. It was created so that when Ashies felt an emotion, she could easily recognize it. Ashies recalled the emotion collection and re-examined the feelings she experienced yesterday. Could this be what anger feels like? The symptoms lined up, which made her think it might be. "There's one other thing it could be… but, I'm not so sure." Perka hesitated before cautiously speaking. "Could it be love?" "Love…?" Ashies murmured softly, the unfamiliar syllables subtly gracing her lips. However, it was different from when she'd considered anger. The word "love" didn’t simply dissipate; instead, it gently settled in the center of her heart. A sensation quietly knocking at her heart. The ever-steady and composed rhythm felt oddly irregular. Merely mentioning the word, why does it resonate so profoundly? Ashies closed her eyes and took a deep breath. But it was not a sensation to be dispelled with mere breathing. A fairy tale memory surfaced in her mind. The prince who kissed the sleeping Snow White. With that, a series of scenes began to replay. The gaze he’d directed at her once. The kindness, the smile, the tone, and even the touch that demanded no explanation. 'Ah…' Remembering those moments, her heart was already responding. The same feeling as yesterday, her heart thumping rapidly. "Though, it might not be, so there’s no need to dwell on it deeply. Even if it were true, Karami is a lost cause." “…?” In the midst of feeling those tender emotions, Perka interjected. "He's a vile demon of slavery. An antagonist that should vanish. You can't like someone like that, and you shouldn’t." "Is that so…?" "Yes. Absolutely. Remember that." Perka insisted with a stern expression. Though her caution attempted to suppress the emotions, Ashies cherished those feelings, keeping them close before they could fade away. *** "Love between a master and slave simply can’t exist. Who would keep someone they love as a slave?" On the way back home, Perka's sermon continued without pause. If there had been an aptitude test, Perka would likely have been pegged for a school principal. The tiresome lecture threatened to form calluses in her ears, so Ashies had long since shielded her eardrums with a thin veil of ice. "Karami suffers from a habitual female flirting syndrome. He did it to me too. Whatever the battle, he’s usually triumphant when he smirks like that. Of course, I didn’t fall for it." "Okay…" "I’m saying this for your benefit. Just in case, just in the rarest case, he’s a bad match for you. Remember this." Ashies, aware of her need for self-preservation, had learned that if she agreed, it would end the tedious talk sooner. With an empty voice and a nod, she showed understanding. As they continued, the house started to come into sight. The sound of metal being hammered echoed in the air. Ashies and Perka headed towards the forge. Torbarr was hammering away, drenched in heat. "What are you making?" "A ring." "A ring? Who's it for? Don't tell me, Father?" "It's not like that." Curious, Perka's speculation about it being for a stepmother was quickly dismissed by Torbarr. Karami had not specifically requested secrecy, so there was no reason to hide it. "The Slave Reaper guy asked me to make it." "What? You mean Karami?" Perka was surprised, not because a ring was being made, but because a ring often held a special significance beyond mere adornment or friendship; it was predominantly known as a symbol of love. They had just been discussing love (well, more like a one-sided lecture) with Ashies, so Karami’s order for a ring at such a time could only be interpreted one way. "Could it be...?" Perka swivelled abruptly to look at Ashies. Was it a proposal? A master proposing to a slave? No less by the Slave Reaper himself? Was this truly romantic, or just plain bizarre? Was he planning to turn her into a ghost bride? Or perhaps, even for a Slave Reaper, Ashies was too precious to lose. It could possibly be a sincere marriage proposal. "Miss, you mustn't accept it, alright?" "Why not?" "What do you mean why not? Haven't I been explaining all along? You forgot already? No choice, I'll have to start explaining from the beginning." "──Ah." Ashies realized her mistake too late, and Perka’s sermon commenced afresh. *** Returning home, having concluded a meeting on how to engage with the dwarf warriors and artisans: "What's with the mood?" The atmosphere at home was different from when I'd left. Ashies had drooping eyes. Her shoulders hung listlessly; she resembled a puppy cornered by kids during a holiday. She looked profoundly dejected. Next to her stood Perka, the likely cause, glaring at me with piercing eyes. What's going on with them? Well, they're always a bit unusual. Is there anyone as sane as me in this world? If I let it bother me, it'll only wear me out. Best not to waste thought on it. "Miss Ashies, pack your things. We're going on a trip." "Are we really going on a trip? At a time like this?" "Yes." "Surely you don’t mean──" "We’re not planning a runaway, so don’t worry." I cut off the nonsense preemptively. Evidently, Perka thought we might elope together as he abruptly sealed his lips. "Where are you going? I'd like to come too!" He couldn't resist asking. "Not this time. It'll just be Miss Ashies and me, so behave." "How unfair! What, is this a honeymoon trip or something?" Honeymoon? Where did that come from all of a sudden? Responding feels like it'd only make me feel stupid, so I chose to ignore him adequately. "Miss Ashies, would you like to visit your hometown?" "My hometown…?" "Your hometown, maybe?!" A huge fan of Snow White tales, Perka caught on quickly. "Yes, we’re going to the winter kingdom that became part of a fairy tale due to the dragon’s curse." Perka, whose enthusiasm seemed to have dimmed, suddenly reignited. "Winter Kingdom! I want to go too!" I understand the sentiment. Ever since Lake Fortress, Perka lived absorbing kingdom stories. At first, he dismissed it as the delusion of a senile patient, but it was reality. A fairy tale turned real. It's not a chance to be missed to witness such a scene with one’s own eyes. "You can't go." But you can't go. If you're noisily chattering beside her, it’ll disturb Ashies' experience. Also, earlier, you glared at me with those untrustworthy eyes, right? Seems your mind was wandering into unnecessary thoughts, so consider this payback. While ignoring Perka's whining about unfairness, I locked eyes with Ashies. Her face, previously void of expression as if never having considered it, now displayed bewilderment. "What do you say? You'll be able to see so much if you go." Ashies, initially frozen, moved her head as if enchanted. --- User Comments: **Dog and Cat** - 2025.01.12 05:50 Is Perka effectively preventing any obsessions? --- (Note: Comments on this chapter show readers reflecting on the ongoing storyline and speculating about character motivations and narrative developments.) 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