âWhy canât you do it when youâre an adult?â
ââŠâŠI know.â
Federica looked at Kyrie with pitiful eyes.
âUnnie, itâs okay. Youâll do better in your life.â
âThanks for your concern, Federica.â
Kyrie replied calmly. Federica took her thumb out of her mouth and smiled broadly.
âLetâs go eat then, Unnie.â
The child reached out her hand full of saliva to Kyrie. Kyrie took the little hand without realizing it.
(PR note: donât do this, wash your hands.)
âLetâs go eat?â
âYes!â
âFederica, letâs go when your mother gets back.â
âMy stomach is growling so much! Mom said Iâd die if I heard a lot of growling!â
There was no time for Kyrie to stop. Federica immediately stormed out the door.
âFederica!â
Kyrie was led down the stairs by Federica with only a shawl. Fortunately, Federica arrived with Kyrie downstairs. Perhaps not once or twice, Federica skillfully opened the door downstairs without knocking.
âMaâam Corey! Maâam Corey!â
âFederica?â
The woman who was coming out wiping her hands was surprised to see Kyrie.
âFederica, do you know her?â
âYes, itâs Kir! Maâam, Iâm hungry, can you feed me? Kir is hungry, too!â
âFederica, Iâm fine. Letâs go back.â
Kyrie pulled Federicaâs hand, covering her head with a shawl. But Federica was incredibly powerful.
âUnnie, my stomach was growling again!â
Federica had Kyrie sit down at the table. Then she started chatting with a friend of her age who ran out of the other room.
âAnnie, look at Unnie, sheâs like a princess, right?â
âWho is she?â
âShe is indebted to my family!â
âWhy?â
âHuh?â (Kyrie)
Federica looked back at Kyrie.
âUnnie, donât you have a house? Why do you sleep in my house?â
âThatâs-.â
âWhy are you wearing it? You take off your clothes at home.â
Kyrie was busy smiling at the children looking up at her with bright eyes and covering her face for a woman standing with a frightened face. Then the woman stepped up between Kyrie and the children.
âYou guys, get in the room for a second!â
âHuh?â
âMom, why? Weâre going to eat and play outside.â
âGo in!â
The children entered the room with sulky faces. The noisy surroundings quickly became quiet.
The woman, called Corey, stood for a long time with a white face, and was dismayed and surprised when she heard the soldiersâ footsteps outside the window. Corey asked with a determined look.
âYouâre a noble woman, arenât you?â
Kyrie put her hands together, straightened her posture, and answered.
âRight.â
âThe soldiers are looking for Miss BuchananâŠâŠ.â
Then the shawl, clumsily wrapped over her head, fell off. When glossy light purple hair was revealed, Corey freaked out.
âOh, my God. GodâŠ!â
Corey stepped back. She closed the small open wooden window tightly and took a deep breath.
âWhy, why are you here?â
âItâs an accident. Iâm sorry. Iâll be out in a minute.â
âLegendary Lord is looking for you, isnât he? Shouldnât you be in the palace?â
Kyrie looked wonderfully calm at Corey, terrified as if she had seen something she shouldnât have. Far from being upset, she felt sorry. No wonder she didnât want to get involved with a woman like this who didnât know what would happen.
Corey whispered in a trembling voice.
âIâm sorry, but please leave. I have a family to protect. Please understandâŠâŠ.â
I know how you feel.
Kyrie took a step back.
ââŠâŠIâll be right there, but Josephina left Federica to me. Please donât let Federicaââ
âIâll take care of her! Please! PleaseâŠâŠ please leave before the soldiers know.â
Corey gasped and shouted. She thought sheâd faint if Kyrie said something more. Kyrie picked up her shawl.
âIâm sorry to interrupt.â
It was the moment she grabbed the doorknob to leave the house.
âUnnie!â
Federica stormed out of the door.
âWhere are you going? Are you going to eat something delicious without me? Federica will leave too!â
âHey, Federica!â
Corey tried to stop her, but it didnât work. Federica rushed straight to Kyrie and jumped into her arms.
âFederica, wait, itâs dangerousâŠâŠ!â
Unfortunately, Kyrie didnât even have the strength to support the little girl. Unable to beat Federicaâs weight, Kyrie collapsed behind her.
âHuh? Uh, hey! Unnie!â
After that, for a short time, Kyrieâs vision blackened out. She thought it was for a while, but it was probably more than a few minutes.
When she opened her eyes again, Kyrie was lying on the floor. Seeing Kyrie open her eyes, Federica cried and hugged her.
Federica cried loudly, a little kid crying next to her, Corey was fidgeting with a strangled face. Despite the chaotic scene, Kyrie calmly grasped the situation.
âIt looks like I passed out for a while from a concussion.â
Kyrie sighed a little. She still had a slight headache, but she smiled at Federica without showing it.
âFederica, where did you get hurt?â
âIâm sorry, uh-huh, Iâm sorryâŠâŠ.â
âItâs okay. Are you hurt?â
âItâs okay because you supported meâŠâŠ.â
Kyrier patted Federicaâs head, which was whimpering.
âItâs dangerous, so you shouldnât jump into people next time. Okay?
âI wonâtâŠâŠ.heuk.â
âGood girl.â
Kyrie patted Federica on the back, who dug carefully into her arms. Corey, who was looking at the scene, looked a little surprised. She had a really frightened look on her face, and the field murmured breathtaking words.
âMiss, youâre not what I thought youâd beâŠâŠ.â
Kyrie laid down and turned to Corey. She picked up what to say for a moment and opened her mouth.
âIâm sorry. I might have a head injury. Iâll lie down for a while and leave right away, so can you understand until then?â
Coreyâs eyes shook. Corey, who was wandering around the room with her trembling hands covering her mouth, soon knelt in front of Kyrie with determined eyes.
âChildren, Iâm moving her to bed, so help me, okay?â
âOh! Iâll help you!â
âMom, Iâll leave the door open!â
Corey said without making eye contact with Kyrie.
âYou too⊠Wait a minute, Iâll lay my hands on youâŠâŠ.â
âIâm fine. Iâll be out in a little while if I feel okay.â
Kyrie threw out her hand, but Corey raised Kyrieâs body firmly, apparently already determined. Corey smiled awkwardly at the unexpectedly light body.
ââŠâŠYouâre too light. Iâll give you something to eat if you lie down.â
âNo! Donât do that. This could be dangerous.â
Coreyâs hands were still shaking, and her eyes were filled with fear. Still, she didnât lift Kyrie and throw her out.
âHow can I throw away a sick person⊠I wonât tell the soldiers, B, but youâre hurt, pleaseâŠâŠ.â
Corey murmured with a look of tears. Realizing she couldnât stop her, Kyrie finally nodded.
Corey managed to show something like a smile, and then went out, putting Kyrie on the bed and offering to set the table. She said she didnât want to eat, but she couldnât hear it because her stomach was making embarrassing noises.
It was time for Federica and Federicaâs friend Annie to jump next to Kyrie, making warm air. The wooden window next to the bed made a knock, and the window opened carefully.
âMiss Buchanan, have you ever been in a place like this?â
âJoey?â
Joey whispered in a tense voice, with only a black shadow visible through the window.
âWeâve got a problem.â
Kyrie jumped to her feet. Trying to say something, she first turned to the children.
âFederica. And, did you say Annie? Can you leave me alone for a minute?â
Federica nodded and held Annieâs hand.
âMom told me to listen to the Black Man. Sister, can I take Annie out?â
âThank you. Please, Federica.â
âYes! Letâs eat together when itâs over!â
As the children left, Kyrie asked in a hurry.
âWhat do you mean? Did something happen to Maria and Laura?â
âThey have been detained at the palace, but they are fine. However, there is a problem with the escape. Weâve lost contact with the command.â
âLost contact?â
âIt looks like the Legendary Lord had his hands on it. Currently, all roads to and from the capital are blocked. Fortunately, I donât think he has noticed that youâre here, but I think you should be hiding here a little longer.â
âBut we canât do them any more harm.â
Kyrie said calmly, recalling Coreyâs terrified face. But Joey was also cool.
âThey are getting the right compensation. Donât mind it, Miss Buchanan.â
Joeyâs answer was as hard and unobstructed as reading a dictionary.
âAlso, measures are already in place for the current situation. However, it takes some time to prepare, so please be prepared for the future while you are there.â
âPrepare? What are you talking about?â
Joey replied in a very strong tone.
âTake care of your meal.â
Strangely enough, Kyrie somehow felt there was something Joey hadnât said. And the way he was trying to feed something, funny enough, reminded her of him.
[Wash up and eat. If you call me again for this, Iâll throw you in the flour.]
But she quickly erased the idea. Maria was the one who brought it herself. If she didnât trust her, who would she trust?