Chapter 39: Responsibility Does Not Wait

  When it was over, when the dust settled and the alley returned to its crooked stillness, Ivaline straightened her clothes.

  Then she bowed.

  “To… everyone,” she said quietly.

  She turned to the bakery owner next.

  “I’m sorry,” she added, bowing again.

  “I’m late for work today.”

  The words landed wrong.

  Very wrong.

  Tomas and the dye shop owner turned toward the baker at the same time.

  Sharp looks.

  Immediate judgment.

  The bakery owner raised both hands in surrender.

  “Stop. stop! Not like that!” he said quickly.

  “Girl, today you rest. I’ll finish the work myself. Come back tomorrow like usual.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  The dye shop owner nodded once.

  “Same for me. Today you rest. I’ll have someone tail those bastards too.”

  Ivaline shook her head.

  “I can’t abandon my responsibility because of this,” she said.

  “I can still work. Please let me.”

  The men stared at her.

  Warm eyes.

  Tired eyes.

  Proud ones, whether they liked it or not.

  “Little miss…”

  “Girl…”

  Tomas rubbed the back of his neck.

  “By the way,” he added, frowning,

  “what actually happened? I ran here as fast as I could, but it was already over.”

  “Ah,” Brannic said, straightening.

  “It went like this.”

  He explained.

  Coins.

  Accusations.

  The circle closing.

  Tomas listened.

  Blinking.

  Slowly.

  “…From your description,” he said at last, voice low,

  “three of those five were the same ones who raided my shop last week.”

  Brannic froze.

  “…Huh?”

  The realization hit him like a brick.

  The faces.

  The voices.

  The timing.

  “I—” Brannic clenched his fists.

  “I’ve failed as a guard.”

  “You have,” Tomas said flatly.

  “Shame on you,” the dye shop owner added.

  “…At least tone it down a little, will you?” Brannic groaned.

  “But if you realized sooner,” Tomas pressed,

  “you could’ve restrained them, right?”

  “Grrr!”

  Brannic lowered his head, tail bristling in frustration.

  Ray watched the exchange in silence.

  The pieces fit too well.

  Known thugs.

  A fabricated accusation.

  A girl who still worried about being late for work.

  That was enough.

  They won’t stop, he thought.

  Not unless someone makes them.

  Ray adjusted the strap of his coat.

  For now, he would stay in the shadows.

  Follow her.

  Protect her.

  Until those five faced judgment.

  real judgment.

  Not boots and lies.

  Not again.