If I could live without using my powers, I’d welcome it. I’d love to just laze around.
I don’t want to be completely worn out. Worse than that, though, is being kept alive just enough to keep using me.
I leaned against the trunk of the largest tree in the garden, my favorite spot, and let myself relax.
The garden is big for what’s called an enclosed courtyard, but its high walls make it suffocating.
Since it can only be accessed from my room, they clearly don’t see me as an escape risk.
They’re right—I have no way to scale these walls instantly.
Sighing, I closed my eyes.
The maids would probably come soon, but I wanted just a little time to rest. I’ve been trying so hard to stay alert; surely I could allow myself this much.
I’ve even grown used to these revealing ceremonial outfits, so I don’t particularly mind if I don’t get changed for a while.
“…Oracle?”
“Shh… Look, over there. She’s asleep. She must be exhausted.”
Seems I just made it in time.
How rare, to hear the maids talking to each other.
They must think I’m fully asleep… Well, that’s fine.
Feigning illness, ignoring people, and pretending to sleep are all specialties of mine when it comes to avoiding trouble.
"Should we carry her to the bed? She’s so petite; even I could manage it."
"Don’t. She’s finally resting. Let her be for a while."
"You’re right… Say, doesn’t it look like the Oracle has lost a little more weight? She was already so delicate when she first arrived…"
Even though they were speaking softly, the courtyard was so quiet that I could hear them clearly.
I didn’t know which of the maids was speaking, but it seemed they didn’t dislike me. Probably.
"Yes, her arms and waist seem even thinner now. Her lovely, feminine figure is still there, but she looks so fragile… I’m worried. And her complexion—oh, that beautiful milky skin is starting to look waxy, almost like candle wax. Even her long, lustrous hair has lost some of its shine."
"We should let the chef know. The Oracle does eat more when it comes to fruit… Still, Master is utterly disrespectful, isn’t he? Treating someone as graceful and beautiful as the Oracle as if she were an object…"
"Shh! You never know who’s listening!"
"Today’s shift is just you and me. It’s fine. The guards have been moved away while the Oracle changes, too."
A flood of new information came pouring in.
First, the maids weren’t a figment of my imagination—they genuinely seemed to care about me. Although they tended to praise me excessively, I could overlook that.
Second, the snake-man—referred to as “Master”—was decidedly unpopular among the maids. Whether his reputation had ever been good didn’t matter.
Lastly, it seemed there were guards stationed near my room most of the time. If they weren’t present during my wardrobe changes, perhaps they also weren’t there during bath time.
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