“But that’s no excuse to simply let it slide. In fact, when someone commits a crime for the first time, proper punishment is necessary to prevent further incidents.”

“But!”

“Even if you, Anticia, did something terribly wrong and deserved to be scolded, that doesn’t justify the use of violence.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong!”

In the midst of it, Giselle unconsciously argued back, not wanting Lucas to misunderstand her. His calm, navy-blue eyes gazed at her steadily.

Was it because of that gaze?

Or perhaps it was the magic of the night, which can make people impulsive and reckless.

She sighed, looking at the lamp illuminating the dark desk, then opened her mouth with difficulty.

It was an action she couldn’t even understand herself. She didn’t want to appear pathetic in front of him, yet here she was, spilling the sordid details of her family.

But it wasn’t that she was saying this with any expectations. She didn’t hope for him to solve her problems.

They were merely an employer and employee, nothing more. Even in the past, when they were senior and junior at the academy, they weren’t particularly close.

Perhaps it was a resignation that made her able to open up, since she had no expectations.

Sometimes, indifference is better than cheap sympathy or pity.

“…That’s why I didn’t want to go home, and I just left without a destination. I’m really sorry about this.”

Giselle laid out everything that had happened, then bowed deeply to him. Her face flushed with embarrassment, but she also felt a sense of relief.

Not that she had found a solution, or that she found some new hope.

‘If it really becomes impossible, I’ll just run away, whatever.’

She muttered to herself, chuckling wryly. It didn’t matter much either way. She had done her part, after all.

To uphold the crumbling Anticia name. To support her family while paying off her incompetent father’s debts.

‘I’ve done enough. So it’s fine to run away.’

Even if she abandoned everything and fled, who could blame her?

‘No, it doesn’t matter if they do blame me.’

She had never cared about the opinions of others in the first place.

If she had, she wouldn’t have applied to the academy against her parents’ wishes.

Nor would she have stubbornly studied through all the disparaging remarks to earn her diploma.

‘Alright. If it becomes impossible, I’ll just leave, wherever.’

Giselle inwardly resolved, then looked up at him again, expecting to see Lucas’ calm demeanor.

Of course, this must have been a shocking story for him. The kind of filthy tale that would never be heard in his world.

But she thought the Lucas Taylor she knew would surely maintain his usual composed expression.

However…

“…Senior?”

Giselle’s expectations were not met. Lucas had his fists clenched, his face twisted with an expression she had never seen on him before. Utterly unlike his typical cool and collected self.

“Uh, Mr. Taylor?”

She must have been seeing things wrong. The shadows cast by the lamp’s light must have caused a mistaken impression.

Giselle called out to Lucas again, thinking so. He looked up at her, then ran his hands over his face.

“Ah, sorry. …I have a bit of a headache.”

There it was. Giselle murmured to herself, feeling her face warm slightly.

I almost unconsciously misunderstood for a moment. That Lucas was angry after hearing my story.

I quickly shook off that ridiculous notion, but it was still embarrassing.

Giselle opened her mouth, trying to act nonchalant.

“Do you have a headache? Ah! I have some painkillers here, would you like some?”

“No, I’m fine…”

“I put them in the drawer…here they are.”

Ignoring Lucas’ attempt to decline, Giselle moved to the side of the desk and took out a small container of pills, handing them to him.

But instead of taking the medication from her, Lucas narrowed his brows and looked down.

“…?”

Wondering what he was looking at, Giselle followed his gaze.

“Ah!”

What came into her view was her own filthy, bare feet. From wandering the streets without shoes, they were injured and covered in dirt.

Giselle flushed and stammered.

“Ah! I’m sorry, my shoes got taken off…”

“Just sit down for a moment, Anticia.”

Lucas left with just that statement. The flustered Giselle tried to call out to him, but it was too late.

“…Did he remember something urgent?”

Feeling awkward, Giselle wrinkled her nose and returned to her spot. Even though he had told her to sit, her feet were hurting too much to stand for long.

“Phew…I’ve really shown an unsightly side of myself.”

Out of all things, now even her bare feet.

As she silently writhed, covering her face with her hands, the sound of the door opening came again. Giselle quickly composed her hands and looked towards the door.

Lucas’ hair was disheveled, as if he had rushed somewhere. He strode up to her and spoke.

“At least put these shoes on, Anticia.”

“…Huh?”

Her green eyes widened at his unexpected words. Blinking, wondering if she had misheard, but he didn’t say anything further.

Giselle’s gaze naturally lowered. The shoes in his hand came into view.

“Uh…you mean I should wear these shoes?”

“You can’t keep standing here barefoot. Just wear these for now, and tomorrow we’ll get you a new pair.”

“Hmm…”

Listening to Lucas, Giselle’s eyes darted back and forth. Seeing her hesitate to immediately take the shoes, he furrowed his brow.

“Is it because they’re not new that you don’t like them? But still…”

“No, it’s not that I dislike them for not being new, it’s just that…”

Giselle shook her head, then gestured awkwardly at the shoes.

“They seem too big for my feet. And these are men’s shoes too. No, more than that, just taking someone else’s shoes…”

“They’re mine.”

“…Huh? Did you just say they’re yours?”

Giselle trailed off, then her eyes went wide. Lucas knelt down in front of her and spoke calmly.

“They’re my shoes. So there, problem solved? Wear them until dawn at least. They may be a bit big for your feet, but it’s better than walking around barefoot. …Excuse me for a moment.”

“Ah, senior!”

Before Giselle could even blink, Lucas carefully grabbed her feet. She was so startled that she could only slightly part her lips, unable to move.

During that time, he slipped the shoes onto her feet. Since the shoes were so large, it was more like just placing her feet inside rather than properly putting them on.

“There, all done.”

As Lucas stood back up, the corner of his lips seemed to curl up slightly. Of course, since it was not broad daylight, she couldn’t be certain of his exact expression.

“Uh…”

“What, is there a problem?”

“Ah, no! No problem at all.”

Giselle finally regained her senses and frantically shook her head. She could feel a warm sensation on the parts of her ankle and heel that his hands had grasped.

She took a deep breath and looked down at her feet. The large men’s dress shoes felt awkward on her.

“Umm…anyway, thank you, senior.”

Feeling embarrassed, Giselle wriggled her toes inside the shoes and expressed her gratitude. Lucas gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, then asked a question.

“So, were you planning to spend the night here?”

“…If you allow me to, senior.”

‘Surely he won’t just tell me to leave, right?’

She discreetly observed his reaction. Lucas rubbed his chin, looking around the office, then frowned. Something was clearly bothering him.

‘Wait, is he really going to tell me to leave?’

When Giselle began to panic, Lucas turned to her and simply commanded,

“Follow me.”

“…?”

“How can you spend the night here? There’s not even a makeshift bed. The heating isn’t proper either.”

“I-it’s fine! I can just rest at my desk, and I can get some work done too.”

“You need to get some proper rest, even if just for a little while.”

“But…”

“I’ve already decided, Anticia. Follow me.”

Despite Giselle’s hesitation, Lucas turned and walked away. She had no choice but to reluctantly follow behind him.

Thud, thud.

The sound of footsteps was accompanied by the dragging of the shoes. Lucas glanced back as they approached the door.

Giselle was shuffling along, the shoes too big for her feet. She sheepishly explained.

“The shoes are just too big, so my feet keep slipping out as I walk.”

That’s why she had no choice but to drag her feet while wearing the shoes.

‘Please don’t blame me if the heels get worn down.’

Giselle muttered the words she couldn’t say to him, as she followed him out of the office.

Lucas checked that she had come out, then headed towards the stairs. Standing right in front of the stairs, he let out a small exclamation and turned to her.

“What is it?”

“It won’t be easy for you to go up the stairs in that state. The shoes will keep slipping off.”

“If I take the shoes off and go up barefoot, it’ll be fine…Kyaa! Senior!”

Giselle casually responded, then let out a scream. Lucas had scooped her up, supporting her back and legs.

“S-Senior!”

“Shhh. If you keep yelling like that, the security guard will come. I don’t want any unnecessary misunderstandings.”

“…Mph.”

Giselle covered her mouth in Lucas’ embrace. But soon, she removed her hand and spoke in a very soft voice.