“A miss from a noble’s house?”
“Yes, you. I’m talking about you.”
A thug poked Ciello’s shoulder with a rolled-up book. It was then that Ciello realized her situation. Her indoor dress from the Duke’s Mansion and thin silk shoes were clearly out of place in a back alley.
“Your Ladyship, you shouldn’t be in a place like this. Please leave gracefully.”
One of the young men who had been laughing and bowing to Ciello in a courtly manner suddenly looked at Ciello’s face.
“Aren’t you that maid?”
“Oh. It seems like it? Let me see that book.”
A thug smeared saliva on his hand and flipped through the thin book, then let out an admiring “Wow.”
“We found it. It’s her, it’s her.”
“That kid, she looks stupid but her night skills are no joke, right?”
A thug waved the book in front of Ciello’s eyes. The crude flesh-colored illustration was clearly a depiction of her and Estribal.
“What kind of nonsense is that…Hey, give that to me.”
Ciello reached out her hand. But the thugs, as if they were even more excited, laughed and raised the book higher. Ciello’s cheeks burned with humiliation.
“Are you a bit smaller than in the picture? If you touch it once…….”
The thugs were making vulgar jokes among themselves when suddenly one of them reached out. At that moment,
“Ugh-huh!”
The thug rolled around clutching between his legs. Ciello, who had kicked the thug, ran away without hesitation.
“Hey, are you okay? That crazy girl……!”
Ciello ran wildly through the alley. It felt refreshing to run freely after a long time, but the speed was slower than expected. The thin shoes were dangerously close to being stripped off, and the clothes were also uncomfortable for running.
‘Ah, I should have changed my shoes.’
The moment Ciello reached out to jump over a low wall, she felt a burning sensation at the back of her head.
“Kyaa!”
Ciello staggered and was dragged down the wall.
“This thing…….”
The thug who grabbed Ciello’s hair glared at Ciello with terrifying eyes. But Ciello did not flinch at all and stared back at him.
“Can’t you open your eyes properly?”
The thug threw Ciello to the ground. The thin silk dress became muddy.
“Ah! It hurts!”
Ciello grimaced and screamed. The thug who had been hit by Ciello limped over and grabbed Ciello by the collar and pulled her up.
“This dog-like……. Are you crazy wanting to die? You, you…will you take responsibility?”
“What’s the use of it with that face?”
Ciello scoffed at him. The thug looked at Ciello with an absurd face that was beyond anger.
“What? This crazy woman isn’t scared…….”
Ciello chuckled. After all, no matter how much they raged, they were not a real threat to Ciello, who could turn back time. She was just in a bad mood and wanted to vent, so she took their bait.
“I’m not scared. If you’re scared of this, you can’t survive on these streets.”
Ciello retorted with her chin up. Having had a good fight after a long time, she felt rather refreshed. She just needed to give one more blow and turn back time. Then she could leave as if nothing had happened.
The moment Ciello hid one hand behind her back and prepared to turn back time,
“Ugh!!”
The thug who was holding Ciello’s collar flew away. The book that had been mocking Ciello fell to the ground. Surprised, Ciello’s eyes widened.
“What, what is it?”
“You guys, if you bully the weak……. Ciello?”
The one who had sent the thug flying was Noah, who had run panting.
“What are you doing here? Are you hurt?”
Noah, carrying a large bag, put his rough hand on Ciello’s shoulder. Ciello looked at Noah in surprise.
“Uh, uh, why are you here?”
“I am…….”
Then, another thug intervened between the two.
“Who are you!”
Noah sent Ciello behind him and shouted confidently.
“Two of you are bullying a girl, is that what a man does?”
“Ha, you seem to be that woman’s lover too? You weren’t satisfied with just one man…….”
“What? This filthy…….”
The moment Noah tried to step forward, Ciello jumped out from behind Noah and kicked the thug’s shin.
“Ah!!”
The thug screamed and fell. Ciello snapped at the thug in annoyance.
“Don’t interfere. He’s talking to me, okay!”
Ciello lifted her foot to kick the thug rolling on the ground once more.
“That, ugh, save me!”
Seeing this, the thugs almost lined up to run away. Ciello dusted off her hands.
“Hmph, you should run away quickly. Thugs these days have no sense.”
Noah looked at Ciello with a dumbfounded expression.
“So, you are you…….”
Ciello shrugged her shoulders and asked back.
“How did you get here?”
“Ah, that. The Liberation Force originally helps the struggling Peregrine people. We find meaningful people and have meetings. We had to be quiet for a while, but if we delayed any longer, there would be too many starving people.”
Noah sighed deeply, patting the large bag filled with bread.
“Originally, the elder should do it, but our hideout has become too far away and it’s hard to move. So I came.”
“Noah, you did more than I thought?”
At Ciello’s words, Noah flared up.
“You always think more than, more than, what do you think of me?”
“Um, a kid running errands for an old woman?”
“What? A kid?”
Noah looked at Ciello with a dumbfounded face.
“You see it like that because you’re with that old snake all day! But I’m the official successor of the Liberation Force……. Ah, forget it.”
Noah sighed deeply as if giving up.
“Anyway, on the way back after finishing the task, I heard that a Peregrine girl got into a fight, so I came. Why are you doing this?”
“Ah, that.”
Ciello sighed and kicked the fallen book on the ground to pick it up. Noah was surprised.
“What is that?”
“Do you want to see?”
Ciello threw a thin book at Noah with a sullen face. Noah’s face turned red as he unknowingly opened the book.
“Hey, if you show me something like this……!”
Noah, startled, handed the book back to Ciello with trembling hands. But Ciello was calm.
“I’ve heard worse threats on the street. I should be thankful it’s just this.”
But Noah’s face was serious.
“You, isn’t it better to just leave that mansion? You’re simply hearing this because you’re involved with that person.”
“What’s so much…….”
“So much, what! If that guy really has a conscience, he should tell you to leave first, or go to the founding ceremony separately, right?”
At Noah’s anger, Ciello hummed and stroked her chin.
“Is that so…….So that’s why.”
“What?”
“No, anyway, let’s go. Noah. Have you ever jumped over a wall?”
Ciello pointed to the low wall next to her. Noah could easily jump over it. But Noah shook his head as if he didn’t like it.
“Are you really a spider? Come this way.”
“It’s much faster to jump over the wall. That way is far.”
Ciello grumbled at the distance that had grown, but Noah, knowing this, quickly led the way to the main road.
“Throw away your expensive clothes. Come this way.”
Reluctantly, Ciello also had to walk around following him, and their way home became a bit longer.
Noah took out a small baguette from his bag. It was bread left over from distributing to people.
“You don’t eat this kind of thing now?”
Ciello, who hesitated for a moment, shook her head.
“No, give me one too.”
Noah split the baguette in half, put one in his mouth, and handed the other to Ciello. There was a small swirl shape printed on the bottom of the baguette.
“Oh. I’ve seen this before?”
At Ciello’s words, Noah nodded nonchalantly.
“You must have. You’ve received it a few times, right? You may not remember, but I’ve been to your orphanage.”
“Really? Have I seen you?”
“Yeah. It wasn’t an orphanage only for Peregrine kids, so I couldn’t go often……. But I saw a red-haired girl beating people with a tree branch.”
Noah looked at Ciello and said.
“I was doubtful, but seeing what you did today, it’s right.”
Ciello’s face turned red.
“Ah, that! They bullied my friend first…probably!”
Noah chuckled and took a big bite of the baguette. Ciello also awkwardly put the baguette in her mouth.
The bread was tough. Naturally, it was rough to Ciello’s mouth, which was already accustomed to luxurious food, but the rough taste of rye felt familiar and comfortable instead of soft wheat.
Noah stared at Ciello chewing the bread. At that moment, Noah seemed to understand why he chose this long path.
The sunset, which resembled the color of her hair, slid over her blunt nose. Even though she was wearing a dirt-covered dress, her steps were brisk, but her eyes, which had jumped up, were swollen as if she had cried.
‘It doesn’t seem to be because of the delinquents. What is it.’
Noah, who was walking slowly side by side with Ciello, asked nonchalantly.
“Ciello. Do you want to have a beer with us?”
Ciello blushed.
“I will never drink with you.”
“Why!”
At the unexpected quick refusal, Noah’s turquoise eyes widened. But Ciello was firm.
“Do you know how much I suffered because of you being drunk?”
“Ah, that. Ah…….”
Noah scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed face. Ciello chuckled and said.
“See you next time. I think I should go back today. You shouldn’t be out too long either.”
“That’s true, but…….”
Before they knew it, the narrow alleyway ended and a crossroads on the main road spread out in front of them. Noah looked at Ciello with a regretful face.
“You said you finished making the imitation, right? I’ll come to practice soon. The princess likes plums. What do you like?”
“Huh? I’m fine with anything…….”
“That’s right. I’ll bring you a boiled orange.”
“No!”
Ciello chuckled at the startled Noah. Noah sighed deeply.
“It’s okay. Just come. The princess really treats you well.”
“That’s true. Thanks for helping me today. You should go in quickly too. Don’t get caught unnecessarily.”
“Yeah, you too, take care.”
Noah quietly watched Ciello’s back disappearing among the people. A woman who does whatever she wants in the world, but strangely, it’s hard to hate her. She doesn’t hide her desire to wear beautiful clothes, but she’s not afraid to roll in the mud even if she wears the silk shoes she wished for.
For some reason, Noah thought he would remember that sight for a long time.
