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~Chapter 62~
The people gathering ranged from skinny old men to young people who still looked like teenagers.
Gareth whispered quietly,
“The way back to the inn is blocked. We should take a different route.”
“I’ll leave it to you. But who are those people?”
We tried to blend in and moved into an alley so we wouldn’t stand out.
After catching our breath, we watched the people more closely.
“They’re not after me, right?”
“No, Madam. You’ve hidden your identity well.”
“But the officials with Ramon know who I am.”
“I don’t know all the details about Bellamare, but those are low-level officials who have fallen out of favor with the governor. Besides, the governor and Ramon don’t get along.”
That meant Ramon picked people who could keep secrets.
I didn’t trust Gareth much at first, but it turned out he’d done his homework.
At that moment, Gareth pointed at something.
“Looks like that’s what they’re here for.”
“Huh…”
The group crept toward the port warehouses.
An old man, probably a technician, carefully unlocked a door. Then the younger people started carrying out sacks of grain.
‘So that’s what the “rats” are.’
Even seeing it with my own eyes, something felt off.
But thinking about it more wouldn’t help me.
Just as I turned to leave, a sharp shout rang out behind me.
“Hey! What are you doing over there?”
“Drop everything! Hands on your heads!”
The night patrol soldiers had caught the thieves.
The people carrying big and small bags scattered in every direction, squeezing into the narrow alleys.
Unfortunately, some of them ran straight toward where Gareth and I were hiding.
“What are you just standing there for?!”
“It’s dangerous for women—don’t come out! Hurry!”
Someone roughly grabbed my arm.
Gareth reached for his sword, but I quickly shook my head to stop him.
‘Gareth!’
‘Don’t hurt my people. That’s an order.’
Before we could finish our silent conversation, the crowd dragged both Gareth and me along as they ran.
We didn’t even get a chance to explain we weren’t from here—we were just swept up with the crowd.
‘How did things end up like this?’
Behind us, we could hear soldiers shouting and weapons clashing.
No matter how fast you regret, it’s always too late. Now, there was nothing to do but run with the others and see where we ended up.
It was an ordinary evening.
After checking the northern wall and finishing some paperwork and a quick meeting, Edwin finally sat down alone for dinner.
The table was huge, but on the Duke’s orders, the meal was simple:
veal soup, two pieces of rye bread, and a glass of wine.
“I’m tired.”
Edwin pressed his temples as he listened to footsteps in the hallway.
Except for the head servant, Bertolt, he’d sent all the other staff away.
There was only one person who would break his orders and come into the western mansion.
“Are you having dinner?”
As expected, Brother Vincent soon showed up.
“As you see.”
“I saw the lights and thought I’d stop by. Sorry if I’m interrupting.”
He said sorry, but just walked in and sat down across from Edwin.
He was even bold enough to say,
“I haven’t eaten yet either. Do you mind if I join you?”
“You’re already sitting, aren’t you?”
“Formality doesn’t matter between us. We used to eat together at the monastery, remember? I miss those warm times.”
Edwin motioned for Bertolt, who brought more food:
the same soup and bread, and some wine.
Vincent smiled in a way Edwin couldn’t read.
“I wish the leaders in the Holy City could learn restraint like you, Duke. Though I see you still drink the best wine.”
He acted like the nobles he complained about.
Normally, Edwin didn’t have much appetite, but with Vincent there, he lost it completely.
‘If not for this man, I wouldn’t have let Elicia go to Bellamare alone.’
He wanted to go with her, but if he left the mansion, the inquisitors would run wild.
He had to stay to keep them in check.
‘At least Elicia accepted Gareth. He’s blindly loyal—he’ll protect her with his life.’
So there was nothing to worry about. Nothing would happen to her. He was just being foolish.
While Vincent rambled about the wine, Edwin drifted off into thought,
but snapped back when Vincent finally went quiet.
Vincent turned to Bertolt and said,
“You can leave us.”
“I only follow the Duke’s orders.”
“Then let the Duke tell you to go. You don’t want to hear what we’re about to discuss.”
Edwin set down his wine glass and nodded.
Bertolt bowed deeply and left.
Only when the old servant’s footsteps had faded did Vincent look at Edwin again,
his eyes shining strangely.
“Are you a demon?”
“That’s a sudden and rude question.”
“Rude? What’s with the heavy evil energy all over Lombard? And that creepy creature Elicia treats like a cat—is it your familiar?”
“…”
“The air here feels twisted and filthy. I’ve never felt anything like it. What have you done?”
Edwin looked down at Vincent, who was almost spitting out the words.
His calmness seemed to bother Vincent, but Edwin found it almost funny.
‘Am I a demon?’
Honestly, he wasn’t sure.
He’d lived through dozens, maybe hundreds of lives—some almost identical, some just a little different.
He’d lost count long ago.
Was he really human?
Maybe he wasn’t a demon, but he couldn’t confidently say he was human, either.
There couldn’t be anyone else like him in the world.
‘But this life is special.’
Edwin’s eyes softened just a little.
This was the first life where he found her again—the one who had vanished without a trace in every other cycle.
Even in a different body, he recognized her at once, like fate.
In the cathedral, before anyone else noticed,
he saw her focused on her paperwork, her serious face, her little habits.
‘What are you doing here, Madam?’
In every life after the first, he’d searched for her and found nothing—
and every time, it felt like his whole world was crumbling.
Was he going crazy?
Was he longing for someone who had never really existed?
Maybe it was all just a dream or he was insane.
‘Still, I couldn’t give up.’
Even if he forgot everything else, he kept her memory sharp, branding it into his mind life after life.
But in the end, it didn’t matter.
He just knew her at first sight—like fate.
‘This is a surprise. I didn’t know you missed me so much, Madam.’
‘…What?’
‘You must have been desperate to see me, since I was ignored on our wedding night and now you came all the way here.’
Even when he did nothing, his breath always caught in his throat, his mind twisted with longing.
But next to her, he felt calm.
He forced himself to act normal.
If he let himself relax, he’d never let her go—he’d keep her with him forever, against her wish for freedom.
Edwin squeezed his shaking fist, fighting the urge in his heart.
