Chapter 7

Her breath, which had risen up to her chin, finally burst out. Gabrielle, trembling and gasping as she explained, shrank back when a hand approached her.

“Tears…”

Julian wiped the tears trailing down her cheek with his index finger, then suddenly stood up.

“Who was it? Did you see the face?”

“No… Only that he was a man.”

“Wait here.”

Leaving only those brief words, he turned his back. Gabrielle shook her head and grabbed his pants.

“No! He might have had a weapon. He seemed dangerous.”

“That’s all the more reason not to let it go. Someone who would harm you could strike anytime.”

Julian spoke firmly and gently removed Gabrielle’s hand. Like a puppy forcibly pulled from its mother, Gabrielle clung to him.

“I don’t want to be alone!”

“……”

“Please, just… help me home, okay?”

Her legs had no strength left; she couldn’t stand up at all. Looking up at him with tearful eyes, she pleaded again.

“I’m really sorry, but please. Please.”

After a moment of silence, Julian finally nodded. Gabrielle thought he would just help her up, but instead, he placed a large hand behind her knees and back, easily lifting her into his arms.

“Ah, you really don’t have to…”

Embarrassed, Gabrielle tried to push him away with a flushed face. But his grip only tightened.

“I’m worried you’ll fall down the stairs again.”

Even after coming into her room, Gabrielle’s pounding heartbeat hadn’t settled down. The thought that the attacker might come after her at any moment still lingered.

“Lock up well, and go to the police first thing in the morning.”

After seating Gabrielle at the dining chair and returning her room key, Julian turned to leave. Hesitant, Gabrielle stopped him.

“At least… have some tea before you go.”

“……”

Julian turned slowly, his expression unreadable, as if trying to gauge her intentions. As the air grew tense, Gabrielle replayed her own words and blushed deeply.

“Of course! I didn’t mean anything else. I just… I’m really grateful…”

No matter how she tried to act as if nothing had happened, the fear from earlier wouldn’t go away easily.

“But… it’s already too late at night, isn’t it?”

Julian glanced down at her trembling hands and let out a low sigh. Then he pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.

“I like tea. What kinds do you have?”

“Oh… Just a moment.”

Gabrielle, her face brightening, got up and searched her kitchen cabinet. She found some jasmine tea leaves.

“Is jasmine okay?”

“Yes. It’s one of my favorites.”

“That’s a relief.”

Gabrielle smiled softly, skillfully scooping out the tea leaves and brewing them. The fragrant aroma quickly filled the small kitchen. As she poured the tea, she noticed her trembling hands calming, and her erratic heartbeat gradually slowing down.

Finally regaining her composure, Gabrielle carefully poured the brewed tea into a guest cup.

“Please try it.”

“Yes.”

Julian nodded and took a sip. His indifferent expression changed to mild surprise after tasting it.

“It’s… good.”

“I love tea. Brewing it alone is a hobby of mine.”

It was a hobby she could do quietly by herself. Her mother disliked hobbies that cost money, and her new stepsister and stepbrother always mocked her. Tea was the only hobby she could enjoy without their ridicule or opposition. It didn’t cost much, and she could enjoy it alone in her room.

Julian closed his eyes briefly as if savoring the tea, then slowly opened them.

“It’s from Keria Mountain, isn’t it?”

“How did you know?”

Only someone truly interested in tea would know that. Surprised, Gabrielle stared at him, and Julian asked in return.

“How did you get it? It must’ve been hard to find during the cold war.”

“The tea shop owner gifted it to me. She said it was her last present before closing down.”

“I see.”

Julian nodded and set down his cup. Gabrielle, catching the cue, refilled his cup and asked carefully,

“Are you… from Keria?”

His relaxed dark eyes flashed sharply for a moment. Gabrielle, busy pouring tea, didn’t notice and continued speaking.

“I’ve heard it’s a beautiful country. The southern region is famous for tea cultivation and vast tea fields.”

“……”

Five years ago, the war between this country, Verti, and Keria began with a small incident at the border. In a small town designated as neutral territory, drunken soldiers from both countries pulled guns on each other. A brief scuffle escalated into a major shootout, with two warriors from each side badly injured.

Both nations demanded apologies and compensation, and tensions rose until war finally broke out. Only after many casualties did they officially end the war, but resentment still lingered between them.

No one knew why a Kerian was living in Verti, but residing in a former enemy country must have been difficult. Feeling sympathetic, Gabrielle added,

“You don’t have to answer. I was too thoughtless.”

She tried to change the subject, but Julian, silently drinking his second cup of jasmine tea, confessed,

“I am from Keria.”

“I thought so.”

Her suspicion was now confirmed. Gabrielle calmly offered comfort.

“I don’t know your story, but it must be tough living in a foreign land.”

“Tough…”

Julian echoed her words with a short laugh.

“Thank you for the tea. I’ll be going now.”

Gabrielle followed him to see him out.

“Thank you again for earlier. Please be careful on your way.”

Julian nodded instead of replying and turned to leave. Gabrielle added one last thing.

“Just one question.”

“……”

Julian turned his head, waiting for her words. Gabrielle spoke calmly.

“Why do you suddenly speak informally to me?”

He looked about her age. Even if he was a year or two older, mutual respect was basic courtesy. A benefactor was a benefactor, but manners were manners. When she waited for an answer, he gave a surprisingly simple reply.

“You can do it too. If you want.”

* * *

After that day, Gabrielle remained tense for a while because of the attacker, but fortunately, nothing happened.

She also gradually became closer to Julian, who had helped her. Though “closer” wasn’t quite accurate, since they didn’t meet face to face.

Sometimes, when she made too much salad or sandwiches, Gabrielle would knock on the downstairs neighbor’s door, but it rarely opened. Still, she left her homemade food at his door.

Without fail, the next day, a clean, washed empty dish would be left at her own door.

“If only he’d leave a note saying ‘thank you’… He’s so stiff.”

“Who’s stiff?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Gabrielle looked up.

“Chief.”

“What are you doing?”

“The Executive Director was out all day, so I was catching up on work. What about you?”

“Same as always.”

Chief Colton replied playfully, then sat down on the opposite couch in the waiting room.

“The Executive Director is always busy.”

“He was always busy, but since being officially appointed, he’s gotten even busier.”

“Really?”

Colton replied meaningfully, glancing around.

“By the way, don’t you think something’s strange about all this?”

“Strange… how?”

“I mean, everything just seems off.”

Colton suddenly stood up from the couch and paced in front of Gabrielle’s desk, speaking passionately.

“Suddenly, a man who hardly looks thirty is appointed Acting Director… and then…”

Colton stopped, frowning deeply as he looked at Gabrielle.

“A director with such a clean, honest image suddenly gets dismissed for all sorts of corruption and bribery?”

“……”

Now that she thought about it, it was definitely strange. Gabrielle herself had thought something was suspicious. But she couldn’t say that out loud. She just shrugged.

“I don’t know. That’s for the higher-ups. I just do what I’m told and listen to what I’m supposed to.”

“Aw, come on. Gabrielle.”

Colton pouted and lowered her voice as she came closer.

“Haven’t you heard anything lately? Any frequent visitors, maybe?”

“Chief.”

Gabrielle, who had been responding gently, suddenly changed her expression to one of firm resolve.

“I don’t think you should ask any more. I’m not the kind of secretary who goes around talking about her boss’s business.”

“Oh… That’s…”

Colton had expected her to spill something if she coaxed her enough, but Gabrielle’s unexpectedly firm refusal left her flustered. Still, Gabrielle didn’t so much as blink as she repeated her refusal.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Please go.”

Her previously gentle gaze turned sharply cold in an instant. Colton might have been hurt by her attitude, but Gabrielle was used to people suddenly turning cold after being warm and gentle, so she didn’t care.

“…You’ll regret this.”

“Sorry?”

“No, never mind. I was being a nuisance. See you.”

Colton gave Gabrielle a quick once-over and left the waiting room. Alone again, Gabrielle unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

Dominic Moore was definitely suspicious in many ways, but he was still her boss. Even if there was some resentment, it was still a connection. Gabrielle was surprised herself at how firmly she’d spoken to the chief who had tried to coax her into gossip.