Chapter 16
“Leticia! Leticia!”
“What? Just say what you want, do you know your voice sounds like poultry going quack quack, it makes people’s heads hurt!”
Leticia had just stepped out of the chapel when Stano’s voice impatiently rang out. He sounded rather urgent, as if he had something important to say.
It was evening now. She had just finished a whole day of chores and study, and was about to go home to have dinner with Uncle John.
Speaking of which, ever since Uncle John learned that Leticia could study at the chapel, he had been overjoyed. He even looked more radiant and stood much straighter.
“Leticia, I really do have something I want to tell you.”
Stano caught his breath. After learning certain things, he had practically bounced his way back into his room and immediately reached out to her. “Tell me, you’re in the Intis Kingdom, right?”
“Mm, what about it?”
Leticia asked in puzzlement. They had exchanged such things before, but neither ever thought much of it.
“Then, do you know a city called Rhodes?”
“Rhodes? Sounds kind of familiar...”
The name of this city rang a bell. She had heard it somewhere before. After thinking for a moment, Leticia quickly recalled the relevant information. “Isn’t that the city closest to my village? I know it. Why?”
In the past year, Uncle John had taken her there once. Walking directly, it took about half a day.
Although it wasn’t quite the grand city she had imagined, the authentic medieval Western European style of architecture still amazed Leticia.
But due to financial reasons, they had only hurriedly handled their business there before rushing back.
“So it’s really like that!”
Stano immediately perked up. “Good, this favor—you absolutely must help me!”
“But I refuse!”
Leticia snapped. “Even if I only used my feet to think, I’d know you’re up to trouble. I’m telling you, impossible, absolutely impossible. I don’t care what you’re trying to do. My answer is no, no, no!”
Anything connected with Rhodes City, especially involving foreigners, definitely wouldn’t be something simple. All the more so when it was this young master of the Banson family seeking help through such means…
“How can you be like this!”
Clearly angered by Leticia’s blunt refusal, Stano growled through gritted teeth. “It’s just a tiny matter, and you dare reject me outright without even listening?!”
“Stano Banson, let me tell you,”
Leticia spoke calmly. “I just want to live a peaceful life with my uncle. And I’m very clear—if I agree to your request, then my life afterward will very likely be changed because of it. So, why should I say yes to you?”
Stano felt something in his head snap. The anxiety, nervousness, and rage from repeated rejection mixed into the most violent reaction.
“Because you are my toy!”
At that instant, her body moved against her will. Leticia nearly dropped the few sheets of scrap paper in her hand and began walking toward the edge of the village.
What the hell?!
Leticia’s expression instantly changed. After spending so much time with him, she had thought she had built a decent friendship with this noble family’s young master. But she had been far too naïve.
“Stano, I’m warning you!”
Because of the difference in priority over control of her body, Leticia could only be forced along by Stano, step by step toward the village outskirts.
But she would never submit like this.
“It’s about to get dark. At night you can’t use my body. I’m telling you—if you dare do this again, even if I have to cripple myself, I will never cooperate with you!”
Leticia’s voice trembled slightly, not only from anger but also from a trace of sorrow.
Sorrow that she was under someone’s control. Bitter mockery at herself for ever considering this fellow a friend.
“...”
Hearing this, Stano’s actions really did slow down. He seemed to be thinking about what to do next.
The main control of the body was still in Stano’s hands, so in others’ eyes, it just looked like a thin little girl had stopped on the road, as if lost in thought.
“I will never help you.”
Leticia spoke softly, her tone so firm and cold it even surprised herself. “No matter what you want to do, I advise you to give up early.”
Time quietly slipped away. Leticia felt her own senses gradually regaining control over her body.
“You truly refuse to help me?”
Only then did Stano mutter a sentence. He had calmed down, and his words carried a trace of weariness and sorrow.
“Hmph...”
Leticia snorted coldly. She had just opened her mouth to speak when she realized—a dead silence. She had completely regained control of her body, and Stano’s voice could no longer be heard.
The “freedom” of night had arrived.