The Escape of Layla

In the light of the moon, Father sits faceless toward a gloomy dungeon. At the end of that gaze, there was a woman who kept singing lullabies smiling in an iron lattice.

Thin dirty platinum hair, vain empty eyes. Hands and feet so thin that it is hesitant to look directly at them. The only thing wrapped around me is a crude piece of blurring. Still, the figure of the person who kept singing the song in the light of the moon was beautiful.

For plenty of seconds, I would have been blinded by that person. Even though I'm trapped in such a miserable environment, I still think blurry that some things are beauty that won't fade.

"Allen."

Pooped, and returned to me all the time to the voice of his father, which echoed in the dungeon. Yes, I followed my father on my own. First, I must apologize for this disrespect.

"... I'm sorry, I saw His Majesty on a walk, and..."

"I'm surprised you show so much interest in me."

It would be Father who is not interested in people, one way or another. I zeroed such irony inside as I looked up at the silver hair and pale eyes lit by the moonlight.

"... this woman, what the hell"

"A great sinner."

When Father told him to throw it away, he gently touched the iron lattice. The woman in the cell continues to sing a babysitting song extended toward her little window, not even aware of her father's presence.

"There were some beautiful sinners."

"Beautiful? Is this the guy?"

My father gave me a grin resembling a mockery just because he said he heard something funny. I shudder unexpectedly at the depth of hatred that seeps into that expression.

Having this conversation in the first place with your father in an informal setting is important in itself, even though it involves so much nervousness that it makes you sweat uncomfortably, if it damages your father's mood. Gently bow your head so you can fix it in a hurry.

"Eh... if I say anything rude, I apologize"

"No, I don't mind. In general, she had a reputation for being beautiful."

My father turned a pale glance at me. [M] I don't know what to say to myself, but my father and I were alike enough to be convinced that everyone would call me a living copy of my father. At the dawn I grew up, I would definitely look like my father. [M]

"How far do you know, Allen?"

"... how far do you say?

Exposed to his father's cold gaze, his pulse was sooner than it would have been before he could rest. Behind my ears, the sound of my heart is ringing annoyingly.

"You wouldn't want to take a trip to the Moon Shadow Tower without knowing anything. Sooner or later it will be the truth. I'm not going to blame you."

My father, who didn't change one expression, was still a little scared for the truth. I open my mouth softly, determined that Monica's name would be the only thing I could say.

"... if it's the story of a beautiful courtesan about the contraindications of this castle, I've heard it"

That's all I know when it comes to the topic of the Moon Shadow Tower. I didn't come up with the name Miss Layla because I couldn't figure out where from on her topic I was going to buy my father's anger.

"Then the story is quick.... This woman is Leila's sister."

"What... you mean Father's First Lady?

Didn't both of your sons die? I stare seriously at her in prison again. Even if he looks miserable, he's strangely convinced that he's just beautiful enough to be called "Altair's Treasure".

I didn't believe in the "Your Majesty loved the previous Queen wholeheartedly" story that my mother said, more than my father was obsessed with Miss Leila, but I never thought I was imprisoned in a cell. A woman of such stature that she became the Crown Princess once. Is that not the one who should be imprisoned at the top of the Moon Shadow Tower where Miss Leila would have been imprisoned?

"... what the hell is this guy doing?

"Shall I say that I dragged Leila off the seat of the King's Princess candidate and nearly killed her? Then there is the crime of attempted royal usurpation."

Generally speaking, it seems more felonious to have laid hands on Miss Leila among fathers, even though the content of what Father said "followed" seems more sinful. This one had to grieve that she was still being held captive by Miss Leila.

"Then it would be better to execute them with one thought in mind. Why keep them alive in a place like this?

From your father, you're supposed to be the only one left with hatred. Even though it's not weird that you hate your face so much that you don't even want to see it, it's no wonder you're on your feet like this.

Father stared at the "treasure of Altair" in his cell with a self-derisive grin somewhere. That was the sentimental side of my father I saw for the first time.

"... have you ever heard of people forgetting from their voices?"

"Voice, is it from"

Unfortunately, I haven't heard much about it. I had no experience of losing anyone, so I didn't know extra.

"Layla, it's mine now. Forever again, no one can touch me, it's mine alone."

Groaning like a saying, my father shook an iron lattice. To the sudden loud noise, I accidentally shake my shoulders. Until then, it was still strange to see my father disturb me thinking he didn't have emotions or anything like that.

"... but it still fades away. No matter how much I keep it in my memory, it disappears little by little..."

Father was laughing as he gripped the iron lattice so that it could drip. That expression is the bitter voice of my back, and I get a feeling of pity while my father.

"This woman... only her voice is similar. It doesn't have to be far away from Leila, but still, it's similar."

"... so you're keeping this sinner alive"

Father remained idle and seemed to clear his ears to the lullabies that "Altair's Treasure" kept singing. Perhaps that is proof of silent affirmation.

Well, does this voice of the great sinner resemble that of Miss Leila so far? I've never actually heard Miss Layla's voice, so I don't know how much it looks, but I'm pretty sure it's so similar that Father would hesitate to kill her.

"The only person who could make your father happy was Miss Leila."

For years of certainty, I feel I have finally found an end point. Sometimes I felt sorry for my mother, the decorative queen, who was not loved by my father, but I couldn't even hope from the edge that my father would look like this.

I still feel empty that I was born, but I can't help but mourn. I just have to walk forward more than I was born royal.

"... let's do this to you"

Father took the golden glowing key out of the pocket of his jacket, which was woven with feathers. I walk up to my father for a few steps, thank him lightly, and then accept it.

"... where the hell is this key?

heavier than regular keys. That was painfully cold. It's got elaborate decorations, so I guess it's the key to a room that matters a lot.

"It's the key to the room on the top floor of the Moon Shadow Tower."

"Why would you give me something like that?"

I can finally see the heart that was quieting down, slamming again. It means the key to the room where Miss Leila was imprisoned. Sweat seeped in my hand as it seemed to gain weight as soon as possible.

"Have you heard rumors that there are many people in houses close to the royal family and the royal family who are dependent on their physical constitution? That one seems to be true. I felt it with me."

I looked up at my father's face, not trying to be sincere. For the first time in years, I feel like I've got eyes on you at the right distance to call you a parent or a child.

"You, too, will come one day to suffer. Absolutely.... then, this will help. I don't need it anymore."

I received the key. My fingertips were trembling. Sure, I'm undoubtedly your father's child. If that rumor is true, I am.

"... born in such blood, you're a poor guy too, Allen"

With cursed words, it is captured by a sharp pale gaze that resembles hatred.

Oh, and I was in the mood to zero my self-derisive grin.

For years, I thought I was something my father hated, but apparently it was different. [M]

Perhaps your father's hatred is not directed against me. Father hates this warped blood that runs through us.

Eventually, my father's hand gently slapped me on the shoulder, and as he did, he made sure he was different from me and followed me in the dungeon. I could only tremble in so much confusion that I couldn't even look back and say hello.

Obsessive blood? I'm not kidding.

It's impossible for me to use this key to hurt someone. Does Father believe that I will lock someone in this gloomy tower who won't be attracted to me one day either, just as Father captured Miss Leila?

"... ridiculous"

Laughing in a sense of self-derision, it was Monica's side that accidentally passed behind her brain. I scratch her face off in a hurry, thinking of her without knowing why.

I'm not, not like your father. Even if there's distortion in this blood, I'm not going crazy or anything, absolutely, absolutely.

Every time I say that, Monica's grin comes back to life vividly. It was like a curse. Grasp the iron lattice so that it flutters and supports your body, and take a slight leaning position.

How can you remind me of Monica, not Cheryl, in the first place? I don't even know why, and I can't stop thinking about Monica.

It's like a curse. It would be much more convincing if you told me that some force was working beyond people's knowledge.

I wanted to throw away these keys right now. Yet I dreamed only for a moment, reading books with her and laughing at each other, such a vision of the night makes me hesitate.

"... how could you"

Why did your father give me this? Isn't that what you're saying about condoning surrounding the Lady in the dark?

No, no. I don't catch anyone in this creepy tower. [M]

Yes, the only use for anything is to surround the Lady. It would also be a great place to capture someone who has committed a crime or to avoid people and think about it.

I told myself that as I put the gold key on my coat, so I did my best. If I hadn't done this, I wouldn't have received this key.

At that moment, the lullaby stops all the time. If I looked up softly at the sudden change and saw "Altair's Treasure," she was just looking straight at this one.

He was still a vain, empty eye, but he still did capture me. She smiles so beautifully that she can recognize that she and I have met each other.

"Lewis, you're here. I've been waiting a long time."

Poor voice like rolling a bell, she laughed. He seemed insane, so maybe he couldn't possibly mistake me for his father.

She was a woman who, presumably a woman her mother's age, haunted a young woman who was not fit for her age. If I only looked at the beautiful sight, I wouldn't think I was a great sinner who tried to kill my real sister and rob the royal family.

"Hey, Lewis. The child I gave birth to, don't you know where he went? You were so happy. You put your hand on my stomach and laughed at me."

"Altair's Treasure," he laughed dreaming as he walked over to the iron plaid. From your earlier father's story, first of all, I don't think your father whispered such a sweet word to this woman.

I guess that means this is all paranoid too. It's every day my father keeps me alive just so I don't forget Miss Leila's voice. It's natural that I'm touching it.

"Oh, I wonder where he went. Me, I've been singing like this..."

I couldn't watch her anymore, squealing like that and singing lullabies again. My father left, too, and I don't need to stay here any longer. It was then that I tried to give my heels back, thinking that I would never come again.

"Hey, Lewis. I know. I mean, what happened to your sister?"

Everything she says is paranoid. I know, but I had myself stopping at that word.

"... What happened to Miss Leila?

"You came to me that day, that extraordinarily beautiful night of the moon. Wrap around the smell of vivid blood and the smell of flirtatious anemone flowers."

Unexpectedly, I was looking back at Altair's treasure. Her pulse quickens even though I know I don't deserve to believe her words and such.

"Lewis, you must be the one who killed your sister, right?

That's the same speculation Monica didn't dare put into her mouth. It was the worst ending I ever suspected.

It's also ridiculous to believe only this word while deciding that this man's words are delusional, but I was more willing to convince myself that, oh, they still are, than to doubt it.

"It's terrible, Lewis. I can't believe I killed your sister! I can't believe you're sprinkling anemone flowers admired by anyone!

Hahaha, and she was staring at me with a laugh. Only for a moment in my vain, empty eyes, I feel like something of a will is dwelling in me.

"You're just like me, Lewis. Hey, me, I'll be waiting for you in hell. You can't possibly go to the same place as your sister when you're dead. Heh heh, that would be nice. Now it's time for both of us to make it, right?

I turned my back on her as she raised her voice again and laughed. If I stay in a place like this any longer, I'm going to get sick to me.

"I'll be waiting, Lewis. Let's get burned in the fireworks together, shall we?

I smiled sarcastically at the voice that echoed from behind, oh, that's all I agree with.

Father should probably be burned by the Fire, along with "Altair's Treasure". Her poor scream would satisfy her father, too. It would be a lie if I told my father that he had no part to be sympathetic to, but it doesn't make any difference that my father, who still kills people, doesn't have a single consciousness of sin, is also crazy somewhere.

I softly touch the key in my jacket, thinking, "I don't want to be." Will I resist the distortions that flow in me? [M]

I stepped into the moonshadow, shaking Monica's smile off her back.