Chapter 3:
Is it a fail again today?
I chewed my nails with a nervous look.
It’s already been almost two years. At this rate, I will grow old and not be able find him.
‘I can’t. I have to find him today.’
He was supposed to show up by this time.
By the time he was a little older, he would have already left the house, and he might disappear.
Where and how to face each other was very important to me. The younger he was, the less alert he was, so it was advantageous for me.
“Wait, I heard something in there.”
I stopped walking while holding the knight’s hand.
I was relieved to quickly grasp the area around the alley without being invisible.
‘This is the right place, right?’
I’m not sure, but I’m sure it’s somewhere around here.
“I didn’t hear anything.”
The knight tilted his head at me.
It was only natural. Because I was lying to him now.
But I had to go in there.
There was a reason why I stubbornly came out to eat dessert that I didn’t even like.
“I’m sure I heard something. You don’t believe me?”
“That’s not true, but…….”
He scratched his head in bewilderment.
“It sounds like a child. I’ll go because I think you’re scared.”
“Lady, it’s dangerous. It would be best for me to go.”
I shook my head violently.
If he goes, his neck may be cut to pieces. I had to go.
Because I knew what was in there.
“If a big adult like the knight approaches me, I would probably be scared.”
“But.”
“I’ll scream if I think it’s dangerous. There’s no one coming out, so there won’t be anything dangerous.”
“Still, you can’t.”
“You know what kind of ability I’m capable of.”
He trembled with fear.
In fact, I have no ability. It was a bluff.
He believed I had the same abilities as Edgar, so wouldn’t it be okay to lie about this?
The power to protect one’s mana without losing mana to others.
That was Edgar’s power. But I didn’t have any.
“Believe it, believe it!”
I slowly opened my eyes and looked up at the knight.
Silence crossed between us for an instant.
Eventually, he took a step back and stayed.
“Thank you for trusting me. If I don’t come out in five minutes, you can come in.”
“……Alright.”
I smiled broadly and let go of the knight’s hand.
Slowly, I turned around and stared into the dark alley.
The sun was setting, but it was not between the buildings so that no light was coming in.
‘As expected, this is the right place.’
My confident steps were rather quick.
It may seem a little hasty, but I’ve been waiting for this time for so long.
I’ve been waiting for two years.
The reason why I am so obsessed with the alley now was none other than the male lead.
Leon Davis.
A cursed child. It was a modifier that followed like Leon’s tag.
Because of the dark mana, his golden hair, which had been dazzling in the sun, became dark.
Red eyes and dark hair symbolized misfortune. As if to prove that, Leon’s family was unfortunately doomed to death.
Right in his hands.
He absorbed the mana around him regardless of his will, and only after he woke up did he realize his power.
Above all, the worst curse he had was a facial recognition disorder that did not recognize people.
“Who’s there?”
I stepped into the alley and asked carefully.
I knew Leon was there, but my life was too precious to approach him carelessly.
“Is no one there? That’s weird, I’m sure I heard something.”
I could feel the sticky feeling of sticking to my shoes with the nose-poking smell of blood.
I crept into the quiet alley.
At that moment, a trembling voice was heard in the dark.
“Sta- stay away!”
‘There he is.’
I was relieved the moment I heard the boy’s voice.
I was at a moment where I was at a loss for an excuse to look for him if he wasn’t here either.
I was so glad to see him that my stride was widened.
I finally met him.
I tried to lower the raised corners of my lips.
“Don’t come closer!”
Leon, stained with blood, shivered and shouted.
His eyes were filled with fear as if he were struggling to live.
Red eyes contrasted with the pale face. Her black hair, which was obscured by darkness and not even light, was fluttering in the wind.
In short, he was beautiful.
‘Actually, he looks great.’
Even though he was only a seven-year-old kid, he was already beautiful.
The feeling of actually facing him, which I had only imagined, was indescribable.
“It’s all right. I’m here to help you.”
“Please leave me alone…….”
If I take a step closer, his long, beautiful fingers will cut my neck in half. But I couldn’t give up.
He was my last hope, my only way out of death.
“Leon Davis. It’s your name, isn’t it?”
His eyes, which were trembling with fear, shone fiercely.
Realizing that I knew who he was, Leon stared at me with great vigilance.
* * *
“I will save you.”
“…… You’re lying.”
“I’m telling you, I know who you are. I won’t hurt you. I’m here to get you out of this hellish place.”
I reached out to him slowly.
Leon stepped back and stared at me. How do I look like in his eyes?
I can’t imagine.
“It’s okay if you don’t recognize me. I won’t force you.”
Leon looked very flustered.
No one knew his curse. No one understood him, no one took him for who he was.
“So come with me.”
“Don’t come!”
Leon waved his hand in fear.
I only brushed it once, and I felt a pain on my cheek. I’m sure my cheeks are bleeding even if I don’t see them.
“Ah, ah…!”
It was me who was hurt, but it was him who was surprised.
Looking at him with a calm expression, I smiled casually.
“It’s not your fault. You warned me not to come.”
This level of pain was bearable.
It was no big deal compared to later being decapitated.
Even if you get a scar just to scratch it slightly, it will heal quickly since you were young.
“Sorry, this is…… This is….”
Leon wrapped his face with guilt. The moment I saw it, I ran to him without
thinking.
“It’s all right, Leon, I’m not dead and I’m not afraid of you.”
I held Leon, who is smaller and weaker than me, in my arms.
Slowly patted him on the back and soothed him. I would be the one who saved him from this terrible place.
‘Everything should be okay, right?’
I hung a blue ribbon on my wrist.
Just in case he forgets.
“I will always have a blue ribbon on my wrist from now on. It’s easy to recognize, isn’t it?”
“……why me.”
“Do I need a reason?”
Leon looked up at me. It reminded me of a rose with red eyes.
Like hiding thorns behind beauty and protecting it.
He was struggling not to be swayed by people.
“……No.”
Leon squeezed my collar.
I finally brought him to my side.
I pressed down on my overwhelming emotions and looked at the clock.
Fortunately, less than five minutes passed.
“Let’s go out for now. There’s nothing good about being here.”
“This.…”
“You didn’t do it. Isn’t that right?”
I tilted my head at the people lying on the floor.
I smiled at him with an expression of ignorance.
“…….”
Leon did not lie. He just bows his head without saying a word.
“It’s okay, no one will know. You’re just a seven-year-old kid, aren’t you? You were just trying to protect yourself.”
Leon’s red eyes were wide open upon hearing my words.
The dried eyes quickly filled with water. Tears dripped down his cheeks.
“Yes, if you want to cry, cry as much as you want. I’m will not force you to do anything.”
Leon forcibly swallowed the sobs that came out.
That’s probably the way he lived until now. He always had to endure the pain and be patient.
I took Leon’s hand and slowly made my way out of the alley.
That was my first meeting with him.
