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Chapter 10 : Freedom (3)
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A woman, wearing a dress, was sitting on a chair in a dark space.
No, to be precise, the darkness started from beneath her feet and filled the surroundings.
She opened her eyes as she tapped the handle of the chair. The closed door opened and the outside air rushed in.
A fresh and lively smell touched the tip of her nose, which had adjusted to the smell of blood. Something that had begun in her shadow sensed it and shuddered.
"Regina Blois has crossed the border."
Her aide, who stepped in regardless of the blood that covered all sides, gave a short report.
Empress Dowager Alicia couldn't hold back her chuckle.
That lofty guy eventually lost his fiancée.
Of course, it would have been better if her subordinates had intercepted it first, but this alone was good enough.
Don't he feel like he've become a sick bastard who doesn't know what to do?
Besides, she's doing things according to plan while he's out of his mind, so she'll be able to give him a punch right in the face.
"What about that kid?"
"I'm chasing her. I'll be able to catch it before Arsene Greroy."
He couldn't even cross the border now, and her men, on the other hand, moved easily to Misbrunn. Perhaps sooner or later she will be the one to get her in front of him.
Empress Dowager, with a satisfied face, stroked the black thing clinging to her side.
What to do first when she gets Regina Blois? She pondered.
Excellent healing power that can heal a cut-throat in an instant. It was clear that if she had the same level of power as those who were named after eating a piece of God's power, she would be able to reach her desired goal even more easily.
Both of her work going smoothly and the fact that she will stab Arsene back, whom she didn't want to see, made her happy.
Her laughter leaked out of the door. It was a voice full of anticipation and joy.
Logan, who was hiding nearby, heard his mother's laughter, his expression darkening.
'Regina.....'
He thought they would get along well and didn't look for more on purpose, but he never imagined she would run away from Arsene and cross the border.
He always thought she would be okay with Arsene by her side, but if this happened, she would not be safe from his mother.
Her turquoise eyes stared down the dark hallway.
Regina's voice, which said she was getting married because she loved Arsene, echoed in his head for a moment.
'It must have been a lie.'
The figure of Arsene, who was hugging her in the hallway, also passed by. Was he doing it to show himself?
But his older brother's eyes, full of possessiveness, were genuine.
"......."
Logan held his breath and moved on. He couldn't stay still like this.
He had to save Regina from anyone.
*****
Regina put her chin on her hand and pondered. Her dark hair brushed her cheeks and her twinkling pink eyes stared into the air.
'How can I repay you?'
No matter how much Duchess Haynes chose to help her, she couldn't help but think of something in returner. Moreover, she held out her hand even though she only had a loss.
Regina, who was sitting on the bed and worrying, lay on her back. In view, she could see the flat ceiling of the inn, not the familiar ceiling of the Greroy mansion.
'I guess I really escaped from Greroy.'
Thinking about it, she wrapped herself in a blanket. Rolling around on the bed, curled up like a caterpillar, felt certain freedom for some reason.
After thinking about it for a long time, she finally decided to repay her.
She didn't have much right now. Money and body, that was all.
For the Duchess of Haynes, who is already making a lot of money by running the guild, would not be very inspired by just money. However, she couldn't say that she would go to the guild and work.
Then how about something a little special?
It was a bit of a risk, but she was embarrassed to worry about it for the Duchess who brought her here.
'Good. Let's make a special potion.'
It didn't require many ingredients, just brewing the tea and adding healing powers.
Determined, Regina stood up right away. Soon she was leaving Gravena, so she had no time to hesitate. Putting on her cloak and grabbing her sword for self-defense, she left the room.
She had heard that they were leaving here tomorrow, so it didn't matter where she went today, but she thought she should at least let Duchess Haynes know, so Regina went looking for her. Not long after, Regina found the Duchess in the lobby talking to someone from the guild.
Likewise, Iria, who noticed Regina coming down the stairs, stopped talking for a moment and looked at her.
"Duchess, I'm going out for a while."
"Do you need an escort?"
"Well, no. It's right around here, so I'll be right back."
The shopping center was really close, so it only took a moment. There were a lot of people during the day, so it didn't seem like it would be too dangerous.
When she came out of the building, the sun shone warmly. The streets were lively. People were constantly walking around and there were sounds of buying and selling goods everywhere.
Regina mingled casually among them and found a shop selling herbs. Fortunately, there was a herbal medicine shop not too far away.
The herbs she used before were also here. She picked up a few bundles of it that smelled familiar, she paid for it and went out into the street again.
'The weather is nice.'
Maybe that's why people seemed more happy. She was wearing her cloak, just in case, and she had the feeling that only she gave off a gloomy aura.
'Should I buy a cake or something like that.'
She looked around the bakery or candy store because she thought eating something sweet would make her feel a little better.
All the food on display looked pretty and delicious. She felt exotic on the street, but it didn't seem that different when she saw the food.
Chocolates wrapped in pretty wrappers, cheesecakes covered in sugar water, and puddings that look soft, etc. All of them are quite expensive, but it made her happy and immersed in her troubles.
But just as she was distracted by looking at food, someone hit her and passed by.
"Ah."
Looking back with a slightly surprised look, her eyes met the little boy who bumped into her.
It seemed to have been cleaned up as neatly as possible, but it was a child who could see that an adult's touch had not been reached. It means dirty.
Regina suddenly thought of that when she saw the child bowing his head and saying sorry.
'In this case, usually.....'
Looking at the child who turned around and left, she unknowingly put her hand on the belt on which the money bag was hung. She's sorry for the child, but she had to check.
And unfortunately, it was as expected. The money is gone.
Of course, she didn't come out with all her possessions, and she did all her business today, so it would be okay if that much disappeared, but she thought it would be better to try to find it.
"There–."
But she didn't have to chase the child to catch it.
The child who was trying to run, was quickly caught by a man's hand. It was really a blink of an eye.
"Let go of me!"
The half-lifted child struggled to get down, but he couldn't beat the adult man.
Walking toward the child, she stopped because she didn't understand the situation.
'Who is that man?'
A man with sand-colored hair strode forward with the child in his hand. It was amazing how he managed not to lose sight of the child shaking his whole body.
"Uh, stay still. Then I will drop you."
The man who approached her put the child down and held him so that he could not escape. Then he held something out to her.
"Here, take it. Next time, don't lose it."
In his hand was the pouch the child had stolen.
"What!"
The child screamed in bewilderment. Apparently, the money bag he had, was in his hand before he knew it.
A man who steals things from a child who steals things, more skillfully than he does without noticing it....
The man who acts nonchalantly with a smiling face felt somewhat like a fox.
"....Thank you."
She received her money bag in the midst of a bewilderment. The stormy situation was very embarrassing and confusing, but it would be better to say thank you.
After receiving the money bag, she made a rough check to see if the money was still there. There seemed to be no significant difference.
Regina sighed lightly. Her money bag was stolen, and she consciously tried to relax, but it seemed that she had loosened it up too much.
The man who grabbed the child who tried to run away whenever he had a chance and waited for her to check it said.
"Can you forgive this child?"
Then he winked at the child as if to apologize, but the child jerked his head away. He was resentful of being caught by a man.
"Do you know each other?"
She tilted her head at the way he treated him so casually. A kid who is acquainted with such a far-fetched man steals?
However, contrary to expectations, the man shook his head.
"No, we don't know each other."
He smiled and tilted his head lightly as if it were a problem.
Regina was more confused by those words.
When he saw a stranger being stolen by an unknown child, he caught and returned it. Besides, he asks the child to apologize to her, and he asks if she can forgive it.
It was like a man who was the guardian of peace.
Regina, who tied the money bag back to her waist, looked down at the child who was annoyed.
It seemed that the child had no parents or that the parents had no money.
Dirty, unwashed skin, hair that looked like it was greasy, and thin limbs that had dried out under loose clothing were visible to her.
"......"
After thinking for a while, she talked to the child who was frowning a lot.
"Hey, come with me."
The child squeaked in a firm voice. From the sight of the woman wearing a dark cape looking down with a shady face, she seemed to be a strange person to the child, but she said to came along. Where?
The child turned to look at Regina and looked up at the man holding him this time. Then he looked at her again and then looked at the man again.
She hoped he wasn't talking about herself. But his gaze was fixed on this side.
The child looked embarrassed and pointed at his face as if she was talking to himself.
"Yes, you."
Regina nodded her head to him as if to follow her.
Then the man stepped out.
"Can I follow you? I wonder where you're going."
It was obvious that he was afraid that she might do something to the child, as if she were a kidnapper.
While she was tying her money bag earlier, the man saw a sword glancing under her cloak. There was no certainty that she would not harm the child.
"I'll be quiet. Really, I promise."
The man was still smiling light-hearted, but his eyes kept looking at her.
"Sure."
She didn't care whether a man followed her or not because it didn't matter at all. The thief was a child, but it was a little funny that she was treated like a suspicious person.
Regina shrugged and continued. After that, a sand-haired man and the little thief follow her.
The place where she brought the child was a restaurant.
"Eat slowly. I'll order more if you want."
The child was wary of Regina at first, but eventually fell into the delicious-smelling food.
Looking at the child who was eating busily, she pushed the water next to her toward the child.
The man looked at her with her strange gaze. It must have seemed strange that she was showing her kindness to a child she had never seen before.
In fact, Regina herself was also strange.
She would have just gone back to her quarters if she had been like her usual. The money was returned, and she was the one who would leave tomorrow anyway.
However, it suddenly came to mind that the Duchess of Haynes had helped her, and it bothered her to pass by.
But she didn't know how it'll be used to when she gets the money back. Eventually, she decided to feed the child.
After a while, the child, who ate as much as he could, hesitated and bowed to Regina.
"I'm sorry...."
"Yes."
She couldn't tell him not to do that next time. It must have been a way for the child to survive.
Regina, who came out after paying the bill, sent the child. The child, who hesitated a little, greeted her carefully and disappeared into the alley.
As Regina watched him disappear, she turned around to go back to her accommodation. She thought that the man who followed her to the restaurant would go back on his own.
"Come to think of it, I haven't even asked your name until now. My name is Cyril."
Contrary to what she thought, the man stayed with her even though the child had gone.
Regina glanced at him following her and headed firmly to the accommodation.
"I didn't tell my name to someone I've never seen before."
So she didn't ask the child's name, and she didn't ask his name either.
Logan who deceived her made her even more cautious about making friends with the strangers. So it meant that she would be wary if he tried to get close to her even if he was following her for the child.
Cyril, realize that she was push him away, smiled and matched her steps.
"Okay, then you don't have to tell me. Why did you come to Gravena? Oh, can't I ask you this too?"
While the child was eating, it seemed to be a little quiet, but then again behaved like a fox like the first time she saw him. Even though she walked fast on purpose, he followed persistently.
"Why do you keep following me?"
Leaving the Yurdenian Empire and putting down her status as an aristocrat, she did not hesitate in her words and actions.
As she approached her inn, she stopped, folded her arms, and looked up at him crookedly. As a result, the hood of the cloak slightly rolled back, revealing a little more of her face.
"I just want to be with you a little longer. I'm just curious."
"What are you so curious about?"
If it was a simple question, she was about to answer it quickly and send it away.
Duchess Haynes, who was outside the building, found Regina where she had been.
"Regina?"
Ouch. Regina, who didn't think she would be there, closed her eyes at the sight of her calling her name.
"Welcome. But who's next to you....."
Then the Duchess suddenly frowned. Looking next to Regina, she doubted her eyes.
"Cyril Azadi?"
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