“I’ll save you. Miss. I’ll definitely save you. Just endure until today.”

Though the words passed by quickly, Riena could understand everything. When she looked at her with bewildered eyes, the nanny avoided Riena’s gaze and burst into tears again.

In the carriage returning from the meal that had only been sad, Riena looked out the window without saying a word. It was still broad daylight, so the streets overflowed with vitality.

The nanny’s words kept ominously circling in her ears. What’s going on? For it to just be empty words, her tone had been too certain. Hadn’t she even specified an exact timeframe? Today?

Something felt off. She was so anxious that when she glanced at Kyle, he was leaning against the backrest with his eyes closed. Since Riena kept staring, Kyle opened his eyes narrowly, closed just one eye, and made a kissing gesture with his lips. Crazy bastard.

Looking at Kyle somehow reassured her that nothing would happen.

Just empty words, right?

Riena anxiously chewed her lips. Should she not have met the nanny? It had been a week since she sent her the letter. Did she report it to the security bureau?

The carriage entered the familiar mansion. Even after opening the gate, they had to go much further into the garden—that’s how wide it was.

“We’re here.”

When Riena spoke softly, Kyle opened his eyes.

“Right now, do you feel good?”

He must be asking because she’d met the nanny. Riena looked at him and hid the smile trying to rise to her lips.

“No.”

Now accustomed to such answers, he shrugged and got out of the carriage.

When Riena tried to follow him out, the door suddenly slammed shut. Kyle had closed the door from outside. His back was visible through the glass window.

“What now?”

“Stay inside! Don’t come out!”

Thinking he was playing another prank, Riena frowned and tried to open the door when—bang! A sound rang out.

The sound of gunpowder exploding shook the earth. Birds sitting in the garden flapped their wings and flew up. It was a sound that should only come from a battlefield.

Riena, terrified by the delayed explosion, lost strength in her legs and fell to the carriage floor. The startled horses couldn’t calm down and reared wildly.

“Kyle!”

Kyle, who had been blocking the carriage door, disappeared. Riena frantically kicked the door open and went out. Kyle had fallen to the ground clutching one arm. Red blood drops fell onto the green lawn.

“Come out! Riena!”

“Peter!”

About 10 meters away, Peter stood holding a musket with a long barrel. White smoke drifted around him. 

He was loading the second shot, putting gunpowder into the muzzle then pushing a paper-wrapped bullet inside. Even while doing this, he kept glancing to see if Kyle was getting up. His movements were urgent.

At the sudden gunshot, maids opened the front door, then screamed when they saw Kyle collapsed.

The acrid smell of gunpowder covered the surroundings. Riena had no time to look at Peter and approached Kyle, who had fallen right in front of the carriage. Everything went white before her eyes. Blood was coming from Kyle’s arm. He pressed his injured arm tightly with his other hand.

“I told you to stay inside!”

He shouted in displeasure, his whole face crumpled.

“Riena, please come this way!”

Riena crouched beside Kyle, not knowing what to do. Though he looked in pain, he didn’t seem injured badly enough to be life-threatening. But if Peter pulled the trigger, Kyle would die.

“Are, are you okay?”

Kyle muttered curses and stood up. Blood dripped steadily from his fingertips. Riena, who stood up following him, watched him with an agonized face like she’d been shot herself.

“Riena!”

From across, Peter called her in a desperate voice. Riena looked back and forth between Kyle and Peter. 

Peter approached closer with the gun barrel aimed at Kyle. Now she just wanted to cry. Her heart was too rushed for any thoughts to come.

“Come here! I’ll save you!”

Peter shouldered the stock and took an aiming stance.

“Don’t move! You bastard!”

Ha. Kyle sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He looked at Riena standing beside him. 

Riena was confused. She looked at his arm, then stared at Peter. Her small mouth opened and closed, seemingly trying to say something but unable to. Even that was cute.

But wasn’t she the woman who hadn’t even killed Joel with her own hands, despite him tormenting her all her life? So to save him, Riena would leave for Peter.

And after that?

If Riena wasn’t there.

Would life be worth living? If he couldn’t see this cute thing every day, couldn’t have s*x? 

Kyle finally realized. His life had somehow been completely mortgaged to Riena. Right now, Kyle felt that without Riena, he had no value in being alive.

“Riena! Come here! If you don’t come, I’ll shoot that bastard!”

He grabbed Riena’s hand and hid her behind his back.

“Don’t go.”

“Peter, Peter looks like he’ll shoot you. What do we do?”

“Even if I die, I’ll be the one to die. So don’t go.”

Riena could only see his large, flat back. Tears felt like they’d burst out.

“Riena, come here! Hurry and send Riena!”

From across came Peter’s pitiful voice.

“Peter, stop!”

“You’re not in your right mind right now! When you think about it later, you’ll thank me! So, so come here now! Please!”

Riena tried to head toward Peter through her tears. She could only think she had to stop Peter from using the gun.

Hadn’t Peter also abandoned Riena for a few coins? 

She didn’t think Kyle’s feelings ran that deep either. He wouldn’t hold onto Riena when his own life was at stake.

As soon as she took one step, Kyle spread one arm and blocked her.

“Don’t go!”

“What if Peter shoots you!”

“Still don’t go.”

He had no value in living after stupidly losing Riena. Even if it meant dying, he didn’t want to see Riena leave his side.

“Don’t go, Riena.”

Like someone who could only say those words, he kept repeating don’t go. Riena burst into tears along with a hollow laugh.

“I’d rather die than let you go. Now I can’t get hard without you.”

Riena realized she couldn’t possibly hate Kyle for saying such things even in this situation. She knew her choice was crazy. She might regret it for the rest of her life. But if she made a different choice, Riena would regret it more.

“So don’t go. Please. I don’t have the confidence to live as impotent for life.”

Riena shook off Kyle’s arm.

She struggled to suppress her trembling body and stood in front of Kyle, protecting him. Kyle looked down at the small back of her head and felt his heart surge. He slowly learned that this was joy, ecstasy, and happiness.

“Riena, what are you doing! Are you really out of your mind?”

Peter screamed frantically.

“Peter. Don’t do this.”

Riena maintained a consistently calm attitude while blocking Kyle’s front. There had never been a day since being dragged here when her head felt so clear.

“I’m not going to you.”

Peter flinched and stopped. He, who had been closing one eye to aim, raised his head and slowly looked at Riena with both eyes.

“Riena, come here!”

“I’m happy right now.”

She didn’t know how to define happiness. But if this state of wanting nothing more was happiness, she was happy enough right now.

Even twisted happiness seemed okay.

“If you’re doing this because you feel sorry for me, you stop too. I don’t hate you, I understand. It’s okay. I would have done the same.”

She still remembered the sound of footsteps running away, leaving her alone in that scary place. The look in his eyes weighing money against her and the disappointment she felt then were still vivid. 

But she understood Peter. Just like she’d once understood Joel. So now Riena tried to understand herself.

“No, Riena. You wouldn’t have done that. That’s why, that’s why I can’t forgive myself even more.”

Peter aimed the gun again while shedding tears. He remembered Riena from childhood, who had been his only friend.

If it were Riena, she wouldn’t have abandoned him and left when Peter was left alone. That’s why his heart felt even more torn. He had to gather all his strength to save her.

“No, Peter. Just doing this for me is enough to be grateful.”

Riena smiled calmly at Peter.

“But this is where I’ll return to.”

“You’re not in your right mind right now. You’ve been brainwashed by that bastard! Did you forget what he did to you? Did you forget!”

“I didn’t forget. And I won’t forget. But I’ll still stay here.”

At Riena’s firm attitude, Peter made a sound. His lips trembled, and tears dropped down his cheeks.

Peter repositioned himself and approached one step at a time, still in that aiming stance with the gun.

“You, don’t move and send Riena here! I’ll shoot!”

Kyle’s loud sigh could be heard from behind.

“Riena, please come here! Let’s forget everything and live like before. Okay?”

Peter, who had gotten quite close, reached out his hand to her.

Riena glanced at that hand desperately extended to her. If she took that hand, Peter would take her away and Kyle couldn’t approach because of the gun. Then, then she could leave this place.

Hadn’t she desperately wanted to leave until recently? Really, desperately. She’d wanted to leave even if it meant killing Joel with her own hands.

But now she didn’t feel that way. Rather, this place was now a comfortable space that posed no threat to Riena. It also kept her from being lonely after becoming alone. At least if she was here, Kyle would be with her.

Because Kyle wouldn’t push her away to save himself.

“Come here, please! Riena, please! I’ll take responsibility for you somehow!”