"Lilou!" As soon as I reached the field where I worked, the children called out to excitedly. The gloominess I had been feeling instantly faded away as they approached, and I squatted down to greet them.
I used to help full-ti in the field but the farrs insisted I focus on teaching the kids, even though education for peasants was unnecessary. Thankfully, the farrs shared my ideals. I knew little, but I kept on learning and sharing that knowledge. Also, my father taught a lot of things before he passed.
"How are you today?" I asked the kids with a smile.
It was early in the morning but the children were already covered in dirt. Although they were dirty, they were just as brilliant as those middle-class and noble children in the city. It pained that they didn't have the sa privileges and reminded of how I wanted to attend school, but my father couldn't afford it.
"Lilou, we were all worried that sothing happened to you!" one child exclaid, causing my brows to furrow.
"Huh? Why were you worried? Why would sothing happen to ?" I asked, curious what could have happened to make them worry about . Well, sothing did happen to but I had made it out alive… for now.
A familiar voice chuckled next to and said, "These children heard about the incident in the neighboring town last night."
Slowly, I turned my attention to old Olly. She was a housewife who used to help her husband in the field and watched the children from ti to ti.
She had to switch to working in the field full ti when her husband died because of a disease and the responsibility of watching the kids was passed to .
"Old Olly, we always hear such news and it will probably never change." I smiled and stood up upright.
The children held my hand as I faced old Olly. "But, what's important is that everyone in Town is safe," I added, casting my eyes around the vast field. We had lost many people over the years but everyone kept moving forward.
This field was a witness to everyone's ti and even knew my father when he used to work here as a farr.
"Ah, you're right!" Old Olly chuckled heartily. "As long as everyone here is safe, that has nothing to do with us!" Her laughter grew louder as she walked back to the field.
I smiled and felt moved as I watched everyone toiling away in the field. I was never this emotional, however, my life or death experience of encountering a vampire made appreciate the small things in life more. I was glad that that bloodthirsty, silver-haired vampire found and not them. I was fond of everyone because they were like family to . Seeing them safe despite how tough life was? It was good enough for . I would just treasure these mories while I have ti left.
"Lilou? Are you crying?" A child asked as I watched everyone from a distance. I looked down and every one of them was looking up at , their innocent eyes worried.
"No, I'm not." I shook my head lightly, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. "Lilou is just... extrely happy that everyone is fine," I explained, patting their heads reassuringly. I kept my smile until the children felt reassured and smiled back.
"Let's go? I have a lot to teach you, alright?" I encouraged, stretching my subtle smile into a grin. The children all cheered at once with my hands holding theirs, we headed to the large oak tree where I taught them how to read and write under its shade.
****
The day had passed in the blink of an eye and I was thankful that I survived today, just like how I survived all the other days.
After school was done, I helped Old Olly and the farrs in the field. Although they only asked to help with light tasks, I was happy to help.
Now that it was ti to go ho, I looked up at the road leading to my shack and I rembered that when my father passed away, the farrs worriedly tried to convince to live near the field. However, I was stubborn and kept living in the shack my father built. I never thought I would reconsider that decision after so many years.
"I just hope he left," I murmured, smiling bitterly at my hopeless situation. He said it himself. He wouldn't let go and my days are numbered. "It's fine, Lilou," I whispered, attempting to comfort myself as I dragged my feet back ho.
Also, after spending another day in the field it reminded that I couldn't put them in danger. If I sohow managed to get away, that despicable vampire might divert his attention to them and I wouldn't forgive myself if one of them got hurt because of .
As I made up the reason I shouldn't run away, I snapped back when I realized I had already reached the top of the hill. I slowly turned my head towards the horizon to see that the sun was about to set, sprinkling the world with golden rays.
A beautiful sight to see that was twinned with terror once it fully set. Sunsets were a beautiful sight to behold, but once it set, fear started creeping into our hearts.
I wondered if the nobility experienced the sa fear every sunset. Perhaps they didn't.
"I'm…" When I was about to enter the door, my habit of announcing my arrival struck and I halted before I could finish, thinking that I should stop these weird habits because no one was at ho anymore.
Just as I clenched my teeth, an appetizing aroma wafted my nose. What was that? Hurriedly, I walked through the door and saw the silver-haired man slowly turn to face . "You're early, but welco ho!" he said, smiling from ear to ear until his eyes narrowed into slits.
"Welco ho...?" I whispered under my breath, as my eyes softened. The man who would take my life uttered the words I've been longing to hear all these years, and yet my heart still fluttered.
I'm ho, my heart whispered.
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