Chapter 6
“Thanks for saving my sister, but running away like this? Suspicious as hell.”
He was clearly itching to figure out my identity even if I had stayed put!
And earlier, he spoke politely like a proper gentleman. Now, just because I ran, he treats me like a criminal and drops the formalities.
Even as Eden grabbed the back of my robe and dragged me along, I clutched my hood tightly. I couldn’t let him see my face.
“Take off the hood.”
“Why are you removing someone else’s hood? Are you a pervert? I’m alive here!”
“You’re being rude. I was polite enough. Want me to show you what real roughness looks like?”
Eden’s eyes glinted with lethal intensity. I read a flicker of madness in them and hesitated. Right—this guy wasn’t exactly sane either.
“Desperately hiding your face, huh… I need to identify you. And you know something about that beast, don’t you? Why were you here at this hour? If you don’t answer within three… two… one—”
Eden tightened his grip on my hood.
“Aaahhh!”
A scream—probably Aurora’s—rang out from far away.
Startled, Eden hesitated, and I shook him off, sprinting again.
“Damn it!”
I could hear him curse as he glanced back and forth between my fleeing form and the source of Aurora’s scream.
Then I suddenly realized the brooch I had been fastening to my robe was gone.
‘Not Cinderella, Cherry! Why would you drop that now?!’
I cursed myself for being careless and considered going back—but Eden had already picked up the brooch from the ground.
After examining it briefly, he tucked it into the pocket of his police jacket, then ran toward Aurora.
I let out a long sigh and sank to the ground.
The brooch Eden had picked up didn’t bear the Sinclair family crest.
But to me, it was even more important. It had been a gift from my late father.
It was a rubellite gemstone that matched my hair color, with golden flowers crafted around it in the hue of my eyes.
C. S.
My initials were engraved on the back.
But there was no way he could guess that it stood for “Cherry Sinclair.” Anyone who knew Cherry Sinclair in the public eye would never imagine her beating monsters in some dark alley.
The shock of losing my father’s last gift was immense, but for now, survival came first.
‘Right. He won’t know it’s me.’
What worried me more, however, was Aurora’s scream that suddenly rang out again. The monster was definitely dead—so why was she screaming?
I was concerned, but I couldn’t go back. Eden might grab me again.
I checked the box of Elpinus herbs in my belt bag. Okay. At least the mission was accomplished. Safely.
-
What should I do now that I know the world is ending? Run, of course.
Time until the apocalypse: 20 days.
[Capital Benton, Notium Street 61: Disturbance by a mysterious assailant! Victim: Lady Lancaster…!?]
The next day, the newspapers were buzzing about the commotion at 61 Notium Street. There were no reports of any deaths.
‘Looks like Aurora’s safe, thank goodness.’
However, all the articles described it merely as a disturbance caused by a suspicious assailant. Not a single paper mentioned the truth—that a monster had appeared.
Even going over it carefully from the beginning, all they reported was that the assailant had attacked Aurora. Apparently, the scream she let out at the end was blamed on the assailant.
‘Not a single mention of the monster… Someone must be deliberately covering this up.’
It was almost certain. Otherwise, with so many witnesses, there’s no way not a single line about it would be published.
In apocalyptic or disaster movies, people usually divide into two types: those who try to warn everyone before the disaster, and those who try to cover it up at all costs.
In the novel “Love in Ruins”, the only specifically named mastermind was the Marquess of Casey—a villain who led the unethical experiments of alchemists. It wouldn’t be surprising if he were the true culprit behind all this, using his influence to hide the truth about the monsters.
The problem is, the Marquess himself dies before the story even starts, already infected by the virus.
Unfortunately, I had no power to uncover the truth or prevent the disaster. Most importantly, there was absolutely no time.
In a situation like this, even if I told the truth, people would just think I was insane. Harrison, who cares for me like a sibling, had even suggested I see a doctor. How could anyone else take me seriously?
‘For now… just pack. Don’t miss the train.’
I set down the newspaper with Aurora’s article and hurriedly packed my things. The Elpinus herbs were carefully placed in my bag. Having secured the vaccine, I finally felt a bit relieved.
‘Maybe I can survive for about two years.’
As long as the survival supplies in the shelter were properly stocked. I had a lot to do: fill the shelter with food, daily necessities, and weapons, and build barricades around the mansion to prepare for potential monster attacks.
Just then, Susanna knocked on the door.
“Miss, there’s a call. It’s from Sir Eden.”
“What? Eden? That Eden from the Lancaster family?”
I was startled and swung the door wide open. Susanna nodded, looking slightly bewildered.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Damn it. I could already feel my life hanging by a thread.
‘Could he have realized it was me who saved Aurora at 61 Notium Street last night?’
I thought of the brooch Eden had picked up—engraved with my initials. Trembling anxiously, I asked Susanna:
“What does he want with me?”
“He said it’s confidential for work. He wants to speak to you directly.”
“Hmm.”
Assuming Eden figured out that I was the owner of that brooch, this could mean he intends to negotiate with me. And if he wants to negotiate, he must have some leverage, so he can’t just spill everything recklessly.
Otherwise, he might have called simply to probe me without knowing anything.
Honestly, just picking up the brooch didn’t give him much information. That’s the fact.
After weighing the situation, I decided on my approach and told Susanna:
“Just tell him I’m not here. Say I’ve gone on a trip.”
It wasn’t a lie—I really was leaving.
Susanna nodded.
“Yes, I’ll tell him you’re away on a trip.”
Satisfied with her response, I hoisted my bag and headed out.
‘I can’t risk getting involved with Eden here. I need to get away fast!’
Waiting for the steam car in front of the Sinclair mansion, I asked Susanna:
“Susanna, have you packed everything too?”
She smiled brightly and nodded.
“Yes. Please wait just two days. I’ll inform the housekeeper and come down immediately.”
Susanna might just be an angel.
The person I wanted to bring to the shelter alongside Harrison was none other than Susanna. Despite my sudden suggestion to go down to Brunel, she had agreed without hesitation.
“Wherever you go, Miss, I’ll follow.”
She added that she would take care of her belongings at the city mansion and come down in two days. Like me, she had no family to tie her to the city.
“Good. Let’s meet again soon!”
“Yes, Miss. Please take care!”
I waved to Susanna and got into the waiting car.
Meanwhile, at 61 Notium Street.
Because of last night’s events, many onlookers had gathered in the streets.
A man in a navy-blue police uniform leaned against the mansion wall, reading a newspaper.
The well-fitted uniform hugged his muscular frame perfectly. A blue cape draped over one shoulder fluttered in the wind.
The man exuded an aura that commanded attention. Passersby stole glances, each unable to resist looking back.
Beneath well-groomed blond hair, his bright blue eyes scanned the newspaper quickly.
[Exclusive! Heiress of the Sinclair family takes 100 million gold bank loan? Is this part of a grand plan to lead the Sinclair family as the next queen, or just the folly of a fading star…!]
Once again, Cherry Sinclair’s name dominated the front page.
It wasn’t unusual for a wealthy woman to take out a loan. But she was the heiress of the Sinclair family, one of the richest families in the city.
‘How desperate must she be for money…? But would the Sinclair heiress really be in such urgent need?’
Eden frowned at the suspicious article. Could it be related to the gambling club she operated?
At that moment, Sir Marcel, Eden’s superior from the same department, passed by and spoke to him:
“What are you doing here? I told you to stay out of this. And now you’re reading another Cherry Sinclair article?”
It almost sounded like Eden was obsessed with her. He narrowed his eyes slightly in response.
