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Chapter 12

What now? Adrian let out a sigh.

That said, he couldn't simply write off two hundred nets of hard-earned money as a loss. If he left things as they were, who knew when the debt would be repaid—and with the woman left alone, she could just as easily flee.

Troublesome. Truly.

"I need to think."

Adrian closed his tired eyes and pressed them firmly.

Sasha stepped back a pace. It was a habit Adrian displayed whenever his mood soured—anyone close to him would know.

To someone like Adrian, who swept up fortunes in the Western Sea, two hundred nets wasn't a fortune. But knowing how much money meant to him, and how hard he'd fought to get where he was, one couldn't simply tell him to let it go.

Alexa was pitiable, but she had agreed to repay the debt—she couldn't escape responsibility.

"She'll feel better after a good rest. Shall we leave her for now?"

"…I'd rather see her wake up. I haven't heard how she plans to repay the money."

"Yes, understood. Then I'll take the next room for you to rest. It was Baron McDonner's room, but he won't be returning today."

"A man with no shame wouldn't fear coming home. He'll be back once the money runs out—with those pitiful tears he shed before."

He'd disliked the man from the start. Adrian's brow furrowed deeply at the memory of James groveling in the gambling den.

"No, he truly won't be coming back."

"Still, I don't like it. Unless we strip that room clean of every trace of him."

Adrian slumped onto a small sofa with its back to the wall. It was so old that the cushions were completely flattened, offering no softness. He closed his eyes and folded his arms.

"Where will you sleep?"

"Don't mind me. I'll look around the house a bit."

"Fine, then."

Sasha left Alexa's room, looking somewhat amused. The room fell quiet, with only Alexa's gentle breathing faintly audible.

Moonlight seeped through the thin curtains. Her oversized maid's uniform looked loose enough for another person to fit inside.

Her complexion, paler than snow, reminded him of someone—so he turned away.

That woman was unlucky too. To be surrounded by people and family who tormented her like that—what else could it be but bad fortune?

The endings for such people were all the same. Neglected for too long, unaware of their own breaking points, crumbling bit by bit. And a brother who didn't even notice his sister's condition, gambling away the days.

If that was fate, wasn't it too cruel? She should just leave it all behind—call it bad luck and walk away.

Adrian bit his lips in displeasure.

"I thought you'd fled when I saw this wreck—leaving the mess behind. What a relief that the McDonner young lady came back."

"What's wrong? You said you'd take responsibility—back at that tavern."

He groaned and closed his eyes. Perhaps he'd been too blunt to a woman in poor health—he shook his head.

She should have cut him loose long ago. Family—damn it—was perfect for dragging you down together.

No, in the end, this woman would have died alone from overwork and malnutrition. Meanwhile, the filthy, wretched ones lived long and shamelessly.

Lost in thought, Adrian lightly knocked the back of his head against the wall.

He tried to will himself to sleep, leaning his head back—but for some reason, strange noises came from upstairs. Once or twice, he even heard Sasha's faint laughter.

"What's he up to now…"

Sasha had headed upstairs with an oddly excited look earlier. It seemed sleep wasn't in the cards tonight.

---

Alexa woke with a start and screamed.

"Crazy. The sun—the sun is…!"

The sun was high in the sky, and she still hadn't gone to work! She scrambled out of bed and hurriedly slipped on her shoes.

Her legs felt a bit unsteady, but if she ran, she could reach the viscount's mansion in under thirty minutes. Then she stopped dead.

"Right. I got fired yesterday."

Her body, moving on autopilot, slumped back onto the bed.

"…Wait."

As fragments of yesterday came back to her, her face darkened in real time.

"So I got fired yesterday… and when I came home, that man was…!"

Slowly, she turned her head toward the chilling gaze she felt behind her. Her eyes met an unfamiliar pair of blue eyes head-on. With a gasp, her whole body trembled.

In her room, the man from her memories was squeezed onto the small sofa, watching her with tired eyes.

"Ah…"

Yesterday's events and the present reality flooded into her mind all at once. The order was jumbled, but the conclusion was simple.

She'd been fired. These men had broken into her house. James had run off, leaving not a single coin. And she'd drunkenly rambled nonsense before collapsing in a fit of rage.

With her reason restored, she felt as if she were standing at a dead end.

Just then, Adrian rose from his seat and slowly approached her—without once taking his eyes off her.

"Oh, hello—did you sleep well?"

Reflexively, Alexa's greeting came out in a jumbled rush.

His tired face, his narrow eyes, the strands of hair falling across his forehead—all told her how little sleep he'd had.

'…Alexa, you've truly lost your mind.'

She'd kept a debt collector waiting all night while she slept soundly until sunrise? Her neck shrank instinctively.

"I-I'll repay the debt…"

Hearing her trembling voice, he suddenly stopped approaching.

"Are you still not fully recovered?"

Recovered? Oh—my body.

Alexa cautiously straightened her hunched back.

'Now that I think about it, why do I feel fine?'

Her heavy shoulders, aching wrists, and throbbing lower back had all cleared up. Energy coursed through her body—she felt lighter. Her foggy head and stiff vision had cleared too. Everything felt refreshing.

"I'm perfectly fine—"

Grrrrrr.

"—ah."

…She was fine. Just hungry.

With her energy restored, of course she'd be hungry. Alexa's cheeks flushed bright red.

"…Then let's discuss how you'll handle the debt going forward."

"It's blinding."

Sasha, who had already sensed the two of them, opened the door and entered. Sunlight streamed through the loosely woven curtains. Sasha muttered a short incantation, and the curtains closed neatly on their own.

'A mage!'

Alexa gasped in surprise. But Sasha, with no time to mind her wide-eyed stare, approached Adrian.

"Captain, you should go. Last night…"

After a brief exchange, Adrian's brow furrowed deeply.

"I'll leave immediately."

"Then what about her?"

Sasha glanced at Alexa.

Suddenly the center of attention, she offered an awkward smile. After all, this man had lent her money and given her an extra day's grace.

Adrian, watching her indifferently, spoke quickly—as if disposing of a troublesome load.

"Tie her up."

"Yes."

…Yes?

Sasha, without a moment's hesitation, stepped closer to her. Alexa's face turned pale in an instant.

Tie her up? What exactly was he planning to do with her?

Alexa quickly raised both hands.

"I-I-I won't run away!"

Sasha's face, now right in front of her, showed confusion—but Alexa was too flustered to notice.

"I absolutely won't run! I'll follow you quietly if you tell me to. Ah, I'm good at working! How about—how about I work as a cleaner at your mansion to pay off the debt?"

Alexa's cheeks flushed as she hurriedly looked at Adrian. He stood still, looking her up and down. His cold gaze felt like it was striking her whole body, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

'Isn't this better than being sold off as a slave? Or no—would he rather have the money immediately?'

As Alexa's mind tangled in complications, Adrian finally broke the silence.

"Didn't you get fired yesterday?"

"That—yes, but!"

Alexa bit her tongue. Overwhelmed by shame, she wanted to hide somewhere.

She'd been fired just yesterday—offering herself as a hard worker hardly inspired confidence. Yet she couldn't explain all the circumstances in detail.

"Then I'll tie you up."

Having waited long enough, Sasha moved toward her. Last night he had seemed a little warm, but now he followed his superior's orders without emotion.

Alexa's lips trembled.

"Wh-where am I going to be taken…"

A soft feather-like touch brushed her left wrist. Frozen stiff, Alexa squeezed her eyes shut at the mere sensation.

Goosebumps rose all over her body.

"That's enough."

Alexa lifted her trembling eyelids. Unlike her tense self, Adrian tiredly rolled his neck, while Sasha glanced down at his watch.

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