Several hours later, when Oscar finally faced the awakened woman, he couldn’t suppress the cynical laughter from within. 

She was exactly as he remembered—small, pale, and peculiar. 

Her face seemed fragile under the weak morning light, too delicate to withstand even a glimmer of sunlight. The boundaries of her features were faint as if someone had lightly erased the edges with an eraser, leaving her face indistinct. 

The only thing clear about her was the liquid brown of her eyes, which remained fixed on the floor, unable to rise. 

Understandable, he thought. 

She had nowhere to hide, no threadbare coat to wrap herself in, and no idea where she was. 

“Why don’t you look at me?” he asked, his voice smooth and polite, though his words held an underlying demand. 

Seo Ah tried to comply, but her gaze stopped short of meeting his eyes, her head remaining lowered. She hesitated, and Oscar, on an impulse, bent down to meet her gaze. 

“...!” 

Their eyes met, and hers widened in surprise, her clear, watery eyes reflecting his face. She dropped her head again quickly, causing him to chuckle. 

I was so easily frightened and hadn’t even done anything yet. 

The next thought that crossed his mind was, She will be easy. 

Her gaze briefly lingered on the insignia on his chest, a subtle flicker of recognition in her eyes. 

“Do you know what this is?” he asked, but she shook her head. 

“No...” 

Oscar checked the time before returning to her, his voice gentle as he suggested, “Let’s chat.” 

It felt like she was walking on the edge of a cliff. If she had felt like she was at the precipice before, now it was as if she had taken a step over the edge. She had to be careful to keep her balance, or she would fall. 

Seo Ah nodded, trying to keep her voice steady as she answered, “Yes.” 

Oscar turned and retraced his steps, the men who had been standing like sentinels bowing their heads as he passed. She felt like she was walking on air as she followed him, her steps light and uncertain. When he glanced back at her, the feeling intensified. 

Was this what walking on the edge of an abyss felt like? 

With heavy gazes following her every move, she trailed behind him, a storm of emotions swirling within her. 

Fear stood out most vividly, the thought that this man might be the wolf her master had warned her about gnawing at her. Yet, without confirmation, she was left trembling in uncertainty. 

He led her to a room that appeared to be a receiving room, gesturing for her to sit. 

“Sit wherever you’re comfortable,” he offered. 

Seo Ah chose the seat closest to the door, noting the click of it closing behind her. Oscar walked to the window, asking, “Do you have a preference? There’s coffee, tea, or maybe a light soda.” 

Of those options, she only recognised tea but wasn’t sure if it was the same kind she was familiar with. 

“Um... anything is fine.” 

Oscar hesitated momentarily before deciding, “Then let’s go with soda. It’s the most refreshing.” 

She watched as he deftly prepared two glasses, filling them with ice before pouring a pale green liquid into each. He approached her with a glass, handing it to her with the casual ease of someone offering a drink to a friend. Seo Ah instinctively stood to accept the glass with both hands. A soft chuckle escaped him. 

“Sit down,” he said. 

She sat back down cautiously, and he took the seat opposite her. The drink sparkled in the glass, catching the light, and Seo Ah found herself staring at it, trying to steady her thoughts. 

“Thank you for saving me,” she finally said. 

“Do you remember what happened?” he asked. 

“I remember you being at the door...” 

“Oh, up to that point?” 

“...” 

“Does your tongue hurt?” 

Now that he mentioned it, she realised her left tongue felt sore. What had happened during the time she couldn’t remember? 

“What’s your name?” 

His question cut through her thoughts, startling her. After a brief hesitation, she answered. 

“My name is Seo Ah.” 

“Seo Ah?” 

“Yes.” 

“Seo Ah,” he repeated as if tasting the syllables. Though it was not a difficult name for people in Norfolk to pronounce, he seemed to say it particularly well, with even the intonation sounding natural.