WTBFCY Chapter 23

Under the baron's suspicious gaze, Regina swallowed dryly and straightened her back. She tried to appear as natural as possible, but this only deepened the baron's distrust.

"I'm Akim Collins, newly assigned as chief of District 12."

Noah greeted the baron while pulling out his pocket watch and flipping it over to show him. Engraved there was the image of an eagle symbolizing the Royal Security Force.

The Security Force's symbol wasn't something an ordinary person could easily obtain. The baron examined the detailed markings engraved in the eagle's eyes with sharp scrutiny to prevent forgery, then soon laughed heartily and extended his hand.

"Ah, so you're the newly arrived chief! Haha, my goodness. I was surprised that such a young person came. Don't stand here talking like this—please come inside. I'll show you in."

Noah smiled amiably and shook hands with him before naturally entering the estate. When Regina followed closely behind, the baron looked at her with suspicious eyes. Regina had been staring at Noah in bewilderment as he introduced himself with an unfamiliar name, but when the baron's gaze turned toward her, she quickly hardened her expression. Her heart pounded wildly at the thought of being caught.

However, the baron, who'd been looking at her with suspicious eyes, quickly turned his attention away and spoke to Noah. Since Noah's identity was confirmed, he seemed to have decided to overlook Regina.

The inside of the estate was very spacious. Luxurious chandeliers hung everywhere and plush carpets were laid out generously. Noah and Regina were guided to a reception room for receiving guests.

"Please sit here. Bring tea for the guests. I'll change my clothes and return shortly."

The baron ordered a maid to bring tea, then left the reception room saying he'd change into more formal attire. Once he left, Noah and Regina sat on the sofa without speaking.

'This must be an extremely wealthy family. It's hard to believe this is an estate in a remote province.'

Regina looked around at the expensive-looking glass bottles and sculptures placed in the reception room. In one corner, an ornate birdcage held a rare bird she'd never even seen in books, and next to it stood a wall clock taller than a person. When Regina peered into the birdcage, she saw that the bird's feeding bowl, which had all sorts of elaborate decorations, was piled high with food.

She was thinking that the bird ate better than people when the maid opened the reception room door, set teacups on the table, and left.

"But chief—is that really true?"

"Of course not."

Regina had relaxed somewhat now that only the two of them remained. She sat on the sofa in front of the table and picked up a teacup as she asked. Regina, who'd been savoring the tea's fragrance as she took a sip, froze at the unexpected answer.

"What?"

"Didn't you hear me give someone else's name? Obviously it's a lie. Ah, but I really am part of the Royal Security Force, so if the baron recognized this badge as genuine, he'd be confused."

When Regina looked at Noah with round eyes, he drank his tea with a relaxed expression. Regina's face soon filled with shock. She'd thought that since he wasn't human, he must have two or three names.

"What?! You were with the Royal Security Force? That pocket watch is a badge? No, no, all that aside—it's a lie! What if we get caught!"

By the end she'd lowered her voice so much she was almost whispering. Noah chuckled at Regina's desperate appearance. Her frantic state seemed amusing.

"It'll take at least three days to verify whether I'm really the chief or not. The Security Force has complicated procedures for everything. We just need to find out what we need to find out and leave before then."

Noah was the one who lied, but it was Regina's heart that trembled.

She wanted to say something but didn't know what to say. She opened her mouth then closed it again. She felt like frustration had risen all the way to her throat.

"If we get caught in the middle...!"

Click.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

At that moment, the reception room door opened and the baron entered in changed clothes. Regina, who'd been startled, snapped her mouth shut and grimaced as she bit the tip of her tongue. The baron, who hadn't seen this, smiled pleasantly and sat across from them.

"It's gotten quite late already. Chief Collins, may I ask what brings you to visit this territory?"

In other words, why visit at such a late hour? At the baron's subtly reproachful words, Noah didn't answer immediately but looked down at the teacup in his hand. Right now, the baron was testing whether Noah really was the newly appointed chief.

Noah had coincidentally heard at the Royal Research Institute that his academy classmate was being appointed as District 12 chief. Knowing this already, Noah chuckled. Seeing the baron test him, it seemed he didn't know what the new chief looked like, nor had he even heard that the territory visit had been postponed by a week.

"That's a strange question. You can't possibly be unaware that it's customary for newly appointed chiefs to meet all the lords of territories in District 12 at least once. Ah, if you were displeased that I visited at such a late hour, I apologize in advance. There was no one to meet me at the train station, so it took time to find my way here."

"Haha. Not at all. Displeased? How could I be! It's just that things happened so suddenly, some words came out that could be misunderstood."

The baron looked flustered at Noah's answer, which implied 'you were supposed to come meet me but didn't, so that's why I'm late.' He smiled and tried to smooth over the awkward atmosphere. But despite his efforts, Noah's expression hardened as he set down his teacup.

"Sudden, you say—then don't tell me you lost the letter sent by the Royal Security Force?"

"What? No, not at all. How could I lose it!"

Right. There's no way he lost it. No letter was ever sent in the first place. Regina was speechless at Noah's con artist-level behavior. His timing was impeccable.

Though the baron had done nothing wrong, he fidgeted anxiously and watched Noah's reactions. Seeing this, Noah continued as if doing him a favor.

"Well, since I came in person to pay my respects, that's settled. However, as you said, it's gotten quite late. I should take my leave now. Is there somewhere nearby where I could stay? It was a long journey, so I'd like to remain for about two days."

The baron's face brightened as he hurriedly made his suggestion.

"Ah! I see. Then how about staying at my estate? If you head back into town at this hour, it'll take quite a while."

"That seems a bit presumptuous..."

When Noah trailed off as if troubled, the baron desperately tried to persuade him. His urgent attitude made it seem as if something terrible would happen if he let this opportunity slip away.

"Presumptuous? The newly appointed chief came to pay his respects in person, and I can't risk being misunderstood as having coldly turned him away. Please, do stay."

At that moment, Regina saw a pale blue light gather in Noah's eyes. When she realized what was happening and looked back at the baron, he already had unfocused eyes, as if caught in Noah's illusion.

'...So he can only use the power when someone's mind is somewhat swayed.'

Only now did Regina understand why Noah had said the power of illusion wasn't so easily used. It wasn't about forcibly implanting memories, but about exploiting the gap when someone felt 'maybe it's true.' Regina watched carefully, observing the conditions and methods Noah used to employ his power.

After the baron fell under the illusion, everything proceeded smoothly. Noah and Regina were quickly settled in the best and most spacious guest rooms in the estate, each in their own room.

When she came to her senses, Regina found herself standing alone in the spacious guest room. Noah, who'd entered the room next door, made no sound afterward. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

"Is this really okay...?"

Regina, whose only lie had been claiming she was sick when she didn't want to study, felt quite uncomfortable with the current situation. She felt oddly guilty, but since it wasn't something Regina could interfere with, she groaned for a while before finally giving up and unpacking.

After washing up refreshingly and lying in bed, she pulled the blanket over her head and forced herself to sleep. Perhaps due to fatigue accumulated unknowingly from the train journey, Regina fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.

Rain poured down as if the sky had burst open.

Cold, heavy raindrops beat fiercely against her face, making it hard to even open her eyes. How long had she been in the pouring rain? She barely forced her closing eyes open and looked up. The rain pouring through the pitch-black trees stung her skin. It was like hundreds, thousands of sharp spears stabbing all over her body.

But she didn't collapse. Her arms, barely holding her up, turned pale. Her hands and knees pressed against the ground were a mess with the pitch-black wet earth, and her skin had turned blue long ago, losing its human color.

Waaaaahhh, aaahhhh, aaaaahhh!

From very far away—no, right by her ear—a baby's crying sounded endlessly, making her head ache, but she couldn't raise her prone body.

Waaaaahhh!

She only wished this crying would just stop.

"Hah...!"

Regina's eyes snapped open. She'd been clutching the blanket blankly, then sat up as a headache seemed to rise. It had been an incredibly vivid dream. The sound of rain still rang loudly in her ears.

"Is it raining...?"

She muttered to herself half-asleep, just waking up, when she heard a baby crying in the distance. Regina blinked at the loud crying as if someone was screaming.

"...Am I still not awake from the dream?"

"Waaahhhh, aaaaahhh!"

Sometimes you think you've woken from a dream, but you're actually still inside it, right? She ran her hand through her hair in a daze, trying to distinguish dream from reality as her mind gradually cleared.

"Waaaaaaahhh!"

And the baby's crying grew louder along with her awareness. Regina got out of bed at the sound that seemed to shake the estate. She grabbed the shawl draped over the chair, wrapped it around her shoulders, and gently opened the door. In the pitch-black hallway without a single light, a baby's crying echoed loudly.