Chapter 8. In the Pouring Rain

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My ankle hurt.

The center of the capital, bathed in the glow of the sunset, was crowded even at this hour.

People glanced at me with a mix of vulgar curiosity and shallow pity as I limped along, clutching the bundle of books. Naturally, my stepmother hadn’t paid for my carriage fare, so I had no choice but to walk to the library on my injured ankle.

The doctor had said it was just a minor ligament injury and would heal on its own with about four weeks of rest.

But if I kept straining it like this without proper rest…

I might really end up crippled.

Covered in ashes and now limping too. How much lower could my life sink?

I didn’t know anymore. I just lived each day as it came, not knowing what would happen next…

‘…Looks like it’s going to rain.’

The sky I glanced up at was filled with dark clouds, a dull gray. It resembled my future, devoid of any sunlight.

Would I be able to return before dinner? No, even if I did return on time, my stepmother was the type to leave me starving. The kitchen would likely be empty of any food.

‘I’m hungry…’

I wasn’t usually one to obsess over food, but starving was depressing. It felt incredibly unfair to be treated poorly and starved on top of that.

‘I should at least fill my stomach with water when I get back.’

With a sigh, I lifted my head and saw the Royal Library building in my view.

The white building, designed in ancient architectural style, looked like a temple. Inside, however, it housed knowledge, not gods.

As I limped up the steps to the central entrance, a few people cast uneasy glances my way. But I kept my gaze forward, not showing any signs of struggle, and persevered.

Despite the cold sweat forming on my forehead from the pain in my ankle, I didn’t stop for a moment. After climbing the stairs for what felt like an eternity, I finally reached the entrance. I paused to catch my breath before stepping inside.

The book return desk was located at the 11 o’clock direction in the first-floor lobby. I could see Mr. Button in the distance, busy organizing the returned books.

I approached slowly and placed the five books on the table, then stood still, waiting.

Just as the wait was becoming tedious, Mr. Button noticed me and, with a flustered expression, adjusted his glasses and spoke.

“I’m sorry, miss. Have you been waiting long? Are you here to return these books?”

“Yes. They were borrowed under the name Margot Lopez.”

“Mrs. Margot Lopez… Ah, here it is. Please sign here.”

I imitated my stepmother’s signature in the ledger Mr. Button handed me, completing the return process.

Mr. Button glanced at me, but it wasn’t an unpleasant look. He was known to be a good person and a gentleman, so he wouldn’t stare at my shabby clothes or limping ankle out of curiosity.

“Well then… Goodbye.”

After giving him a slight bow, I turned to leave the counter, but Mr. Button hurriedly caught up to me. For some reason, he seemed a bit anxious.

“Wait a moment, miss… It looks like you’ve injured your ankle… Did you walk all the way here?”

“…Yes, I did.”

“If you keep walking on it like this, it will strain your ankle. You should take a carriage. I’ll cover the fare.”

He fished a few coins out of his pocket and tried to hand them to me, but I shook my head and firmly refused.

“Please don’t. I appreciate the thought, but I can’t accept money.”

“It’s going to rain soon. You should take a carriage. If you get caught in the rain with an injured ankle…”

I knew he was a good person, but I didn’t expect him to be kind even to a girl dressed like a maid. I continued to refuse with a polite but firm tone.

“Really, it’s fine. It’s not a serious injury…”

As my gaze inadvertently shifted to the side, I saw someone entering the first-floor lobby.

“…!”

My heart sank with a loud thud. I froze like a wooden doll.

A face that looked bored, eyes the color of deep amber whiskey, and jet-black hair that shone like a raven’s feathers.

He was conversing with someone beside him, a faint sneer on his lips. His cynical gaze held an arrogance that seemed to look down on everything except himself, and despite his seemingly languid movements, an invisible aura of sharpness surrounded him, making it clear that he was not to be approached lightly.

Enoch Bayern.

The moment I absentmindedly murmured that name, his gaze turned in this direction.

“……!”

I hastily turned my back and bowed my head deeply to hide my face. My heart pounded as if it had been hit by a bomb. Is there anything more frightening than catching that man’s eye here? I didn’t want to run into him, even by mistake. Rather… I wished he would completely forget about me. I hoped he wouldn’t even remember my face.

“I’m sorry, mister. Something urgent came up, and I need to go. I appreciate the kindness, but I won’t accept it. Goodbye.”

“Ah, miss…!”

Mr. Button tried to stop me, but I quickly left the place. Of course, limping unsightly as I did so…

It would have been nice if I could leave the lobby on the first floor immediately, but Enoch Bayern and his companion were occupying the entrance, so I had no choice but to head to the left corridor.

The only boundary dividing the lobby from the corridors on either side of the first floor was a white pillar in the shape of an arch. I hid behind that pillar, waiting for Enoch Bayern to leave.

How much time had passed like that?

Finally, I saw Enoch Bayern exit through the entrance and leave. As I was getting tired, I sighed in relief and counted to sixty in my head. Sixty seconds should be enough. To avoid running into that man outside…

‘…58, 59, 60.’

After counting to sixty, I carefully walked to the entrance, making sure not to catch Mr. Button’s eye.

When I stepped outside, it was raining. It wasn’t a downpour, but walking in this rain for thirty minutes would undoubtedly leave me looking like a wet rat.

However, I didn’t have the fare for a carriage, and I had no intention of going back to the lobby to ask Mr. Button for help. I didn’t want to cause such trouble, and I disliked receiving someone’s pity…

So I had only two options. Either wait endlessly under the eaves of this library until the rain stopped, or push through the rain before it got heavier.

“……”

I extended my hand to feel the raindrops falling from the sky on my skin. Although I liked rainy weather, it felt resentful at times like this. The rain grew heavier, and as it darkened, the streetlights began to turn on one by one.

If this rain continued all night, staying here wouldn’t be a good choice. With a short sigh, I reluctantly decided to move.

The raindrops fell heavily, soaking my hair and clothes. The rain, falling in the chilly spring weather, was mercilessly cold and quickly stole my body heat.

By the time I descended all the stairs, I was half-soaked, hugging my upper body and shivering.

Even now, it’s so cold that walking in this rain for thirty minutes would surely give me a severe cold. It might even develop into pneumonia, making me seriously ill…

Looking down at the hem of my skirt, heavily soaked with rainwater, I suddenly remembered my mother’s death.

My mother died of hypothermia with her heart stopped in the cold rain after leaving the window open on a stormy winter day.

Since childhood, I occasionally wondered. Was her death an accident, or did she intend it?

My mother wasn’t mentally sound, so it might be meaningless to know the truth. However, as her only child, I couldn’t help but question.

Why?

If she opened the window herself, why did she do it… Mother?

Why did you take your own life?

Why did you leave me alone…

“……”

Swoosh—

The heavy raindrops, which had turned into a downpour, mercilessly struck my body. Within seconds, my clothes were soaked and clung heavily to my skin.

In front of me was a vast darkness. The night street was dimly lit by a few streetlights. Even if I made it through this darkness to the Lopez mansion, could I really call that place my ‘home’?

…Suddenly, the fact that I was alone pierced my bones painfully.

In the midst of great despair, my mind went blank. At that moment, relying only on the instinct to survive, I took a step forward.

“Never would have thought.”

A familiar low voice pierced through the sound of rain and reached my ears.

“It really is you.”

The sound of footsteps splashing through the water followed.

In the place where my vacant gaze landed…

“The owner of that worn-out shoe.”

That man, Enoch Bayern, was standing there.