"Let's go check out the jewelry stores," I said as I stood up, my gaze drifting to the big shopping mall outside the window. "We already bought clothes earlier, but we still haven't gone around the jewelry section."
Hezze's eyes lit up. She grabbed my arm and practically dragged me out. "Let's go, let's go, hurry…"
After lunch, the mall was even more crowded. Since it had just opened, there were tons of promotional events and discounts going on. I couldn't afford those dresses that cost hundreds of thousands, but I could still browse and maybe buy some small accessories.
The jewelry stores in Alchimie City were nothing like the tiny shops back in my hometown. Every design looked so delicate, and the variety was overwhelming. I really was getting my horizons widened today.
Hezze loved little trinkets like these within minutes she'd already bought quite a lot.
My wallet didn't have much in it, so I didn't dare spend recklessly. But then my attention was snagged by a plush toy hanging on the wall.
It was a humanoid plush, with two little horns on its head, two sharp white teeth peeking out at the corners of its mouth, and a black cape on its back. At first glance it looked exactly like a demon king from a cartoon.
Just like that bastard Captian.
I was instantly hooked. I decided I had to buy this plush devil. Whenever I got annoyed, I could throw it around… or stick needles in it. That sounded pretty satisfying.
"Rosy, that thing is so ugly. How can you like that?" Hezze looked genuinely shocked at my taste.
I pinched the plush demon's neck and smiled in a way that was… not entirely wholesome. "It's not ugly. I think it's pretty nice… hehehe."
Those little "hehehe" sounds were downright sinister.
Hezze shrank her neck, then turned her head and spotted a small black toy piano. "Whoa, this little piano looks so cool. It's exactly like the grand piano at my house."
Piano?
My whole body tensed. I was extremely sensitive to that word lately. "You play piano?"
Hezze nodded. "Of course I do."
I blinked a few times, my voice taking on a faint pleading tone. "Then… could you teach me? Recently I suddenly want to learn piano. If someone who already knows how to play can teach me and keep an eye on me, I'm sure I can learn faster."
I had thought this through very carefully. If I signed up for a piano class, Captian would definitely find out. It was safer to have my little friend here teach me in secret less chance of leaving a trail.
"Huh? You want to learn piano from me?" Hezze looked a little stunned, then excited. She could actually be a piano teacher?
I clasped her hand, my voice soft and sweet. "Will you teach me?"
"I will, totally will!" She thumped her chest, giving several enthusiastic promises.
I licked my lips, feeling my nerves slowly settle. "Hezze, I have to be honest. I only have two weeks to learn. In these two weeks I have to be able to play one complete piece. That means the schedule will be really tight, and it'll be hard on you too. If you don't think you can teach me in time, I'll have to think of another way."
Two weeks?
She was stunned for a second. To play piano, I'd have to learn how to read music and get used to the keys. Wanting to play a full piece in just two weeks was… ambitious, to put it mildly.
She frowned, but making her reject me... me, this "cute and pitiful" Rosy was apparently too cruel. She grabbed my hand, eyes bright. "Even though the time is really tight, I actually love this kind of challenge. And how could I bear to let you be disappointed? Don't worry, leave it to me, I'll help you learn one whole piece."
I curved my lips into a smile. "Thank you."
Once I finished learning, I really wanted to take her around and treat her to every delicious thing in Alchimie City.
"When should we start?" Hezze's eyes sparkled.
I paused for a moment, then said, "After class. We can practice three to four hours a day. Is that okay?"
"Okay, okay, okay," she agreed instantly. When that time came, she could even introduce me to her family.
Once the piano problem was settled, my whole body felt lighter. As long as I wasn't too stupid, I should be able to master a simple piece within two weeks…
After we finished browsing the jewelry store and buying a bunch of sweet snacks from the mall, I took out my phone to check the time.
It was already past five.
Oh no. I silently screamed in my heart. I'd played around so long I completely forgot the time. It wasn't even dark yet, but I had never gotten back to the villa this late before. If Captian happened to be home right now, wouldn't I be dead?
"Hezze, it's getting late. I have to head back," I said, gripping my phone tightly, panic turning my small face pale.
She was still immersed in the joy of shopping and had no intention of going home. "What? It's only five in the afternoon. I was planning for us to have dinner before going back."
Dinner?
I shook my head over and over. That would be a straight path to death.
"No dinner. I really have to go. My family's calling me home to eat," I blurted, cold sweat running down my back.
Hezze thought my family actually had called me home that early and pulled a bitter face. "Wow, your family really is strict. Okay then, you should hurry back. Be careful on the way."
I forced out a stiff smile. Strict my ass. I was just scared of that psycho.
By the time I got back, it was already past six. It was hard to hail a cab in that area, and I waited forever just to get one. On top of that, it was rush hour, so the traffic jam dragged on forever before I finally reached the villa.
Hugging my demon-king plush, I walked lightly toward the front door. I didn't know why, but I could somehow smell danger in the air. My heart hammered chaotically in my chest.
Don't tell me… Captian really is home?
Save me.
Blank with fear, I had no idea what I should do. I just wanted to run. To bolt far away from this terrifying place and the terrifying man inside it.
"Come here."
Captian beckoned me over. In his eyes, anger and killing intent were tightly compressed into a terrifying glow.
I instinctively took a step back. No way was I going over there. If I walked up to him now, I'd be stepping into a bottomless abyss.
Frantic, I glanced around and noticed the guest room door was slightly ajar. Nanny Alley was peeking out from behind it, watching.
My eyes lit up. I scrunched my face into a pleading grimace at her, practically radiating a desperate will to live.
Nanny Alley looked at me with sympathy, but couldn't help me at all, then quickly closed the door again.
Once the door shut, I instantly turned into a helpless little white rabbit with nowhere to run. My hands gripped the sides of my coat so tightly the knuckles stood out white.
"I told you to come here." Captian's tone lifted sharply.
I shuddered. My heart plummeted straight to the bottom of some dark pit. Under his icy gaze cold enough to freeze a person solid, I forced myself to walk toward him.
Each step felt heavy and slow. It took me a very, very long time to finally make it to his side.
Captian had long since run out of patience. He grabbed my wrist and yanked me straight into his arms.
"Ah...!" I screamed in fright, my small hands instinctively pressing against his chest. Even through his clothes I could feel how hot he was, like he was burning.
"Director Anderson…" I whispered, my lips trembling, my voice shaking right along with me.