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~Chapter 20~
The lobby fell silent, every gaze fixed on us.
Lysian’s expression was terrifying, his eyes sharp and cold, while James trembled violently, his wrist gripped tightly in Lysian’s hand.
I stared at Lysian, feeling a strange mix of awe and disbelief. I had never seen him this angry. He was always gentle and kind in front of me.
But now, with his icy glare and hard, merciless face, he seemed like a completely different person.
“W-what… are you?”
James’ voice cracked in confusion. Lysian twisted his wrist, producing a sickening snap.
“Ah! You’re… you’re insane!”
Cold sweat ran down James’ face, contorted in pain. Lysian’s gaze alone could have killed him.
“How dare you…”
“Ugh… guh!”
“Do you even realize who you tried to hit?”
James let out hiccup-like groans from the pain in his wrist, his face pale as death.
“Wh-why are you… doing this! Ugh!”
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
Lysian released James’ wrist roughly and kicked him squarely in the stomach.
Crash!
James toppled backward with the chair behind him, slamming into the floor.
No one moved to intervene, though someone clicked their tongue in disapproval. I perked up at the voice.
“James… I knew he’d get himself into trouble sooner or later. Always causing chaos…”
Ah, so no one was defending him because of his bad behavior.
“Ah!”
James screamed again, stepping on Lysian’s foot in the chaos. A sharp crack echoed.
“Ah! My hand!”
“If you’re going to swing recklessly, hands like these are better off gone.”
James struggled to free his hand from under Lysian’s foot, but it didn’t look easy.
Tears eventually streamed down his face from the pain. Lysian finally lifted his foot and smirked at him. James staggered, trying to get up.
Lysian stepped on his shoulder, speaking in a chillingly cruel tone.
“Why are you whining? A few broken bones aren’t enough. I was thinking of breaking a few more.”
Terrified, James burst into tears, begging desperately.
“I-I was wrong! Stop… please stop!”
“Do you even know what you did wrong?”
Lysian raised his foot, poised to crush James’ other wrist.
“Wait! Sir! Calm down!”
Willy, the inn staff, finally intervened.
I stepped closer to Lysian, thinking it was time to stop, gently wrapping my arms around his.
Lysian flinched slightly, lifted his foot, and looked at me. I gave a faint smile and whispered softly,
“It’s okay now. Thank you.”
“….”
His eyes flickered briefly, thoughts crossing them in a rush. Then he exhaled quietly, wrapped me in his arm, and stepped back.
“Apologize properly.”
“Yes! Apologize properly!”
Lysian’s cold command was reinforced by Willy.
James staggered, moaning on the floor, trying to get up. Lysian commanded again.
“Kneel.”
“….”
James looked bewildered, as if he didn’t understand what he had done, but he placed both knees on the floor and knelt. He glanced up at me, muttering,
“I’m sorry…”
I pointed to Willy.
“Apologize to him too. Why harass someone who hasn’t done anything wrong?”
James gritted his teeth, fists trembling. But under Lysian’s menacing gaze, he reluctantly said,
“I-I’m sorry, Willy…”
“Next time this happens, I’ll report you to your guild! Let’s see what happens!”
Willy’s shout flushed James’ face red with anger, though he couldn’t argue and fell silent.
The situation settled. No one helped James stumble out of the inn. Everyone just shook their heads in disapproval.
“Phew… that was close. Honestly, this guy’s troublemaking isn’t new. Thanks for saving us.”
I was stunned to hear this wasn’t the first time. Maybe Lysian could’ve gone even further…
“Anyway, about your rooms? Other inns are probably similar, so why not stay here? I’ll take care of you!”
Willy’s cheerful tone made it sound like nothing had happened. Resilient personality, indeed.
Though it wasn’t my fault, leaving after the commotion felt awkward. I looked to Lysian to suggest we stay.
But he spoke first.
“I found inns with two single rooms, but they weren’t very clean. What do you want to do, Muriel?”
“…How bad was it?”
“Dusty, a few cockroaches crawling around.”
“Our inn has no cockroaches! We clean thoroughly every day!”
Willy jumped in confidently. The inn did look spotless, with not a single bug in sight.
I didn’t want to sleep somewhere with cockroaches. What if one fell from the ceiling while I slept? Pure horror.
‘Cockroaches are scarier than ghosts.’
I made up my mind.
“Let’s stay here. I like clean places.”
“Alright.”
We rented a double room and went up to the third floor. The room was immaculate, with two beds and a private bathroom.
Lysian placed a sack of flour in the corner and looked at me.
“Shower first. Here’s a change of clothes.”
He handed me fresh clothes from his backpack with a warm smile. His gentle demeanor was the exact opposite of before.
I took the clothes and teased him lightly.
“You’re scary when you’re angry. You seemed like a different person.”
“…Earlier, I didn’t see anything but red.”
He hesitated briefly, then sighed.
“That guy almost hurt you. Some people… deserve their wrists broken.”
He sounded serious, not joking. Despite his pretty face, he had a fierce, aggressive streak. Thinking about how easily he destroyed James’ hand… definitely a ruthless side.
‘…But he was angry for me.’
If it weren’t for Lysian, I’d have been beaten by James. I spoke sincerely again.
“Thank you, Lysian.”
“…You’re not disappointed in me?”
“Huh?”
“For getting… violent like that.”
His dejected expression contrasted sharply with his earlier fury.
But this was the Lysian I knew—attentive, caring, always trying to help in small, thoughtful ways.
‘…I wonder sometimes.’
Even without the caretaker role, would he still be kind and devoted to me?
Could the warmth he shows vanish like a fleeting illusion someday?
‘…I don’t know, not now.’
Better to push that worry aside before it aches my head.
Still, a small part of me couldn’t ignore the warning bells ringing loudly inside.
―Don’t give your heart and get hurt.
I moved, forcing my voice to sound casual.
“What’s there to be disappointed about? Don’t worry about it. I’m really grateful to you.”
Then I went into the bathroom and locked the door.
“….”
Beyond the closed door, Lysian’s voice did not come.
