Lilia's Tale

Chapter 4: Kouji Lilia

---Author's Note---

Merry christmas everyone! I figured I'd drop an additional chapter because I might as well give everyone some kind of christmas present as well. Enjoy the story, and feel free to comment! I'll try my best to read and reply to everything.

--- End of Author's Note---

As I woke up from what felt like a simple, short nap, I first rubbed my eyes to try and see more clearly, then looked around me. As my vision came back, the first thing I noticed were the red curtains surrounding the place. As I sat up, I noticed a man in front of me.

"Ah, hello. Are you feeling better?"

"...Who are you again?" I said as I rubbed my eyes again.

"Hahaha, did you already forget what happened a couple hours ago?"

I looked at the person again, and realized it was the old man whom I had accepted to become the daughter of.

"...I don't remember your name, but I did say I'd become your daughter, right?"

"That's right. You sure have a bad memory, don't you?" he said as he laughed.

"I'm just a little exhausted I think. I'm not quite through with what happened recently... More importantly, where are we?"

"We're in a carriage, heading home."

"Home? But wasn't home... Oh... right..." I said, suddenly feeling down.

"Your new home, Lilia. One where you will live properly."

I looked at him in disbelief, and started tearing up. I then sighed and looked around me some more, trying to find details in the inner carriage's structure.

"Is something wrong, Lilia?"

"Just that... I have a hard time accepting what happened back there. It was my home after all."

"A home that treated you like a slave."

"That is true, but... It was still where I lived," I said, almost crying out loud, as I looked through the window. It was still night

After a short silence, the man started talking again.

"I can't say I don't understand your feelings, but please try to forget about what happened. It would be beneficial for you to st-"

"I won't forget it!" I shouted, interrupting him. "I won't forget them. I don't care how painful it will be, I cannot move forward if I forget the past," I said, calmer, but now crying.

The man did not utter a word.

"I don't care how much I'll cry for them. I don't care how much Yuki has suffered. I have to live on with these memories. I'm the only person who can remember them after all. She wanted to have a better life, so she planned on fleeing, and maybe that's why she was killed, I don't know. But all I know is that she wanted a better life. One she deserved. It's not fair that she had to be killed while I survived."

"If I may..."

"What is it," I spurted out, out of emotional pain.

"You say she deserved a better life than she had, and you survived while she didn't. Why not live that better life she would have wanted for her?"

"I know, man. I know very damn well that's what I should do." I started crying even more. "I know that's what should be done, but I can't forgive myself for not being able to protect her. I don't want to take from her what she should have gotten."