Chương 104: Heart Knots (Part Three)
Observing his son and the small girl clutching her tattered plush toy and a few silver coins, it was evident to Roal that, compared to an orphan, his own son was still somewhat more trustworthy.
In a fit of rage, Roal snatched the coins from Lux's grasp and bellowed at her, "I initially felt some sympathy for you two orphans, which is why I allowed your brother to work at my quarry! But now, Lux, at such a tender age, you've resorted to thievery? Attempting to steal from me? If you're capable of this now, what will you be like when you grow up? Speak! Who incited you to steal my money?"
Roal believed that a girl of Lux's age could not possibly possess the audacity to steal on her own; it was clear that someone had been manipulating her from behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Kayan, seizing the opportunity to divert his father's attention, eagerly fanned the flames of accusation. "Dad, do you even need to ask? It's obviously her brother, Galen! He saw that we have money and, consumed by jealousy, incited his sister to steal while you were away!"
"You… you're lying!" Lux exclaimed, her voice trembling with indignation at the accusation against her beloved brother. Even after being pushed to the ground and enduring pain, she had never felt such anger and injustice.
Fixing a glare on Kayan, Lux's eyes brimmed with tears of grievance.
"Y-you…" Kayan stammered, taken aback by the intensity of her hateful gaze, instinctively stepping back.
Regaining his composure, Kayan felt a wave of shame wash over him; he had been startled by a frail little girl.
"Dad, look! She's so frightened she can hardly speak! Clearly, I've hit the nail on the head! It must be her brother who urged her to steal! We cannot let such ungratefulness from these siblings go unpunished!" Kayan shouted maliciously.
"Indeed! We must not let this slide!" Roal's sense of betrayal surged as he realized that the very person he had taken in had dared to steal from him.
This somewhat confused middle-aged man clutched the coins tightly and stormed toward the quarry.
Little Lux stood frozen for a moment, suddenly comprehending Roal's intentions. Abandoning her cherished crocodile plushie, she stumbled after him, crying, "No! Uncle Roal, please don't hurt my brother! It has nothing to do with him, I swear!"
Yet how could a frail little girl keep pace with an enraged adult? All Lux could do was watch helplessly as Roal's figure receded further and further from her sight…
"Thud!"
With a dull thump, the unsteady little girl, running too hastily, tripped over a protruding stone and fell heavily onto the gravel-strewn path.
"Waa… Uncle Roal, please don't… don't hurt my brother; it really has nothing to do with him." Lux lifted her head, feeling a searing pain in her knee. As she managed to sit up, she discovered a deep gash on her right knee, inflicted by the jagged edges of the stones, bright red blood oozing from the wound and staining her skirt.
However, she paid no heed to her injury and, despite the agonizing pain, stumbled after the figure that had vanished around the corner, crying, "Waa… it truly has nothing to do with my brother! Uncle Roal, it really has nothing to do with him!"
Yet no one acknowledged the tears of this little girl, nor heeded her desperate pleas…
The night deepened.
Inside the small, dilapidated house, a candle no larger than a soybean flickered softly, casting a rare glimmer of light in the gloom.
The boy, his skin darkened from years of labor under the sun, lay on the bed, gritting his teeth in pain. His back, broader than that of most children his age, was marred by numerous whip marks; some wounds had been struck repeatedly in the same spot, the flesh torn open to reveal the blood-red muscle beneath, a truly harrowing sight.
Little Lux sobbed intermittently, her trembling hands gently applying a cheap ointment to her brother's wounds. Each time her fingers brushed over the gruesome scars, they quivered slightly, and though she had not cried in a long time, tears streamed down her cheeks for hours on end.
"Waa… Brother, I'm so sorry… Brother… Waa…" The helpless girl could only weep, struggling to articulate her feelings of guilt and sorrow.
In the kingdom of Demacia, the populace regarded thieves and prostitutes with disdain and contempt. While the plight of prostitutes was somewhat better, as this ancient profession had its designated realms in many cities, the fate of thieves was far more tragic. Once caught, thieves often faced a brutal beating from an enraged mob, with many dying from the violence—such occurrences barely made the news.
Although the townsfolk were generally simple and somewhat forgiving towards the orphaned siblings, their rudimentary sense of right and wrong still deemed theft an unforgivable sin.
Perhaps if Galen had merely stolen a few inconsequential items, given their tragic circumstances, the townsfolk might have shown him some leniency.
But this time, he had dared to steal money from his employer's household, and not just a small sum, but a considerable amount of silver coins—an act deemed utterly unforgivable!
Especially since it was Roal who had initially taken pity on Galen and his sister, reluctantly allowing him to work at the quarry. Now, instead of expressing gratitude, Galen had the audacity to steal from Roal's home. Such ingratitude was a crime that could not be overlooked, deserving of the harshest punishment.
"Hiss… Lux, it's alright, don't cry, it doesn't hurt… really, it's not painful at all, just looks a bit frightening," the boy, despite sweating profusely from the pain, mustered a weak smile to comfort the weeping girl.
However, his reassurances fell flat, as Lux's tears continued to flow unabated.
In the tranquil night, the stars twinkled quietly above.
Amidst the stillness, the sounds of Lux's intermittent sobs and her brother's awkward attempts at comfort drifted softly from the candlelit room, weaving through the overgrown weeds of the yard, before gradually fading into the silence of the night.
From afar, the sound of barking dogs could be heard in the little town, but apart from that, it was a serene and peaceful place, akin to another world.
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