Chapter 78

Demius shut his eyes tightly.

A sharp awareness rose in him, reminding him that if he wanted to make up for his past, he had to do his best in the present.

‘What was the next plan again?’

He steadied his dizzy mind and reviewed today’s schedule.

Lunch and the opera were both canceled.

But the next plan must not fail.

‘At least the ring. I must get the ring.’

Determination gleamed in his eyes.

Fortunately, the puppet show had been much shorter than the opera, which meant he still had plenty of time for shopping.

He would go to the jeweler right away.

He would find out what kind of gemstones Melissa liked, which colors and shapes she preferred, and which rings and accessories would suit her. It would help him later when choosing future gifts.

‘Next, clothes.’

Even though Melissa’s wardrobe was already full of dresses she had never worn, what he wanted this time was not a dress but a practical outfit she could work in.

He would have a set of work clothes made that she would truly like, something to replace the rags she wore every day, the ones given to her by her mother.

The dressmaker, someone named Christine or perhaps Belorussi, had been delighted when she heard Melissa would visit in person.

Remembering what his attendant had told him, Demius raised his estimation of the tailor shop.

Once they finished shopping, the sun would likely be setting.

Then they would dine at the finest restaurant he had already reserved.

At that place famous for its breathtaking sunsets, he would place a new ring on Melissa’s finger, glowing under the light of dusk.

That was the pinnacle of today’s date.

‘There will be no more mistakes.’

He had read dozens of books on dating, studied every scenario, and crafted this plan with precision. It couldn’t possibly go wrong.

With that conviction, he lowered his gaze.

“My lady, shall we go somewhere el—”

His words stopped in his throat.

Melissa was gone.

* * *

“Bravo!”

Heehee!

Roro, a pickpocket prodigy who had just turned ten this year, dashed down the alley, waving a jingling purse in triumph.

“Those idiots are unbelievable.”

Boasting about how rich they were while watching a cheap puppet show.

“Typical nobles, pampered flowers from their fancy greenhouses.”

Roro chuckled and rolled her shoulders, slowing her pace.

She was far enough now. They would never catch her.

She shook the purse playfully.

Jingle jingle.

The cheerful sound alone made her grin.

It had been a week since she arrived in this city.

There had been some kind of commotion lately. Everyone kept talking about a young master this and a madam that, but she didn’t care.

She was a drifter and would soon leave this place anyway.

That was a pickpocket’s life. Steal in one city, sleep in another.

“Lalalala~”

Humming, Roro flipped open the worn purse and poured out its contents.

Jingle.

But all that fell into her hand were a few small coins.

“What the…”

Thinking she must have missed something, she shook it again, but nothing else came out.

No gold, not even silver. Just a few seeds and some tiny star corals rolled into her palm.

“Why is this all there is?”

Frowning furiously, Roro threw the purse on the ground.

“I should’ve gone for the man instead.”

The tall one beside the woman, at least two meters if she had to guess.

The most handsome man she had ever seen, but with eyes sharp enough to kill. Just thinking of that glare made her shiver.

Touching someone like him would have been suicide.

That was why she had gone for the innocent-looking woman next to him.

“Damn it.”

What rotten luck.

She spat on the ground with all her frustration.

Her target had looked well-dressed, but her purse was pathetic.

Roro glared down at it.

“Ugh.”

She raised her foot to stomp on it.

“Found you!”

The voice froze her in place.

Roro’s spine tingled.

What was that?

She turned her trembling head slowly and saw a woman standing behind her, smiling brightly.

‘Since when has she been there?’

Roro’s eyes widened as the woman calmly stepped closer and picked up the purse from the ground.

“Oh my, you dropped my purse here.”

What was with this lady?

Roro’s hair stood on end.

How had she caught up so fast?

She clenched her jaw.

‘Don’t be scared.’

If she showed fear, she wasn’t worthy of calling herself a street rat.

Drawing a deep breath, she shouted,

“How did you find me?”

“I’m really good at hide and seek.”

“What?”

Roro scowled as the woman beamed with pride.

Hide and seek? Did she seriously not realize she’d been robbed?

‘Liar.’

Roro’s eyes darted toward the purse in Melissa’s hand, then she spun and sprinted down the alley.

“Ah, is this tag now?”

The woman’s cheerful voice came from right behind her.

“Don’t follow me!”

“But…”

Melissa hesitated, biting her lip before calling out again.

“I just thought you might be hungry!”

What?

Roro almost tripped from shock.

Did she really just say that?

No one said that to a thief.

Roro’s mouth fell open, then snapped shut.

This was some kind of trick. She wasn’t going to fall for it.

If she admitted she was hungry, then what?

Still running, Roro yelled back,

“Of course I’m hungry. Why else would I steal?”

“I knew it!”

Melissa’s eyes sparkled.

For a moment their gazes met, and Roro flinched.

“I’ll buy you something to eat!”

“Like I’d believe that!”

“But I mean it.” Melissa’s voice wavered with earnestness.

“I have so much food the merchants gave me earlier. We can share it together.”

“Shut up!”

Roro shouted a string of curses that made even the shadows flinch.

“Oh my.”

Bad words were never good to use.

Even as she frowned with concern, Melissa sprinted after her with all her strength.

She had been surprised at first.

When the small child, barely eight years old by her guess, brushed past her, her pocket had suddenly felt lighter.

Her nearly empty purse was gone.

If the child had stolen even that, she must have been desperate.

Melissa inhaled deeply, focusing her hearing.

Jingle jingle. That faint familiar sound reached her ears.

There.

She followed the sound straight through the narrow alley.

“Children should eat well and sleep well!” she shouted.

Yes.

That belief came from her own childhood memories.

‘Melie, you still have to eat, you know.’

‘That’s right, Lisa. Humans are like hollow sacks. You need to fill them up to let something out.’

‘Don’t say that in front of the child.’

‘I agree though. A proper meal is essential.’

‘Exactly. If you eat well and grow strong, maybe one day you’ll be able to climb that cliff you always dream about.’

‘Say ah, little Mel.’

Melissa smiled faintly as she ran.

Back then she’d gone through a phase where she refused to eat. Those were the words her parents had said to her.

Eat three meals a day, sleep enough, and get proper exercise.

She had followed those words faithfully, eating well, sleeping soundly, and even training her strength every day. Now she could climb cliffs like it was nothing.

And this little one, though thin, was fast and full of energy. She clearly had potential too.

“I’ll help you!”

“($)@$)%_)@@#(%)#&%!”

Roro spat out a curse too vile to put into words.

But deep down, she was shaken.

What the hell was this woman?

Ten years living in back alleys, born among garbage, never once staying in the same place for long, yet never in her life had she heard anyone say something like that.

And to hear it from someone she had just robbed.

‘Is she insane?’

Or maybe she was pretending to be crazy to throw her off guard.

A grin spread across Roro’s face.

‘You picked the wrong person to mess with.’

I may be poor, but I’m not weak.