所謂的幸福,到底是什麼呢?53Please respect copyright.PENANAS7RYPDJiQg
53Please respect copyright.PENANA5qtPDdnxLS
克萊爾搖動腦裡的紡車,嗡嗡作響,牽出一條思緒的紗線。53Please respect copyright.PENANAPgbZdi7FJB
53Please respect copyright.PENANAxvuMZ5mTug
是在充滿愛與關懷的環境下長大?或是擁有一輩子享不盡的財富?53Please respect copyright.PENANARPbjC0hHh4
53Please respect copyright.PENANA0IK55x3VZk
希冀的棉線縫製成通往幸福的棉布,綻放溫暖而耀眼的光芒。53Please respect copyright.PENANAWUqw79SyzS
53Please respect copyright.PENANAJbPy6fVxs6
然而,蠻不講理的疾病就像一把銳利的裁縫刀,輕易而殘酷地剪斷了布,使她從安穩的幸福之路上墜落。53Please respect copyright.PENANAk9hbYd2rVC
53Please respect copyright.PENANAe3KOuBoBGo
不。也許這只是一場虛幻而可笑的夢,畢竟下半身的肌肉從不依照自己的意志行動。53Please respect copyright.PENANAJxI3fAymPZ
53Please respect copyright.PENANAXytgUYWk9B
童話故事裡的公主王子在結局過上了幸福快樂的生活。一同步入婚姻的殿堂,在眾目睽睽下互相宣誓不論生老病死,終生相伴。53Please respect copyright.PENANAvIb98YgeMs
53Please respect copyright.PENANAYquOZoLGEv
克萊爾深知這只是說給孩子們,如蜜糖般溫馨甜蜜的床邊故事。讓他們對美好的未來有所期待,滿懷希望;即便是已經成年的她,冰山一角的渴望偶會浮上心頭。53Please respect copyright.PENANAVIgtBCFnIE
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那麼……我的幸福又在何處呢?53Please respect copyright.PENANAijpLlB8Hpz
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沒了線,紡車也停止了轉動。53Please respect copyright.PENANAmCVEXYTSF2
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克萊爾與貼身女僕烏里搬來這座小鎮想來也有三個月了。雖然尚未完全習慣這裡與原生家庭截然不同的、慢悠悠的生活。但,或許正是因為浸在寧靜祥和的環境之下,才得以讓克萊爾放鬆身心,使病情漸漸好轉。53Please respect copyright.PENANAi6QxFnfZ4M
53Please respect copyright.PENANAnvWrZpemn2
「在這裡,妳可以自由地做自己想做的事。」53Please respect copyright.PENANA4KjSL3HVDC
53Please respect copyright.PENANAweBUyzVNSJ
這是“丈夫”哈格多恩在克萊爾第一天來到宅邸時,親口對她說的話。53Please respect copyright.PENANAo5JJ7lpEtD
53Please respect copyright.PENANAS4kY0Cw3sK
由於當時哈格多恩戴著黑漆漆的鳥型面具,所以克萊爾無法瞧見藏在面具後的表情,語氣也平淡如靜水,實在揣摩不出她的真意。53Please respect copyright.PENANAN92FMWHJds
53Please respect copyright.PENANAM76JShbRjN
想做的事啊……克萊爾把這句話彷彿切下一小塊肉般,送入口中細嚼。53Please respect copyright.PENANAIqMigwzMv5
53Please respect copyright.PENANAxZCubShiIJ
光是別成為家裡的負擔已然卯足了全力,豈能奢望從中找出閒暇的一隅去做那些僅存在想像之中的事,簡直是一場空談。53Please respect copyright.PENANABmMVf5bDi6
53Please respect copyright.PENANAtPfK8gNEsB
不如說……早就忘了曾經最想要的是什麼了。53Please respect copyright.PENANA8ECG1Nm1T8
53Please respect copyright.PENANAivJKMP73zF
克萊爾將嘴裡早已咬得老爛的食物硬生生吞下食道,可口腔內似乎殘留了一股不可忽視的味道。53Please respect copyright.PENANAfrxByleZeG
53Please respect copyright.PENANAcYUqwJXBLZ
哈格多恩為什麼會說那句話呢?她對我的事情了解多少?明明我們在這之前從未見過……53Please respect copyright.PENANAxIMNdhNFb4
53Please respect copyright.PENANAEGb6Xomlo4
再者,她為何要偽裝成男人答應這門婚事呢?53Please respect copyright.PENANAepi4giMaP1
53Please respect copyright.PENANAYMPaeiyrpb
於是乎,她將散落一地的,疑問的碎布蒐集起來置於心底的皮箱,提著它,敲定了下一步的行程。53Please respect copyright.PENANAA84JNjM34y
53Please respect copyright.PENANAz3lCK3xYbr
也是第一件想做的事情──解開疑惑。53Please respect copyright.PENANAvZi1McZ2Zs
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□53Please respect copyright.PENANALkRok3EMvM
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今天早上,烏里一如往常地提前準備好和克萊爾小姐一同到鎮上的河畔散步時所需的物品。53Please respect copyright.PENANAbGwxBSF6KT
53Please respect copyright.PENANAzoethZgIhI
腳步聲敲響期待的節拍踏上樓梯,途中對著貼在深棕牆面上的圓形鏡子稍稍撥正紊亂的瀏海,心滿意足後來到克萊爾的房門前輕敲兩聲。53Please respect copyright.PENANAYMfS1SglDV
53Please respect copyright.PENANAspvwKIZLXj
「烏里抱歉……今天我已經請哈格多恩陪我外出走走了。」53Please respect copyright.PENANApvoa9Sc0By
53Please respect copyright.PENANAPwMHNW7gLl
克萊爾向鏡子裡的藍短髮少女微微低頭致歉。恰好抬起頭時,瞥見烏里替自己綁辮子的那雙手忽地一怔,之後又熟練地整理起髮絲。53Please respect copyright.PENANAoR43foGIgJ
53Please respect copyright.PENANAbAjIDafZ8G
「小姐並沒有做錯任何事,不需要道歉。」烏里將梳子擺回梳妝台上,努力壓抑油然而生的失落說道:「不過……出門前我會提醒哈格多恩醫生一些事情。」53Please respect copyright.PENANABhNCcWA2wB
53Please respect copyright.PENANAYCyThS0hcb
結果就是──烏里在叨絮了整整三十分鐘後,才肯放心讓夫妻二人走出大門。53Please respect copyright.PENANAducxBUsaO1
53Please respect copyright.PENANA91fMz7effc
內容主要圍繞在照顧克萊爾小姐的注意事項,以及一些別讓小姐著涼了否則今晚沒飯吃的威脅字句;而哈格多恩僅僅是一邊點點頭,一邊舉起隨身筆記本,像警察調查案件時,深怕漏聽了重要線索般不斷抄寫。53Please respect copyright.PENANA0UZwLbz4ea
53Please respect copyright.PENANA4JYyHWL3xS
她們以後一定能相處得很好。耐心候在宅邸門口的克萊爾如此想著。53Please respect copyright.PENANAPT4GaS3QfJ
53Please respect copyright.PENANANTzVCqhi28
秋天造訪了小鎮。早晨的陽光照耀大地,爽朗的秋風將熱意一併掃去,撥下樹梢的金葉,讓小鎮搖身一變,瞬間變成了閃閃發亮的黃金森林。53Please respect copyright.PENANAmzOARhLLx2
53Please respect copyright.PENANALlRyBXLNau
兩人一邊漫步在由金黃色落葉鋪成的金色大道,一邊欣賞小鎮的景色──一字排開的,橘黃色的尖頂小屋、哼著小曲,踩著單車的送報男孩、朝五顏六色的鮮花灑上水珠的花坊老闆,以及坐在面向河川的長椅上,相互有說有笑的居民們。53Please respect copyright.PENANAmt4PWXgszf
53Please respect copyright.PENANAKm08pFbC6S
對於出生在市中心的克萊爾而言,一幕幕皆是令人觸目驚心。這代表她不必被充當鬧鐘的工廠機器聲擾人清夢,也無需面對家人夾雜在言語間,揮之不去的冷嘲熱諷。53Please respect copyright.PENANAeml3nk75WB
53Please respect copyright.PENANAF2NQn4CK0t
這裡的一切,就像童話一樣……克萊爾在心中驚呼。53Please respect copyright.PENANA7mNZQAcmfh
53Please respect copyright.PENANAZlZB591ssQ
哈格多恩雙手緊握輪椅把手,像推著滿載美酒的推車般小心翼翼地推著克萊爾前進。時不時也會停下動作,替克萊爾拿下飄落在頭頂和衣服上的落葉。53Please respect copyright.PENANAYJ8SwXtDfz
53Please respect copyright.PENANAKWPKAEEmLF
一來一往經過她們的路人,有些會被哈格多恩的面具嚇得加快步伐,匆匆掠過;而有些則會壓下帽沿,稍稍垂頭,向哈格多恩致禮。53Please respect copyright.PENANAX4RTfc15Mz
53Please respect copyright.PENANAYqRuFt2eMR
但凡是哪一種人,哈格多恩都會以微微頜首的方式回應,克萊爾也會跟著勾起得體的弧度,微笑面對。53Please respect copyright.PENANAFu1reyGquk
53Please respect copyright.PENANAxVk3WgLh9c
「看來哈格多恩在鎮上很有名呢。」一是出於敬佩,二是突然萌生了調侃的念頭,克萊爾輕笑道。53Please respect copyright.PENANAa5hTn1WHfO
53Please respect copyright.PENANAE245VUEFeV
身後的黑面醫生聽聞後雙肩輕輕一顫,像是撞了壁的小鳥,慌亂而無助。罩著面具的頭左搖右晃,不知該如何接下克萊爾丟給他這顆戲弄的小球。53Please respect copyright.PENANAOdPklA1Qgs
53Please respect copyright.PENANATseR6KDTVk
「啊……這、這是因為……」哈格多恩努力將破碎的字句重新縫合在一塊,「大部分是……經由我醫治後康復的病患……啊……還、還有些是他們的家人……」53Please respect copyright.PENANA0wgXeaSHox
53Please respect copyright.PENANADO0k1iAUcr
「不愧是當醫生的人,記憶力特別好呢。」提到家人二字的時候,克萊爾的耳朵不免抽動了下,心湖也蕩漾出不安的漣漪。53Please respect copyright.PENANAzTn8B1KclL
53Please respect copyright.PENANAN3GdX5lzry
不對,現在還有更重要的事情要做。克萊爾深吸一口,緩緩吐出,緊接著問道:「對了,有件事我一直想問──」53Please respect copyright.PENANA0hPHr3Wh8a
53Please respect copyright.PENANAjC7mvV1TjM
「唷,這不是哈格醫生嘛。」渾厚而沙啞的驚訝聲朝夫妻檔傳來,兩人順著聲音方向看去。53Please respect copyright.PENANAy9tv1dzY1q
53Please respect copyright.PENANAMB8wOMq1dk
「啊……奧利弗院長……」哈格多恩慢慢停止了前行。脫下頭頂的黑色禮帽,收起腹部,朝坐在長椅上的長者深深鞠了躬。53Please respect copyright.PENANAxVparjfOQI
53Please respect copyright.PENANAnSl574mRJR
「唉呦,老早就和妳說過,對我不用這麼畢恭畢敬。」奧利弗舉起支在拐杖上的手揮了揮,「哦?想必這位就是大家很期待見到的人了吧。」53Please respect copyright.PENANAFy8NCTxN63
53Please respect copyright.PENANAEJTFLnYpNj
克萊爾屈起上身,向院長致意。不禁思忖起他口中「很期待」的意思。「奧利弗院長您好,我是克萊爾,哈格多恩醫生的妻子。」53Please respect copyright.PENANAYTH75VeC42
53Please respect copyright.PENANAm3dULqjydH
院長樂呵呵地捏起上揚的白色小鬍子尾端,一邊說著「哈格醫生妳還真厲害啊」「迎回了個美人當妻子可真幸福」53Please respect copyright.PENANAyCQ9ZO6cCu
53Please respect copyright.PENANAiLjY2bNYDV
「話說回來……院長怎麼在這……?」哈格多恩將輪椅靠向長椅的扶手旁,拍下肩膀快堆成塔的落葉。53Please respect copyright.PENANAih3Yimx0WB
53Please respect copyright.PENANALQDDvvR1XN
「這個啊,原本是想到花坊去買要送妻子的花,」院長拍了拍消瘦的大腿,無奈地搖搖頭,「妳也知道這把年紀腿不好使了啊,所以坐在這休息一下。」53Please respect copyright.PENANANkEVDabxUG
53Please respect copyright.PENANA3N7t1ttUOl
克萊爾瞧著院長略為苦澀的、蒼老的臉龐想了想,正打算開口向哈格多恩求助時,她便立即提出自己願意幫院長去取回來,也拜託院長暫時照看一下自己的妻子。53Please respect copyright.PENANAc7UvOwmK0K
53Please respect copyright.PENANA483QZRA9Lo
院長從外套口袋抽出一張摺成小方形的白紙,叮囑哈格多恩請務必要找到紙上寫的花,因為這是他妻子生前所鍾愛的。53Please respect copyright.PENANA12T0utRaTD
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就這樣,兩人交談了一會兒。哈格多恩謹慎地把紙條摺回原樣,收進大衣口袋。臨行前,她撫上輪椅扶手,抬頭對上克萊爾的眼睛,說自己很快就會回來。53Please respect copyright.PENANAcsZpaB1oSF
53Please respect copyright.PENANADcFOPm1K1g
「再來,就是我們倆說悄悄話的時候了呢。」院長稍稍偏頭,彎起圓渾的綠瞳笑問:「哈格醫生應該沒有造成妳的困擾吧?」53Please respect copyright.PENANAIDnQ1ehRvR
53Please respect copyright.PENANALgPrApj6Td
「怎麼會呢,倒是我這樣的身體……才是麻煩到她。」克萊爾不自覺地揪緊雙手。心裡貌似有什麼東西重重落下,撞擊心壁的反彈力度很大,迴響恍如雷鳴。「我想,她應該也覺得很為難吧……」53Please respect copyright.PENANAmKcIomM5Pa
53Please respect copyright.PENANAG7FXzEriRP
院長見狀,收回原本想打趣的心情,轉頭遙望波光粼粼的河面。「哈格醫生她啊,在妳來之前可是從來不走這裡的哦。」53Please respect copyright.PENANA6NE59Whmpi
53Please respect copyright.PENANAjURU5V1OND
「欸?」克萊爾打從心底地驚呼,這條的確不是她和烏里常常散步的路。53Please respect copyright.PENANANDvG307AYS
53Please respect copyright.PENANAr8QzAGMaXy
「所以,今天能在這裡看到她我很欣慰。」院長拿下頭上黑色圓頂帽,擱置在長椅上,仍由承載秋意的徐風劃過白髮。53Please respect copyright.PENANAdK7WRtBkE1
53Please respect copyright.PENANAieyAZ5kwUs
「這裡是她小時候和她母親最喜歡的地方。」53Please respect copyright.PENANAY6KDQ7C1an
「令人惋惜的是,她的母親已經病逝了。」53Please respect copyright.PENANAhXT7YAhpft
「所以她不再來了。」53Please respect copyright.PENANATv1djCZrSf
53Please respect copyright.PENANAu7QCtQmVGm
克萊爾靜靜地聽著院長述說哈格多恩和她母親的往事。53Please respect copyright.PENANABW64Jm2eCI
53Please respect copyright.PENANA6ysoJUO0t1
腦內想像出一對母女手拉手,一大一小走在由楓樹搭成的隧道。小孩撿起地上一片神似火蝴蝶的楓葉,興奮地展現給緊握她的小手的親人,共享發現新事物的喜樂。53Please respect copyright.PENANALSPHjLiFjV
53Please respect copyright.PENANAe1B6j1rgsF
院長撫平了如蘆葦的白髮,將帽子蓋回原位。「多虧有妳的幫忙啊,克萊爾小姐。」53Please respect copyright.PENANAhqSFaqhEjm
53Please respect copyright.PENANABgRDWf9UPB
「哦真是失禮,應該稱呼妳為圖爾夫人才對。」院長又拾起了捉弄的笑靨。53Please respect copyright.PENANATEbghgRNXc
53Please respect copyright.PENANAtq40Ct26kS
「我,明明才是受到協助的那一方……」克萊爾垂下眼眸,用拇指指腹搓揉著手背,臉上凝固著近乎悲哀的笑容。53Please respect copyright.PENANA3sFXBdnYa2
53Please respect copyright.PENANA65l34TXxsg
「啊,回來啦。」院長挺起瘦弱的身軀,朝遠方的人揮了揮手──哈格多恩捧著紫色的花束迎面走來。53Please respect copyright.PENANABXazfngqxj
53Please respect copyright.PENANAj9cWPKFyr9
「人啊,是可以為了某件事、某個人做出改變的。」院長拄起拐杖、立起身子。53Please respect copyright.PENANA1EonluBjjC
53Please respect copyright.PENANAz5DZDL3YRp
「現在開始嘗試去了解她也不遲哦,就當作是對她的回報。」53Please respect copyright.PENANAXwiRYLqwmR
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和院長告別後,兩人沿著步道繼續前進。53Please respect copyright.PENANAuhW7ROYUDV
53Please respect copyright.PENANA8We5N9H7vN
「那個……院長……應該沒說什麼奇怪的話吧……?」率先打破沉默的是哈格多恩。53Please respect copyright.PENANACNghbIkFDh
53Please respect copyright.PENANAONfI8nthfa
「沒有喔。」她撒了謊。53Please respect copyright.PENANAFTS6kRA1ZY
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院長的話,就像海上的海鷗,不停地在克萊爾的腦海裡盤旋。53Please respect copyright.PENANA7HCwJ7QMkZ
53Please respect copyright.PENANAlKsBWEDrUD
「吶,哈格多恩。」克萊爾再度握緊了手,鼓起勇氣地向背後的,謠言只會帶來死亡的醫生問道。53Please respect copyright.PENANAHAbU83Adla
53Please respect copyright.PENANAcdkilzTfXW
「為什麼妳要偽裝成男人呢?」53Please respect copyright.PENANAuz3wmIXe6M
53Please respect copyright.PENANAO6b8nHBW4l
咔的一聲,聽見了枯葉被壓碎的聲音,以及哈格多恩從齒縫間流出來的,細微的「啊」。53Please respect copyright.PENANAoJRud2M1w2
53Please respect copyright.PENANAAm36BE6Aer
「您很不擅長欺騙呢。」克萊爾憶起剛來小鎮沒多久,就戳破了許多關於哈格多恩的謠言。53Please respect copyright.PENANAMIrVDEBZPV
53Please respect copyright.PENANAIBIWozxMWs
做著殘忍無比的人體實驗、會在深夜的街道抓走不聽話的小孩、只要看見她就會有不幸的事情發生,甚至被喻為是無情的怪物……53Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2cdmot8D0
53Please respect copyright.PENANA3VF0jEzGKl
說到底,放任著這些流言蜚語流進人們耳裡的人,才是真正的怪物吧。53Please respect copyright.PENANAgHK93upf6c
53Please respect copyright.PENANAlLZP4dpDUk
「……妳知道了啊。」哈格多恩再度停下了腳步。53Please respect copyright.PENANAPFc0bjB6cz
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「嗯。但我沒有和烏里說。」克萊爾如實以告。「我們明明素面未謀,但您卻待我如珍寶,如此地重視我。」53Please respect copyright.PENANAGoVN1h9plt
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「我想要知道……為什麼?」53Please respect copyright.PENANALxCXD1ohPF
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彼此靜默了半晌。53Please respect copyright.PENANAMKefBbDYen
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原本涼爽的空氣逐漸凍結成牆,正緩緩升起,立於兩人之間。寒氣向外擴散,爬上克萊爾的皮膚,滲入骨髓。53Please respect copyright.PENANA4FLWlcJIEL
53Please respect copyright.PENANAX2Z0lUSFAP
「我……在父親那裡聽說了妳的事情……」低沉而平淡的聲音彷彿冰槌,正在一點一點地鑿開眼前的冰牆。53Please respect copyright.PENANAt4R7jqAWrJ
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「一個具備天賦和努力的裁縫師,卻因為病症和家族的緣故,再也不能隨心所欲地做自己喜愛的事情……」53Please respect copyright.PENANA0pekUXKk0I
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「真是不幸的人呢……」53Please respect copyright.PENANACfEgbvPiBu
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「……」克萊爾無言以對。因為,事到如今,提起這些也於事無補。53Please respect copyright.PENANA9QXducXQH6
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打從出生之後,我就知道了自己的命運。53Please respect copyright.PENANAzabNzxh0d4
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幸運之神根本就不存在。53Please respect copyright.PENANAVs0iSe8sEF
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至少……在我的眼前,祂是不會現身,施捨恩惠給我的。53Please respect copyright.PENANAoX6Uw0EL22
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「但是……我的母親曾經告訴過我,有一天我會找到和我一樣不幸的人,共赴幸福。」哈格多恩繞過克萊爾,來到她的面前,「所以,我一邊努力醫治人們,一邊不斷尋找。」53Please respect copyright.PENANACuESkzTY2v
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鳥面醫生摘下了她賴以為生,被譏諷是厄運的面具。然而藉由這次,克萊爾總算能看清她的臉了。53Please respect copyright.PENANA7pr7khEOax
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「也許……我只是想證明母親的話是對的。」哈格多恩亮出左半邊,曾經大火被燒灼的疤痕,淡淡地說道。53Please respect copyright.PENANA2m7sju15g0
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「不幸的人也能得到幸福。」53Please respect copyright.PENANAkcgnOgOhgn
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倒映在克萊爾曈中的是──與自己眼睛相似的,一束盛開的桔梗花。53Please respect copyright.PENANAinHRyDmJID
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「所以……妳願意和我一起找到幸福嗎?」53Please respect copyright.PENANA6lh0ZTKoQx
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被人換上新的棉線,紡車也能繼續轉動了。53Please respect copyright.PENANALw2CwxdpLR