[Bad Ending: Confinement Route] Full Walkthrough - Chapter 8

The complete series is available uncensored on ko-fi!

“If you feel unwell anywhere, even a little, you mustn’t hide it and should tell us right away. We’ll run at once and call the physician. Understood, Miss?”

“I understand. I’ll tell you right away if I’m not feeling well.”

By the time I finished dressing amid the maids’ concern, it was exactly the right hour for a stroll through the garden.

The sun hung high in the sky, and the sunlight was warm. Even the breeze coming in through the open window carried a fairly warm air.

Holding the parasol I had chosen in advance, I rose from the vanity and said,

“Then, shall we go look around the garden for the first time in a while?”

After completing every preparation to meet Raven Barietsch, I began to walk gracefully through the garden with the maids, shielding myself from the sun with my parasol like a scene from a famous painting.

Thanks to the gardeners, who had rolled up their sleeves and tended the garden as soon as spring arrived, every sight that entered my eyes shone beautifully.

As if they had never once been buried in snow, the statues had been wiped clean, and clear water flowed ceaselessly from the fountain placed at the center. The transparent streams of water reflected in the sunlight sparkled like glimmering ripples on a blue river.

Whenever I breathed in, the dense scent of flowers tickled my nose along with the fresh air. It felt as though my lungs were filling with fresh flowers.

I could not even guess how much time and effort must have gone into tending the garden so beautifully.

‘It probably cost a great deal of money, too.’

For nobles, a well-tended garden was just as important as a splendid, wealthy mansion or the clothes and jewelry they wore. That was because nothing showed a family’s wealth, fame, and authority as clearly as a garden.

However, my purpose today was not to appreciate a garden that looked picture-perfect no matter where I looked.

A flaw that did not suit this perfectly cultivated scenery at all. Something jet-black amid the vivid colors. I had come to the garden solely for that.

‘I have to find the crow collapsed and bleeding.’

Reminding myself of the reason I had come here, I silently wandered through every corner of the garden. With my eyes, I constantly combed through the scenery in search of the crow.

“Maybe it’s because the weather is so nice today. The garden seems even more beautiful than usual, Miss.”

As we walked in silence, one of the maids suddenly spoke to me in a friendly manner. It seemed she had deliberately struck up a conversation to ease my boredom, perhaps worried I might find the stroll dull.

It was unnecessary consideration, but I could not show that. I continued sweeping my eyes over the surroundings and answered readily.

“You’re right. The garden does seem especially beautiful today.”

“And the fragrance of the flowers is lovely too, so having tea time here would be very wonderful.”

“There should be a table set up in the garden if we go just a little farther. Shall we prepare tea and snacks?”

Another maid asked.

I shook my head. I had no time to sit at a table and leisurely tilt a teacup. I only wanted to meet Raven Barietsch as soon as possible.

“No, it’s alright. I simply want to walk today.”

After hiding my true thoughts and smiling gently, I continued the stroll.

The very spacious back garden of the Vellasi family required several hours just to make one light circuit around the whole thing. I diligently roamed here and there, searching for Raven Barietsch, but he was nowhere to be seen.

The moment I thought I heard a bird somewhere, I would immediately turn my gaze with swelling anticipation, but what I was hoping for was never there. There was no sign anywhere of sleek, glossy black feathers.

How much time passed like that?

Gradually, my feet began to ache in my shoes. My legs demanded rest. But there were still places left to check.

‘I dressed up so prettily today so that he’d fall for me at first sight.’

To think I had to withdraw like this without even finding a single one of his feathers.

Strength entered the hand gripping my parasol. It wasn’t as if I were competing with anyone, and there was no chance someone else would snatch him away, but for some reason, I felt a strange sense of defeat.