CHAPTER 08
Everything had happened so quickly that the thugs didn’t even have time to grasp the situation.
Even while sprawled disgracefully on the ground, they spat out words full of resentment.
“Do you think you can just walk around this district after attacking us?!”
The moment they said “us,” the man’s gaze turned chillingly sharp.
“Tell me. Who exactly are you?”
The weight of his voice carried such pressure that the thugs flinched involuntarily.
“I’m curious too.”
It wasn’t hard to understand the implication in his short, firm statement.
If he found out who they were, he would hunt them down to the end.
Finally realizing the seriousness of the situation, the thugs exchanged quick glances and scrambled to their feet, fleeing in haste.
“You’ll regret this!”
They didn’t forget to throw out some cocky threats as if clinging to the last of their pride.
“You’re dead next time we see you!”
The man’s eyes narrowed as he watched their retreating figures.
Did they have someone backing them?
Just as he was seriously considering chasing after them due to the suspicious ending, a soft voice brushed his back.
“Ah! They ran away.”
The faint sigh from the woman hiding behind him reached his ears.
Only then did he turn his gaze away from the fleeing thugs.
Judging that her safety was the priority, he turned around to check on her.
“Are you all right?”
The woman, who had also been watching the fleeing thugs, jumped in surprise and asked back.
“Huh? Me?”
He let out a deep sigh as he looked into her violet eyes, trembling and damp.
He, too, was a stranger to her, so it wasn’t odd that she might feel scared.
Maintaining a polite distance to help her feel at ease, he spoke calmly.
“Yes. It seems you were quite startled by what happened.”
Unaware of what misunderstanding the man had, Rosha carefully opened her mouth.
“I’m not really all right…”
Avoiding the intense emerald gaze that scanned her thoroughly, she clutched her cloak.
There was no way she could be fine—not with the man who had chased her the night before standing right in front of her.
Memories from last night came flooding back vividly.
That sharp gaze felt like it could strip her bare, revealing everything—including her hidden identity.
Growing anxious, Rosha started to slowly step back, keeping an eye on him.
“Maybe I am fine…?”
As Rosha mumbled a vague answer, the man, still watching her intently, offered in a low, firm voice:
“Allow me to escort you to the main road.”
Rosha shook her head vigorously.
“Ah, that’s okay. I can go by myself.”
“This alley is secluded and dangerous to walk through alone. Besides, those men may return.”
With perfect posture, the man extended his hand to guide her.
“I’ll accompany you to a safe place. Please, this way.”
His gesture was immaculate—nothing to criticize.
Completely different from how he had treated Trinity.
He kept a respectful distance and treated Rosha with gentlemanly courtesy.
Staring at his outstretched hand with a reluctant expression, Rosha realized something.
Now was the time to act like a helpless young lady who had nearly been attacked by thugs.
Eventually, she turned in the direction he pointed and began to walk.
“Then… I’ll be in your care.”
Even though it was midday, the dense shadows cast by the buildings made the alley feel dark, and she now found herself walking alone with the man.
The quiet alley was peaceful.
Only the sound of their footsteps echoed gently.
A cool breeze followed the shaded path, leaving a chill between them, but Rosha had no time to feel cold.
As she was practically being led by him, countless thoughts crowded Rosha’s mind.
She was relieved he didn’t recognize her… but was this level of formality really necessary?
Troubled by the man’s dual nature, Rosha bit her lip.
Her whole body felt hot, like her ears were burning.
Would he recognize her by her red ears?
To stop herself from touching her ears, she instead clutched the collar of her cloak tightly.
By the time her fingers turned pale from the lack of blood, an open plaza spread out before her.
As if waking from a dream, the bustle of people and their loud chatter snapped Rosha back to reality.
“This is far enough, I think.”
Before her burning earlobes could fall off, she needed to get away from him fast.
Rosha hurriedly bowed in thanks.
“Thank you for helping me.”
At her words, the man stopped and turned to her.
After a brief moment of thought, he said:
“When you’re walking alone, it’s safer to stick to the main roads with lots of people.”
That didn’t really apply to her, but Rosha replied demurely, lowering her eyes like a delicate flower.
“Yes. Thank you for the advice.”
Even after her polite answer, the man added another cautionary remark.
“Smiling so easily at people with bad intentions is dangerous. It makes you seem like an easy target.”
Rosha’s eyes widened in shock.
“Pardon?”
“And it’s even more dangerous to follow strangers so readily.”
As she struggled to grasp his meaning, the man continued his steady stream of unsolicited advice.
“Also, if you find yourself in danger like today, you can’t just stand there crying. You should actively ask for help from others.”
What… what is he talking about?
Crying? Me? Cry?
Not once—not even during her magic training—had she heard something so absurd.
Before she could recover from her speechlessness, the man gave her one last piece of advice.
“If those men come back for you, ask the guards for help.”
Rosha’s eyes flew open in horror.
The guards?!
She’d rather deal with thugs than that.
There was no way a Trinity, who was constantly hunted by the guards at night, could go to the guards.
Feeling frustrated, she opened her mouth to speak—but closed it again, bowing her head instead.
The man looked at her in silence, then offered a final farewell.
“Then, please get home safely.”
With a crisp and respectful gesture, he turned and walked away.
Only after his presence had faded did Rosha lift her head to watch him disappear into the crowd.
Even the spirit that had hovered around him had vanished.
Left alone in the wind, Rosha muttered in a daze.
“What on earth does that man think of me?”
There was something so proper, so upright about him—and yet it was irritating.
Grumbling with a troubled look, Rosha heard Luphern’s voice respond.
[He probably sees you as someone who smiles too easily, follows strangers, and just cries when things get scary.]
“Who? Me?”
Rosha’s delicate brows furrowed at Luphern’s blunt remark.
“Do I really look like such a clueless idiot?”
Luphern shrugged.
[That’s probably why he gave you all that advice.]
At such an absurd misunderstanding, Rosha let out a dry laugh.
She didn’t even know where to start correcting him.
“Ugh. I just want to run after him and tell him the truth—that I’m Trinity.”
Feeling exasperated, Rosha spun around in the opposite direction from where the man had gone.
“Tch. Did I ask for help? Why’d he have to interfere and make me look like a fool?”
[Try to look at the bright side. At least your identity wasn’t exposed.]
Luphern added, sticking close beside her.
[And he didn’t mean any harm.]
True. Rosha recalled the man’s broad back, shielding her from danger.
Since her parents died, she hadn’t felt such a warm, dependable presence.
His large, sturdy frame had kept the thugs’ vile energy from touching her.
Just thinking about that made Rosha shake her head.
Still, idiot? That was going too far.
Pouting at the offensive misunderstanding, she heard Luphern speak again.
[By the way, what about the evil spirit that was attached to those thugs?]
“Ah.”
Rosha scowled at the reality check Luphern gave her.
“Right. The spirit.”
She spun around and looked back toward the alley they’d come from.
Amethyst eyes peeked through strands of silver-blonde hair, clearly annoyed.
“I thought I could finally deal with one easily for a change…”
But she’d lost it because of that man’s sudden appearance.
[Looks like we’re going out again tonight.]
After tossing and turning all night because of him, now she wouldn’t sleep again—this time because she’d have to go out hunting.
From between her clenched teeth, a muttered curse escaped.
“Damn it.”
Tap.
Under the glow of the bright magestone lamp, Kaiden closed his book with a snap.
For some reason, the words just wouldn’t stick in his mind tonight.
He tossed the book onto the tea table and got up.
Leaning against the window frame, he stared out.
From this central city inn, the entire lively townscape was visible.
Streetlamps shimmered along the darkened streets like scattered stars.
“How is she supposed to survive being that weak?”
Clicking his tongue, Kaiden recalled the earlier incident.
The woman with fluttering silver-blonde hair, drifting through the alley like a butterfly, had frozen the moment she was caught—like a bug in a web.
Her tear-filled eyes and flustered expression at the thugs’ baseless accusations had gotten on his nerves.
He couldn’t help but stop his own path to the guardhouse and intervene in a stranger’s problem.
“I wonder if she made it home safely.”
He could still see the thugs’ vile eyes peeking at her even as they fled.
“I really shouldn’t have let them go.”
Their strange overconfidence and the way they said “we” made it obvious there was more to this group.
What if they came after her again?
What if she gave in and went with them?
Just imagining that made it impossible to focus on his book.
“Maybe I should’ve walked her all the way home.”
Or at least gotten her name.
The image of her pale hand gripping her cloak tightly kept flashing in his mind.
It wasn’t even his responsibility, yet for some reason, his chest felt tight.
