"What—"

She turned.

Boran.

"Hey, look, there's a pretty woman here," Boran said lightly as he pulled Mae out from her hiding place, his crooked smile appearing as usual.

In the back courtyard, Aldric froze for a fraction of a second.

Liria was also startled.

But Aldric quickly composed himself.

Calm.

Cold.

"…Healer Mae," he greeted politely, as if the previous conversation had never happened.

Mae looked at him without smiling, then brushed Boran's arm off her shoulder.

Only one thought spiraled through Aldric's mind:

Did she hear everything… or not?

Meanwhile, Liria gave a thin smirk.

"Eh? What's a holy healer doing here?" she sneered. "Applying for work? Brothels always need gentle hands."

Mae's gaze hardened.

"I'm here for Lina," she answered shortly.

Then she stepped forward.

And without preamble—

"And you have no right to slap her."

Her voice was flat.

The courtyard fell silent.

Boran raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Lina.

"Oh?" he murmured. "So this is the pretty healer from Voss Territory, huh?"

He chuckled quietly.

"Too bad I can't touch such beauty—"

His hand nearly brushed Lina's hair.

"—and this little girl is quite cute too…"

CLACK.

In an instant, a metal gauntlet appeared around Mae's hand.

She caught Boran's wrist before it could touch Lina.

"Touch her," Mae said softly, "and you'll lose your fingers."

Boran went still.

Then laughed quietly.

"Heh, you're fierce too…"

Aldric cleared his throat.

"Let's all relax a little," he said, his voice gentle but alert. "She's a guest."

Boran raised his hands.

"Okay, okay." He took a step back.

Liria scoffed.

"Tch." She crossed her arms. "Playing family, are we?"

Her gaze was directed at Mae and Lina, who now stood close together.

Mae dismissed the gauntlet.

But she did not move away from Lina.

Aldric watched from the side.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

This is dangerous…

If she reports me to the Voss family…

From a distance, he watched as she turned away.

He took a breath.

Then spoke.

In a deliberately polite tone.

Slightly theatrical.

"Lady Healer," he said with a small bow. "May I ask… how much of that did you hear?"

Mae was silent for a moment.

She hadn't heard everything.

But she wasn't foolish either.

"I heard all of it," Mae replied at last.

Aldric gave a thin smile.

He gestured to his subordinate.

A small pouch was tossed onto the wooden table nearby.

The sound of metal clinked from inside.

"Let's consider this…" he said slowly, "…a token of gratitude."

Mae looked at it.

Did not take it.

"I don't need your money."

Her tone rose slightly.

Sharper.

"I won't interfere."

Lina glanced briefly at the pouch.

Her hand twitched—

But Mae let out a sigh and gently pulled her back.

A small motion.

A silent signal:

Leave it.

Aldric narrowed his eyes.

"Oh… so you're not interested?"

He leaned closer.

"But are you really not going to interfere?"

"Yes," Mae answered shortly.

Then she turned to Lina.

"We're going home."

Aldric chuckled.

"Such a straightforward choice."

He straightened.

"I thought you'd be pleased to take part in ruining that young Voss idiot."

Mae's body trembled slightly.

The name.

Lucian Voss.

The face.

That disgusting smile.

Her grip tightened on Lina's arm.

She closed her eyes briefly.

Forcing the memory deep down.

"I'm not interested," she finally said, her voice colder than before.

She gave a short nod.

"Excuse me."

Mae pulled Lina along with her.

"Lina, the carriage to the village will be leaving soon."

She walked away without looking back.

Leaving the courtyard.

Leaving Aldric's stare behind.

From a distance, Aldric watched her back disappear.

The unease in his gut did not fade.

---

Mae and Lina walked away from the back courtyard.

The noise of the market slowly swallowed the tension they had just left behind.

Only after they entered a quieter alley did Mae stop.

She turned to Lina.

"Now tell me," she said softly. "Why did she slap you?"

Lina flinched.

Her eyes widened.

"I–I thought… you heard everything, Miss Mae…" she murmured unsteadily.

Mae shook her head slightly.

"I didn't."

Lina lowered her head.

Her hands clenched together.

Her body began to tremble.

"T-There was poison…" she finally said. "In the bread and the wine I gave to the Young Master."

Mae fell silent.

Lina continued, tears welling in her eyes.

"I…" Her breath shook. "I'm scared… if the Young Master knows. But I'm also scared… if he wasn't poisoned at all… And since the Young Master hasn't come to the brothels, Liria said it's likely he didn't touch the bread and wine at all."

Mae closed her eyes briefly.

Then spoke calmly.

"It's alright."

Lina looked up.

Mae met her gaze.

"The Young Master already knows."

Lina's face went pale.

"H-He knows…?" She grabbed Mae's hand, trembling. "Then I'm in danger…"

Her voice broke.

"I could be killed…"

She trembled violently.

Mae saw a young woman who only wanted to survive.

Not a criminal.

Not a mastermind.

Just… someone pushed into a corner.

She pulled Lina into an embrace.

"You're safe," she whispered. "You don't need to worry."

Lina stiffened.

"T-Then… what about Sir Aldric?" she asked anxiously. "Liria… and their plan…"

Mae let out a quiet breath.

Staring ahead.

"We only need to stay silent."

Then she looked back at Lina.

"Don't involve yourself in their filth."

Lina nodded faintly.

---

They were already inside the carriage.

The steady rhythm of wooden wheels grinding against stone echoed softly.

Inside the enclosed space, the atmosphere was awkward.

Lina sat hugging her knees.

Mae sat beside her, staring at the carriage floor.

The uncomfortable silence finally broke.

"I'm tired…" Lina's voice was hoarse. "I'm really tired."

Mae turned toward her.

Lina took a deep breath.

"I don't know whether I should keep working as a cook at the brothel…" she whispered. "Or eventually become one of the women there…"

Mae flinched.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Lina lowered her head.

"Those are my only choices," she continued. "Cook until my body breaks… or sell myself before it does."

Mae fell silent.

Her hand slowly clenched atop her skirt.

She wanted to speak.

Wanted to say something.

But the words would not come.

She was nobody.

Not a noble.

Not a protector.

Just a poor healer with a small clinic.

Lina let out a quiet laugh.

Bitter.

"Funny, isn't it?"

She lifted her face.

"Why… why am I living like this?"

Her voice began to crack.

"I live in a filthy shack…" she said. "Eating leftovers…"

Tears fell.

"Even though my father died for Voss Territory."

---

Meanwhile — inside Voss Manor.

Lucas sat on the edge of his bed, his hair still slightly damp from his bath.

His room was quiet.

Too quiet.

A translucent blue window floated before his face.

[SYSTEM MENU — EXCHANGE]

The item list stretched downward endlessly.

Lucas scrolled through it with a blank expression.

"Trash…"

"Too expensive…"

"Useless…"

He let out a breath.

"There's really nothing useful for fighting…" he muttered.

[Ding!]

Of course~ (￣▽￣)

Remember... you weren't a warrior to begin with, hehe~

----

Lucas snorted.

"Shut it..."

Just as his irritation rose, a sudden knock came from the door.

Knock…

Knock….

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