Chapter 34

“If you try to hide something—whether by scarring your face or covering it up—it just draws more attention. It’s better to be flashy on purpose than to act suspicious.”

Keith’s words made sense.

“If someone says they saw someone suspicious, they probably won’t think of us. They’ll just remember seeing a good-looking pair of siblings.”

“You and I are supposed to be siblings?”

“We have similar coloring. They’ll assume we’re related.”

“Well… I guess we do look kinda alike…”

The three of us—Mari, Keith, and me—didn’t really look like we belonged together. It was hard to guess what kind of people we were, which might seem suspicious. But if Keith and I posed as siblings, it would seem more natural. Mari nodded in agreement.

“You two can pretend to be siblings, and I’ll pretend to be your maid. That would look the most natural.”

“But didn’t Linus see your face? Do you not need a disguise?”

“He saw me, but only the back of my head when I had a hood on.”

Keith grinned and pointed at his own hood. My jaw dropped.

“So… you didn’t get exposed?!”

“I guess not.”

“Then you don’t have to stick around! You can just—”

Before I could finish telling him to go, Keith covered my mouth with his hand.

“I told you—this is an investment.”

“…Are you running a charity or something?”

“Haha, people keep saying that lately.”

Keith grinned.

“…So what do you want in return for this ‘investment’?”

“Not sure yet. I’ll think about it. And by the way, being tied to me might not be that great for you either. Now get dressed.”

Keith grabbed some clothes from the bed and tossed them to me.

“Things are going to get busy. I can’t do much while we’re stuck here.”

“I still think you should just walk away now. At least take Mari with you.”

“I need to get Mari a better prosthetic arm, and we’ll need help to fully heal your condition too.”

“Are you even listening to me?”

I was so frustrated, my voice got sharp.

“Are you listening to me?”

“….”

“How many times do I have to say I’ll take care of the cost? I know you’re not shameless, but if you can’t do anything right now, the polite thing is to just accept help.”

“…”

“Your pride won’t help you survive. You should know that by now.”

My face burned with shame. Keith was completely right. I was powerless, and I couldn’t even leave this room without his help.

Part of me didn’t want to be a burden to him—but I also didn’t want to admit just how helpless I was. Keith ran a hand through his hair, clearly exhausted from repeating himself.

“I get it. You’d rather I ask you to lick my boots. That would make you feel better, wouldn’t it?”

“….”

“You can’t stand kindness that doesn’t come with a price. Even if I say I’ll collect later, it still makes you uncomfortable.”

It felt like he said the part he didn’t say out loud: You’ve wanted to be loved all your life, but now you can’t even handle kindness without a price. What a contradiction… pathetic.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

“Don’t pity me!”

Keith scoffed.

“What’s so wrong with being pitied?”

“What…?”

“If someone gives you something—take it, Florence. Even pity isn’t given to just anyone. If it helps you, why reject it? What, is pity poison now?”

“Don’t make it sound so easy. Maybe you don’t care, but I’ve lived on nothing but pride!”

“Yeah? And where did that get you?”

If my legs had worked, I’d have punched his smug face.

“You’re so annoying…”

Keith sighed as he looked at me.

“If you’re grateful, just say thank you. If you’re sorry, just say sorry. No need for anything else. Do you know how tiring it is to repeat myself? You say you’ve lived with pride, but it just makes you look desperate.”

I had a lot to say. But I didn’t know where to start.

No one had ever willingly gotten involved with me, even when it put them in danger. No one had taken my side, believed what I said, or shared jokes with me like Keith and Mari did.

Something broke inside me. I took a deep breath and said:

“…I’ll do anything…”

I wanted to become someone who could actually do something.

I had once wanted love from my father, and I’d wished Blake and Grace wouldn’t hate me. I had hoped I could use magic or spirit powers. I believed that if Linus loved me, I could do anything—that maybe I’d change.

But now it was different.

Now, I wanted to return the kindness. I wanted to do anything for the people who helped me.

Maybe if I gained the same powers as Jang Hyun-ji, I could help Keith too.

“Anything? What if I actually ask you to lick my boots?”

“Sir Keith…”

“Geez, it was a joke…”

Keith seemed weirdly afraid of Mari.

“Want to lick my boots?”

“No thanks. I’m not a pervert.”

“I can do anything. If it’s what you want.”

“What if I ask you to bring me your father’s head?”

Keith grinned like he was joking—but he clearly wanted me to say no. I thought about it seriously, then said:

“…If you give me time.”

“You’d do it?”

“I’d probably fail, but yeah.”

“…Wow.”

Keith stared at me with complicated eyes, then sighed. He reached out and ruffled my hair like a mess. Ugh—why?

“I can’t just leave you alone, can I?”

“Oh, I totally get it now,” Mari added with a giggle.

I looked at her, betrayed. She giggled louder when our eyes met.

“I already knew you’d be a handful. It’s way too late to back out.”

“She’s right, Sir Keith. You’re stuck now.”

“Exactly. She gets it, but you don’t.”

I felt extremely insulted right now.

I knew being around me was dangerous. Keith could’ve easily walked away—but he didn’t. That alone was strange. It didn’t seem normal.

I didn’t know what he did for a living, or even how old he was, but anyone who’s a 7th-class expert must be something extraordinary. Maybe he had a mindset I just couldn’t understand.

But still—I didn’t expect him to be crazy.

“What are you doing? Walk.”

Keith tapped my shoulder and started walking ahead.

Mari and I stood there in shock, watching him. When we didn’t follow, he turned around. His clueless face was so irritating.

“…Keith.”

“What?”

“Weren’t we going to cross the border? You said once I could walk, we’d move. We’d run away…”

He hadn’t said where we were going, but I assumed we’d get new identities and escape the kingdom. If we stayed in Yullia, Linus could track us anytime. At least in another country, we’d be safer.

Mari looked just as stunned as me. Even though I could walk now, I couldn’t move a step.

“I told you—I need to go somewhere I can operate easily. I’m the Knight Commander. You think I can’t cross a border? Even if we’re on the run, how long can we keep living like that? With no money, in a strange land?”

“But still…”

“The Knight Commander even left the capital to find you. Do you think they’d expect me to come back?”

Keith laughed loudly.

“This is the safest place! The peaceful kingdom of Yullia! The thriving capital—Ledamas! Haha!”

…He’s insane.