HSLF 23

Chapter 23

“Unexpected.”
Lyle led Dorothy to a shabby building on Papam Street when she asked for help. He pulled at an old doorknob at the very back of the second floor. The interior of the room that opened up was astonishing.

“I thought it would be a bit gloomier.”
The pale pink wallpaper was one thing, but the sofa with its soft cushions was a dazzling, almost painful bright pink. The curtains were flower pink with cute embroidery. Judging by the interior alone, you wouldn’t think this was a building on the infamous Papam Street.

“So this is what they mean by the inside being different from the outside.”
Dorothy, who had been to Papam Street a few times before, felt it was a little strange.

“The building owner has unique tastes.”
In Papam Street, where only shady people linger and broken glass or bloodstains are common in the back alleys, someone with this kind of sensibility still being alive? He’d probably make the perfect target for pickpockets pretending to be street thugs.

“I’d like to meet them. To think someone like that is still alive on Papam Street.”
Dorothy said curiously, but Lyle clearly had no intention of introducing anyone.

“That won’t happen.”
Though his expression looked friendly at first glance, the way he cut the words was sharp. Lyle changed the subject.

“By the way, Dorothy, have you ever been to Papam Street before?”
“Um, once or twice a long time ago?”

Lyle silently studied Dorothy with a peculiar gaze. What was that? It seemed like he was gently tempting her to spill something.

If the other party had been an ordinary noble from the capital, he probably wouldn’t have brought it up—but Dorothy already considered Lyle someone who knew enough about the underworld to be a “drug-savvy” type.

“I wanted to see the sparring tournament.”
Robs had warned her it was dangerous, but Dorothy couldn’t be stopped from checking out the illegal sparring gambling held in the back alleys of Papam Street. She had persuaded Lexa, who looked interested, to go watch the tournament with her.

Inside the cage, the deadly sparring continued until someone fell—it was illegal for a reason. Even Dorothy, who had prepared herself for a certain level of cruelty, found it too harsh to watch until the end.

“…You were interested in something like that?”
“When I was younger, I was very curious about things.”
Dorothy shrugged as she answered.

“I see.”

“Yes, and that made Robs suffer a lot. He hates dangerous things. Even then, he came to Papam Street with tears in his eyes, saying it was lucky we were alive, hugging us and making a scene…”

Dorothy and Lexa had pretended to lose money and safely left the gambling den, but meeting Robs at the entrance to Papam Street made her feel like she could have died. A fully grown boy crying while hugging Dorothy and Lexa—anyone would think he had lost his mind, and they almost got mugged. Fortunately, someone who recognized Lexa helped them, saving the day.

Because of that incident, the three of them had never gone near Papam Street again. The only reason Dorothy could come back there today was that she trusted Lyle. More specifically, she trusted his strength and swordsmanship.

Dorothy, looking firmly at Lyle’s chest, lifted her gaze to his eyes. She couldn’t help asking:

“Lyle?”

Lost in memories, she hadn’t noticed how intense Lyle’s gaze was. No—he was burning hot. Dorothy blinked and asked:

“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Nothing.”
A lie. I just saw everything you were doing earlier. Dorothy tilted her head in confusion as Lyle asked:

“And with Baron Babarin…?”
“Robs?”
“We’re on informal terms.”
“Yeah, we are. When we were kids, at Robs’ bathhouse…oops. I shouldn’t be saying this.”

Dorothy chuckled, thinking about when she and Lexa had pretended to be ghosts to sneak into Robs’ bathhouse. Robs had fainted, their ancestor had scolded them, but his stunned expression was too funny to stop.

“We’ve been together since we were very young, I guess.”

Dorothy stopped there and planned to ask about today’s main topic.

“Why do you keep staring? Is something on my face?”

She had been fine until Lyle suggested going to Papam Street casually, worrying about being seen with a strange man or giving fans a clue.

“…There is.”
“Really?!”
When Lyle said something was on her face, she snapped to attention. It must have been the coconut cookie she ate on the carriage earlier—she thought she had wiped it off before getting down, but apparently not.

So Lyle had met her with something on her face the whole time and never said anything? Embarrassing.

Dorothy touched her cheeks with both hands—there was nothing. She noticed a mirror on the wall and moved toward it, but Lyle blocked her.

Generously, as if he wanted to remove it himself, Lyle reached toward her face but hesitated. Why? Surely he wasn’t going to debate manners while touching a lady’s face. Lyle tried to lower his hand, looking awkward, but Dorothy grabbed his forearm firmly with both hands.

“Wipe it off.”
She looked up at him, urging him.
“Quickly.”

Lyle’s large hand cupped Dorothy’s soft cheek. The careful touch tickled slightly. If it were Lexa or Robs, they’d have just wiped it roughly with a sleeve.

Then Lyle’s thumb brushed Dorothy’s lips. Hesitant at first, it slowly stroked her lower lip. The firm feel of her plump lips was softened by his gentle motion. The delicate touch made her slightly embarrassed. But hadn’t he been at it long enough?

Dorothy’s lips moved slightly against his fingertips.
“Not done yet?”

Lyle froze. Their eyes met, and just as he was about to speak, the doorknob clicked and the door started to open. She hadn’t opened it, and yet it moved—she’d seen this yesterday too.

“I know everything! No use hiding from me!”

And the result wasn’t great.

A burly man in hot pink appeared, and the moment his eyes met Dorothy’s:
“Eeek! Excuse me!”

He screamed, then slammed the door shut again.

Dorothy looked at Lyle blankly.
“Who was that?”

Frowning, Lyle withdrew the hand from her cheek and explained apologetically:
“He is the owner of this building.”
“Oh.” Hot pink made sense now.

“Sorry about earlier.”
The hot pink man bowed deeply. Dorothy didn’t feel the need to push back. As the owner of a building on Papam Street, he probably came from the street himself. She had no desire to confront someone who survived by strength alone.

“It’s okay. I’m Dorothy Sailer. Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Sir?”
Lyle frowned and repeated her word.
“You mean the owner of this building, right?”

Smiling, Dorothy asked, and the hot pink man nodded uncertainly. Then he introduced himself:
“Nice to meet you! I am Vitus, the owner of this building.”

“Please just call me Dorothy. The room is amazing—just like you, Vitus.”
“Ah, Dorothy…! So that’s how it is. Haha, thank you for the compliment. I usually only hear that I’m unique, so it’s an honor to be praised. I’ve also heard a lot about your fame. Meeting you is a great honor! Maybe later I could get an autograph…”

Lyle, watching Vitus twist awkwardly despite his burly frame, interjected:
“Vitus, why are you here?”

Vitus, who had been staring at Dorothy, finally turned to Lyle. Coldly.
“Well, that’s… ugh!”
“Ugh?”

Dorothy looked at him in confusion, but it seemed as if an invisible hand was silencing Vitus. His survival instincts screamed in his head, warning him not to add anything that might cost him his life.

Lyle stepped in for the suddenly silent Vitus.
“Vitus is also an informant.”
“I see. Then Vitus is like Lyle’s colleague?”
“For now, yes.”

Vitus lowered his gaze under Lyle’s sharp eyes. Even if it looked normal, Vitus could tell his superior was in a bad mood. Ah, because he interrupted the kiss! A duke who only thinks about work has a secret rendezvous with Dorothy Sailer!

“So, Vitus will also join today’s information exchange on Duke Cameon?”

Vitus was surprised not only that Dorothy didn’t recognize Duke Cameon, but more so by her words.
“You investigated Duke Cameon?!”
“It’s basic to investigate the one you like. And if it’s not Duke Cameon, no one else will do—I love him that much!”

Such an audacious confession… said so innocently, right in front of him.

Vitus, having only heard rumors about Dorothy Sailer’s boldness, was left speechless.