CH 17

Even if I look at it like this, I grew up running in the alpine region.

In terms of physical strength, I am proud to say that I am not inferior to any adult. Now I just have to run to a place with a lot of people unconditionally. It would be faster and more comfortable if I ran alone, but I was running while holding Carol’s wrist, so there was a limit. I ran a little more and hid in a shady place….

“Gasp, w, wait a minute.”

But the problem was not Carol. Peter said, breathing heavily almost to death.

“Gasp, w, wait a minute. Stop, stop running, stop.”

“Hey, do you want to be caught?”

“Oh, wait a little, a lot of people, it’s okay now, heuk.”

When I looked around, we seemed to have entered the street where there were few people. I ran without thinking, but I ran right. I breathed a sigh of relief. Carol was also breathing heavily, but Peter next to her was coughing almost as if he were bleeding.

That’s just a little run. Your stamina is so weak.

These are people who grew up beautifully are like.….

“I don’t understand… You were trying to save me earlier, right?”

“……Of course?”

The face looking at me with its back bent down and just slightly raised its head seemed to ask why are you asking that. Is very, very ridiculous.

“Do you happen to have a weapon?”

“As you can see, I have nothing.”

Your pretty smile is all you have?

It was an unspoiled smile as if someone had drawn a halo effect behind it. What kind of courage do you have trying to save me without any kind of weapon?

Oh, I was speechless for a moment but he helped me, so I should say thank you. It was strange for some reason because I had never thanked a friend of my age.

“But, hey, thank you.”

“What?”

Peter’s puzzled expression made me wonder what really happened so far. He’s beautiful and he’s humble.….

“Well, you tried to save me.”

“…… you came out on your own, didn’t you?”

Well, yeah, you’re right about that.

“Hey, can I ask you one more favor?”

“What kind of favor?”

Peter asked me, his red eyes shining. Ah, no matter how much I look at it, that ruby-red eye belongs to Demimore……. But you said you were Peter with your own mouth.

I didn’t hear your last name earlier, but even if you’re not the second prince, you’re still quite a precious son of a noble, right?

“Do you have a gold bar?”

“……gold?”

“I don’t have any right now.”

Peter searched his pocket with a rather bewildered expression, took out a posh case and handed it to me. I took it just in case, but I can’t believe that’s coming out from him.

As expected, a noble’s son must be different.

When I opened the case, there was a luxurious accessory with sapphire that looked expensive.

“I’ll pay you back.”

“……What?”

“Please lend me this.”

Peter scratched his neck as if he was very confused by my sudden request for a loan.

I used my cat eye skill only when I asked Bonita to get me a snack. If I’m wearing boots, I’d be a cat in boots.

“Oh, well, keep it.”

“I’ll pay you back. Really. I’ll pay you back!”

I clasped the case in my hands and bowed to Peter to thank him. Then I took it and handed it to Carol, who was sitting on the floor breathing.

“Is this…?”

“It will be a few months’ living expense.”

“Why are you doing this to me……?”

I clasped the case in Carol’s bewildered hand. Carol opened the case and looked at me in surprise. My eyes must have been like that when I first saw it. 

“I can’t take this!”

“I made Carol lose her job.”

“Never mind. I was going to quit anyway…….”

“You’re lying.”

“Miss Mary…….”

“You need to quit working there, Carol.”

Carol’s eyes were filled with tears at my words. Carol lost her job because of me, so it was kind of a severance pay. But I don’t have anything right now…… That’s why I asked Peter if he had any gold. Fortunately, Peter had these accessories.

Peter, thank you very much. I will never forget this grace.

This will solve the cost of her mother’s medicine and some living expenses.

“Because I can’t take you with me right now.”

“……What?”

“I promise, Carol.”

“…….”

“In a few months, I’ll hire Carol as my maid at the castle of Conler.”

“Miss!”

Conler Castle does not employ maids easily. I heard that it’s because the energy of the Conler’s direct descendants was so strong, she was told that even the maids had been passed down from generation to generation.

However, I am a direct descendant of Conler but my energy is not that strong, so I’ll try to ask Bonita, the head of the maid, to set up a seat for my exclusive maid.

She lost her job because of me, so I should take responsibility for it. But I haven’t settled in Conler Castle yet, so I can’t take Carol with me.

“So please hold on with this.”

“Thank you very, very much…….”

I patted Carol on the shoulder who was crying. Then I rose from my seat and approached Peter, who was looking at us.

“I’ll pay you back.”

“No, it’s fine, I understand why you did this.” 

“No, it’s not okay. I almost got you in trouble.” 

“It’s okay because I got out of it well.”

“No, it’s not okay, so at least tell me your last name…….”

It’s a jewelry that looks expensive, so I want to pay it back, but he refuses, saying it’s okay. Do you think I can sleep comfortably knowing I got it just like that? Yeah, well, I could sleep. But I don’t think it’s polite. I was going to ask you your last name that I failed to.….

“There they are!”

When I looked back at the sudden shout, I saw a big man and another man running toward us from the end of the alley. I guess the weasel hasn’t gotten up yet, so I’m getting ready to run again. Fortunately, the big guy who I kicked at the vital part wasn’t running fast.

“Ah, I can’t get up.”

“Carol, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, so you two go first!”

Carol was unable to get up from her seat, perhaps because she was in tears and hardened by the tension. Carol said she was okay, but I can’t leave her alone. What should I do? l bit my thumbnail in agony. Do I run with a carol on my back? I wonder if it’s too much. I don’t think Peter can carry her.

It was then.

“You’re here.”

Someone grabbed me by the wrist. When I raised my head, a person in a cape stood.

Who are you? Are you with them?

An unknown figure stood tall and blocked my way without showing her face. She lowered her cloak, and a woman with neat, gray long hair tied down was seen. Looking at the gray eyes that match the hair, strangely… I felt a sense of relief.

Looking at her facial expression, she is not in league with them.

I was staring at the woman standing in front of me blankly, and before I knew it, the big guy and the rest of the guy ran and grabbed me roughly by the wrist. The woman’s expression hardened when she saw it and slammed the hand that was holding my wrist fiercely.

“Who are you?”

“Where do you dare put your dirty hands?”

The woman’s ferocious energy scared the big man and the rest of them back. She led my body behind her and hid it. It was obvious that she was a member of the Conler family. Yeah, I’m sure, people who won’t notice that are weird.

“If you touch her, I won’t be able to guarantee the life of your future generation.”

“What?”

“Well, if you die now, your generation will end.”

The woman took out the long sword she was wearing. The day glittered in the sun. The back of the woman holding a sword with one hand and pointing the tip of it at them was so reliable and reassuring.

Perhaps they felt such pressure, they slowly took a step backward and ran away. She laughed silently while looking at them running away, but then the woman slowly turned around and stood in a rigid posture.

“I’ve been looking for you, Miss Mary.”

As expected, they were looking for me.

Unlike the ferocious aura earlier, a smile was built on her face looking at me and smiling kindly. Yeah, well, this is what it’s supposed to be like, and Peter…….

Come to think of it, where did he go?

“Who are you looking for?”

I suddenly looked around, the woman looked around with me and asked in a questionable voice.

“Carol, have you seen Peter?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Where did he go?”

“Who is Peter……?”

“He’s the one who helped me……. I don’t know where he went.”

“The name Peter is too common; do you know his last name?”

“I haven’t heard his last name.”

Where did Peter suddenly disappear?

What kind of family did he come from that he cleverly hid his last name?

Silver hair with a strange blue tinge and red eyes. He’s very good-looking, and if he carries such accessories, it’s probably a pretty high-profile family…… I’ll find him easily.

“I owe him so much.”