IDEFP 11

Chapter 11

At dawn, I quickly packed.

Without any hesitation or excess, I only filled a small bag with a few changes of clothes, and that was it.

Just as I was about to wake Noah, I noticed he was already awake—watching me with half-lidded eyes, as if he had been up for a while.

“You’re awake?”

Since I had been rushing to prepare, I smiled awkwardly like a guilty person caught in the act.

“I was going to explain once you woke up. We’re going to Roxia. I think we need to go there to resolve the contract between you and me.”

I lifted the bag as I spoke, rambling unnecessarily.

I had made the decision last night, but honestly, convincing Noah was the real problem.

Even after thinking about excuses all night, I realized being honest was still the best option.

So I repeated what I had rehearsed in my head—but Noah didn’t react at all.

I had expected him to refuse and storm out immediately.

But his silence felt strange. I approached him, sensing something was off.

His shoulders were slumped, and his cheeks were slightly flushed.

“You okay?”

I reached out to check his forehead, but Noah spoke first.

“I just have a slight fever.”

Then he looked up at me.

“Can that place really break the contract?”

His eyes were filled with suspicion as he stared at me. I quickly nodded.

I can’t exactly tell him I don’t even have the magic to take him there myself.

After that, I somehow got Noah’s reluctant agreement, and we left Monteo Garden wearing teal cloaks.

As we hurried out, an unbelievable sight unfolded before us.

“Isabella!”

A wave of people rushed toward me from a distance—so many that even counting them on both hands would be impossible.

Even under their cloaks, I could tell—they were all tall, handsome men, exactly Isabella’s type.

And what that meant was obvious.

I clicked my tongue, pale-faced.

No way… Isabella really did this many men in Midtown?

I instinctively stepped back in shock.

The reason I had fled the moment dawn broke after paying off my debts was exactly this.

The “cause and effect” of the story had left Isabella with a swarm of men she had entangled with due to her promiscuous reputation.

Even stepping outside briefly meant they clung to her like flies.

They had probably assumed she was still staying, and as expected, they weren’t going to let me leave so easily.

One of the men grabbed my hand.

“Isabella, where are you going without me?”

Another, broad-chested and teary-eyed, added,

“You said you’d take responsibility for me!”

“What are you talking about? She clearly loves my face the most.”

“My face? She said she liked my thighs—!”

“Stop it!”

I cut them off, face burning.

Do they have no shame saying this in front of a child?!

Rubbing my temple, I realized I hadn’t expected them to show up this early in the morning.

Just as I thought I might slip away unnoticed—

My eyes met the inn manager in the distance.

He looked startled, then quickly turned and shut himself inside.

So it was you.

He must have spread the news that I was leaving as revenge for the auction incident.

I clenched my fist.

I wanted to cause a scene right now, but there were too many obstacles in front of me.

All of them were staring at me, waiting for an answer.

My heart pounded, whether from pressure or panic, I wasn’t sure.

I bit my lip.

“Um… about that…”

Before I could continue, someone tugged at my cloak.

I turned—and saw Noah.

He was looking up at me, his face even more flushed than before, his gaze unsteady.

The moment I met his eyes, an idea struck me like lightning.

A single sentence—no matter the culture, it could shut down any unwanted attention instantly.

Why hadn’t I thought of this earlier?

Almost possessed, I gently took hold of Noah’s hand, still gripping my cloak.

All eyes shifted to him.

The murmuring grew louder.

The man in front frowned.

“Who’s the scrawny kid?”

I lifted my head and smiled.

“I actually have something to say to all of you.”

A tense silence spread.

I tightened my grip on Noah’s hand.

Then I took a breath and said:

“I’m actually a married woman.”

The men burst into laughter, exchanging amused glances.

Clearly, they thought it was another one of Isabella’s jokes.

But I didn’t care and continued.

“So watch your mouths. If you want to leave here unharmed.”

“….”

“And as you can see, this kid is my child.”

I wrapped my arm around Noah’s shoulders and pulled him close.

If I was worried about anything, it was that Noah might deny it—but he stayed unusually still, pressed against me.

The men’s expressions shifted, uncertain now.

At that moment, a blond man stepped forward.

“Isabella, stop lying. You know how much we love you.”

Unlike his tone toward me, his gaze toward Noah was sharp and cold.

“Smells like something rotten. That kid looks like a savage. Come with me instead.”

He reached toward Noah.

I slapped his hand away.

His eyes widened.

I frowned.

“One more word and I’ll carve your pretty face up.”

Stepping forward, I shielded Noah behind me.

“Since when did you get the right to question me? If I say he’s my child, then he is.”

“….”

“Your job is simple.”

I pulled off my cloak.

My red hair shimmered in the morning light.

“You go around telling everyone Isabella suddenly has a child, with those same stupid faces of yours.”

Silence fell.

No one was laughing anymore.

The atmosphere turned heavy and hostile.

Then someone shouted from behind.

“Hey! What’s that?!”

A yellow orb rolled between us.

It split open, releasing smoke.

Smoke bomb?

As I covered my mouth, someone grabbed my hand—and Noah’s—and pulled us into a run.

We burst out of the smoke.

Once we cleared it, I saw brown hair sticking out from under a cloak.

“Alzuro!”

He stopped in an alley and let go of our hands.

He removed his cloak.

It really was Alzuro.

“Why are you here…!”

Instead of answering, he lifted a small bag.

“Funny. Looks like we’re leaving on the same day.”

“This is not the time for jokes.”

I caught my breath and looked back. Noah was gasping, and the men were no longer visible.

Whether intentional or not, he had helped us escape.

I rubbed my wrist, still red from the grip.

“Thanks… but don’t do that again.”

Alzuro only smiled faintly and walked ahead, gesturing for us to follow.

A carriage was waiting.

The driver looked at us and asked,

“So these are the two—woman and child?”

“Just take us to the train station. Through the alleys.”

Alzuro handed him a heavy pouch.

I frowned.

“Why are you going this far?”

“Midtown was more interesting than I expected, thanks to you.”

He opened the carriage door.

“I’m leaving too. I came here for reasons I didn’t want, but thanks to you, I can leave sooner.”

I still couldn’t fully understand him.

The driver urged us.

“Get in.”

I had no choice but to climb in with Noah.

Alzuro smiled brightly as he closed the door.

“See you again, Isabella.”

And with that, the carriage raced violently through the alleyways.