Chapter 49

"This is bad."

I lost him.

"And I'm lost."

Huff.

I plopped down on the stairs, ignoring the people that passed by me. I just realized there seem to be a few people that are passing in this area. To think I could run this far!

"Tch, why is that ML so slow?"

I could not see the head nor a strand of his hair even as I crane my neck to look around.

I sat back again.

Now, what should I do?

"Um, big bro may I ask which way going to the King of Yi's estate?"

The big brother, instead of answering, paused and stared at me.

Did he not hear what I said?

"Do you know which way is going to the King of Yi's estate?"

I repeated.

"Oh, how shameful of you."

Huh?

"I don't know what you mean."

He laughed.

A mocking laugh that made me confused more.

"Hey, how dare you want to climb the King's bed when he loves his wife so much."

"What?"

"Oh, don't pretend to be blind! And what's with that veil? Although you may seem like a pretty lady, this is not good for you."

"I'm not blind…"

I'm not good at what? What's good for me?

"Heh. Whores like to reason out for money. Why should I even continue talking to you? Ptui!"

"…"

Just like that, he left.

Only then did I realize what he meant.

That rude guy!

Then I'll search for somebody else!

Whore?

What a fart!

"Hmp. If it isn't broad daylight, I might whack you."

Let's look for someone, maybe there's a good samaritan here.

While doing so, let's treat this walk like a tour. As I walk down these streets, the smell of ale from the taverns mixes with the aroma of freshly baked bread from the houses. There's a place I could go to if I wanted. But if the ML finds out, he would calmly smile, gently voice asking me if I'm okay, as if I've been pardoned from parole through softer means only to be locked up for who knows how many months again.

That guy is a low-key psycho. He's just doing it subtly.

"Hey, um, greetings, senior. Do you know how to go to the King of Yi's estate?"

The old man's eyes scanned me from head to toe, and with a shake of his head, he walked away. "Don't lose your life."

"…"

Dude, I'm just asking. I'm the wife, but I can't say it. Who would believe such a remark in a situation like this?

"If I would ruin my life, that would be slitting my throat with my hands and getting it all done. Adios."

There are so many people. I don't dare believe they all will say the same thing repeatedly!

"Brother, do you know which way going to the King of Yi's estate? This one seems to have lost my way.

"You should continue to get lost."

"Yes, don't find it."

Added the other guy.

"…"

"What? Do you say you're the King of Yi's maid but were lost? How about being my bed servant instead?"

"…"

"No, sorry, this lowly one cannot help you. If that foolish wife of the King of Yi, ehem, the wife of the King of Yi becomes dissatisfied, I don't dare imagine the consequence."

"…"

"It's in the right way, don't go the wrong way."

"…" Bro, aren't you speaking metaphorically?

Do you think I am that stupid not to get a hint? Aren't you all too 'caring' for your leader's marital status?

My feet carried me to unknown places, but my question remained unanswered. It is highly unlikely that such a large number of people would be unaware of the location of their King's estate.

"You may not have heard, but even the Princess that the Emperor dotes on did not receive the King's love. Don't be an enemy of both women."

"…"

"You are too young."

"…"

"You won't be beheaded if you find a better work, even if it is not high-paying."

"…"

"It's you again? Why are you persisting?"

"…"

"Don't choose this path."

"…"

"I dare not believe this!"

Don't be so low just yet.

"Brother, hello. Do you know where is the estate of the King of Yi?"

The man who seemed to be the same age as me frowned, his eyes squinted looking, no more like scanning me from head to toe.

Again with that part.

"Money."

"…don't have money right now since I've been robbed. We can go to the King of Yi's estate. Surely, he will repay you."

"May we never meet again, Young Miss."

"…"

"I'm done!"

These people are too one-sided in their thoughts.

ML, wherever you are, do know it's my mistake that I chase the thief, but please don't assume that it's my fault if you can't find me sooner! Your people love you too much that it's too unbearable for me.

And… I need to move cautiously.

In every world, there are still perverts that exist.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Great, thank you so much. Now, rain is coming. Just go away. Come again when I'm back at my stay."

I ran and looked for somewhere to hang my head under a roof. Somewhere that is not a full-on swing with men, and definitely not on closed doors looking at you with a frown. It's so obvious when people don't want to let you in.

Guess I'll just find a place where it might be abandoned or something…

Suppose there is such a place. If not, then… let's continue wondering, looking for safe spots.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

"I better run."

It started to rain cats and dogs already.

There's not much time until I'll join Earth and become a puddle of water.

"At least on Earth, there are stations with roofs. I can wait until the rain dies down."

The umbrella that we took before going out was held by ML.

"It seems even in here I still suck when it comes to rain."

Mostly even on earth when everything does not accord with the plan, and many things had gone awry, somehow the rain would join me. Just like now. Such coincidence became a usual occurrence for me.

It's annoying alright!

I want to shout at the clouds and scream to stop, thank you for accompanying me, but it's not the right time. Sigh, what is even the right time?

"Whoopsie daisy, I'm going to get soaked real bad!"

The curves of Li Jia Ying are beginning to show their form.

"Ugh, just where should I go?"

"!!!"

"This old roof would do."

Although it only covers half of my body, it's fine. There's no protective cover to lean on if I move forward. It's just a wide path going to a garden or something. Looks like I even went far from civilization as fewer houses appeared behind me.

Grr.

I can't barely stand so I crouched down shivering as the coldness slowly seeps into my body.

"Hah."

I'm just like a wet chicken right now, watching the rain drop heavily that I can't see the distance because of how thick it is.

I hummed for a while, distracting myself from shivering as the more I try to prevent my body from trembling, it just gets worse. Gradually, I became stone cold, hugging myself in self-comfort.

I don't know how long I've been in this kind of position nor how long would the rain stop, but if I lay dead like this, it's fine right? Dying in the rain doesn't sound bad.

***

"…ter. Looks pale…"

"…ng soup!"

Ah, what's going on?

My head…

"…e you alright?"

Yes?

"Can you hea…"

What am I hearing?

Ah so hot!

No, I felt cold too.

So unbearable.

"Hey don't pull your clothes. Stay still!"

"…his is embarrassing."

"Shut up! Get some cleaned cloth…ou need…"

Their words flicker from one dimension to another. There's too little for me to understand. Even my eyes are heavy—my body felt heavy.

"I…"

"Oh y… awake! Forgive us for…ut we mu… do…"

I forced my heavy eyelids to open to see the person who is treating me.

Yes, so it seems I survived.

My breath hitched.

"S-Sir…"

My eyes finally, even if it's half-opened, I can see who is healing.

"Ah." So, it's the old man that passed by me before dragging a cart of haystacks.

"Young Miss, can you hear me?"

"I do…"

I can't, my eyes immediately close as my world turns dark.