Chapter 37 (2/2)

“What is this?”

“It’s a firework flare developed by the General. If anything dangerous happens to you, light it. I already know the directions from here to where you’re going. If the flare goes off, I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Elena took the flare with a puzzled look, and then looked up at him. He seemed to have implied that he already knew her entire schedule, but she admired his attention to detail.

“I see. I’ll do so if it becomes dangerous.”

Elena carefully tucked away the flare.

“I’ll see you soon.”

“Return safely.”

At the end of Kuhn’s brief farewell, Elena hurried out of the room. The appointed meeting time with the jeweler was drawing nearer.

*

*

*

The sun completely sank below the horizon, blanketing the streets with a deep darkness and penetrating even Elena’s room where Kuhn stood quietly. He watched Elena through the window as she departed with her knights. Finally, she gradually disappeared down the streets, but Kuhn made no move.

Tick. Tick.

The second hand of the clock echoed loudly in the deathly quiet. This was the usual silence for Kuhn. Until suddenly–

Wachachang!

Kuhn’s eyes shifted towards the sound of something breaking. If he remembered correctly, it came from the room where Elena’s sister was staying. It seemed obvious that she had broken something by mistake.

‘…There is no reason for me to check.’

Kuhn’s principle was Elena. Her sister was not involved in it. He looked out again with indifferent gray eyes, when another sound came to his ears.

Seug, seug.

A dragging sound on the floor. And it was getting closer to Elena’s room. Kuhn hid himself in the dark, just like when Elena first entered in the room. The door swung open slowly, and the first thing that came through was the sound of gasping breaths.

“Hah, hah…Older sister…”

Her voice sounded like it was about to fade out, and he could sense her condition was serious. He heard the sound of feet walking against the floor. Before she barely crossed the threshold, her trembling little body completely collapsed onto the floor.

“Uh, sister…It…it hurts.”

Kuhn looked at Mirabelle lying on the ground. She looked like a small animal. Was it because of her thin arms and legs? Just a small effort seemed to wear her down, and she was so fragile she may die if she was left unattended. A small bit of worry gnawed at Kuhn’s conscience.

‘…Do I ignore her?’’

Kuhn was not responsible if Mirabelle died. He had witness death countless upon countless of times, and many by his own hands. Death was not new to Kuhn, and he had become numb to it.

However, Elena knew that Kuhn was waiting in this room. If Mirabelle died, he might be falsely accused. He didn’t hesitate long.

Tubug, tubug.

He strode towards Mirabelle in an incredibly relaxed manner for someone who had a sickly person in front of them. He didn’t understand why. It wasn’t because he was scared of Elena’s resentment that he was moving now. He could add that to a pile of other people’s resentments, and it wouldn’t matter. For some reason he was reminded of a small wounded bird he saw on the streets one day. He knew it was just a whim, but he couldn’t control himself. He couldn’t say it was the right decision keep hiding in this room and ignore the situation.

“Where do you feel pain?”

Mirabelle was startled to see a man suddenly appear in the dark. Earlier she had taken a short nap, and woken up with a stomach ache. She tried to call the maid, but accidentally broke something beside her. It was a noise louder than the sound of a bell, but no one showed up in the room. She was forced to go to Elena’s room with severe pain, and unexpectedly came across this mysterious man.

“Haah, hah…who…are you?”