Chapter 143
They were huddled together under the central plaza clock tower, our meeting place. It was still ten minutes early, but I hurried my steps, feeling like I was late.
“Norman!”
Little Norman, who spotted me, came running. Although I had seen him on graduation day, somehow it felt like we hadn’t met in a long time. I smiled broadly, delighted to see him, and little Norman followed suit with a bright smile.
“Hey~”
Nadian approached with a grin. The quiet Cadin followed beside him.
“Have you thought about what to eat for dinner?”
“Yes. I made a reservation at a restaurant. Let’s go right away.”
Today I was treating them to a meal. Since they like meat, I reserved the place where Luwen had enjoyed eating the most. Since the restaurant operated on a reservation system, there was no problem having dinner despite arriving a bit early.
I spent a comfortable evening mealtime with them, sharing trivial daily matters. Then, according to the changed plan, I made an excuse about having other business and parted with them as they expressed regret. With a final greeting that we’d see each other later at the academy, I walked alone through the darkened streets.
‘Someone should be following me by now.’
There was no sign at all. I wondered if something had gone wrong, or if I simply couldn’t sense them, as I turned toward a less populated road.
‘Will they appear now?’
There was no one at this junction. With no witnesses, if they were going to grab me…
“Hup!”
Now. That’s right.
Suddenly, a hand from behind covered my mouth. There was an acrid smell of chemicals that stung my nose. In an instant, my vision blurred and strength drained from my body.
Isn’t this too much? This type isn’t supposed to work so quickly…
I regained consciousness with a strange sensation of my body swaying. Perhaps due to the strong drug I had inhaled, my head was throbbing. I frowned and opened my eyes.
In the narrow space, three people were visible. Judging by their crouched silhouettes, they all appeared small and thin.
I grabbed my aching head and sat up. Someone was sitting close by, but it was too dark to distinguish clearly. More accurately, I didn’t have the mental capacity to care about other people. Because this wasn’t the underground auction house.
‘Why a carriage?’
The opera house is in the academy town. The roads are generally well-paved, so even in a carriage, it shouldn’t sway like this.
‘It seems like we’re running on an unpaved road.’
And at considerable speed.
‘I need to check my current location first.’
As I reached out to look outside the window to assess the situation, someone grabbed my hand. Startled by the small, warm hand, I turned my head.
“No, Norman.”
The voice was familiar. An ominous feeling flashed through my mind. Only after my eyes adjusted to the darkness could I recognize who was holding me.
“…Vice President?”
“Since you’ve graduated, I’m not that anymore.”
The Vice President spoke with a self-deprecating smile. She appeared quite calm, but her complexion wasn’t good.
‘Seeing her here, I guess she didn’t believe me.’
After getting the premonition that they were making a list of people to kidnap, I was concerned about the medical department students, who were mostly commoners. I had warned the few whose faces I knew that there seemed to be a criminal group targeting graduates, so they should be careful.
The Vice President was the same. I told her never to go out alone, and she said she understood.
‘Well, knowing nothing, it probably didn’t resonate with her.’
Still, I had hoped otherwise. I felt sorry for her having to experience this. She had been excited about returning to her hometown to open a clinic.
“There are people who will look for me when they realize I’m missing. So don’t worry too much. Nothing will happen.”
I whispered to her in a low voice. According to Linder’s report, there was no mention of transportation by carriage. The situation was unfolding differently than expected.
But it was fine. His subordinates would be keeping a close eye on me. They should be following the carriage by now, so it didn’t matter if the location changed.
‘However… at this rate, I’m not sure if I can make it in time for Luwen’s exam.’
The problem was not knowing how much longer the carriage would travel. That was the only thing I was anxious about.
“You seem even more fragile than me… yet strangely reliable.”
Do I look that weak? Nevertheless, as the Vice President’s voice lightened as if a burden had been lifted, I just smiled awkwardly. Whatever helps her feel reassured is good.
“Vice President, how long was I unconscious?”
“Rona. Since I’m not the Vice President anymore, call me by my name. The time… about two hours or so.”
That long? The planned escape time had already passed. But for Rona, who was staring intently at my face, I maintained a composed attitude and nodded.
“Do you know where we’re going?”
“No.”
“And do you know why we were kidnapped?”
“I don’t know that either. Sorry. Not much help.”
Rona sighed and slumped her shoulders. I replied that it was okay, then looked at the barred window. I still wanted to see outside.
“Why did you stop me from trying to open the window earlier?”
“There’s someone watching this place because of me. If you open it, they’ll notice immediately.”
The Vice President tapped her cheek and smiled. It was too dark to notice earlier, but upon closer inspection, her cheek was swollen.
“…Did those bastards hit you?”
“I failed while trying to escape. My face… I got hit trying to stop them from beating someone else. Originally, they were clever about hitting only where it wouldn’t show.”
At that moment, as if listening to our conversation, someone spoke resentfully.
“It’s, it’s your fault… sniff, saying they had to take you… Vice President, while trying to protect you… We could have succeeded…”
“Daphne, why say such things? It’s not Norman’s fault.”
Rona comforted the person called Daphne while checking my reaction. Belatedly, I also recognized the face of the woman huddled in the corner behind him. She also looked familiar. They were all medical department graduates.
‘Did they attempt to escape together, rallying around the Vice President?’
But it seemed they were caught while moving my unconscious body. And violence was used to break their will to escape.
‘So that’s why they were all crying so helplessly.’
Rona was the only one without tear stains. She even seemed to have the spirit to wait quietly for an opportunity. I admired her steadfastness even in this situation.
‘I jumped into this knowing it was a setup, but Rona didn’t.’
That’s why she needed more warning. If they behaved quietly, they could get out safely, but if they were caught trying to escape again, they might face a terrible outcome.
“So how did you get caught, Rona?”
Rona pointed at the others with a bitter face.
“I was with those children. I thought three people would be safe.”
“…Ah.”
Oh no. Were the people she was with coincidentally on the list? Or perhaps they were kidnapped together because they failed to secure other targets.
What’s important is that Rona’s hand, which was rubbing her face, was trembling. Though pretending to be calm, she too seemed afraid of the current situation. Nevertheless, she might be holding firm out of responsibility.
‘I can trust the Vice President.’
After pondering briefly, I decided to explain the current situation to her.
“May I hold your hand for a moment?”
“Why? Suddenly scared?”
“No, I just have something to tell only Rona.”
In the narrow carriage, no matter how much I lowered my voice, others would hear. Especially Daphne, who kept glancing at me. The resentment from the failed escape was directed entirely at me. It wouldn’t hurt to move cautiously.
‘Above all, Daphne shouldn’t know.’
If their attitude suddenly changed, wouldn’t that be suspicious? Since Rona hadn’t shown fear from the beginning, it didn’t matter, but if everyone else changed too, there’s no telling how they might react.
Rona silently extended her hand, and I slowly wrote words on her palm. I informed her about my identity and that I had volunteered as bait to catch the kidnappers, concealing the Second Prince’s involvement. At first, she seemed a bit indifferent, but as the content continued, she looked at me…
‘What’s this? She’s looking at me quite strangely.’
It was hard to describe. But it was a familiar gaze, and not knowing how to define it, I continued delivering the content while inwardly puzzled.
“Is this true?”
“Yes. For now, I’d like only Rona to know.”
Still staring at me with an expression I couldn’t comprehend, she nodded with a sigh.
“You’ve been preparing for this since you gave me that hint?”
When I nodded, she sighed deeply again. Then, after rubbing her face roughly, she looked at me and sighed once more.
“Honestly, I want to slap you, but I’m holding back. If you were my younger brother, I’d beat you so hard that dust would fly even on a rainy day.”
Her gaze was still fierce. I was grateful she wasn’t my sister. Irene doesn’t hit me. Her hands would be twice as fierce as Rona’s… Ah. I understand now. That look from earlier—it was identical to the fierce eyes of my sister when she was furious with worry about me.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
