Bailonz Street 13

I can hear the heartbeat. It’s the most certain way to know someone is alive.

I held Liam Moore tightly, my ear pressed against his chest, and closed my eyes for a moment. Despite my constant nagging, right now I just wanted to relish the fact that Liam was alive.

He didn’t respond to my words. Maybe he was reflecting on his actions. With a slight glance, I could see only his chin and tightly clenched lips.

“Liam.”

“Yes, did you call me?”

His reply came immediately. As I scolded him for a bit, I realized it wasn’t fair to pressure him to be honest while I, too, had my own secrets.

“I met Plurititas.”

So I revealed one of my biggest secrets (excluding the fact that this is all a game).

His reaction was immediate. He jerked upright but fell back down from the pain in his chest. Coughing violently, he screamed in a strained, cracked voice.

“I said I met Plurititas.”

Plurititas. Liam muttered the name, and a headache seemed to take over him. Both chest pain and a headache. I probably should have given him more time before telling him.

“His face is young, but he acts like an old man. Still, he recognized the device on the dahlia. Even though it’s not his field of expertise.”

“Besides that, did he threaten you or take some part of your body as collateral, or draw your blood?”

“Oh, my hand. He wanted to make a cast of it, so I let him. He really just made the cast and sent me away. He even gave me a gift.”

A gift. Now Liam Moore looked confused. “What exactly did you do?” he asked, indicating how bad his relationship with Plurititas had been.

I ended up laughing.

“There’s no way he’d give a gift to just anyone. And certainly not out of pure intention! You weren’t supposed to meet him in the first place. You just had a private audience with the one person you should stay far away from.”

“But he just gave it to me. Oh, here it is. This ring.”

It was a ring with a bright blue gemstone, now devoid of its light. It had shone like a disco ball in the cave but seemed to have lost its power. Liam, holding the ring, looked at me with his mouth agape.

“…No way he’d give it with pure intentions.”

He kept repeating those words. Poor Liam Moore, he was truly shocked.

“It was okay to accept it, right?”

“Well, it just functions like a warning light. It’s the giver that’s the problem.”

“I couldn’t help it. I’ll just buy him a cake next time.”

“Please, I beg you, don’t shock me more than this…”

He looked so desperate as he leaned on me, pleading. I almost answered affirmatively, but no, there was still one more thing.

“I also met Owen.”

“O—Owen?”

He shrieked.

“I also found out your name is William Moore.”

Yes, William Schofield Moore.

“You managed to keep your mouth shut all this time, William Schofield Moore.”

Even though he was sick, he energetically jumped up and knelt on the bed. If I had known I could take him from heaven to hell with just a few words, I would have done it sooner.

Kneeling, William spoke.

“…I didn’t mean to hide it.”

For the record, I’m not mad.

“Oh, really? I had to hear my roommate and boss’s real name from someone else after two years.”

“…”

Oh, the silence is long.

“And we’re not just roommates, are we? Honestly, we’ve been quite intimate for mere roommates, haven’t we? And then you go missing? In that situation, a strange man tells me, ‘Actually, his name is William.’ Care to explain, Mr. William Schofield Moore?”

“I’m sorry.”

The apology came quickly. I might have felt better, but no, I was already feeling better. I’m not mad.

William was still watching my reaction. His almond-shaped eyes looked down, full of guilt. His black eyelashes cast a faint shadow like a curtain.

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“At least you know you’re sorry. I thought you were a shameless brute who felt no guilt being called by a nickname for two years.”

“Jane…”

He was almost begging now. His pleading eyes might even have been watery. His ash-grey eyes trembled as they looked at me. Honestly, it was a bit satisfying.

“Oh dear.”

An all-too-familiar voice interrupted. Now, recognizing voices, I saw the uninvited guest, Herschel Hopkins, holding the hospital door handle, stunned.

I dreaded how this looked. With his godson kneeling in front of me like he had done something terribly wrong, how could I explain this? And I decided not to explain.

“Ah, just in time. Mr. Herschel Hopkins, come in.”

I don’t know what he took my permission as, but just in time. Look, your godson is kneeling! He hid his real name from me for two years! Before I could lament, Herschel cautiously asked. One knee was already down.

Why are you kneeling?

“Should I… kneel too?”

Damn, the godfather and godson.

＊ ＊ ＊

In the end, I had to make them both sit down. Both of them were weak and unwell. Kneeling was ridiculous. Although I’m not entirely healthy either, these two were on a different level. Herschel Hopkins looked like a sickly old man, and Liam Moore… What more could I say? The fact that he was awake might just be due to adrenaline.

“Alright, children.”

I declared to the two men who were anything but children.

“Let’s have a confession session.”

Liam Moore raised his hand.

“Ma’am, from where to where should I confess?”

“That’s not a term children should use, Liam Moore. Points off.”

“Eton never deducted points from me.”

He pouted. But this isn’t Eton, and I’m a mean adult who does as she pleases. Liam’s mild rebellion was pointless. He blinked his eyes, looking up at me with drooping eyebrows. He tried to look cute, but too bad, it didn’t work.

“As a hint, I like very honest answers.”

I must have looked resolute because Liam’s lips quivered. The dried blood made them look pitiful.

“But…”

“Mr. Moore.”

Herschel, using the old title for Liam, stood with his back to the moonlit window, facing us. His tired face was shadowed in blue. Liam responded.

“…Hopkins.”

“It’s over now.”

“You shouldn’t say that.”

Why are they baring their teeth at each other again? Herschel’s expression was cold, almost as if he was pressuring Liam. He was urging him to tell the truth. I could sense that much. Herschel spoke again.

“…We need to know to prepare.”

Prepare for what?

Ah, and suddenly, Owen’s story flashed through my mind. What happened to Mrs. Hopkins.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine the extent of his regret. He loved his wife deeply, as they said.

Herschel had already experienced the consequences of hiding something. Now, he was giving Liam bitter advice based on that experience. Regret comes too late. It’s obvious.

“We’ve lasted this long. I understand Mr. Moore’s feelings, but you need proper protection now. There’s no guarantee this won’t happen again.”

“It won’t happen again. I won’t let it.”

“What if, next time, it’s Jane who disappears?”

Liam Moore’s mouth shut tightly like a clam. He bit his lips, and his eyes fell on me. Confusion, fear, and hesitation swirled in his ash-grey eyes.

I looked into his eyes for a long time. I didn’t speak or urge him.

“…Don’t be reckless. We can’t resist. We can only buy time.”

“I…”

His voice was hoarse.

I glanced at Herschel Hopkins. He was smiling softly. When our eyes met, he gave me a warm smile, reassuring me. The old wedding ring was back on his finger.

Honestly, I was a bit scared. I feared the world Liam Moore saw because I had seen a glimpse of that king.

That king sensed my secret. Once discovered, I couldn’t escape, no matter what I did. My struggles were useless. I only survived by piquing his interest. Such luck wouldn’t come again.

I interrupted Liam Moore.

“I want to know.”