Chapter 3 (Part 7)

The bathroom was not large enough for more than one person to wash. She stared blankly at the mirror in front of her. Her hair was a mess, wet from sweat or rain.

Even though she wore a raincoat, her dress was soaked from the heavy rain, revealing her underwear.

It was fortunate that Kelle was a woman.

Her heart was anxiously trembling. 

Why did she have a name similar to my creditor? No, she might not be a creditor.

Most of the creditors were from Devok. So, it was unlikely they would come so far from the capital.

‘I must be overthinking because I’m anxious.’

She thought so inwardly and washed her body. As she dried herself with the thick cloth Kelle gave her, she noticed familiar letters.

Messerode Bank.

Her heart seemed to freeze for a moment. She thought she might have seen it wrong, but it was clear. It was definitely written in gold leaf as Messerode Bank.

‘Why, of all things…’

She had been diligently repaying, but it was still difficult to make ends meet, so she couldn’t repay properly. She knew her father was at fault.

There were people whose lives had completely changed because of her father. Some had left everything behind and come to a place completely detached from Devok.

Her father had said,

“You don’t have to repay those people. They’ve given up, so they won’t expect to get it back. Just repay those who sued me.”

After saying that, her father took his own life. Or so she heard. But her father was alive, and his words still tormented her mind.

She lied to Cardin. Even though she knew all his memories, her selfish desire prevented her from facing him, and she fled here.

And again, she lied. She couldn’t keep living with lies. She felt like she was becoming just like her father.

She was scared.

More than anything, living like her father was worse than death. How long would she have to lie? Especially to someone who saved her and showed kindness.

She didn’t want to deceive with lies anymore. Even if Kelle tried to kill her, she could accept it calmly.

She wasn’t even resentful anymore. Perhaps because she had experienced life with Cardin like a dream, she had no regrets even if she died.

She made up her mind and left the bathroom. The smell of something savory, possibly soup, wafted through the air.

Kelle was stirring the contents of a large pot with a spatula. As she approached, Kelle smiled and tried to speak, but her face froze when she saw her kneeling.

“I’m sorry.”

Kelle immediately met her eyes and crouched down.

“What are you doing? Get up. Your ankle is injured…”

“My real name is Brienne. I’m the daughter of Baron Hurrick.”

Kelle’s eyes froze. She momentarily let go of her wrist. Tears welled up suddenly.

“I’m sorry. I’m paying off the debt. But no matter how much I pay, it keeps growing, and as you can see, I’m barely surviving…”

Kelle stepped back as if retreating. Brienne wiped her tears with her wrist and continued to speak.

“I know it sounds like an excuse. I’m sorry.”

That was all she could say.

Brienne had once wondered what she would do if all her creditors appeared. The image she imagined in her mind didn’t match this reality.

Above all, tears kept flowing. In her imagination, she wasn’t flustered and spoke well, but now, only tears came out.

Kelle looked down at her for a long time. She couldn’t lift her head. Her father’s crime was too great.

Tears flowed incessantly. Even when she tried to stop, the deep, mixed emotions wouldn’t cease. They were complex.

The reason she had to leave Cardin, the reason she knelt and bowed her head here, and the reason she was suffering like this.

It was all because of one person, but the intensity of the emotions was different. They all combined, so the tears wouldn’t stop.

A faint sigh was heard, and Kelle sat facing her.

“Brienne.”

She couldn’t lift her head. It reminded her of the voice that had called her so tenderly. It hadn’t even been a day since they parted. Cardin came to mind desperately.

She just wanted to hide in his embrace, abandoning all these circumstances.

Then a warm sensation touched her hand. She hesitated and looked up to find Kelle silently watching her.

“Get up now.”

“But…”

“Your ankle is injured. Let’s get up, have dinner, and talk slowly.”

Could we really talk slowly? 

She felt like she would get angry about her father’s matters while talking. When she couldn’t bring herself to stand, Kelle took her wrist and helped her up.

“Come on.”

She had no choice but to stand up with her help. She seated her in a chair at the table. She spoke with her head down.

“I’m sorry. Because of my father…”

She couldn’t continue speaking. She felt like she already knew how their lives had been ruined without her saying it.

Kelle sighed and sat across from her.

“I’ve forgotten about that now.”

She thought she might have misheard, so she looked up. Kelle placed a bowl of soup in front of her and continued speaking.

“It’s been a year since I left Devok, and I actually like this life now.”

She stared blankly at Kelle. She seemed resigned, as her father had said, but she didn’t seem like someone who had given up on life.

Then Kelle met her gaze. She smiled and gestured to the bowl in front of her.

“Try it. It’s soup made from potatoes I grew myself.”

Her lips wouldn’t move. They just trembled. Eventually, tears flowed from her eyes. Kelle got up, brought a white cloth, and handed it to her.

She couldn’t refuse, so she accepted it carefully. As she hurriedly wiped her tears, the scent of herbs filled the air. It was familiar yet comforting.

“It wasn’t you who did it, was it Brienne?”

“…Yes.”

“Your father did it all, right?”

“Yes.”

Tears suddenly welled up, and she hurriedly wiped them away.

“It must have been tough trying to pay off all that debt.”

When she slowly lifted her head, she saw Kelle’s expression, which had already passed through her emotions. She couldn’t believe it.

“Aren’t you angry with me? After all, I’m my father’s daughter, and everyone suffered a lot because of that incident…”

“I told you earlier. I’ve forgotten it all. What’s the point of dwelling on it? It only makes me sick and drives me crazy.”

“……”

“I used to feel that way too. I was insanely angry and even wanted to kill him. But I quickly resigned myself. When I went to the bank, they told me I couldn’t get my money back. Even if I sued, your father had already lost all the money gambling, so he couldn’t repay it, and it would take a lot of time and money just to put him in jail.”

Kelle filled the glass in front of her and the one in front of herself with water and then drank. She continued speaking as soon as she set the glass down.

“I didn’t sue your father. Instead, I put my name on the list of victims. And shortly after, I heard your father had taken his own life, and I thought not suing was a good decision.”

Kelle spoke as if lost in the past.

“Your father must have suffered a lot too.”

She fidgeted with her hands. Her heart raced with tension, but she spoke the truth.

“My father isn’t that kind of person.”

Kelle looked at her with firm eyes. Brienne took a breath and continued speaking.

“In fact, my father is alive. He faked his death so the creditors couldn’t get their money back.”

Kelle’s eyes wavered. Brienne spoke the truth as it was.

“I also thought my father was dead before. But when I was near Romseed Village, I received a letter. He told me to stay well and that he’d come find me later.”

“……”

“That’s the kind of person my father is. A despicable and lowly person who never repents for his wrongdoings and always tries to escape.”

Kelle was silent. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke.

“I’m paying off my father’s debt somehow. It’s only right since people suffered because of him. So, if you give me your account number…”

“It’s okay.”

Brienne was momentarily taken aback and couldn’t speak. Kelle, having sorted out her emotions, spoke calmly.

“I want to get that money from your father. Not from you.”

Words wouldn’t come out. There hadn’t been a single creditor who said that. Even when her father was alive, everyone treated her as an accomplice and tried to get money from her somehow.

“Hearing you, I feel even more that I should get it from your father.”

Kelle’s eyes were resolute, as if she had made up her mind. She looked at her for a moment and then asked.

“You don’t know where your father is, do you?”

“He didn’t tell me either. If I get any contact from him, I’ll let you know right away.”

Kelle slowly nodded. She seemed lost in thought, fiddling with the water glass, then looked at the bowl in front of her.

“Brienne, eat before it gets cold.”

Finally, she picked up the spoon. Her hands still trembled, but having spoken without lies, her heart wasn’t as troubled.

At least Kelle was someone she could communicate with. She was still struggling under her father’s debt, but she felt a bit of light shining through.