“I’m sorry, but it’s our coffee house’s closing time.”

In the dimmed Rueheylen street, Olivia, leaving the coffee house, buttoned her robe tighter. Hiding her hair, no one recognized her as Princess Madeleine. Not even the coffee house employee nearby.

With her back to the bustling tavern street, Olivia began to walk aimlessly.

Past the darkened jewelry store and the closed shops and into the alleys.

The night air that touched her exposed cheek was cool. As she entered the dark alley, a strange smell began to accompany her. A physiological fear came over her, but she couldn’t stop. Her instincts drove Olivia somewhere.

How long had she walked? Suddenly, Olivia stopped in a street that felt oddly familiar.

A place she had never seen but felt acquainted with. Standing still in a dark alley where even light didn’t enter, Olivia looked around and laughed weakly.

A district cleaned out of slum houses. This place was Turningbell, where I had left.

The houses hidden in her memory seemed like an illusion. The spot where Olivia stood was the location of the house where she had lived with her mother.

This is where she had returned after all. Laughter erupted. When her shrill laughter that spread through the narrow alley slowly faded away, Olivia slumped to the ground.

She had nowhere to go.

This filthy, smelly alley was the place where Olivia’s heart found peace, despite all her efforts.

Her weary legs gave way. Olivia sat leaning against the wall. The hem of her expensive dress got soiled, but it didn’t matter.

There was nowhere else to go.

A simple sentence hit Olivia hard. Olivia wrapped her knees and curled up. Everything was meaningless. She felt empty, unable to even cry.

If only I could just stay like this and vanish. Olivia smiled lonely when.

The sound of frantic footsteps running from afar grew closer. Olivia’s body instinctively tensed up. The area had been cleared, but it was still unknown if any rebels were lurking. An unexpected fear swept over her.

If only someone could help me, she thought.

Instinctively thinking, Olivia suddenly recalled the debutante ball where she first wished for help. Her countless pleas for assistance had never been fulfilled.

It would be the same this time. No one will help me.

She had grown accustomed to giving up. It was when Olivia was biting her lip, praying for the sound of footsteps to pass by.

“Did you enjoy your outing?”

A voice panting heavily was familiar to her ears. Olivia involuntarily lifted her head. The face visible under the faint moonlight was the Duke’s.

The moment their eyes met, relief spread across the rigid face of the Duke.

“I was waiting to escort you. Do you have business here too? It’s chilly; how about you get up?”

His voice lightened, making a joke. The Duke kneeled unabashedly in front of Olivia. After wrapping her in a luxurious, thick robe, the Duke faced Olivia.

The moment their eyes met, the red eyes looked at me tenderly.

Why is it a continuous string of such unreal events?

“Why are you here?”

Olivia spoke slowly. Her terribly cracked voice was pathetic, but the Duke did not laugh.

“Because… you are here, Miss?”

The Duke shrugged his shoulders. Olivia was confused by his matteroffact response.

No one has ever saved me. Why does the Duke keep appearing out of nowhere to help me?

Her heart fluttered. Knowing how frightening hope can be, Olivia looked at the Duke and parted her lips.

“Why do you come here just because I’m here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

She was at a loss for words. Who is this man, why does he look at me so tenderly, why does he treat me so preciously?

She bit her lip, but tears welled up uncontrollably. The man’s face became blurred.

The Duke was bewildered and didn’t know what to do. He seemed unable to touch her, as if she were too precious. His awkwardness made her laugh, and she liked it.

Olivia spat out her tears mixed with petulance.

“…I have nowhere to go.”

“That can’t be.”

The man immediately denied it and reached out to Olivia.

“Everyone at the Duke’s residence has been looking forward to your return since the moment you left for the outing today. Of course, I wanted it the most.”

The added hurried reassurance made Olivia unconsciously break into a smile, and the man grinned widely in response, as if even that faint smile pleased him.

“So will you come with me again today?”

Olivia looked at the man’s hand.

Is it really okay to take that hand?

After a brief moment of consideration, Olivia took the Duke’s hand. As his warm body heat transferred, the Duke’s face brightened.

At that moment, Olivia acknowledged the newfound hope sprouting in her heart.