OTKL 25

Chapter : 25

Shadowing

“What—what are we supposed to do?”

“I don’t know. We can’t be sure what they’re after or why they’re following us.”

Amazingly, Terencio’s voice quickly returned to sounding almost indifferent, as though nothing were wrong. Avoiding the unknown pursuers wherever they might be, Alperil tried not to move her gaze and whispered, covering her lips as much as she could.

Whatever lingering sense of the year has finally turned had been blown away long ago by the shock.

Time passed in restless uncertainty.

Terencio, who had halted in place, frowned as he saw the cheerful crowd passing by. With a pained expression that looked strangely out of place, he suddenly apologized.

“Sorry. I dragged you out here only to put you in danger.”

“That’s not the problem. I had such a good time today! If anyone’s in the wrong, it’s those rats sneaking into other people’s homes and tailing you everywhere, even outside.”

Alperil shouted, her face carefully masked with an expression of near emotionlessness yet full of indignation underneath. Terencio, taken aback by the odd scene and loosening up for a moment, let out a small, awkward laugh but quickly grew serious again.

“Let’s see if we can shake them first.”

Pausing for a heartbeat as if listening to the resonating bells, the two moved close together again, weaving through the street lined with stalls. His fingers brushed her wrist.

At first she assumed it was just accidental contact—but then a low voice reached her ear.

“Don’t worry. This will protect you.”

“And you, my lord?”

“Well. Since I don’t have the bracelet, you’ll have to protect me.”

Whether he was genuinely unconcerned or simply pretending, Alperil answered nervously. A brief silence fell.

“Alpe, are you any good at riding?”

“No… Don’t tell me we’re going to flee on horseback.”

“We’ll see what the situation calls for.”

Alperil pressed her lips together in worry. The guilt she couldn’t explain—born from fear of becoming a burden—twisted her face.

The crowd narrowed and tightened around them. As she took care not to step on others’ feet, Alperil nearly collided with a burly man—only for Terencio to swiftly pull her into his arms.

Her staggering motion froze. She looked up at him, eyes wide.

“Ah…”

For a moment, the mouth of the twenty-three-year-old man showed something she’d never seen on him—fear. Under the strange and beautiful lights, the face she’d always thought calm and composed suddenly looked bare, as though the mask meant to reassure her had slipped off.

Familiarity did not make it easier. Alperil turned her eyes away. She slowly moved her fingers, lacing them tightly through his.

Stalls glittered with jewelry and imported curiosities displayed for sale.

They walked on, pushing through bargaining voices and laughter. Outwardly, everything appeared peaceful.

“There aren’t many places to hide near here. Staying in the crowd won’t work forever—and we might drag people into this mess. It’s better to slip away down the alley at the end.”

His eyes pointed toward a spot not far off. Alperil bit her already tense lips.

“If it turns out they’re only after me,”

“…”

“I’ll signal you. Run. Toward the crowded streets.”

The unexpected command shocked her, and she swung her head toward him. His eyes showed no sign of wavering, even as he spoke such words.

“Just do it.”

“You’re telling me to abandon you and run?”

“You don’t think I’d die in a place like this, do you? It’ll be fine.”

His tone made it sound like a trivial matter, and Alperil’s gaze filled with a hint of resentment.

Sensing it, Terencio slowly spoke.

“The first time was at my mother’s grave.”

Alperil turned to him at the out-of-the-blue statement. He continued as if it were nothing.

“Someone came to kill me. I was still a kid, and I didn’t know no one visits a grave with a hunting rifle. I approached to see who it was—and the trigger was pulled.”

If he wanted to distract her, it worked. Alperil remained speechless, and he continued calmly.

“So trust me, Alpe. Other than you being here, this is a situation I know all too well.”

Why did such things only happen to him?

Alperil felt resentment she’d never known—not even as a child. Just tonight, she wished the world would leave him alone.

They were already entering a dim alley where the festival lights faded. Still reeling from his story, Alperil was just opening her mouth to respond when—

Thud!

A dull impact echoed.

A stranger had slammed shoulders with Terencio; his back jerked sharply.

In the instant that followed, Terencio’s eyes sharpened into something she had never seen. Something she’d naively dismissed as an accident escalated into full confrontation.

Terencio had seized the handle of a dagger—clutched in the stranger’s hand.

Alperil froze in shock as Terencio shoved the man against the wall with swift, practiced force.

Claaang— The dagger clattered to the ground.

Within seconds, the tables turned. A groan escaped beneath the assailant’s mask. Terencio, clearly experienced in such violence, scooped up the fallen weapon and spun it in his hand.

He struck with the blunt end, not the blade. Thump, thud—the sounds echoed, yet the back alley remained eerily still. The festival ignored such places.

He slid the blood-tinged dagger into his belt and stooped over the unconscious attacker, lifting his mask. Tch—apparently, the face told him nothing.

He turned urgently and pulled a trembling Alperil into his arms. “It’s okay. Sorry.” She didn’t know what he was apologizing for.

“Can you run?” he asked. The presence tailing them had fallen silent or shifted direction—far worse than footsteps.

She nodded, and they ran. Cold night air scraped across her face. She clutched her coat tighter, pushing her legs.

Her heels screamed with pain, but it was nothing compared to what he was doing. Alperil pushed herself harder as she fell behind.

They had nearly reached the middle of a filthy alley littered with empty bottles when Terencio spoke at last, watching her carefully even as he ran.

“Put your hand on my shoulder.”

“What? Why—kyaa!”

The moment he stopped running without breaking form, he swept her up into his arms. She flailed instinctively, but he only tightened his grip and accelerated.

Winter wind sliced past them. Nearly in tears, she shouted,

“My lord! This is ridiculous!”

“…”

“You’re injured! I should just take off my shoes and run!”

A faint laugh dissolved into the wind.

“If this is too much, then we ought to just die, Alperil…”

Alperil scowled at the nonsense. She wanted to jump down, but he didn’t loosen his grip, and she ended up wrapping her arms around his neck.

Not until they reached the end of the long alley did she touch the ground again. But before she could breathe, silhouettes rushed out to block them.

Two… four… five… Her face surely went pale.

Terencio pushed her behind him, outwardly composed. The strangers didn’t seem eager to throw their lives away immediately.

“If we knew we had guests coming, we’d have prepared a proper welcome.”

With a rebellious smile, Terencio eased her farther back. Silence stretched unbearably. Alperil’s eyes shimmered with panic.

Then—movement from the left. A blade stopped just shy of Terencio’s temple. Alperil nearly ran at them without thinking.

But Terencio reacted first—twisting the attacker’s arm in a heartbeat. A horrible crack echoed.

The man snarled beneath his mask, punching wildly even through pain. On the fourth swing, Terencio’s head jerked to the side.

He spat blood and drove a kick into the man’s torso. As he rolled aside, another attacker darted in.

This time, Terencio didn’t dodge.

Just as the newcomer sensed something was wrong, Terencio shifted, crouching for something at his waist.

Everyone froze.

“Hands up! Now, you bastards.”

A gun.

Alperil gasped. She hadn’t even known he carried one.

Terencio didn’t take his eyes off the masked men as he called her name—the signal he mentioned.

“Alpe.”

Before she could speak, a rough voice cut through the air.

“So that’s the girl’s name?”

A giant man appeared behind her, seizing her shoulders and pressing a blade to her back. Terencio’s eyes flicked to her—then to the blood at his mouth—her whole body ran cold.

Unable to meet his eyes, Alperil trembled as the thug smirked.

“You know what to do. Drop the gun.”

No—Alperil tried desperately to move, to speak.

“My lord…”

“It’s all right, Alpe. Nothing’s going to happen.”

His eyebrows curved gently, trying to reassure her. He began lowering the gun. No— she shook her head urgently.

He never seemed to understand warnings aimed at him. Alperil exhaled, almost resigned.

The blade pressed into her back. She was terrified.

But the warmth pulsing at her wrist—where he had touched her earlier—burned more brightly than fear.

“Don’t drop the gun.”

Alperil enunciated clearly, eyes locked on his.

Thud!
Without hesitation, she drove her sharp heel into the attacker’s shin.