“Where on earth did you learn to say things like that?”
“I don’t know, maybe I was born with that knowledge.”
A soft cough startled . I tried to push Liam Moore away, but instead, I was pulled closer and let out another small scream.
“Eek!”
As I turned my head, I was drawn back by Liam Moore’s voice.
“Hey, it’s about ti I get off work.”
It was Owen! He was watching us with great interest.
“You can leave. Jane and I need to have a conversation.”
“Why is this guy so clingy after nearly dying?”
Owen said what I was thinking.
Liam Moore seed to have made up his mind after last night. His expressions were overly abundant now. When I fidgeted slightly, he finally released from his arms.
“Well, it’s good that you made up your mind. If you had realised any later, she would have been in danger.”
“And we saw him too.”
I added.
“Who was it again? The Crawling Chaos?”
“The Crawling Chaos. A dreadful, destructive, and infinitely blasphemous ruler. It’s better not to encounter him, but I don’t know what whim made him spare us.”
Ah, yes. The Crawling Chaos. What a senseless na. How does chaos crawl without limbs?
“…Anyway, that’s the most well-known na, but we often use different terms to avoid attracting attention.”
Is it like he-who-must-not-be-nad? Though it was hard to understand, I tried to grasp the concept.
According to Owen, ‘that being’ never shows ‘favour.’ Considering all his actions, even a montary display of favour should not be interpreted as kindness.
“He only withdraws when he has a justifiable reason. In other words, if there’s no purpose, he never retreats.”
I muttered, “Then we’ll be chased continuously.”
“We’ll protect you in Greenwich. Liam’s partly responsible for getting you involved.”
That was sowhat reassuring, but I couldn’t be completely at ease. I needed to prepare my own asures. Fortunately, the black space I had briefly stayed in seed favourable to , and it might be helpful. Thinking about the ripple effect from that ti sohow cald my heart. It was peaceful…
“I’m not worried. I trust Liam, and he promised…”
I replied.
Owen raised an eyebrow, a look of pure curiosity spreading across his face. He was recalling the earlier incident. Teasing us playfully, Owen asked, “You said you weren’t involved with each other?”
“It’s not that we’re not involved… Anyway, that’s how it turned out.”
“Tell more about it. Let’s hear about William Moore’s love life.”
“We’ll need so alcohol for that…”
Suddenly, a large hand intervened in our conversation. When I looked back, I saw a very flushed face. Stamring, he finally managed to speak.
“Jane, I’m starting to get jealous.”
Owen shrieked, “Ew!”
Liam Moore shouted back, “Get lost!”
Owen, being mischievous, tried to insert himself between us again.
“Why, let hear it too!”
“You’re just trying to tease , get lost!”
“I can’t believe this…”
“Just get lost already!”
They were indeed true friends.
Owen laughed so hard he clutched his stomach and rolled on the floor. It was only after he waved his hand and disappeared that Liam Moore could finally sit down, red-faced from all the teasing. His face and ears were flushed, and with his head buried in his knees, he slowly looked up at with reddened eyes.
“I ant it.”
ant what? I blinked, startled. Did he really get jealous? Of his friend?
“If that guy is your type—”
“Eek!”
I stopped him with my palm. Liam Moore, whose mouth was now covered, muttered sothing. What is he saying? My hand felt warm. Every ti his breath tickled my palm, my face grew hotter.
“L-Liam Moore, if you keep doing this, I’ll leave you. I really will.”
His grey eyes softened in a smile. It was a gesture of agreent. Only when I was sure he wouldn’t say anything else did I remove my hand.
Liam Moore felt unfamiliar.
Damn it. As I realised this, I began to recall what I had done. From the kiss in the middle of the night to covering his mouth and scolding him sternly. These were things I would never do in my right mind. What drove even crazier was the feeling of those lips…
As I lost my words, the man simply held my hand and looked up at . His face, once cold and sharp, had lted into a lively expression like spring snow. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but think:
What does he eat to look this beautiful?
＊ ＊ ＊
The carriage ride back to 13 Bailonz Street was silent.
Liam Moore had gotten a serious scolding at the hospital for using magic twice. He looked dazed, listening to the lectures about whether he had lost his mind or wanted to shorten his lifespan, and trudged back in a bewildered state.
Acting pitiful after getting scolded? No way. I spoke sternly.
“You’re not allowed to go out for a while. If you think of going out, I will leave, or you will.”
Liam Moore’s expression was priceless. Even if the sky fell, he wouldn’t look more shocked.
However, he soon fell asleep under the influence of the dication, and the only sound in the carriage was his head occasionally bumping against the window.
His bangs had co loose and falling forward. Though his eyelids trembled slightly, he was undoubtedly in a deep sleep. Just like the other tis I watched him sleep. It seed to be a habit of his to fall asleep without moving. Even with people around, he wouldn’t wake up, which made him seem sowhat vulnerable.
Will he be alright? I mumbled.
I was already beyond the point of no return, and maybe my presence was more dangerous for him than his for .
My existence might beco a threat to others. It was a deeply unpleasant realisation. Yet, you seed like you would walk into danger without a second thought.
“Will you be alright?”
“What?”
I saw his grey eyes. He had opened his eyes and was gazing at . With his eyes looking darker in the shadows, he asked,
“What is it?”
I hesitated before replying, changing the subject.
“…Well, Mary’s psychological shock?”
“…”
＊ ＊ ＊
Poor Mary.
When the carriage arrived and I got out, Mary eagerly opened the door. With Liam also missing and gone for a few days, Mary must have been extrely anxious, worried that she might have to arrange funerals for both of us.
“My goodness, miss! Where have you been all this ti?”
She cried out as she ran out. I gave an embarrassed smile.
“Mary, I’m sorry. I had so circumstances.”
Poor Mary probably considered filing a missing persons report for both of us.
Greenwich hadn’t bothered to inform Mary about our whereabouts, so to her, it seed like I had disappeared for days and just returned, bringing Liam Moore with !
“Can he co down?”
Mary noticed the slow voice coming from inside the carriage. Her eyes wavered slightly.
“He can co down.”
A gloved hand reached out. When I extended my hand, it rested on mine. With a composed expression like a lady being escorted, it was a bit funny.
But for Mary, our return wasn’t entirely a laughing matter. Seeing Liam Moore leaning on as he got out of the carriage, her mouth fell open. It didn’t feel good. I quickly reached out to calm her down.
“Mary, I can explain everything…,”
“Ahhhh!”
It was a disaster.
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