blogombal Chapter 50 Freedom
Chapter 50 Freedom
"free!"
"free!"
Someone is shouting.
All around were ruins ravaged by war, all around were raging tornadoes sweeping everything away, and all around were indomitable heroes singing songs of resistance.
Freedom, freedom...
Cecilia clutched her chest, silently responding to their shouts.
She wanted to rush out and join them in contributing to the war, but the light blue figure blocked her way, building a high wall around her.
she says--
It's too dangerous outside; you should stay here.
Freedom, freedom...
Cecilia heard her own heart screaming, but when she met the woman's gentle, caring eyes, she was like a flame extinguished by cold water.
The high walls suffocated her, but she couldn't muster any thoughts of resistance. She could only silently allow herself to be draped in a withered flower crown.
[Cold and noble, unafraid of raging flames; resilient and composed, unshakable.]
The tower was filled with such sounds.
The wind gradually subsided, and sunlight pierced through the thick clouds overhead—a new century was dawning, but she would not have a place in it.
She will die alone in the tower.
*
When Cecilia opened her eyes, tears streamed down her cheeks, wetting a small patch of the pillow.
She didn't pay attention to it. After snapping out of that ambiguous dream, she got up and went to wash up. After all, she had gotten up late today, and her etiquette teacher was only half an hour away from arriving.
This was her best subject. Her upbringing ensured that she always maintained proper manners and an elegant smile. Even the strict Madame de Celine could not find any fault in her.
This has even become a habitual reflex.
Just like now, even though she was constantly distracted thinking about the upcoming vocal lesson, her body still followed Madame de Celine's instructions and completed the various etiquette tests in turn.
"Miss Cecilia," she said with satisfaction, "your performance has been excellent as always. I will report the situation truthfully to Mr. Lawrence. Let's stop here for today."
"Thank you for your guidance, madam." Cecilia bowed slightly in thanks.
Lady Desceline's smile deepened, filled with pride for her prized student.
Cecilia laughed along with her, but her golden eyes remained calm and still, like a stagnant pool.
Lady Desceine did not linger and quickly packed her things to leave, because according to the schedule, the next lesson was a vocal lesson, which was not when she was supposed to be present.
Cecilia watched her leave, rested quietly for a while, and then took the violin out of the cabinet.
This is her worst subject.
Wendy's previous vocal coach was dismissed because his teaching failed to produce results that satisfied her father.
She was really bad at singing, and couldn't even get her voice to fall into the key clearly marked on the sheet music, but her father believed that a young lady of the Lawrence family couldn't have any flaws and insisted that she continue to study.
Cecilia used to hate her father's stubbornness, but now she's grateful, otherwise she would never have met Wendy.
She was captivated by the poems sung by the bards, and even felt an urge to join in.
However, she was worried that her voice would disrupt such a beautiful melody, so she held back from speaking during every vocal lesson, even when Wendy invited her to, she just shook her head.
At this point, the bard would smile tolerantly and say, "Alright, music comes from the heart. If you don't want to, then forget it."
At first, Cecilia was worried that her behavior might anger him, but the bard never changed his attitude and gently sang and played for her.
Cecilia looked at the violin in her hands—Wendy always chose it to accompany her.
She tried plucking the strings of the harp, just as she remembered the poet. The melodious sound that came out of the harp was no different from the poet's playing, except that it was a little awkward.
Cecilia was somewhat surprised.
She glanced at the clock; there was still a quarter of an hour before the vocal lesson started, and no one would be coming at that time.
However, just to be on the safe side, she peeked out the door to make sure no one was passing by before closing the door and sitting back down at her harp.
She played the tune the poet often played, cleared her throat, and slowly uttered a few notes.
It seems like there were no mistakes in the singing?
Cecilia wasn't quite sure, because the piano music almost drowned out her barely audible singing, but it inadvertently gave her the feeling that she was singing correctly.
Although she didn't know if this feeling was real or not, she felt much more at ease and spoke with more confidence.
As the song gradually grew louder, she closed her eyes, releasing the emotions surging in her chest. Only after a long time did she open her eyes, only to suddenly meet the figure by the window and his emerald green eyes.
"Hey, you sang pretty well!" Wendy smiled, her eyes crinkling, and straightened up as she walked towards her.
Cecilia jumped up from her chair like a cat with its fur standing on end, her first instinct being to look at the still tightly closed door behind her.
How on earth did he get in?!
Cecilia deliberately locked the door so that she could hear the noise if someone came and stop her current attempt, but she didn't expect that she still couldn't stop them, and even heard the one she least wanted to hear!
"Ms. Wendy, you should knock before you come in..."
If she didn't come in, given the quality of the building meticulously constructed by the Lawrence family, that door could completely block her voice from being heard by anyone.
Cecilia's neck was even red, and she looked like she was ripe.
Wendy was worried that if she made another joke at this moment, Wendy would be so embarrassed that she would faint. So she said, "Class time has started, but I've been knocking on the door for a long time and you haven't answered me. I was worried that something might happen to my student, so I had to climb in through the window."
Cecilia wasn't too surprised that he could climb in through the window; after all, he possessed the Eye of God, and was even favored by the Wind God—he naturally had many ways to get up here. But—
"But what you're doing is incredibly rude!" Whether it's eavesdropping or climbing through a window!
Cecilia gripped her dress tightly, almost tearing an unsightly wrinkle into the beautiful fabric.
Wendy chuckled, "In that case, why don't I just climb back out and go through the front door again? You can just pretend you didn't see me!"
"How could this be!" Cecilia thought, her inner voice almost bringing her to tears.
"Hmm... how about I play one of my new songs as an apology?" Wendy strummed the strings. "Come sing with me, Cecilia."
His gaze was so intense that Cecilia almost couldn't help but take a step back.
"I'm sorry, I still haven't been able to find the key on the sheet music—I can't do it, Ms. Wendy, you'd better do it yourself..." she refused repeatedly.
This time, however, the poet did not grant her request.
"What does it matter? Music originates from the heart." He reiterated his consistent viewpoint. "If you can't sing according to the score, why not just throw it away? Isn't that the freedom we Mondstadt people have always pursued?"
Cecilia stared at him blankly.
"What do you think?"
He reached out his hand to her.
Freedom, freedom...
The voice from her dream carried into reality, prompting Cecilia to place her hand in his palm and be pulled to sit on the windowsill with him.
This was a very abrupt move; if Lady Desceine had seen it, she would have certainly reprimanded her severely and made her come down immediately.
But now, Cecilia doesn't want to worry about that anymore.
The poet raised his hand, and a breeze was summoned from outside the window, blowing her skirt and hair.
Cecilia hummed softly along with the piano music. Although she was still a little reserved, it was already a great improvement. Even though she occasionally missed the poet's melody, she continued to sing firmly under Wendy's encouraging gaze.
The vocal lesson came to an end as the minute hand crossed the hour.
Although Cecilia was a little reluctant to part, she could only say goodbye to him: "See you next week, Ms. Wendy."
Wendy pulled her down from the windowsill. Seeing her downcast mood, she thought for a moment and suggested, "How about I take you to an outside vocal class next week?"
He could see Cecilia's longing for the outside world; going out would not only give her some fresh air, but might also inspire her and further improve his teaching.
It's been more than two months now. When Mr. Lawrence hired him, he said he would come to assess Cecilia's vocal abilities in three months, and if she didn't pass, he would fire her.
Wendy didn't want this to happen, after all, the Lawrence family had offered a generous reward, enough for him to have several drinks at the pub.
Moreover, he had other purposes for coming here...
Wendy stared at the pattern on the girl's dress that symbolized the Lawrence family, her emerald green eyes gleaming as if she were plotting something wicked.
However, just when he had already decided where to go next week, Cecilia unexpectedly shook her head.
"Huh?" He stared wide-eyed.
"My father was very strict with me. He almost never allowed me to go out. When he did allow me to go out, he would have a lot of servants with me."
Cecilia didn't want to go out like this.
She would rather stay in this little house than be watched by so many eyes outside, whether they were those of the servants on orders or passersby intimidated by the sight of her.
Outside, she only felt a deeper sense of constraint, as if a heavy shackle was placed around her neck, almost suffocating her.
But Cecilia couldn't bring herself to blame him.
The butler had told her that her father was so vigilant whenever she went out because she had been targeted by robbers who coveted the Lawrence family's wealth when she was a child. She would have almost died if it weren't for the help of the passing Legendhand family.
"In that case, how about we sneak out?" Wendy suggested again, undeterred. "Besides, I'm here. I'm really capable; I guarantee I'll bring you back safely!"
The Eye of God at his waist flickered, as if echoing his words.
Cecilia was still hesitating.
She had never done anything so outrageous, and had never disobeyed her father's orders.
"Cecilia, Mondstadt has been really lively lately. The badminton festival is coming soon, and lots of tourists from other places are coming to watch! Haven't you always wanted to visit those places?" Having known her for so long, Wendy knew her weakness very well, and everything she said was something that would make her heart flutter.
Seeing the girl's expression grow increasingly wavering, he unleashed his final, triple strike—
"Is it okay? Is it okay? Is it okay?"
(End of this chapter)
The author says: Wendy, my darling, just saying "Can I? Can I?" made me lose all my double experience points and suffer a month of bitter hunger QwQ
How can there be such an adorable little boy!