Scant breath.

A hand squeezing the throat.

The vision flickering dimly.

A flash overturning the darkness, a deafening roar, and in the gap, buried screams.

Again, oxygen thrusting into the lungs, an impact unknown to English, and the approaching vastness.

Feeling as if receiving divine punishment, Ibi felt like she might just doze off.

“Ibi!”

However, at the sound calling her, she forcibly opened her eyes, breathing heavily.

Ibi found herself sitting on the ground. The Night Clan member who had been choking her was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, the presence of another person was felt.

Hasty footsteps, desperate breathing, and even a desperate voice.

Gradually, a blurry figure entered her sight.

It was Lord Zion Laurel, appearing like a soaked rat in the rain.

Ah, why do I feel so relieved to see him like this?

Ibi stared blankly at him, waiting for Zion Laurel to find her and rush over.

As expected, Zion soon noticed Ibi. He rushed over, then took a deep breath upon seeing Ibi. It was a breath of relief. Watching him let his guard down, Ibi’s nose somehow tingled.

When Ibi looked silently, Zion, who had briefly relaxed, became serious again and asked.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m okay…”

Ibi’s sincere reply held much meaning. However, it seemed that Zion didn’t catch any of it.

Ibi, gazing at the viscount endlessly, asked again.

“How did you get here?”

“Your butler informed me.”

That you were alone here and that some Night Clan targeted you.

Zion wanted to add this, but before he could, the dumbfounded Ibi intercepted.

“Did you meet D.S.? When, and where is he now?”

“He’s at a nearby inn with Yuvia.”

“Is he okay? Is he not hurt?”

Ibi urgently asked, and Zion’s eyes narrowed.

Having come all this way to save her, Ibi only cared about her butler, making Zion annoyed.

So, after glancing at Ibi for a moment, he reluctantly replied.

“There’s no harm to his life. I was late because I had to wait for him to wake up.”

As Ibi sighed at the news that there was no harm to his life, Zion added unnecessary words. Then he struggled with self-reproach for a moment.

All your suffering was because of that guy. Zion felt miserable for wanting to say such a thing. So, he quickly changed the subject.

“For now, get up.”

Zion reached out his hand to Ibi, who was sitting. However, Ibi just stared at that hand, and so, Zion regretted it once again.

Right, this stubborn Ibi Ariate won’t let me hold her hand.

With an awkward feeling, Zion withdrew his hand. Unexpectedly, Ibi mumbled something.

“I hurt my knees, so I can’t get up…”

It was the most pitiful voice Zion had heard so far.

At that pitiful voice, Zion became very serious.

“Did you get severely injured?”

“No, I’m completely fine.”
In response to Zion’s perplexed question, Ibi, suppressing embarrassment, spoke again.

“But it’s difficult to get up.”

Although she knew it sounded lame, Ibi stubbornly insisted. If she bit her lip, she could probably get up, but it was genuinely tough.

She had been strangled and threatened by those two. One had even threatened to cut off her fingers and eat them.

So, at the moment, she didn’t feel like making an effort. She didn’t want to struggle if she couldn’t endure it; it was even less appealing to writhe in pain. Somehow, she wanted to make feeble noises.

Staring at Zion like that, he also looked at Ibi with a strange gaze. Then, unexpectedly, he asked casually.

“Do you want to be carried?”

“Yes.”

“Your body will get wet.”

“It’s okay!”

As Ibi responded eagerly, Zion looked at her again with a strange expression. Then, as if muttering to himself, he asked.

“Really?”

Ibi hesitated for a moment when he actually offered his back after she had responded. But her hesitation didn’t last long. Ibi wrapped her arms around Zion’s neck.

Perhaps from running through the rain, he was more soaked than she had thought. Consequently, the dampness quickly seeped into Ibi’s clothes. However, the large back was surprisingly warm, and she didn’t mind it; in fact, she found it welcoming.

As Zion lifted her, Ibi suddenly felt refreshed. In the cold winter, it felt like taking a deep breath.

‘Not the time for this.’

She needed to stay alert and figure out what was happening.

However, for some reason, she felt dazed. It was like lying down in a warm bath.

So, as Ibi rested her forehead on Zion’s shoulder, he lightly spoke while running.

“We’re going to get out of here first.”

At his words, Ibi, who was drowsy, finally came to her senses.

“Wait a moment, the Night Clan that cursed me is here. We need to catch them.”

“We can’t do it alone.”

Why?

It was the moment when Ibi was about to ask Zion about his assertion. Suddenly, an uneasy feeling struck her spine.

Zion also seemed to sense something similar. He stopped walking and looked out the window. Then he licked his lips briefly.

Something other than rain was falling from the sky. Thin, hazy pieces like a veil woven from fine threads—a curse of the Night Clan.