TCIWTFY - Side Story 10

"Then go inside, sir."

Lou lightly waved his hand and immediately stepped into the alley.

The mind near the harbor was tangled like a maze. Buildings were clustered together on both sides of the alleyways that branched out like forks.

As he entered the heart, voices clinging to Lou erupted from all directions.

"Lou! Take this. I really owed you a lot last time. Thanks to you, I managed to get the wheat safely."

The bakery lady handed him a large pile of bread with a hearty laugh.

"Oh, it was no big deal. It just so happened that a ship was coming in at that moment. You even paid me a generous commission."

"Oh my, of course I have to pay! The Lord's Castle is sweeping up all the trust right now, so if it weren't for you, we would have run out of guests!"

The hostess repeatedly expressed her gratitude while also marveling.

"It's truly amazing. It's as if you know exactly how many rats live in the harbor. How do you know it all so clearly?"

"Oh come on, I can hear everything when I'm just passing by for fun. Ma'am, by the way, this is really delicious."

Lou took a big bite of the bread he was handed and smiled brightly.

Just then, the window opened, and a beautifully dressed, pretty face appeared.

The woman shouted playfully.

"Lou! If you've finished work now, do you want to stop by for a bit?"

"Rachel, thank you so much, but I'll have to decline. My mother will be worried if I'm any later."

"Hmph. I don't like mama's boys."

The woman closed the window while smiling, pretending to be sulking.

The fair-skinned, handsome boy was the quiet hero of this street.

Even though he looked frail, his demeanor was as strong as the dagger hidden beneath his loose shirt.

There were plenty of guys on this street who had picked a fight with Lou and been severely beaten, and Black Anchor Street, notorious for its viciousness, was no exception.

A brilliant mind and even conscientious fees.

There was a reason why Lou was called the street fixer.

After enthusiastically greeting his neighbors, Lou stopped in front of a shabby two-story house at the end of the alley.

The creaking sound of the old wooden door echoed through the house.

"Martha, everything was alright, right?"

The house was simple but also neat.

A middle-aged woman wearing an apron turned around hurriedly and wiped her hands.

"Good heavens, you came back early? Oh my, bread and even fruit... I've already received so much."

Martha opened her eyes wide.

Unorganized sewing materials were scattered on the table.

"I told you to stop because it's ruining your eyesight."

As Lou put down the luggage, he snatched the magnifying glass from Martha's hand.

"If the nanny doesn't recognize me later and goes somewhere else and pretends to know me, I'll be really hurt."

"How could I possibly fail to recognize you, Miss? I'm just doing this for a bit of fun to pass the time. You must be thirsty, aren't you?"

Martha hurried to the kitchen.

A short while later, a steaming teapot was placed on the table.

"Thank you"

Lou greeted the nanny bringing the hot kettle with a nod.

Sitting down, picking up the teapot, and pouring hot water was completely effortless.

"I've decided to have dinner at Uncle Titus's place. Do you want to come along? Or you can rest for a bit."

As the warm tea filled the cup, a fragrant aroma filled the house.

The two sat side by side and took sips of the steaming tea.

It was a brief respite that helped her endure the hectic pace of daily life.

"As expected, the tea you make is the best. I don't know why I just can't get this taste when I make it."

"Even if you say that, I won't tell you. That way, Martha can't escape."

Lou replied playfully.

"Anyway, Miss, please take off your hat. Your hair must be all flattened."

As she snatched off Lou's worn-out hat and wig, her hidden, luscious chestnut braided hair was revealed.

"Oh my, look at this. It's all tangled up."

Martha familiarly took out the debt.

While Lou was still sipping his tea, the pleasant sound of brushing continued.

As the braids were untied and the tangled hair found its place, Lou's chestnut hair regained its natural shine.

"As expected of our precious young lady, your hair has always been this beautiful since you were little..."

Martha's voice grew faint.

The brief silence was soon swallowed by the sound of sweeping.

"So, Nanny. Today, those Black Anchor bastards to Uncle Titus..."

Lou recounted the interesting events of the day, pretending not to notice the sadness hidden beneath the silence.

In fact, long hair is just a hindrance when dressing up as a man.

However, even though she wanted to cut it off cleanly, she couldn't bring herself to pick up the scissors because she knew the nanny was enjoying peeling her hair.

It was because she knew that this time was the only joy that allowed her to reflect on her past glory.

"Martha, I'll do it now. Give me the comb."

The real work began now.

Martha reached out her hand to Lou's neck with practiced ease.

First, the stiffly fastened collar was undone. Then, the compression bandage that had been constricting Lou's chest was carefully removed.

"Ha."

One layer. Two layers. With each time the cloth was unraveled, Lou's blocked breathing slowly opened up.

"You wrapped it up especially tightly today. It must have been hard to breathe."

Instead of answering Martha's worried words, Lou took off her shoes and threw them away.

The bundles of wool that had been crammed into fit shoes that were too loose jumped up.

Then, as she threw off the clanking, metallic belly band, she could finally breathe.

"Thank you! I can finally breathe now."

Only then, lightly dressed, did Lou bury herself deep in the bed.

"Anyway, about that matter. You were right in your prediction, Miss."

Martha whispered as she tidied up the scattered clothes.

"I hear that the gifts sent from Barmia arrived in the Lord's Domain a while ago. They have been unloading the cargo for some time, and I heard that the first sounds were heard from some of the carts."

At the nanny's report, Lou glanced over and turned her gaze toward the framed picture hanging on the wall.

It was a portrait of a boy and a girl standing shoulder to shoulder affectionately.

- Rosien and Rupert, my beloved children.

The cursive handwriting scribbled at the bottom of the painting appeared to be the painter's. The brother and sister in the painting bore a striking resemblance.

It was the warm-looking amber eyes or the playfully wavy chestnut hair.

'Hi, Rupert.'

Lou met the gaze of the boy smiling brightly in the portrait. Unconsciously, she swept her fingertips across the table as if tracing the boy's smile.

"Then he'll be crawling out soon, too."

"Yes, I will now have the face to meet the late Master and Madam, as well as the Young Master."

Martha reached deep into the drawer behind the portrait.

A heavy bundle was lifted out with a clattering sound. As she carefully removed the cloth, a cold dagger was revealed.

"If only I could see that guy's face, that would be reason enough for me to hang out in this fishy place for the past three years."

Martha's voice trembled slightly at the end.

Lou gripped the dagger. The amber embedded in the handle shone brightly, like Lou's eyes.

"Just wait a little while, we're almost there."

A murderous intent like a finely honed sword blade permeated the gentle voice.

Then, thump thump thump!

The sound of knocking on the door was heard.

Bang!

"Lou. Are you there? I need your help!"

Gwangbang!

The sound of knocking on the wooden door grew louder and louder.

Lou lightly twirled the dagger and hid it inside her wrist.

"Martha, bandages."

With Lou's brief command, Martha wrapped the compression bandage around without hesitation.

She quickly lifted her head, pulled the worn hat down low, and threw on the tattered coat, soaked in a fishy smell in an instant.

"Lou! I know you're inside! Open the door right now!"

A rude shout lifted the silence of the house.

Lou walked leisurely to the door and turned the doorknob.

"No, why are you opening the door so late!"

The pot-bellied man raised his voice urgently.

"I almost searched the harbor, thinking you weren't home. I was wondering where to look."

"Is this a royal affair, Mr. Paven?"

Lou tilted her head.

As if nothing had happened, a bright smile spread across her face.

Paven swallowed hard, looked around, and lowered his voice. Then, without warning, he pressed a couple of gold coins into Lou's hand.

"There is no time. Save just one ship heading out of the harbor tonight."

Lou's gaze brushed past the suitcase in Paven's hand.

The boy's smile deepened just a little as he discovered a banknote sticking out slightly between the hurriedly closed seams.

"Ah, pears. Well, there are plenty of them around here, so it's not difficult."

Paven's eyes sparkled.

"Just like you. I'll give you whatever you ask for."

He trailed off and gestured.

"Please help me out just this once. My son and I are going to talk to you. We plan to settle this neatly and get our money back."

The boy tilted his head, pretending to think for a moment. Then he spoke softly.

"Do the people working at Mr. Paven's shop know? The ones who have been working for half a year without getting paid."

"What?"

"Do you know that the person who ripped them off is going to leave here on a boat?"

Paven's expression hardened.

'If you are in a hurry to eat."

Lou paused for a moment, then changed his words as if he were doing a great favor.

"I can get you one. There happens to be a ship departing tonight."

The boy's voice, still smiling, was gentle.

"Right! That's how it should be!"

"But that ship isn't for carrying people who are running away."

Lou continued speaking with a smile.

"It is a ship carrying people who need to be silenced. Since the crew is all ex-convicts, it would be quite problematic for you, Mr. Paven, or your son to expect to be safer than you are now."

Especially.

Lou said as he twirled the gold coin around with his finger.

"For 'profitable items' like Mr. Paven."

Snap! At the same time, the gold coin that flew out of Lou's hand was embedded in the suitcase like a dagger.

Paven's complexion turned ashen.

"W-what do you mean? You can just rescue me with a perfectly fine ship!"

“Why me?”

As the boy smiled sweetly.

"Don't get the wrong idea. Information brokers don't save people. They sell information."

"..."

"Of all things, Mr. Paven is right now in the position of the most marketable commodity in this port. To the laborers who are on the verge of starving to death just waiting for your paycheck."

Lou tapped Paven's chest with his index finger.

"Why should I save you when there is walking gold right in front of me?"

Paven's face turned white in an instant.

He took a step back, glancing toward the direction from which he could hear people's voices.

“You, you!”

"Please let me know if you change your mind. As you know, I'm a bit busy."

The door closed again in front of Paven.

Karkan at that time.

Atop the sheer cliff, the sound of horses' hooves broke the silence of the canyon.

The knight holding the reins at the front of the pack stopped in his tracks. 

"Your Majesty, that is the harbor you see over there. It is quite a bit larger than I heard." 

The harbor came into view at the edge of Nathan, the Vice-Captain of Agema. 

The crimson sun and the maze-like piers came into sight at a glance.

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