Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 22: Remorseful Reflections - Part 2

Once Marlina hears a door open, she slips away and dashes to the tavern to arrive before Mordecai. A part of Marlina regrets eavesdropping and understands why she was excluded. Fortunately for Marlina, she wouldn't be tired or out of breath from sprinting so fast.

It's several minutes before Mordecai enters silently, lighting his pipe. He approaches the stove to put away the leftover dinner and clean the dishes. Marlina keeps herself busy by wrapping her wrists in cloth and helping to dry the dishes after Mordecai washes them.

He finally speaks without glancing up from his hands as he cleans.

"How much did you hear?"

Marlina freezes for a moment, initially feeling the urge to lie. However, she knows she's terrible at it and has learned that Mordecai detests dishonesty.

"More than I should have, Sir Mordecai. But how did you know?"

He answers by knocking on her body to create a metallic ring; he must have heard it when Neterion tackled her.

"Looks like I need to teach them a lesson for dragging you into their mischief."

Although Marlina wouldn't imagine Mordecai as a cruel man, she can't anticipate what he views as an appropriate punishment, which leaves her worried about what that might entail.

"They were just worried about you; you are their father, as they say."

A small smile tugs at the corner of his lip at her words, knowing that likely Natalia mentioned it, as Neterion isn't one to speak of such things openly.

"Worried or not, I don't want them getting any more involved than they already are, for their safety. From this point on, it's my responsibility."

While they spend a few moments in silence doing their chore, Marlina tries to express her understanding of his perspective.

"I understand why you don't want them to be further involved. During my time in Urush, I observed the Urushians from a distance and noticed their fierce loyalty to those they care about, much like the loyalty you and Miss Tessa show towards the people here. However, the Emperor's men are... frightful, even towards Urushians, let alone Colonials."

Mordecai inhales deeply, releasing a cloud of smoke from his nostrils as he looks towards her.

"Could you share a bit about what you saw there? I haven't been in Urush in some time."

Marlina hesitates for a moment. "I've seen groups of people beaten for protesting against the Emperor, young men taken from their homes and families to go to the capital to become warriors. They discriminated against each other as if they were different, even though they are the same people. From my perspective, they are no different. I sometimes felt that for those who allowed me to serve under them, despite their dislike for me, it was a way to see if life in the Colonies was any better."

Marlina glances at Mordecai; his expression is solemn, yet he doesn't seem surprised. She then resumes.

"There was a family that sheltered me once. Emperor soldiers chased me, attempting to capture me as I wandered near a city close to the capital. I ran to the outskirts, where I discovered farmland filled with corn for miles. I found a Urushian child lost in the rows, with night-prowling beasts nearby. She couldn't have been older than three years old. I could hear her parents shouting for her, so I carried her back to them."

"Despite resembling a Colonial, they were grateful that their daughter was safe and invited me to stay the night in appreciation for helping them. Since I had run for so long, even after the soldiers grew tired of chasing me, I felt it was safe to stay and assist them with some of their chores, especially with such a large field during harvest and their sons away. The soldiers returned days later, knowing there were few places for me to go since homes were sparse. When the family told me to run, I suppose they couldn't bear to see a kind soul taken away, especially considering what might have happened to me. The soldiers..."