HIFH | Chapter 8

Episode 8

“You didn’t seem like the type, but you’re actually quite a coward.”

“Hey.”

“So what if you make the wrong choice? You just move on.”

I lifted my head.

Lu’s expression remained the same—even after I had revealed my own shortcomings so openly. He looked at me just as he always did.

“The world won’t crumble just because you made a wrong choice. It’s just a minor regret, nothing more.”

“……”

“And after that, you refine your next choice. Failure is just a stepping stone to making the right one.”

His tone was playful, yet somehow gentle, as if he was comforting me.

“From leopard print to polka dots, from polka dots to stripes… something like that.”

“Did you really have to use that example?”

“I was too shocked by Charles’s dreadful fashion sense to help myself.”

“Hey.”

I shot him a glare, but Lu just laughed again.

“For now, let’s focus on evolving to polka dots.”

As the carriage stopped in the city, Lou stood up and extended his hand toward me.

“Your hand. You need to hold it, right?”

I stared at his outstretched hand.

Something felt… different from earlier when I had grabbed his hand without a second thought.

But I couldn’t refuse this hand.

Slowly, I took it.

His warmth spread through my fingertips, making them tingle. It felt strange.

“Well done, Charles.”

Really, it felt strange.

And then—

‘Huh?’

The moment I stepped out of the carriage, a young child brushed past me, and my eyes widened.

‘That kid… I’m sure I’ve seen them before.’

“Oh my! You must be the young lady from the rumors!”

“My goodness! I never imagined you’d be this adorable!”

The moment we entered the boutique, women with extravagant appearances flocked to me.

They clapped, laughed loudly, and buzzed excitedly as they circled around me.

I felt slightly dizzy.

“With someone like you, dressing you up will be a delight!”

“You’d look good in anything! Except what you’re wearing now!”

Honestly, the clothes I was wearing were ones my fellow Guardians had been about to throw away, so I took them instead.

At this point, I had to seriously wonder—why had no one ever told me my clothes were terrible?

Could it be that… I was actually being ostracized by the Guardians?

Since I didn’t know that my colleagues were too afraid of me to say anything, this was the only conclusion I could come to.

“Charles had to rush to the capital because of me and couldn’t bring many belongings. We’d like recommendations for clothes suitable for the capital. Dresses, blouses, skirts, trousers—everything. Oh, and shoes and hats as well.”

Lu spoke to the women while I was momentarily lost in thought. I quickly shook my head.

“That’s too much. I don’t need—”

“Please throw away everything Charles is currently wearing.”

“……”

Tch.

I pouted and clutched the hem of my skirt.

“Yes, yes! Welcome, Lord Lu, Lady Charles!”

“We’ll make sure your beauty shines even more!”

The women bustled around, rolling in large racks of clothes.

They began presenting outfits one by one.

“This blouse is made from imported silk fabric from the eastern continent. It follows the latest trend of the ‘Leg of Mutton’ style, enhancing curves.”

“You’ll love this skirt too! It has a reduced bustle compared to before, offering better ventilation and a sleek silhouette thanks to its linen material.”

After that, the conversation was filled with fashion terms I couldn’t understand at all.

To my eyes, everything looked the same.

But Lu seemed to think differently.

With a serious expression, he examined the outfits for a long time before finally handing me several dresses.

“Why don’t you try these on, Charles? It’ll help us decide whether to alter them or commission new ones.”

I looked down at the dresses he held out.

“All of these…?”

“Yes. After trying them on, let me know which one you like the most.”

“Do I really have to…?”

“Charles.”

Lu firmly placed the dresses into my arms and spoke.

“I’m giving you the moment to make a choice.”

It could have sounded incredibly romantic.

If only his eyes weren’t burning with his passion for fashion.

“This feels more like you’re forcing a choice on me.”

“I’m simply making it easier for you.”

He always had a way with words.

I adjusted the dresses in my arms and looked at the staircase leading to the fitting rooms.

“I’ll go try them on…”

“Hurry.”

Lu and the women nudged me toward the stairs.

“Now, let’s pick out accessories.”

“How about a wide-brimmed hat?”

I deliberately ignored the voices behind me. Lu would take care of it anyway.

I had something else to do.

Click.

As soon as I entered the fitting room, I placed a chair in front of the door to block it, then looked out the window.

The fitting room was on the second floor, but a small bridge over the river connected to the window, making it about the height of a third-floor building.

That wasn’t a problem for me.

‘That kid from earlier.’

I recalled the child who had brushed past me when I got off the carriage.

‘They’re an agent from Catacle.’

I had seen them a few times at headquarters.

‘They worked under Deputy Commander Henry.’

Henry’s jurisdiction wasn’t the empire but foreign territories.

So why was one of his agents here, in the empire’s capital?

‘I need to find out.’

I opened the window and stepped onto the ledge.

Then, gripping the frame with one hand, I dropped down. I searched for footholds on the wall.

There were a few protruding bricks, so I was able to climb down without too much trouble.

I had about twenty minutes alone in the fitting room.

I had to find that kid within that time.

‘They were heading toward the marketplace.’

I recalled the shoe polish stains on their face and hands.

Which meant they were likely pretending to be a shoeshine boy.

With my destination set, I moved quickly.

But I didn’t run.

That would draw attention.

Instead, I weaved through the crowd, ensuring I remained unnoticed.

Before long, I reached the marketplace.

And there—

I spotted the kid, imitating a shoeshiner.

“Do you shine women’s shoes too?”

I took a deep breath and asked calmly.

“Yes! Of course! For a lady like you, I’ll even give a special service for five pence—”

The kid beamed at me but trailed off mid-sentence.

The moment they saw my face, they recognized who I was.

“It’s a relief that you recognize me. That means we can talk.”

“Uh, um…”

“If you pretend not to know me, I’ll kill you.”

“…What?”

“If you run, I’ll kill you.”

It was a bluff, but the kid believed me.

I had been an agent of Catacle for over twenty years.

To this child, who looked barely ten years old, I must have seemed like an untouchable senior.

“I-I’m not supposed to talk to an agent.”

The kid didn’t know my name and only called me “agent.” That made it all the more insignificant for me to respond.

“But we’re already talking, aren’t we?”

Then, I smirked.

“Since we’re talking anyway, if we get caught, I’ll live, and you’ll die. So what should you do?”

I could see the child’s throat bob as he swallowed. I reached for the pistol hidden at my thigh.

But—

“I-I’ll do it for five pence! Please have a seat and place your left foot up first!”

Fortunately, I didn’t have to use the gun.

I sat down naturally and placed my foot on the stand, speaking in a quiet voice.

“Why is someone under Deputy Commander Henry in the capital?”

“…I can’t disclose my mission. Oh my, your shoes are quite dirty! Let me clean them up for you!”

“What if I try guessing?”

I watched the kid closely as he played the role of a shoeshiner without a hitch.

“You’re looking for the relic too, aren’t you?”

“Cough!”

The kid let out a startled cough, clearly shaken.

“The relic should be under the commander’s jurisdiction. Why is the deputy commander involved?”

“Uh, um, p-please give me your right foot! I’m done with the left one!”

“Ah. I see now.”

I stared directly at the kid’s confused expression.

“You want to secure results before the commander does. That way, you can keep his power in check.”

I leaned forward, closing the distance between us, and met his wavering gaze.

“Should I call this… a rebellion?”

“N-no! It’s nothing like that!”

The kid quickly waved his shoebrush in the air in denial.

“What do you think will happen if I report this to the commander?”

I straightened up again and casually crossed my arms.

“Deputy Commander Henry will live. But you… you’ll die. By the commander’s hand? No. By the deputy commander’s.”

The color drained from the kid’s face.

I knew children his age well.

Or more precisely, I knew kids who had been made into agents at that age.

They weren’t yet loyal enough to give their lives for the organization.

But they definitely didn’t want to die caught up in an internal power struggle.

I knew that because I had once been the same.

Placing a hand on the kid’s shoulder, I whispered.

“So tell me.”

“……”

“What have you found?”