What did she mean about not being captivated by the beauty of the ruby? What was that supposed to mean?

Suddenly, Lesia recalled what she had said on the way back. Could Grandma Lulu’s words be related to that?

“The ruby isn’t as beautiful as you think. If the ruby desires you, run away.”

“…?”

Even with that explanation, Grandma Lulu’s words were too abstract and difficult for Lesia to understand, so she just blinked her eyes. 

“Do you understand?”

“…Yes.”

But she was too tired and wanted to go home to sleep, and since she would be eating the cake Uncle Chalson made at Grandma Lulu’s house tomorrow, she could ask again then. So Lesia just nodded halfheartedly.

Smiling at Lesia’s response, Grandma Lulu and Uncle Chalson departed for their homes. 

“Lesia, what did Grandma say to you?”

On the way home, Juliana asked with a curious expression.

After a brief moment of thought, Lesia smiled brightly and answered.

“Secret!”

“What?”

Juliana made an incredulous face, but conversations with Grandma Lulu were fundamentally kept secret by principle. It was like a promise between Grandma Lulu and Lesia.

Juliana didn’t seem particularly curious either, as she chuckled and followed behind Lesia who was running ahead.

It was completely dark by the time they arrived home. All the surrounding houses had their lights off. Everyone had collapsed from fatigue. The same was true for Juliana and Lesia.

As soon as they arrived home, after washing up quickly, Lesia immediately collapsed onto the bed. Soon, Juliana lay down beside her.

Lesia naturally snuggled into Juliana’s embrace. Juliana hugged Lesia tightly.

“Good night.”

“Sleep well, Lesia.”

After exchanging their nightly greetings, the two fell into deep sleep. But they were unaware of the shadow entering Flora Village through the darkness.

Bang bang!

In the middle of the night, someone pounded strongly on the door of Lesia’s house. The thunderous sound splitting the quiet night made Lesia and Juliana wake up simultaneously.

At that moment, Lesia thought it was morning because it was bright outside the window. She realized it wasn’t when she heard the urgent voice from beyond the door.

“Ms. Juliana! Lesia! Wake up!”

Bang bang!

Beyond the force pounding on the door with enough strength to break it, a familiar voice was heard.

“Lesia, wait here.”

Juliana wrapped a shawl around herself and carefully approached the entrance. Meanwhile, Lesia looked out the window. It was bright. Brilliant light was spreading from several houses away. And the faint smell of burning was…

While Lesia stared blankly out the window, Juliana cautiously opened the front door with a face full of wariness.

As soon as she did, the door swung wide open and someone rushed in.

“Mr. Jordan?”

It was Jordan. He was drenched in sweat, looking like he was being chased by someone. His expression and tone conveyed urgency.

“In the middle of the night, what suddenly…”

“Run, we need to run away now!”

“What? What are you suddenly saying? We need to run away… Are you drunk?”

Now that she noticed, there was a vague smell of alcohol coming from Jordan, causing Juliana to frown deeply.

As Juliana took a step back, Jordan became more frantic and shouted.

“That’s not it! I saw it! Someone k*lling Mr. Isaac!”

“…?!”

Isaac was the most robust man in the village after Chalson. Who could possibly kill such a man?

Unable to comprehend this statement, Juliana grew suspicious of Jordan instead.

Jordan pounded his chest and shouted roughly.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true! You know how Isaac and I didn’t get along. But after returning from the banquet, we became closer, so tonight we were drinking together to catch up. Then I went to the outhouse because I needed to urinate, and when I came back, Mr. Isaac was being stabbed by someone.”

“What on earth…”

“That person is looking for someone! I don’t know who it is, but we need to run away now!”

“…!!”

At the mention of a killer searching for someone, Juliana’s brown eyes shook violently. Growing anxious, Juliana began biting her fingernails.

“I escaped while Mr. Isaac was buying time. Hurry, we need to run away now!”

“…Alright. Please wait a moment.”

Juliana went inside and quickly put a coat on Lesia. Then she grabbed Lesia’s arm and pulled her along. Her face had turned pale.

“Mom?”

“Lesia, let’s go. Hurry.”

“Ow, that hurts…”

Juliana pulled Lesia’s arm without considering her height. Lesia’s eyes welled up with tears from the pain that felt like her arm would be torn off, but seeing Juliana’s unusual demeanor, she followed without protest.

When Lesia and Juliana came outside, the village was already in ruins. By then, the fire had spread further, approaching Lesia’s house.

“Lesia! Ms. Juliana!”

Chalson, who seemed to have just woken up as he was in his pajamas, ran toward them with an old sword in hand.

Chalson glanced at Jordan once and then spoke to Juliana.

“Something is definitely wrong. I can’t see the other villagers.”

Indeed, there were few villagers who had escaped the fire. When Isaac was nowhere to be seen, Juliana’s face grew even paler.

Jordan rapidly repeated to Chalson what he had told Juliana.

“The intruder is looking for someone?”

Chalson’s expression hardened. Lesia couldn’t understand the situation at all, but she could sense that something serious had happened.

“…For now, take Ms. Juliana and Lesia safely outside the village. I’ll…”

And before anyone could stop him, he jumped into the fire shouting.

“I’ll check if there are people who couldn’t escape!”

“Wait…!”

Jordan tried to grab Chalson quickly, but Chalson had already leaped into the inferno.

With no choice, Jordan turned his head sharply and began running toward the forest with Juliana and Lesia. They were heading for the bridge.

Fortunately, the fire hadn’t spread to the forest yet, so crossing the bridge didn’t seem to be a problem. As the bridge gradually came into view, Jordan’s expression brightened.

Lesia looked at Juliana’s face while running and holding her hand. Juliana’s complexion had turned blue, like someone about to die.

Since Lesia had never seen Juliana make such an expression before, she asked with a face that looked like she might cry.

“Mom, are you okay?”

When Lesia’s voice reached her ears, Juliana flinched, looked at Lesia, and smiled faintly.

“I’m fine. Nothing will happen.”

Those words seemed more directed at herself than at Lesia.

Jordan, who was running ahead, shouted.

“If we just cross this bridge…!”

But Jordan couldn’t finish his sentence.

“Found you. The white-haired girl.”

A man wearing a black mask and holding a dagger was blocking the bridge. Jordan’s face turned pale when he saw him.

“Th-that’s him! The one who killed Isaac…!”

Proving his words, dark red blood was dripping from the man’s blade. But the amount seemed too much to be from just one person.

However, that wasn’t the important thing. What mattered was that the person he was looking for was a white-haired girl, meaning Lesia. As soon as she realized this, Juliana blocked in front of Lesia, and Jordan stood in front of both of them.

Compared to the masked man, Jordan was small and frail. Jordan’s body trembled like a reed in a storm. Just standing in front was overwhelming, like having a blade at his throat, but Jordan didn’t back down. Glaring at the man with murderous intent, Jordan shouted with a trembling voice.

“Qu-quick, r-run away!”

“But…”

Leaving Jordan here would be like sacrificing him. As Juliana hesitated, Jordan spread his arms wide and yelled.

“Hurry!!”

“Alright! Stay safe!”

Finally, Juliana grabbed Lesia’s hand and started running to the side. Lesia ran along, being pulled by Juliana’s hand.

As she did, she looked back.

“Aaaaargh!”

Jordan screamed and charged at the man.

Thud—

But despite his fierce charge, Jordan fell too easily. Jordan’s body, sprawled on the ground, trembled. His eyes were directed at Lesia. The next moment, Jordan’s movements stopped. The masked man stepped on Jordan’s body and turned in the direction Lesia had fled.

That was the last thing she saw before the bushes obscured everything.

Everything was mysterious, but one thing seemed clear. She would never see Uncle Jordan again.

“Mom, Uncle Jordan…”

Looking at her mother instinctively, Lesia couldn’t continue speaking. As she ran looking straight ahead, Juliana was crying.

Seeing her mother looking so distressed, Lesia silently gripped Juliana’s hand tightly.

At that slight pressure, Juliana flinched, looked down at Lesia, then clenched her teeth and ran faster.

After running frantically for some time, suddenly the bushes on the other side rustled, and Juliana collided with someone standing tall among them.