Lily walked down the street, her mind was straight, yet her body betrayed her. She shook uncontrollably, her feet trembling with each step, her vision blurred, and her stomach rumbled loudly. She bit her lip, trying to ignore it. As she approached the laundry shop, she put her hands on the empty barrel beside her, using it to steady herself. She touched her stomach and frowned, muttering under her breath, “I’m so hungry...” She gripped her stomach and punched it lightly several times in frustration.

Suddenly, she felt warmth on her shoulder. She turned and saw Alice, smiling brightly. “Hello, wanna come with me for a while?” Alice’s voice was soft but held a hidden gentleness.

“No, thank you. My work’s still on the clock. Please don’t get in my way.” Lily’s response was blunt, her tone sharp, the walls around her emotions already firmly in place.

Alice didn’t flinch. “Forget about it for now. Would you like to have lunch with me?” She reached out gently, trying to melt the ice around Lily’s heart. But instead, Lily felt irritation flare. She slapped Alice’s hand away, her face darkening.

“PLEASE DON’T, I DON’T NEED YOUR PITY OR ANYONE! I CAN STAND ON MY OWN TWO FEET!” Lily bellowed, her hands shaking, her lips quivering, her eyes locked onto Alice’s, daring her to go away.

Alice smiled softly, unaffected, her eyes still filled with quiet warmth. “Open up to me, Lily. I’ll help you.” Her voice remained steady, her eyes sparkling like stars in the night sky, her gesture firm and unwavering, as if she was ready to shoulder Lily’s burdens.

Lily’s glare remained piercing, her expression hard, yet despite the tension, her stomach growled loudly. Both their eyes met in surprise, the unexpected sound cutting through the heavy atmosphere.

Alice smiled, unfazed. “You don’t have to worry about the payment. I’ll pay for it,” she said gently, her voice warm and soothing. She extended her hand, open and inviting. “Come, Lily.”

Lily bit her lip, the hunger gnawing at her, too much to ignore. Her vision blurred, and her legs trembled uncontrollably. Her pride faltered, and she placed her hand on her stomach. Her resistance weakened. Alice smiled again and reached out, her palm gentle as it touched Lily’s cheek.

Lily closed her hands into fists, not wanting to let go. “Let’s go,” Alice said softly, her voice a quiet but firm invitation. She let out a heavy sigh. In the end, she doesn’t have a choice but to come.

Arthur walked down the narrow path, unfamiliar with the area because he barely visited this area. The doctor gave him the information that he knew where Lily was staying. The place felt different, as if the air itself carried an unspoken weight. Groups of men lingered, their gazes following him, unblinking and full of intent. Despite the stares, Arthur's pace never faltered; his jaw set in quiet determination. Not wanting to go back without knowing the truth of Lily’s situation.

One man stepped forward, grabbing his shoulder with a firm grip. "Stop. You're passing through our territory without permission, young man." His voice was thick with pride, eyes narrowing as he sized Arthur up. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Arthur didn't flinch. "Can you let me pass?" His voice was calm, unwavering, as though the man's posture held no sway over him.

"No!" The man bellowed, his fist shooting toward Arthur with surprising speed. But Arthur was quicker. In one fluid motion, he caught the man’s fist mid-air, his grip unyielding. With his other hand, he grabbed the man by the collar and shoved him forcefully to the ground. A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers. They hadn’t expected him to be so fast, so strong.

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Arthur stood over the man, his voice cold but resolute. "I promised myself not to harm a civilian, but I will defend myself when provoked."

His gaze shifted to the other men standing nearby. His expression was unwavering, his stance defensive. He wasn’t going to back down. Ready for whatever came next, he extended his hand toward them, fingers splayed in a subtle but clear warning.

One of the men, who had been watching silently, slowly rose to his feet. He clapped his hands, the sound sharp in the tense silence. His smile was wide, almost amused, but there was something calculating in his eyes. "Alright, enough of this. You’ve shown us your strength. Even if we tried to gang up on you, I doubt we’d stand a chance." His voice was dripping with a mix of respect and curiosity. His eyes never left Arthur’s face. "What business do you have here?"

Arthur’s expression remained firm, his gaze steady. "I’m looking for Lily’s house. If you know where it is, could you tell me?"

The man’s eyebrows arched slightly, his interest piqued. "I know where it is. I’m a close friend of Lily’s," he said, his tone shifting, though still laced with suspicion. "But why should we tell you?"

Arthur let out a deep sigh, his posture relaxing just enough to show that he wasn’t looking for trouble. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice softer now, but no less direct.

The man’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening once more. "I don’t need anything from you," he growled. "But if you came here with bad intentions toward her, I’ll kill you where you stand." His gaze locked onto Arthur’s with such intensity it felt like a physical weight. The atmosphere between them grew thick, palpable with the threat in the air.

Arthur immediately raised both hands in a gesture of peace, trying to defuse the tension. "No, not at all," he said quickly, his voice steady, though he could feel the weight of the situation. "Let me explain what happened earlier."

As Arthur spoke, the man’s expression stiffened, his lips twitching slightly as he bit down on them. He stood frozen for a moment, clearly processing the words. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer, but still tinged with concern. "I told her to take care of herself..." He clicked his tongue, running a hand over his face. There was a flicker of something—guilt, perhaps—before his eyes softened. "Alright," he said, his tone shifting from hostile to something more neutral, even slightly warm. "Come with me. I’ll show you the way."

Arthur nodded, his expression grateful but cautious. "Thank you. I appreciate your help," he said, his voice sincere.

Without another word, the two of them began walking down the path, heading toward Lily’s house. Arthur couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this place—and to Lily—than he had anticipated. But for now, he had no choice but to follow, one step closer to uncovering the truth.

As they passed through the streets of the unfamiliar area of the village, Arthur kept his guard up, his eyes scanning on every corner, every movement, absorbing every detail. The man walked beside him, casually observing Arthur's heightened awareness.

"You don’t need to be on your guard," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "I told you. I’m a friend of Lily. By the way, I’m Terrence." His posture was open, unthreatening, and Arthur could sense the sincerity in his words.

Arthur relaxed slightly, though his alertness remained. "I’m Arthur, I live in the northern part of the village," he responded, his cautious gaze softening but not entirely gone.

Terrence was slightly surprised as his fingers tapped thoughtfully against his chin. "I see. That’s why you met her. As I remember, she was working her third job there as a washer for the mayor."

Arthur’s brow furrowed. "Third job?" His voice sharpened, the curiosity in his words matching the unease in his gut.

Terrence’s expression stiffened, and he lowered his gaze for a moment. "Yes," he said, his voice more deliberate now, as though measuring each word. "I have no idea why she needed to work that much but if we went inside her house, we might understand why.."

Arthur gave a single nod, his expression unreadable. He took a deep breath, his shoulders rolling back, his muscles coiling in readiness. He could feel the weight of what was to come pressing on him, but his resolve never wavered.