Chapter 9

As I turned my eyes, passers-by were whispering and glancing in one direction.

If one looks closely, there are people gathered in one place who appears to be uniformed knights, and in the middle of them······.

“······!”

I was momentarily stunned. Then my body immediately got rigidly frozen.

My mind went blank, and I couldn’t think of anything.

A man with a brilliant blond hair and blue eyes, who caught the eye of everyone around him just by standing, was definitely someone I knew.

Calix.

Why is he here······?

Thump, thump.

My heart started beating fast.

Complicated thoughts tangled inside my head. What is Calix doing here? Has he read my letter already? That’s why he came after me?

Perhaps······ Did he come to catch me?

“······!”

Foolishly, expectations rose from within me. Maybe he’s trying to get me back. That maybe, he hasn’t forgotten his promise to never let go······.

However, it didn’t take me long to realize that it was just one of my wildest fantasies.

“Oh my, what’s going on? What’s up with those high-ranking officials······.”

From the side came the noise of some travelers talking.

“Haven’t you heard? A Divine Lady has appeared! There was a great uproar in the city because of it that’s why they’re strengthening the train security. Looks like they’ve just finished their security check.”

What?! A Divine Lady?! The man’s cry of surprise echoed through the whole platform.

The silly me sighed softly. Indeed. There’s no way Calix could have come after me.

‘They’ve already even kissed. What am I expecting?’

I felt empty as if my heart had been pierced. Stupidly expecting and getting disappointed time and time again, I really never learn.

I laughed at my pathetic self. The only thing I need to keep and protect is this child, that’s the road I have to take.

‘We should not be discovered, let’s get on the train quietly.’

I sorted out my thoughts and tried head to where Alice was. Then someone accidentally collided in me trying to pass by.

“Ugh······!”

The shoulder where that person bumped throbbed. The passerby didn’t even utter a simple apology and just left.

What kind of mannerless human is that? As I wrap my arms around my body while groaning, I heard Alice calling me from a distance.

“Laure!”

“Ali······!”

I responded reflexively and lifted my head, then paused immediately.

Is it just my imagination? Or can I really sense that someone’s blue eyes were currently gazing at me?

I looked back unconsciously. Then immediately had eye contact with him.

‘Calix······!’

Thud! My heart sank as if it were falling into a cliff. I couldn’t move in place, my body turned stiff like a wooden statue.

Alice rushed towards me then wrapped her arms around my shoulder. A buzzing sound reverberated in my ears.

‘Laure?’

He certainly called my name.

His expression gradually hardened. Realization seemed to pass over his bluish eyes, and soon fiery glints of flame rose in it. I suddenly felt a chill down my spine. The feeling overrode me violently.

I stumbled back. I had this premonition that he would try to catch me. At this rate, if I stand around like this, I will definitely be caught.

‘No, I······.’

I’ve decided to run away from this place, the setting, where the original story will take place.

Me and my child. It’s the only way for the two of us to be happy.

It was clear that if Calix catches me here, the story would flow like the original story.

And I don’t have the confidence to endure the fate of the original Laure.

I don’t have the confidence to trust Calix, and to confide my secrets to him.

Because I wasn’t the heroine of this novel.

If I was just brave like a heroine, I might have chosen to stay by his side and fought to win him.

But I was someone who’s extremely timid

So, I could never be the main character in this story.

And that epiphany pestered me desperately.

I can see him taking a step towards me. He was walking straight towards me through the dizzying crowd. His appearance was like a predator chasing after its prey.

Then a long sound of a horn heralded to signal the departure of the train. I hurriedly grabbed Alice’s arm. Then told her quickly,

“A, Alice! Run! Now!”

“Laure? ·······Ugh!”

Only then did Alice’s eyes opened wide, as if she had noticed Calix. She immediately wrapped herself around me and began to run for the train.

There was no time to look back. But I knew it clearly. Calix was definitely chasing after me.

The thought that I shouldn’t be caught dominated my mind. I hurried up to the train with Alice and looked back.

Five steps. It was only five steps.

As he ran, his arms stretched out, and his golden hair fluttered in the strong wind.

I saw his face. The face of a man who cannot believe what was taking place. The face of a betrayed person.

Calix shouted.

“Laure!”

“Alice! Close the door!”

Alice quickly locked the door. Just in the nick of time, Calix’s body slammed into it. With solid, bam! The door shook with the sound.

Calix stood holding onto the train’s door, knocking hard on the windows as if they were going to break in any moment. Calix screamed in a loud voice that will forever leave a scar to my heart.

“Laure! Laure! Why, blasted why!”

I cried as I stepped back.

“Sorry, I’m sorry······. I’m very sorry, Calix.”

Calix’s blue eyes shook like an ocean that was hit by fierce waves.

He would have known by now. He must have realized it clearly. That I am trying to get away from him.

I clenched my teeth and tried to turn my back. But Calix’s words stopped me.

“Laure. Did you think that I’ll leave you alone?”

Calix’s eyes flashed fiercely. At that moment, I could see the raging emotions spilling over his eyes. Obsession, madness, desire, and betrayal.

I had goosebumps in an instant. I felt scared. It seemed like a real, serious thing would happen if I get caught by him. Calix, at the moment····· He seemed out of his mind.

I can’t understand. You even kissed Sia, and you smiled, laughed, and looked at her with loving eyes.

Do you even know how I felt back then? You don’t even know how I feel about having to leave now······

“You······ How did you know?”

My eyes grew hot. Then my vision blurred with tears. Calix’s expression immediately swayed.

“Don’t act like you’re going to hold on to me! You’re going to abandon me anyway!”

I ended up shouting. Words spilled out my mouth on impulse. The emotions that I’ve been suppressing. The sorrow and pain that have accumulated all these years.

“Ah······.”

Regret came late. Why did I say such useless things? I stared at him with a confused expression.

Calix’s eyes trembled.

“Laure, what are you talking about? Come on, open this door. Get out of there, now!”

He grabbed the door and jerked it wildly. I shook my head.

“Let’s end it here.”

“What·····.”

“This will be the last time. The two of us, let’s break up here.”

“What are you saying······!”

“Just think of me as someone who doesn’t exist in your world. Don’t look for me. You······.”

I couldn’t speak well due to my eyes were filled with tears. I breathed heavily and continued.

“You should be happy with her.”

I turned around. I fought the urge to glance at his face for the last time. Trying to keep myself under control, I never looked back.

Alice hastily followed me. After finding a cabin room, I asked her for a favor.

“Alice, can you seal off all the doors of this train using magic?”

“That will not be hard but······ Laure, are you really going to be fine?”

Alice asked anxiously. I looked into her worried eyes and smiled faintly.

“I’m okay. I’ve already prepared myself for this situation anyways.”

The train started to leave. Alice blocked all entrances at my request. I asked because I was worried that Calix might also board the train. Though I don’t think he’s someone to do such a reckless thing······.

I sat in the room and looked out the window. The distant scenery of the Imperial Capital passes by quickly.

I quietly closed my eyes and recollected all the memories I had accumulated since I was young.

However, there was a flashback that was mixed up like an uninvited foreign object in those beautiful memories.

The scene where Calix and Sia’s lips met······.

Remembering that moment breaks my heart.

I sat quietly with my eyes close for a while. Hiding my pain and sorrows.

That’s how we left the capital.

To get to our destination, we would have to take several detours. For I know that Calix and his tracking team will follow.

Fortunately, Alice was not only a doctor but also a brilliant wizard. Thanks to this, we could easily get out of their track.

There were checkpoints everywhere that he will need to pass by, but if Calix uses his connections, he could pass by through them easily.

I had a vague belief that we would arrive at our destination safely. Somehow it felt like this is my destiny.

And my intuition was right. It took us half a month to finally reach the Jura Peninsula.

The edge of the world where strong rain and wind always blows. The land of sailors, merchants, and pirates.

This was where I, my child, and Alice, had to live from now on.

Upon arrival, I abandoned the name Ecree. Instead, I used Alice’s surname, Winterwood, and pretended to be her sister.

The pink hair that Calix liked, that he said looks like a spring flower, due to it being a very noticeable color, was dyed plain brown.

Alice and I moved secretly to avoid people’s attention. Then we arrived at the port city of Canello before long.

The weather was clear, and the sea was calm and still. Sunlight poured down since we reached the entrance of the city. It was as if the bright sun was welcoming us.

“Welcome. I’ve already heard from Alice. You are Miss Laure, right?”

The Osborne’s, Alice’s acquaintance, welcomed me with open arms as soon as I met them. Their warm welcome made me felt really grateful. It wouldn’t be easy to secretly hide a suspicious aristocrat who had fled from the Imperial Capital.

“I will try to stay as unnoticeable as I can so that I do not become a bother to you.”

I threw away all my status as an aristocrat and bowed politely to them. Mr. Osborne and his wife seemed to get very perplexed.

“Ahyu, you don’t have to be so cautious around us, just be comfortable. But first of all, let’s get inside. We were just having lunch······ Do you like seafood?”

The Osborne couple hurried us into the house. Led us to the table and gave me warm tea, and put this and that on the plate, attentively asking if I was hungry.

“······.”

The unexpected hospitality brought tears to my eyes. Eventually, I burst into tears with the food in front of me, and I had the Osborne couple feel quite embarrassed.

Alice and the couple were at a loss of what to do to calm me down. But my tears kept on flowing.

I was scared·····. Alice said that they were her acquaintance but I doubted if they were really good people. I doubted if I can get through everything. I doubted if I will be able to protect my child. I’ve been worried about it countless times······.

The small town on the coast where we just arrive was so warm, and the people who will be with us in the future were very kind. As if to be rewarded for the pain of the past.

I vowed to live happily here. I will raise my child, who is more precious than anything else in the world, without lacking all the things that she needs. I’ll be a strong mother no matter what.