“Where on earth did you learn to say things like that?”
“I don’t know, maybe I was born with that knowledge.”
A soft cough startled me. I tried to push Liam Moore away, but instead, I was pulled closer and let out another small scream.
“Eek!”
As I turned my head, I was drawn back by Liam Moore’s voice.
“Hey, it’s about time I get off work.”
It was Owen! He was watching us with great interest.
“You can leave. Jane and I need to have a conversation.”
“Why is this guy so clingy after nearly dying?”
Liam Moore seemed to have made up his mind after last night. His expressions were overly abundant now. When I fidgeted slightly, he finally released me from his arms.
“Well, it’s good that you made up your mind. If you had realised any later, she would have been in danger.”
“And we saw him too.”
I added.
“Who was it again? The Crawling Chaos?”
“The Crawling Chaos. A dreadful, destructive, and infinitely blasphemous ruler. It’s better not to encounter him, but I don’t know what whim made him spare us.”
Ah, yes. The Crawling Chaos. What a senseless name. How does chaos crawl without limbs?
“…Anyway, that’s the most well-known name, but we often use different terms to avoid attracting attention.”
Is it like he-who-must-not-be-named? Though it was hard to understand, I tried to grasp the concept.
According to Owen, ‘that being’ never shows ‘favour.’ Considering all his actions, even a momentary display of favour should not be interpreted as kindness.
“He only withdraws when he has a justifiable reason. In other words, if there’s no purpose, he never retreats.”
I muttered, “Then we’ll be chased continuously.”
“We’ll protect you in Greenwich. Liam’s partly responsible for getting you involved.”
That was somewhat reassuring, but I couldn’t be completely at ease. I needed to prepare my own measures. Fortunately, the black space I had briefly stayed in seemed favourable to me, and it might be helpful. Thinking about the ripple effect from that time somehow calmed my heart. It was peaceful…
“I’m not worried. I trust Liam, and he promised…”
I replied.
Owen raised an eyebrow, a look of pure curiosity spreading across his face. He was recalling the earlier incident. Teasing us playfully, Owen asked, “You said you weren’t involved with each other?”
“It’s not that we’re not involved… Anyway, that’s how it turned out.”
“Tell me more about it. Let’s hear about William Moore’s love life.”
“We’ll need some alcohol for that…”
Suddenly, a large hand intervened in our conversation. When I looked back, I saw a very flushed face. Stammering, he finally managed to speak.
“Jane, I’m starting to get jealous.”
Owen shrieked, “Ew!”
Liam Moore shouted back, “Get lost!”
Owen, being mischievous, tried to insert himself between us again.
“Why, let me hear it too!”
“You’re just trying to tease me, get lost!”
“I can’t believe this…”
“Just get lost already!”
They were indeed true friends.
Owen laughed so hard he clutched his stomach and rolled on the floor. It was only after he waved his hand and disappeared that Liam Moore could finally sit down, red-faced from all the teasing. His face and ears were flushed, and with his head buried in his knees, he slowly looked up at me with reddened eyes.
“I meant it.”
Meant what? I blinked, startled. Did he really get jealous? Of his friend?
“If that guy is your type—”
“Eek!”
I stopped him with my palm. Liam Moore, whose mouth was now covered, muttered something. What is he saying? My hand felt warm. Every time his breath tickled my palm, my face grew hotter.
“L-Liam Moore, if you keep doing this, I’ll leave you. I really will.”
His grey eyes softened in a smile. It was a gesture of agreement. Only when I was sure he wouldn’t say anything else did I remove my hand.
Liam Moore felt unfamiliar.
Damn it. As I realised this, I began to recall what I had done. From the kiss in the middle of the night to covering his mouth and scolding him sternly. These were things I would never do in my right mind. What drove me even crazier was the feeling of those lips…
As I lost my words, the man simply held my hand and looked up at me. His face, once cold and sharp, had melted into a lively expression like spring snow. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but think:
What does he eat to look this beautiful?
＊ ＊ ＊
The carriage ride back to 13 Bailonz Street was silent.
Liam Moore had gotten a serious scolding at the hospital for using magic twice. He looked dazed, listening to the lectures about whether he had lost his mind or wanted to shorten his lifespan, and trudged back in a bewildered state.
Acting pitiful after getting scolded? No way. I spoke sternly.
“You’re not allowed to go out for a while. If you think of going out, I will leave, or you will.”
Liam Moore’s expression was priceless. Even if the sky fell, he wouldn’t look more shocked.
However, he soon fell asleep under the influence of the medication, and the only sound in the carriage was his head occasionally bumping against the window.
His bangs had come loose and falling forward. Though his eyelids trembled slightly, he was undoubtedly in a deep sleep. Just like the other times I watched him sleep. It seemed to be a habit of his to fall asleep without moving. Even with people around, he wouldn’t wake up, which made him seem somewhat vulnerable.
Will he be alright? I mumbled.
I was already beyond the point of no return, and maybe my presence was more dangerous for him than his for me.
My existence might become a threat to others. It was a deeply unpleasant realisation. Yet, you seemed like you would walk into danger without a second thought.
“Will you be alright?”
“What?”
I saw his grey eyes. He had opened his eyes and was gazing at me. With his eyes looking darker in the shadows, he asked,
“What is it?”
I hesitated before replying, changing the subject.
“…Well, Mary’s psychological shock?”
“…”
＊ ＊ ＊
Poor Mary.
When the carriage arrived and I got out, Mary eagerly opened the door. With Liam also missing and me gone for a few days, Mary must have been extremely anxious, worried that she might have to arrange funerals for both of us.
“My goodness, miss! Where have you been all this time?”
She cried out as she ran out. I gave an embarrassed smile.
“Mary, I’m sorry. I had some circumstances.”
Poor Mary probably considered filing a missing persons report for both of us.
Greenwich hadn’t bothered to inform Mary about our whereabouts, so to her, it seemed like I had disappeared for days and just returned, bringing Liam Moore with me!
“Can he come down?”
Mary noticed the slow voice coming from inside the carriage. Her eyes wavered slightly.
“He can come down.”
A gloved hand reached out. When I extended my hand, it rested on mine. With a composed expression like a lady being escorted, it was a bit funny.
But for Mary, our return wasn’t entirely a laughing matter. Seeing Liam Moore leaning on me as he got out of the carriage, her mouth fell open. It didn’t feel good. I quickly reached out to calm her down.
“Mary, I can explain everything…,”
“Ahhhh!”
It was a disaster.