Chapter 3 – A Fateful Encounter (3)

It crossed my mind that this man may be the most dangerous to me right now, but when I was faced with the huge mansion, I was reluctant again.

The very thought that he might be hiding malicious intentions behind that beautiful face made me hesitate.

Let’s go through it one by one.

If he was a lunatic, then he’d just be as dangerous as Count Blan here.

But there was no other option.

It was too late for me to turn away and go back.

The carriage had already been sent away, I had no money on me because I left in a hurry, and my arm where I had been shot was practically useless right now.

“I’ll be in your care just for today. I’ll leave as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.”

He listened to my wishes without saying a word, and as we entered through the open gate, I agonized a little more.

Holding a gun hidden under my jacket was more difficult than it looked.

“Stay here until the rain stops at least. Or do you have somewhere else to go?”

“Not really, but…”

She had nowhere else to go. However, I couldn’t impose on a stranger for long.

It was the same as letting everything go and trusting a man to solve my problems.

It’s true that pure kindness exists in the world, but I’m sure this man wants something from me.

“You hurt your arm, too.”

“It’ll be better soon. It’s nothing.”

“How did you get hurt?”

I held my injured arm as though I were hiding it. It was the son of Count Blan who hurt my arm.

‘Do you know how hard it was to find you?’

The man who had found me was the Count’s youngest son, Bane. He had hated me for a long time.

The malice behind his eyes as he looked at me was vivid when he saw I was living a completely different life.

“It was an accident.”

Bane was the same kind of perpetrator as his father.

I felt nauseous.

I did say it was nothing, but it wasn’t something I could say lightly.

“You got shot accidentally?”

“Yes.”

As I averted my gaze, I found a familiar fruit tree inside a glass greenhouse, where only the tree was separated.

“Oh…”

I stopped walking unconsciously.

It was the same ripe red fruit that we ate six years ago on the day I ran away with the boy I saved.

We had it to eat because there was nothing else for us, but I remembered it distinctly because it tasted very good.

I often bought and ate that fruit as I traveled over the years, but there wasn’t a time when it tasted better than it did that day.

I remembered that time.

One day, six years ago, when I ran away just like I did today.

And the fruit that would sometimes appear in my nightmares.

“Do you like that fruit?”

“No. It’s too sweet.”

That’s all the man answered, but he walked toward the tree.

Standing beneath it, he picked one fruit out without any difficulty and offered it to me.

“Even so, I have some memories with it. Thanks.”

“Ah, you’re welcome.”

I asked only because I was glad to see the fruit again, but there was no other meaning.

“As long as you’re eating well.”

“What?”

Ah, did he think I wanted him to eat some as well? I looked at him with curious eyes.

He might have meant for me to ‘eat well’ instead. As I thought about it, the fruit was suddenly brought to my lips.

The man’s fingers brushed against my lips as I opened them in astonishment.

As soon as I tried to pull back, his thumb brushed against my teeth, then disappeared.

“See? You’re eating well.”

He smiled nonchalantly as though nothing had happened.

As the sweet liquid ran down my neck, I wondered if I should point out his rudeness or not, but I stopped myself.

It was troublesome that the fruit that I had tasted was endlessly sweet.

 

* * * 

I was led to the guest room on the second floor.

With the help of the maids, I finished taking a bath and putting on new clothes.

I had to fold the sleeves of my shirt six times since it was too big for me.

‘We don’t have any extra clothes. I apologize.’

The shirt smelled good.

It was obvious that this shirt was Robin’s. My clothes were soaked in blood, so I couldn’t wear them again after taking them off.

Holding onto my gun, I looked around the room once I was left alone.

This room had only the necessary furniture in it, and it wasn’t comparable to the accommodation I had at the guild where I stayed.

After running away from my stepfather, I traveled all over the country. Then, I finally settled down at an information guild.

I can’t go back there now.

Knock, knock.

Someone was outside the door. I hid the gun under my clothes while looking at where the sound came from.

“Can I come in?”

It was Robin Vhind, the owner of this mansion.

“Ah, yes.”

I had been blocking the door, so I opened it enough for Robin to come through.

“Would you like a light drink?”

Robin had two wine glasses in his hand, and a wine bottle in the other, which he shook playfully.

After contemplating, I nodded.

There’s nothing like alcohol to forget the pain.

We sat down at the sofa, then I downed the red liquid alongside Robin, who was drinking his wine leisurely.

It was pitiful to drink without food available.

The following silence was awkward. So, while drinking in that prolonged silence, I thought of something to say.

“Thank you for your help.”

Sadly, that was all I could think of.”

I sipped my wine as he looked at me without saying anything, feeling awkward.

Suddenly, his hand came forward to hold my elbow, and I was startled by his sudden touch.

“You’re hurt. I should treat you.”

Robin tugged on my elbow.

I thought of stopping him, but I decided against it.

I knew how to use healing magic, but right now I was in no condition to do so because I don’t have any energy left.

If it was roughly treated now, it would be hard to treat it properly later.

Robin stood and crouched down to lean forward, and his jawline could be seen up close.

“…”

It made me feel flustered.

As I averted my eyes, I cast a curious glance over the finger that had wandered toward the wound.

“Did it hurt a lot?”

“Well… a little bit.”

“Who did this?”

The amber eyes that were so close to her, framed by long eyelashes, were full of curiosity.

Somehow, it looked as though he was in a bad mood.

I didn’t know what to say. I was caught off guard.

Of course, it’s good to be pretty, handsome and shiny like this, but… My heart fluttered as his face drew closer.

“Who was it?” Robin asked again.

“You wouldn’t know even if I told you.”

Robin may be familiar with the Blan family, but I didn’t want to explain. It was troublesome.

He sat next to me and stared at me, filling up the empty glasses with red liquid once more.

As if it wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear.

“I’m curious who it was. Why don’t you tell me? I saved you after all.”

“……It was just an accident…”

“I’m curious.”

The wine tasted especially sweet today. No. Sweet things weren’t right, for me who had been drinking cheap beer all this time, I liked it better if the wine was moderately sweet and more bitter.

But still, I liked wine, so this was fine.

Taking in the nice scent coming from the glass, I sipped on my wine again with a pretty man I could look at right here as a side dish.

Robin waited a little more for my answer, but soon reached towards my arm wordlessly.

I forgot that he had offered to treat my arm, so I slapped his hand away, only for the glass I was holding to break on the ground when I let go.

“Ah, oh no…”

A glass shard had scratched his cheek under the eye. Beneath our feet, the ground was soaked with wine like it was blood.

“Are you hurt?”

I was surprised when I saw Robin.

“Me?”

He raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw how startled I was, pointing at himself in bewilderment.

“Yes, you’re bleeding.”

“Are you drunk?”

“There’s blood…”

“Are you drunk after just this?”

Why did he keep trying to say something else?

He didn’t seem to realize that he was hurt. I looked at my arm as well to see if I was also scratched there, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

I could see my arms because the sleeves were rolled up. I suddenly got angry when I saw the wound.

“That bastard Bane…”

I wouldn’t have been hurt if it wasn’t for him. I couldn’t feel this pain if he hadn’t shot me.

“Bane.”

Already halfway drunk, only when Robin muttered in return the name that I realized that I said this out loud in front of him.

He pulled my arm gently, and my body followed his lead.

It was a strange feeling. It tickled and stung as though it was getting healed.

He must know how to use magic…

Maybe it’s because I drank, but it didn’t hurt that much. I watched the wound close up under his hand, dazed.

Robin turned his gaze, and as I followed it, I saw my stomach.

He reached out, and I was frozen, just watching him reach out to touch me.

I should get mad at him, but I didn’t want to. It didn’t feel bad.

“You shouldn’t drink.

He was about to touch the gun that was concealed by the shirt.

“Your guards are down.”

“…”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to carry you later.”

Then, my view was reversed.

It was dizzying.

 

* * * 

Before I knew it, I was lying on my bed.

I reached down towards my stomach in a hurry, and thankfully the gun was still there.

I looked at Robin with the gun in my hand without him knowing.

“I’ll go out after you fall asleep.”

“Why do you need to do that?”

“I’m afraid you’ll suddenly disappear.”

He was an odd man.

Robin sat beside me and pulled up the blanket to my chin, and I closed my eyes without meaning to. The blanket was so warm.

And my arm was still throbbing, so sleep was tempting.

“Long time no see.”

Right before I fell asleep, I faintly heard him say something.

But I couldn’t understand what he meant.

All I could distinguish was a languid voice that whispered softly.

 

* * * 

There was no difference between night and day in that basement. The floor was humid. A monster would appear. This darkness, where I couldn’t see an inch in front of me, was frightening.

But what was more excruciating was the gaze of the man who stared at me.

‘I can’t stand any deception.’

It was my stepfather.

He didn’t visit the basement often, but when he came here, all he would do was watch me.

‘I know you’re a prophet. What’s your secret with lying so shamelessly?’

His eyes that were glistening with greed were disgusting.

My biggest mistake ever since reincarnating was to say that I knew the future. It was the one choice that led me to misery.

My stepfather was greedy.

He did all sorts of dirty things while being on the side of the First Prince as he fought for succession.

‘I’m asking you again. Who do you think will be the next Emperor?’

While he did all the dirty work to ensure the succession of the Crown Prince, he would ceaselessly wonder about the future.

And he was anxious to hear my answers.

Of course, there was a reason why he started believing the nonsense I said about seeing the future.

He was a thorough man who considered many possibilities.