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Chapter 28
Psyche blinked. The harsh insult left her dazed for a moment.
Soon, she saw the boy’s small body trembling in her blurred vision.
His red hair was unevenly cut, and the untrimmed bangs had grown long enough to cover his eyes.
Though she couldn’t see his expression, she was certain—
the child was terrified.
“Wait.”
“Let me go! It’s no use taking me! I eat a lot, and my leg’s messed up, so I can’t even work!”
“…I’m not trying to hurt you. Is your leg in pain?”
When Psyche gently placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder, he flinched and roughly shoved her away in fear.
That’s when Aster, who had been watching from behind, stepped forward.
“Looks like a ruptured Achilles tendon. Even if he begged for work, no one would want a broken body like that. What’s he so scared of?”
As Aster spoke in his cold tone, Psyche hurried to examine the boy’s leg.
Even in the freezing weather, he wore pants that left his ankles exposed. The hem was frayed and blackened, and his ankle was so thin the bone protruded.
But the right and left ankles had a slight difference in thickness.
And judging by his constant limping, his claim about the injury was likely true.
“Yeah. My leg’s ruined. And it’s all because of nobles like you!”
The boy shouted, stamping his feet as if to flee—
—but was instantly caught by Aster.
“A ruptured Achilles tendon… you might be able to recover with effort and rehab.”
Psyche spoke calmly, looking at the boy who was breathing heavily.
“And if someone’s chasing you, I’ll help. That’s what adults are supposed to do.”
“I don’t trust nobles.”
‘He can barely walk…’
Psyche swallowed a sigh. Ever since her father collapsed, she had studied emergency care, symptoms, and treatments of various illnesses.
Though her knowledge wasn’t formally categorized, she knew that a torn Achilles tendon caused painful inflammation.
Growl—
At that moment, the boy’s stomach rumbled. A brief silence followed, and the boy turned his head in embarrassment.
Psyche chuckled softly.
“Have you ever eaten a watery soup with a few potatoes and rock-hard bread for a week straight?”
“…Yeah.”
“I have too. Many times.”
“Liar. Why would a noble eat garbage like that?”
“Not all nobles are rich.”
Only then did the boy’s expression slightly soften.
Still, he flinched at Psyche’s every move, wary as ever.
‘Just how much has he endured to react like that?’
Her heart ached imagining the hardships he’d faced.
“If you go to the monastery, they’ll give anyone bread and water. Just say ‘Aster’ sent you and eat all you want. Same goes if you need medical care.”
Psyche felt the man behind her flinch.
Of course, she couldn’t give her own name.
With a gentle smile, she slowly stood up.
“M-Monasteries don’t give anything. For beggars like us… they catch us. And when they catch us, they do horrible things!”
“At the monastery?”
Although monasteries were religious sanctuaries, they also served the poor across the continent.
‘Could there be corruption going on that no one knows about?’
“Woah!”
As the two stared at each other, something suddenly grabbed Aster’s shoulder and shouted.
A strange group of people in bizarre costumes approached them.
Psyche turned to ask the boy another question—
but he had already vanished without a trace.
She caught a brief flicker of surprise in Aster’s eyes as he witnessed it.
“Congratulations! You’ve won a prize!”
People in outlandish costumes—the snow witch from myths, a giant monster over eight feet tall, and more—noisily approached Aster, handing him a large box.
“Are you okay, Sir?”
Just as Aster tried to ignore them and walk away, his eyes shifted to Psyche’s face.
She was staring blankly at where the boy had stood.
“What happened? He’s gone. Did he run away because people showed up…?”
She was stunned. A wave of guilt washed over her—
‘I couldn’t protect that child.’
“Yes, he ran off. Quite far.”
“We need to investigate the monastery. I’m sure there are other kids in the same situation. And his injury should be treated quickly. I’m really worried.”
As the two were discussing the missing boy, one of the performers jokingly asked,
“Are you two lovers?”
Only then did Psyche realize how close she was standing to Aster.
A young man and woman walking together could easily give the wrong impression.
But the question made her feel a clear sense of discomfort. Even if she hadn’t seen her fiancé’s face, she still had someone she owed her loyalty to.
Psyche stepped back from Aster and opened her mouth.
“No, we’re just…”
She trailed off awkwardly and gave a hesitant smile.
There was no way to define their relationship.
Aster was simply following his master’s orders.
He was a kind gentleman—but there was always a line between them.
“Aha, so not a couple—yet, huh?”
One of the costumed people grinned suspiciously and picked up the box again, holding it out to Aster.
POP—!
A loud explosion rang out, and a blinding flash burst forth, searing their vision.
POP!
Another blast followed—
and this time, darkness enveloped their sight.
A dark blue fog billowed out, swallowing the large man.
“Sir, are you okay?”
“…Yes.”
“What?”
As the fog cleared, a bluish light shimmered around Aster like a protective shield.
Eventually, the light faded, revealing Aster’s face covered in black dust. His expression was stiff.
“That light just now… oh my, your face—!”
Psyche’s shocked eyes said it all.
She pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to him.
The air around Aster already felt heavy and dark, like a storm cloud hanging over him.
“Oh dear! Sorry about that! Looks like you got the dud. Haha…”
The costumed performer laughed awkwardly.
“There’s a place at our shop where you can clean up. Would you like to come with me, sir?”
Aster remained expressionless.
He didn’t seem to feel anything at all, and Psyche forced a faint smile.
“Go ahead, Sir Aster. I’ll look around nearby.”
“It’s dangerous. It would be better if you—”
“You’re not going to say I should follow you around like this, right?”
Psyche interrupted him firmly.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“Apologies, but the space is small. Only the gentleman may accompany me.”
One of the costumed performers stepped between them.
“I’ll be nearby. Just over at that tea house, so don’t worry.”
“…Understood.”
The man stared at Psyche for a moment.
Then he stepped closer and slipped her handkerchief into his pocket.
“Be careful, Lady Psyche.”
He whispered in her ear, his smooth voice brushing against her cheek before his eyes shifted past her shoulder.
Psyche turned, confused, but he had already started walking away.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.
Then, as if remembering something, he turned back toward her.
“Sir Aster?”
When Psyche tilted her head curiously, he gave her a ge
ntle smile.
“You’ll probably need this.”
He pulled out a gold coin from his pocket and handed it to her, then turned away again.
