He didn't say a word, just strode past me and down the hall.
My body still hadn't fully recovered.
On the dining table sat a bowl of herbal soup, still steaming.
For a moment, a storm of conflicting emotions churned inside me.
In a daze, I remembered my past life,
how he despised me, yet still patiently cared for me.
He did it all because before my father passed away, he had repeatedly urged Alaric to take good care of me.
So, no matter how fiercely we fought,
he would unhesitatingly pour his own life force into me whenever I was injured.
He was the kind of man who couldn't stand being indebted to anyone.
He was repaying the debt to my father with every fiber of his being.
But I always foolishly hoped he would give me his heart as well.
Suddenly, I remembered something. After a quick glance at the date,
my heart seized. I rushed out the door and contacted my guard.
"Get to the alley off 13th Street, now!"
It was pouring rain, and I bolted out without even grabbing an umbrella.
Following my memory, I arrived at the alley where Caelia had been attacked in my past life.
Just as I expected, a dozen or so rogues were surrounding her.
"Think you can just walk away from your parents' debt 'cause they're dead? The extension I gave you is up."
"Can't come up with the money? Then you can pay with your body!"
"Stop!"
I smashed a jagged piece of a street sign over the man's head, grabbed Caelia, and ran.
"Ah!"
The ground was slick with rain, and Caelia fell hard.
Before I could pull her up, the dozen rogues had caught up to us.
With no other choice, I shielded her with my own body.
"Run! I'll hold them off!"
"I... I..."
Caelia seemed terrified, hugging herself and trembling.
"Run!"
I struggled to fend off their attacks.
Even with years of training, I couldn't hold out against a dozen adult wolves.
"I can't last much longer! Go find the enforcers!"
"I... I'm scared... I can't move..."
Caelia's voice was trembling uncontrollably.
I kicked away an approaching wolf, buying a precious second. When I turned back to pull her up,
she suddenly screamed and gave me a hard shove.
A silver dagger sank deep into my abdomen.
"There's... there's blood?"
The lead rogue clearly hadn't expected me to lunge onto his blade.
He hadn't intended to kill anyone, and his hand on the hilt trembled.
My eyes widened as I stared at Caelia.
She clutched her head, her gaze wavering as she looked at me.
"I'm... I'm sorry... I was so scared..."
I gritted my teeth, yanked out the dagger, and swung it at them.
They had never intended to kill. Now, seeing me in a frenzy, the dozen or so of them scattered and fled.
I staggered, almost losing my balance.
