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Chapter 36

Who was the one who needed to apologize?

Angelina was dumbfounded, but she followed Franz into the inn.

The place was in shambles. Whether it was the pirates' doing or the frightened guests', the furnishings were scattered and jumbled.

Franz picked up a discarded sheet and spread it over the long table. He left and returned with a pen and ink in hand.

"What are you doing?"

The illustrator, unresponsive to the question, simply kept drawing. And with great intensity.

An unapproachable aura surrounded him.

The two watched silently as Franz Boyl worked his pen on the white cloth.

Remarkably, it was a map.

"How did you manage all of this…?"

Alexei couldn't close his mouth. The map emerging from Franz's fingertips was truly astonishing.

Within half an hour, a copy of the treasure map was complete.

"What is it?"

"The map we lost."

Alexei examined the cloth. Then he looked at Franz.

Only then did he recall the puzzling details from his background check.

How he had been able to depict Angelina Augert so accurately. Why the Public Security Bureau had been after him. And why the Imperial family had commissioned him to paint the wedding.

It wasn't because they valued his painting skills.

It was because of his unparalleled memory and the swift hand that could translate it into images.

"A genius?"

Angelina seemed equally shocked. Her gaze at Franz was entirely different from before.

For some reason, that bothered Alexei.

"Seeing it with my own eyes, I can't call it a lie, and it's definitely not magic… To meet a genius like this in person—it's truly amazing."

"Angel, you may not know, but I've been called a genius too—"

"How can you possibly have such a talent? It's incredible."

She's completely captivated.

Alexei stared disapprovingly at the bouncing Angelina as he examined the cloth map.

It was a relief that the deal with the duke was still intact, but his mood was worse than before.

He quickly folded the copy and stuffed it into his pocket.

"There's no time for this. We need to leave this place."

"Are we just going to leave it like this?"

"If it becomes known that the pirates are after us, things will only get worse. The rumors may have already spread."

"Still, we should at least apologize. We're the reason it's in this state."

Angelina said, looking around the wrecked inn.

"She probably won't be back anytime soon," Franz said.

The owner, having seen the chaos inside and the pirates outside, had fled in fright.

"…We should also get our wages."

"Even after apologizing, you want to be paid?"

Franz jeered lightly.

"We need every coin we can get."

"Don't worry about that."

Alexei patted his chest.

"I even got travel funds from the duke. Let's go."

There was enough in his pocket to buy several fine horses and still have plenty left.

Angelina realized she had no more reason to hesitate.

The innkeeper had hired foreigners of unknown identity and background without suspicion, and had shown them kindness.

They had turned a gloomy den into a livable place, so they had nothing to be ashamed of. After all, they'd never been paid, so it was essentially volunteer work.

Still, the owner might feel a little hurt by their silent departure.

"Angel?"

"I'm coming."

Shaking off her thoughts, Angelina stepped forward. But Franz did not move.

"I'll stay here."

"Stay here? Are you serious?"

"We were only caught up in this by chance. I have no intention of joining that journey."

It was the answer he hadn't given at the Duke of Lyon's mansion. It had only been postponed by the duke's arrival—his answer had long been decided.

He regretted getting involved with them time and again.

He shouldn't repeat the same mistake.

It was wise to keep hands and feet out of matters that weren't his own. There was no reason to ignore the truth he'd learned through experience.

"Do you think you'll be safe alone? You're a target for the pirates too."

"I'll handle that myself."

"I have no intention of dragging along someone who isn't on my side."

Alexei suppressed his regret and spoke coldly. He knew Franz had been a great help, but he had no reason to hold him back.

"Franz Boyl."

Angelina suddenly stopped in front of him. Franz was taken aback by her clear, unwavering gaze.

"Don't you feel even a little like giving in and coming along?"

"……"

"You're hesitating."

"No. Not at all."

Ignoring him, Angelina continued.

"If you have even the slightest second thoughts, leave it to fate. If we meet again before the day is over, you'll join us, no questions asked. How about it?"

"Well, fine."

Thinking it was an amusing proposal, Franz smiled lightly.

"Then, have a good journey."

"I'll skip the farewell."

"Is that confidence?"

Angelina shrugged.

The three parted ways in front of the inn.

Watching Franz disappear between the alleys, Angelina asked,

"Why didn't you stop him?"

"This isn't a journey to share with someone who wavers."

"Still, he would have been helpful."

"We've already received enough from him."

Angelina nodded at that and turned away without lingering. Now it was time to focus on what lay ahead.

"So where are we going now?"

Alexei unfolded the map.

"If we go that way, there's a mountain path. Crossing it leads to the next village. Let's head there first."

"A mountain?"

"It's just a hill."

---

Hill or mountain, a mountain was a mountain.

Angelina was exhausted to the point of death. Days of hard labor and insufficient meals had drained her stamina.

She wasn't particularly fond of hiking, either.

In her previous life, she had taken on any script that would get her on screen—except for Himalayan climbing films.

Why climb a mountain you'd have to come down from?

Of course, she knew they had to take the path over the mountain to avoid being seen.

But knowing didn't make it easier.

Angelina sat on a rock.

"Let's rest a bit."

Alexei came and sat beside her.

"You can climb trees well, but mountains aren't your thing."

"And you're not good at either?"

Don't pretend. I can see you're struggling too.

"Latria doesn't have many rugged mountains."

Alexei made an excuse instead of denying it.

"You said it was a hill."

"Compared to Latrian hills, this is very different."

Angelina chuckled at his clumsy excuse.

"Let's hurry. It'll be dark soon."

The sun was caught between branches, hanging uncertainly.

"Come on."

Alexei reached out his hand. He gently pulled hers and tucked it under his arm.

"Just over that ridge. After that, it's all downhill."

Together, they pushed forward toward the summit.

The sun rolled down the mountain like a falling stone. By the time they reached the ridge and started descending, darkness had overtaken them.

"Do you have a lantern?"

"In the bag."

"Let me find it. I'll get it out."

Alexei reached out in the dark. Angelina slapped his hand away.

"That's not the bag—that's my chest…"

"It's hard to see…"

Alexei, flustered, changed the direction of his hand. Another slap came.

"That's my leg."

"Oh…"

"Just stay still."

Angelina pulled his stone-stiff hand somewhere.

Something touched his fingertips. Feeling it, he realized it was the bag. He opened it and began fumbling again.

Searching blindly.

The jumbled contents of the bag confused him.

The sound of swallowing grew louder in the dark. Angelina sighed and reached into the bag herself. The lamp was buried in the left corner, but Alexei had been searching only the right.

"It's right here. I should have gotten it myself."

Angelina lit the lantern. The sudden light made Alexei squint.

"I just realized something else was missing from our wedding," Angelina said with a smile, bathed in the soft red glow.

"Besides the wedding ring?"

"Yes."

"Wedding vows?"

"That too, but—"

Alexei tilted his head.

Then, unexpectedly, the word slipped from her rounded lips.

"A kiss."

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