Chapter 12 – Part 1 (Howard Vails -1 )

Anne spoke calmly as she looked at the entrance to Cohen Street.

“Dorvin! This place looks a bit dangerous, doesn’t it?”

A scene full of hedonism, beggars, and drunkards unfolded before her eyes. The strong smell of mold and rotting food lingered in the air.

The two, wearing relatively clean hoods, stood out as strangers.

“…No, I clearly stated that I would only guard you inside the Davis mansion.”

“That’s why I offered you extra pay. And a lot of it.”

Dorvin was a royal knight bribed by Kyle with Anne’s money. He was easily swayed for a relatively small amount.

Mila had mentioned that Dorvin had received a great favor from Evan in the past.

Her red hair, which looked as fine as silk, fluttered. Anne pulled her hood tightly over her head and urged Dorvin forward.

Dorvin couldn’t understand her behavior.

He was uneasy about her walking through a dangerous place without any sign of tension.

Especially since, no matter how much she wore a black hood, she looked much cleaner than the people of Cohen Street and was likely to become a target for crime.

“Dorvin?”

“You are the lady of the Vanessa family, right? Have you ever considered that if you die here, your body might not even be recovered intact?”

At that moment, Anne’s expression hardened.

As expected. No matter how much she pretended to be fine, it was a frightening situation for a noble lady.

If they could return to the duke’s mansion, it would be perfect.

Dorvin was thinking of more ways to scare Anne.

Anne stared at Dorvin for a while and then asked.

“…Dorvin, are you scared? Should we go back?”

“What?”

“You know. It’s understandable if you’re scared now, even though you accepted the job. I understand. Do you want to go back alone?”

Dorvin ran his hand through his hair, looking incredulous. The idea that this small lady was asking if he was scared was…

It was not only damaging to his pride but also so absurd that he was at a loss for words.

Anne, looking more urgent than before, pressed Dorvin.

“It’s okay. You can get a partial refund. If going straight back to the mansion is awkward, you can stay somewhere else for a while. I don’t have much time…”

Anne was about to leave Dorvin behind and move forward when he hurriedly grabbed her shoulder and said,

“Alright. I’ll do my best on this mission.”

“…You won’t be scared?”

“Please stop saying that. Let’s just keep going.”

“Okay.”

Anne tilted her head, puzzled by the awkward conversation. At that moment, an old woman appeared before them.

“…Grandmother?”

“Follow me.”

“What?”

“I’ll take you to what you’re looking for!”

Anne and Dorvin exchanged glances, wondering if they could trust this old woman, but the street was too wide to keep wandering around looking for a tavern with a star on it.

Anne nodded and took the old woman’s hand.

“Grandmother, have you had lunch?”

“…This young lady is kind, huh? Even though people here look shabby, they all strive to live! A man from afar sometimes gives us food.”

The old woman, with a much softer expression, patted Anne’s back. She seemed to appreciate Anne’s concern for a stranger.

Dorvin asked the old woman with a disapproving expression.

“Do you know where we’re going?”

Despite her poor pronunciation due to her missing teeth, the old woman’s reprimanding words to Dorvin were clear.

“Do you think I don’t?”

“…We haven’t told anyone where we’re going, Miss Anne.”

Anne wasn’t unaware of this. They couldn’t trust the old woman blindly, but they also couldn’t keep wandering aimlessly in search of a tavern with a star on it.

She was just worried about the slightly emaciated-looking grandmother for now.

“Grandmother, do you know a tavern with a star on it?”

“…I told you I’d take you there!”

Anne handed over 10 Milan to the old woman, who raised her voice in frustration and bowed her head.

“Then, grandmother, please take us.”

Contrary to their concerns, the place they arrived at was indeed the tavern with a star on it.

The old woman went inside and naturally walked to the display case, taking out a bottle of whiskey.

The orange-tinted liquid filled the cleanly polished glass.

“Here, 10 Milan worth.”

“…Grandmother, are you the owner here?”

“That’s right!”

As Anne tried to drink the whiskey in the glass, the startled Dorvin rushed over and snatched the glass from her.

“Young lady!”

“Hoho, look at this young lady. She’s got some guts.”

“It’s the drink the grandmother gave me.”

Despite Anne’s answer, the old woman made a strange expression for a moment, then picked up a cigar and lit it.

The burning smoke covered the old woman’s face, creating a peculiar atmosphere for a brief moment.

“How can you drink something without knowing what’s in it?”

“What?”

“…Don’t accept drinks from strangers so carelessly! But this is really just whiskey, so I’ll drink it. I’ll enjoy this drink thanks to you.”

Anne paused slightly, but the old woman approached her with a broad smile and patted her on the shoulder.

“You came to see Pel, didn’t you? You seem as gentle as that fellow, which worries me. I have a rough idea of what you two are plotting. Anyway, head down there. It’s dark, so watch your step.”

The place the old woman pointed to was the entrance to the basement of the tavern, just as described in the note.

“Um… just a moment.”

Anne glanced around the window area, hoping to spot Blue, but there was no sign of the bird.

Anne, feeling suspicious, added a word to Dorvin.

“Dorvin, stay here.”

“Miss, didn’t you say earlier that you had paid me? I’m coming too.”

“It’s really okay. You’ve done enough by escorting me this far.”

“Miss!”

“It won’t be dangerous. I promise.”

Reluctantly reassured by the old woman, Dorvin bit his lip.

“…Understood. However, I will leave the basement door open. And if anything happens, call me immediately.”

***

Anne slowly descended into the basement, pointed out by the old woman.

Contrary to the entrance, it grew brighter as she went deeper, with lanterns illuminating the interior. The brighter-than-expected atmosphere relaxed Anne’s expression a bit.

Finally, as she opened the creaking wooden door, a neatly arranged room unfolded before her eyes.

The path seemed intricately twisted, suggesting they had moved to a different space underground.

Outside the window, the blue sky and a cliff below came into view. The beautiful scenery drew an exclamation from Anne.

“My goodness.”

“Welcome, unknown lady.”

In front of her stood a man with tousled hair and a thick beard.

“Are you Blue’s owner?”

“Ah, are you talking about that bird?”

As the man opened the window and whistled, Blue appeared in the distance, flapping vigorously towards them.

“This little one had gotten quite plump, so I gave it some exercise.”

Anne smiled sheepishly and held out her two fingers towards Blue.

The bird landed on Anne’s hand and puffed out its chest, seemingly demanding praise for its unchanged appearance.

As Anne stroked its head and praised it, Blue chirped excitedly, “Peep! Peep!”

“Let me introduce myself. I am Anne Vanessa, a lieutenant of the medical corps.”

At her words, Ferrell raised an eyebrow.

He roughly guessed the situation. It seemed the bird had mistaken Anne for someone special to Evan.

Besides, Anne had always fed the bird so generously that Blue probably preferred her over Evan.

Ferrell smiled and poured tea into a cup.

“You must have a special relationship with Duke Evan Davis?”

“Yes.”

“The reason this bird came to you is probably… because it mistook your scent.”

Anne nodded quietly.

“I’ve heard that. What is your relationship with the Duke?”

“An old mentor.”

Anne looked at Ferrell for a moment. No matter how she looked, his appearance didn’t seem like someone acquainted with nobility.

Suppressing her suspicions, Anne cautiously asked,

“…You’re still on Duke Evan Davis’s side, right?”

“Yes.”

Is that so?

But this man was cleverly avoiding revealing his identity.

Anne said sharply,

“Don’t you know that it’s etiquette for nobles to introduce themselves first?”

Ferrell laughed heartily and answered,

“Yes, I apologize for my rudeness. I am Ferrell Klein.”

Ferrell, Ferrell. Anne hesitated. Hearing a familiar name left her very confused.

If it was Ferrell, he had the same name as Carly’s former lover.

However, looking at his face, which seemed at least ten years older than Carly, Anne couldn’t hide her confusion as she asked,

“…If you’re Ferrell Klein, aren’t you supposed to be dead? The one Carly was desperately looking for!”

Realizing her question was rude, Anne hurriedly tried to cover her mouth, but Ferrell smiled as if it were fine.

“…You know Carly.”

“Yes, that’s right. But! if you were alive, you should have gone to her immediately.”

Anne gave a bitter, exasperated laugh.

Of course, she had often heard in the hospital how much Carly missed this man.

Carly still wore the bracelet given to her by a precious person on her wrist.

Ferrell, watching the startled Anne, spoke quietly.

“Is Carly still looking for me?”

“…Of course!”

‘How can you even ask that?’

Carly still loved Ferrell deeply.

She had even sought Kyle’s help to confirm Ferrell’s death.

But Ferrell merely shrugged.

“That’s why I hid. I could die any moment. I didn’t want Carly to get involved in dangerous matters.”

Anne, unable to comprehend his words, retorted angrily,

“I don’t understand.”

“I don’t expect you to. It’s just instinct.”

For Ferrell, worrying about the safety of the one he loved was only natural.

He had once made efforts to stand beside Carly as a respectable suitor.

Now, he was a beggar with no status. That’s why Ferrell couldn’t face her anymore.

“Sir Klein?”