Thump thump thump.
Her heart was pounding wildly at a frantic pace.
Yugenia couldn’t dare open her eyes.
Her mouth was dry, and her breathing became rough.
She gripped her intertwined fingers even tighter, holding on as if they were lifelines.
But there was no answer from Enrique.
‘There’s no way he didn’t hear my voice.’
Why was there no response?
Yugenia’s insides burned with anxiety.
Unable to endure it any longer, she finally opened her eyes slightly and glanced at Enrique.
But she couldn’t tell whether his silence meant yes or no.
Then, suddenly, their eyes met.
In his pupils was a blue yet dark ocean.
For a moment, Yugenia felt as if she had fallen into the depths of the sea.
His eyes captivated her gaze, as if a calm whirlpool swirled beneath the surface, refusing to let go.
After staring into Enrique’s eyes for a while, as if mesmerized, Yugenia came back to her senses.
“Ah…!”
Only then did she hurriedly lower her gaze.
‘That startled me.’
Her heart began beating at a clearly different pace than before.
Softly, as if holding her breath, yet wildly fast.
That small beat resonated deeply within Yugenia, shaking her.
She swallowed dryly again. Yet Enrique still didn’t open his mouth.
The time she waited for his answer felt eternal.
‘Sigh… just wait. He’ll answer someday, if only to let me go.’
As the silence lengthened, anxious Yugenia nervously started scratching the calluses on her opposite hand’s fingers with her fingernails—a subconscious act.
Then—
“Stop that.”
Enrique’s voice came softly.
There was something displeased about it.
“Do you plan to stop only when there’s blood?”
He sighed shortly.
At that moment, Yugenia’s movements stopped, and instead of tormenting her fingers, she bit the soft skin inside her mouth.
‘I wasn’t trying to do that.’
She felt foolish for anxiously holding her breath, waiting for his answer.
Enrique spoke freely as he pleased. The situation felt desperate only to her, which made her a little choked up.
But instead of getting angry, Yugenia calmed her breathing.
‘It’s unfair, but anyway, this situation is unfavorable to me.’
Honestly, Enrique was a difficult person to deal with even without this matter, so it took courage to speak out again.
She maintained a polite attitude and spoke once more.
“As I explained earlier, I have younger siblings.”
Unlike before, when he had kept a heavy silence, now a small “Hmm” escaped from his lips.
It was a clear sign he was listening, so Yugenia continued, hiding her impatience and speaking as calmly as possible.
“They are still children. If you are going to report me… I was wondering if you could give me just a little more time.”
Of course, even as she spoke, she felt how ridiculous that sounded.
Usually, when time is given, people tend to run away. So she thought this man might not take her seriously.
But from Yugenia’s standpoint, she had no choice but to say something.
‘I have to think of the children.’
If she was caught by the security forces right here, what would happen to Joshua and Selmia left behind?
The lives of children who lose their guardian would never be smooth.
‘Just like in the original story, they would keep falling and struggling again.’
She hated the thought, so she reached out for help too.
She wanted to explain the situation to the children before the security forces came.
That she wasn’t abandoning them.
So please wait just a little until I come back for you again.
After saying that, she wanted to take them somewhere like an orphanage where they could be cared for.
Clasping her hands tightly, Yugenia looked up at Enrique with desperate eyes.
This time, she was determined not to look away until she got an answer.
As if reading her heart, Enrique parted his lips.
“I won’t report you.”
Yugenia’s eyes widened.
Of course, she knew that some people say they won’t report you but betray you later.
But somehow, she felt Enrique was not that type.
“Are you serious?”
Enrique nodded.
“I’m not short of money… and above all, I don’t want to get involved in troublesome, annoying matters.”
He clicked his tongue shortly, was silent for a moment, then spoke again.
“Instead, I have one favor to ask.”
“Yes? What favor?”
“If you happen to get caught, I want you not to say anything about this side.”
She froze.
Hearing an unexpected request, Yugenia stiffly turned her head to look at him.
‘What is he thinking?’
It sounded suspicious.
But at this moment, there was only one answer she could give.
Without hesitation, she nodded heavily.
“I will do so.”
Only after hearing her definite answer did Enrique seem to relax.
He nodded briefly and stretched out his long arm, pointing toward the door.
“Good. Then go out now.”
Yugenia bowed quietly and left the room.
Only after hearing the door close behind her with a click did she unconsciously let out a long breath she had been holding.
She quietly muttered, recalling Enrique’s last request.
“This man seems to have something he’s worried about.”
Considering he planned ahead and prepared for the worst.
Enrique hadn’t added any threatening words to Yugenia.
But she couldn’t help thinking that if she broke the promise, her end would not be pleasant.
“Now I should go back.”
Sweeping her hair back carelessly, Yugenia sighed.
“Stop thinking about it. It’s none of my business, and I don’t want to drag myself into complicated troubles.”
Shaking her head, she started walking away from the room.
Coming down to the second floor, Yugenia met Elbery waiting near the stairs.
‘Enrique said he’d tell me himself…’
Since they met face to face like this, she thought he owed her at least an explanation of what was going on.
‘Well, that doesn’t mean I have to explain my situation in detail.’
Yugenia vaguely dodged the fact that she was wanted, saying she couldn’t work with him anymore.
“Thank you for your concern, but unfortunately, we won’t be able to work together.”
“What? What do you mean? Did the master refuse?”
“Yes. Things… turned out that way. It seemed troublesome for both sides.”
Elbery’s face fell as if the sky had collapsed.
After regaining his composure, he spoke toward Yugenia.
“Oh, this is truly unfortunate.”
His genuine regret made Yugenia’s gloomy heart lighten just a bit.
She forced a smile, lifting the corners of her mouth.
“Thank you for saying that; it makes me feel like I’m really capable, which comforts me.”
Elbery seemed truly regretful and followed her all the way down to the first floor.
“Thank you for seeing me off. Have a peaceful day, Miss Yugenia.”
“And you too, Elbery.”
However, Elbery hesitated even after their final farewell.
He looked like he regretted letting her go so easily.
“Miss Yugenia, if you don’t mind me asking, where are you staying?”
“What? Why do you ask?”
“After seeing you off, I plan to go straight up and negotiate with the master.”
“Hmm… will that work?”
Yugenia stretched her lips slightly, showing little hope.
‘That man… Enrique probably won’t accept me again.’
No matter how much Elbery was entrusted with full authority for this matter, the final decision seemed to be Enrique’s.
And the man she experienced firsthand seemed definitely not the type to back down from what he said.
Yugenia smiled wryly at Elbery.
“Don’t worry too much.”
Her clear voice sounded as if she had completely let go of any lingering attachment here.
It was Elbery who looked filled with regret.
“Do you think it will be difficult?”
“Yes, probably.”
Yugenia trailed off with a troubled face. She felt uneasy about revealing where she stayed.
‘It’s dangerous, too.’
Though Enrique promised not to report her, there was always a chance.
Remembering she had to be even more cautious and protect herself in times like this, she resolutely refused to tell Elbery.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
After a brief farewell and bow, Yugenia left the inn without hesitation.
As the door shut with a bang, Elbery’s face crumpled like paper.
“Ugh.”
He sighed in frustration repeatedly.
