WTBFCY Chapter 15

"Where do we go now?"

When they emerged from Maverick's estate, sunlight struck hard and bright. Of course. That building keeps out daylight even at midday. Regina's eyes ached. She shaded them with the back of her hand as she asked Noah.

"The security force headquarters. They post wanted notices outside the royal guard station. Didn't you say the people who attacked you were likely bandits?"

"Ah... right."

On the train, she'd explained roughly what happened. Regina nodded.

"The notices might show your maid or coachman's faces. We should check."

"Yes, thank you so much. Let's go quickly!"

Honestly, she hadn't expected Noah to help her achieve her goal. His willingness surprised her, but Noah just scoffed at the gratitude in her gaze and moved forward.

"Don't thank me. I'm doing this for myself. When you see the people who killed you, you'll probably want to hunt them down and consume them. Then I won't have to wait another two weeks for you to go feral. Convenient."

"I won't eat people!"

"So you won't seek revenge? Against the ones who killed you?"

"What?"

As Regina answered with her usual indignation, Noah suddenly stopped walking. He turned to face her with cold seriousness. She retreated, her courage flagging.

"You think you're alive because you're moving and breathing? The human you remember being is already dead."

Regina's purple eyes widened. Noah looked down at her with something like contempt.

"When you see them and those memories return—will you really say the same things then?"

"..."

Regina had no answer. She couldn't promise it. None of this felt real yet. Her body drifted weightless, untethered. Her words rang hollow even to her own ears.

Noah's blunt assessment fell like ice water. Regina bowed her head.

"Tch. Annoying."

She fell silent, staring at her feet. Noah scowled and turned away. This is why kids are infuriating. He walked on with irritation thrumming through him. Behind him, Regina stirred and followed.

She didn't know how she'd change. She'd been raised on love alone—petted, indulged, coddled. When angry, she'd received warm embraces. When hurt, gentle hands had stroked her hair. She'd never hated anyone. Never deeply despised anyone.

Heat gathered behind Regina's eyes. She didn't want to cry, so she forced tension into them. Yet her vision blurred regardless. She blinked rapidly, swallowing the tears, and hurried after Noah.

The thought of what bitterness and rage might do to her terrified her. She trembled and rushed forward as if fleeing.

The Royal Security Force occupied the capital's center. Past a fountain courtyard stood a low gray building with a separate wooden structure attached to its front. The gray building housed the guard itself—its entrance sealed, civilians barred. The wooden structure was a public office with five open doors, its counters staffed by suited officials in what Regina found luxurious by her standards. Ceiling fans rotated lazily overhead.

"Is this it?"

They entered the wooden building. The interior bustled with people killing time in the autumn heat. Those gathered at the wanted posters stepped aside as Noah passed, seeming to recognize him.

"...?"

Strange. Regina didn't dwell on it. She focused on the notices. She alone knew the faces of the runaway maid and coachman—Lily and Hans.

"The notices for bandit gangs are over here," Noah said, pointing.

A substantial number of posters crowded that section. Most featured members of a gang calling themselves the "Red Cat."

"Looks like bandit activity's been heavy in the provinces lately. Quite a collection here."

Regina examined the faces methodically until one arrested her attention.

"Robert was a bandit too."

The young coachman from her dream. The one consumed by the black faerie wearing a maid's shape. Noah glanced at the notice and tore it down.

"Then we'll claim credit for catching him."

"Wait—is that allowed?"

"Why not? He's dead regardless, isn't he?"

"Well, yes, but..."

Regina turned to Noah in confusion. He ignored her concern, taking the poster to the counter. She watched him speak with the official. Within moments, a coin purse appeared in his hand. He returned with a satisfied hum on his lips. Regina tilted her head, studying the purse.

"How can you get a reward without any evidence?"

"Simple. I said it. That's all they need."

"Did you use illusion magic?"

Her skeptical squint earned her a scoff.

"Listen, illusions aren't omnipotent. You can't cast them on demand like that."

"Oh?"

"That's called reputation, understand?"

Noah tossed the purse up and caught it, mocking her. Indignation flared in Regina, but she just pursed her lips and looked away.

"Did you find them? Your maid and coachman?"

"Um... not yet."

He's planning to pocket their rewards too, isn't he? Her eyes grew uncertain, but Noah pressed her anyway with brazen unconcern.

"Find them. We'll be here all night otherwise."

"..."

Muttering quietly, Regina scanned the board again. One poster made her stop.

"...Lily."

Her maid. The heavy makeup made her look different, but Regina recognized her instantly. Red hair, slightly drooping eyes, that small mole at the corner. But the name read "Rose," not Lily.

Hans's face appeared just below. He too had a false name: "John."

"So their real names were Rose and John."

It struck her as real then. They really were thieves. Staring blankly at the posters, Regina's eye caught something below them. A familiar handwriting on the report.

—Reporting Party: Edgar Evelyn.

Father's signature.

Her hand trembled as she reached out, fingers finding his name. Her father, who smiled whenever she looked at him. She remembered being small, copying his handwriting while watching him work, and him displaying her attempts on his study wall.

The memory hit her like a physical blow. Her heart threatened to collapse under longing.

Ah. I really can't see them anymore. They're truly gone.

She'd harbored some corner of denial—the fantasy that waking from sleep would return her to ordinary life. Now, confronted with this, she had to accept it. Cold dread washed over her from head to toe.

Why did this happen to me? So meaningless. So unfair. And...

—Crack.

Regina tore the posters down roughly, nearly ripping them. The paper crumpled in her grip. She caught her ragged breathing, her vision sharpening with something hot and cutting.

"Found them?"

"Yes. Their last known location is listed as 'Epola.' It's a barony in the eastern territories."

"That so? Perfect timing. I needed to head east anyway."

"Yes."

"Then we move."

Noah turned and walked away, having read the burning violet of Regina's eyes perfectly. She followed in silence, unable to speak past the weight crushing her chest. The unwanted longing and anger twisted tighter in her clenched fists, crumpling the notices further.

When they emerged from the wooden building, Noah tossed Regina a small coin purse. The reward for reporting Robert's capture. She caught it with both hands. It was heavier than expected.

"Why are you giving me this?"

"You found the criminal. It's your money. You can't mean to keep wearing that forever? Buy what you need with it."

"...!!"

Regina's face flushed crimson.

She'd been self-conscious about wearing the same clothes for days. Noah had hastily packed minimal supplies—there'd been no time for proper wardrobe. She'd been forced to wear the same dress for four days straight with not a coin to her name.

"You don't need to bathe, technically—not being human, you won't smell or get dirty. But it seems to matter to you."

"Of course it does! Please find an inn where I can bathe tonight! I'll contribute from this reward!"

Regina nodded desperately. Noah opened his mouth to say they'd be catching a train immediately, then closed it. One wrong word and her face would explode with embarrassment.

"...Fine."

She clutched the purse to her chest, beaming. Noah would never have bothered accommodating a black faerie's comfort before. He'd have killed it or tried to. The fact that he wasn't doing so baffled even him.

Well, nothing changes either way. Might as well let her have this much.

Regina would become a monster soon enough. What harm in extending some small consideration until then? He accepted his own changed behavior without further thought.

"I'll buy clothes and supplies right away! Where should I meet you for the inn?"

Noah found her bright-eyed enthusiasm deeply uncomfortable. Rather than choose a location, he simply pointed to where they stood.

"Once you've bought everything, come back here and wait. We might miss each other otherwise."

"Yes! Thank you so much, Noah!"

...Noah? He was at a loss for words. But Regina didn't notice his expression. She smiled radiantly and set off to find a clothing shop. Noah understood she was foolish to let her guard drop so completely at the first kindness, yet he said nothing. He simply closed his mouth.

By the time Regina returned with travel clothes, robes, and supplies—the sky had darkened. Fewer people moved through the streets; the roads grew quiet. As she waited with her heavier pack settled on her back, doubts crept in.

...Should I just run far away?

She glanced toward the train station in the distance. Maybe thirty minutes' walk from here.

It might actually work.

She'd maintained friendliness toward Noah, but her suspicion hadn't truly faded. He held her life in his hands. In a month, she'd suffer terrible hunger. Unable to resist it, she'd attack people. She hadn't believed his warnings entirely, but she had no plan to counter them—and dying to Noah wasn't how she wanted to end.

"...About two weeks left then?"

"Left of what, exactly?"

A man's unfamiliar voice came from beside her. Regina jumped, her head snapping around as she stepped back. He'd made no sound approaching. A chill crawled up her spine.

"Ah, my apologies. You've startled quite badly. I've been standing here some time—you didn't notice, so I thought I'd say hello."

The man wore a black bowler hat. He cut an elegant figure in fine clothes and a long black coat, his skin as pale as Noah's.