Vol. 14 Ch. 16: Cast Aside

On the carriage ride back, Isaac gazed blankly out the window, thinking about a certain girl.

A mysterious girl who appeared wherever he went.

She was shy, timid, and bashful, but whenever numbers came up, the look in her eyes changed completely.

Since she seemed neither an assassin nor a guard, he had not pressed her about her identity. Instead, he kept her at his side and enjoyed observing her.

...And in the meantime, he had gradually grown fond of her.

Her timid nature, her habit of immediately blaming herself, and the way she apologized with every other word—"I'm sorry"—made her resemble Felix as a child. Naturally, Isaac found himself wanting to reach out to her. Wanting to fuss over her.

What had Monica thought each time he reached out to her?

Her painfully thin body, the old scars remaining across her back, and the way she flinched at other people's gazes.

It was not hard to imagine the hardships she had endured after her father was executed.

Eventually, the carriage arrived at the dormitory, but even after returning to his room well past midnight, Isaac could not sleep...