Chapter 03
“Another dead end today?”
Anxiously, I chewed on my fingernails.
It had been almost two years already.
At this rate, I might grow older without ever finding him.
This can’t happen.
I have to find him today.
By this point in the story, he should have appeared.
If I waited until he was older, he would have already left that place and disappeared without a trace.
Where—and under what circumstances—I first met him was incredibly important.
The younger he was, the less guarded he’d be.
That gave me an advantage.
“Wait… I think I heard something from inside that alley.”
I stopped, grabbing the knight’s hand.
Without making it obvious, I quickly surveyed the area before letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
This should be the place… right?
I couldn’t be completely certain…
But I was sure it was somewhere around here.
“I didn’t hear anything, Young Miss.”
The knight tilted his head at me.
Naturally.
I was lying to him.
But I had to go in there.
The entire reason I’d insisted on coming out today by pretending I wanted desserts I didn’t even like…
…was because of what lay inside that alley.
“I definitely heard something.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“It’s not that…”
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“I think it sounded like a child.”
“If they’re scared, I’ll go.”
“Young Miss, it’s dangerous. Please allow me instead.”
I shook my head firmly.
If he went in…
He might lose his head.
I had to be the one to go.
Because I knew exactly what was waiting inside.
“If a big adult like you approaches, you’ll only frighten them.”
“But—”
“If anything dangerous happens, I’ll scream.”
“No one’s come out of there, so it can’t be that dangerous.”
“I still can’t allow it.”
“You know what kind of ability I have.”
The knight flinched.
In reality…
I had no ability whatsoever.
I was bluffing.
Since everyone believed I’d inherited Edgar’s power…
Surely a little lie wouldn’t hurt.
Edgar possessed the rare ability to protect his own mana while preventing others from stealing it.
I, on the other hand…
Had absolutely nothing.
Please believe me…
I slowly opened my eyes and looked up at the knight.
Silence settled between us.
Finally…
He stepped aside.
“I trust you.”
“If you haven’t come back within five minutes, I’ll come after you.”
“…Thank you.”
Smiling brightly, I lightly squeezed his hand before letting go.
Turning around, I looked into the darkness swallowing the alley.
The sun was setting, but the buildings weren’t so close together that no light reached inside.
I knew this was the place.
My footsteps quickened.
Perhaps I looked impatient.
But I’d waited so long for this moment.
Two whole years.
The reason I was so obsessed with this alley…
…was because of the male lead.
Rion Davis.
The Cursed Child.
That title followed him everywhere.
Because of the dark mana inside him, the brilliant golden hair he’d been born with had been consumed by darkness.
Black hair.
Crimson eyes.
Together, they were considered omens of misfortune.
As if proving that superstition true…
Everyone in Rion’s family had met a tragic end.
At his own hands.
Without realizing it, he unconsciously absorbed the mana around him.
Only after awakening did he finally understand what his power truly was.
But the cruelest part of his curse…
Was that he couldn’t recognize people’s faces.
“Is someone there?”
Stepping into the alley, I called out cautiously.
I knew Rion was here.
But recklessly approaching him would be risking my own life.
“No one’s here?”
“That’s strange…”
“I definitely heard something.”
The sharp smell of blood filled my nose.
Something sticky clung to the soles of my shoes.
Slowly…
I walked deeper into the silent alley.
Then—
A trembling voice echoed from the darkness.
“D-Don’t come any closer!”
He’s here.
The moment I heard the little boy’s voice, relief washed over me.
If he hadn’t been here either…
I had no idea what excuse I would’ve come up with to keep searching for him.
Unable to hide my happiness, I unconsciously quickened my pace.
I finally found him.
I desperately tried to suppress the smile tugging at my lips.
“I said don’t come any closer!”
Standing before me was Rion, his body stained with blood.
He trembled violently.
His crimson eyes were filled with terror, as though he were desperately struggling to survive.
His pale face contrasted sharply with those brilliant red eyes.
His black hair, so dark it seemed to swallow even the fading light, fluttered in the wind.
There was only one word to describe him.
Beautiful.
“He’s even more stunning in person.”
He was only seven years old…
Yet his beauty was already extraordinary.
The feeling of finally meeting the boy I’d only ever imagined…
Was impossible to put into words.
“It’s okay.”
“I came to help you.”
“Please…”
“Just leave me alone…”
If I took even one more step forward…
Those long, beautiful fingers could easily slash my throat in half.
But I couldn’t give up.
He was my final hope.
The only path that could save me from my own death.
“Rion Davis.”
“That’s your name, isn’t it?”
The fear in his eyes instantly transformed into sharp vigilance.
Realizing that I knew who he was…
Rion stared at me warily.
* * *
“I’ll save you.”
“…Liar.”
“I’m telling the truth.”
“I know who you are.”
“I won’t hurt you.”
“I came to get you out of this hell.”
Slowly, I held out my hand.
Rion took another step backward, never taking his eyes off me.
What do I look like through his eyes?
I would probably never know.
“It’s okay if you can’t recognize me.”
“I won’t force anything on you.”
Rion looked utterly bewildered.
No one knew about his curse.
No one understood him.
No one had ever accepted him as he was.
“So…”
“Come with me.”
“D-Don’t come any closer!”
Panicking, Rion swung his arm wildly.
His fingertips barely brushed my face—
Yet a sharp pain shot across my cheek.
I didn’t even need to look.
Blood was surely running down my face.
“Ah…!”
The one who looked horrified…
Wasn’t me.
It was him.
Keeping my expression calm, I smiled warmly.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“You warned me not to come closer.”
This much pain was nothing.
Compared to someday having my head chopped off…
It wasn’t even worth mentioning.
Even if it left a scar…
I was still young.
It would heal soon enough.
“I’m sorry…”
“This… this…”
Overwhelmed with guilt, Rion covered his face.
The moment I saw that…
I rushed straight toward him without thinking.
“It’s okay.”
“Rion.”
“I’m not dead.”
“And I’m not afraid of you.”
I wrapped my arms around the small boy.
He was even smaller and more fragile than I was.
Slowly, I stroked his back, trying to comfort him.
In this cruel place…
I would be the one to save him.
This should be enough… right?
I tied a blue ribbon around my wrist.
Just in case he ever became frightened again.
“From now on…”
“I’ll always wear a blue ribbon around my wrist.”
“It’ll make it easier for you to recognize me, right?”
“…Why?”
“Why me?”
“Do I need a reason?”
Rion slowly looked up at me.
His crimson eyes resembled a rosebud that had yet to bloom.
Beautiful…
Yet hiding sharp thorns to protect itself.
He had struggled desperately all his life…
Simply to avoid being broken by the world.
“…No.”
Rion tightly gripped the edge of my clothes.
At last…
I’d brought him into my sphere.
Suppressing the overwhelming joy rising inside me, I glanced at the clock.
Thankfully…
Five minutes hadn’t passed yet.
“Let’s leave.”
“There’s nothing good about staying here.”
“But…”
“This…”
Looking at the people lying motionless across the ground, I tilted my head.
“You didn’t do this.”
“…Did you?”
I smiled at him as though I knew nothing.
Rion didn’t lie.
He simply lowered his head in silence.
“It’s okay.”
“No one will ever know.”
“You’re only a seven-year-old boy.”
“You were only trying to protect yourself.”
At my words…
Rion’s crimson eyes widened.
His dry eyes quickly filled with tears.
One by one…
They rolled silently down his cheeks.
“It’s okay.”
“If you want to cry…”
“Then cry as much as you need.”
“I won’t force you to do anything.”
Rion desperately swallowed the sobs trying to escape.
That was how he’d survived until now.
Enduring pain.
Suppressing every emotion.
Always.
I gently took Rion’s hand.
Together…
We slowly walked out of the alley.
That…
Was how I first met him.
