"No thanks. Leave me alone!"

"Is he getting left behind as well?"

Luther thought as he watched Robert leave the strange being behind after Robert put on his robe for the strange being. Seeing this, Luther sympathizes with the strange being because they both look unwelcome in a human village.

"I hope Madam will be back soon."

Luther was sad, so he hid in one of the bushes near the gate where Mila went, intending to wait there until Mila returned, but to his surprise, the person he had seen being left behind just a few moments before crouch down beside him behind the bushes.

"Excuse me, this bush is taken."

Luther shooed the strange being away because the forest near the gate was too wide for them to share the same hiding spot.

"Your master – my master – back – together."

Luther tilted his head after hearing the choppy, monotone response of the strange being.

"Are you an infant creature? What race are you?"

Luther assumed the strange being was a newborn due to the way it spoke, as if it had not yet gotten used to using its mouth.

"Yes – born – month – ago."

"And that man who left is your guardian?"

"No – my savior."

"Really?" Luther's eyes sparkled as he started to like their conversation. "Madam was my savior as well. It looks like we've been through similar things!"

The strange being nodded enthusiastically, and the two started to chat while hiding behind the bushes, sharing their similar experience of being saved.

At the same time, Robert, who went after Mila, didn't approach Mila yet, even though he was already too close to her. He became worried after closely seeing Mila's appearance.

"Her hair is a mess. Her skin was darker, she looked thin, and what happened to her clothes? Why is her skirt almost gone now?"

Robert couldn't imagine what Mila had been through as she ended up looking like a beggar. Fortunately, she still looks beautiful and stunning, even with her messy appearance.

"Sir, aren't you going to go in yet?" The gate guard asked. The gate guard can't do its job because Robert took the post of the guard in order to hide and have a little distance with Mila while he eavesdropped on Mila and the other gate guard's conversation.

"So, that's how the news spread?" Robert mumbled after hearing the information shared by the guards. When Mila starts to move away from the guards, Robert follows Mila with a worried expression because of how troubled Mila looks.

"Then should I die instead?"

Robert flinched once he heard what Mila was saying to herself, then he hurriedly approached Mila and said, "Why do you have to die after running away like that?"

Mila was surprised to hear a familiar voice, then her one eye almost popped out after seeing the person's face.

"R-Robert?"

"It's good that you still recognize me. But why do you look scared seeing me here?" Robert crosses his arms as he leans in close to Mila's face to check on her, but Mila is intimidated by it and backs away. Robert didn't let Mila get away again and grabbed her hands to tell her not to run away like what she did in the graveyard.

"W-who's scared? I am not! Why are you here? You should be protecting Tope!"

Robert touched Mila's neck and head with a cold expression, but he was actually checking on her health.

Robert was so focused on worrying about Mila's state that he was not fully aware of where he was touching. At the same time, Mila doesn't feel uncomfortable with Robert's hand that is thoroughly and gently touching her to inspect her.

Robert was relieved that Mila was not entirely weakened and plainly asked, "Isn't it the mother's job to protect her child?"

"W-well, I need to appear dead to keep him safe and to protect the novel's original plot."

Nida honestly stated but the last part was said indistinctly.

"What? appear dead? then are you the one who cast the spell so that everyone will think you died?"

"I was announced dead at the duchy? Did they think I was dead because I had gone missing?"

Mila was dumbfounded. She thought it was just a rumor that she was dead, but it turned out to be the real deal.

She thought she would only be announced missing and then be announced dead after a pointless search. However, she didn't expect they would announce her death too early. Mila felt nervous as she asked, "What spell are you saying?"

"Everyone except me and Tope thought you died of depression. They even had a grave for you beside the Duke's grave!"

"What? There is another me who died?"

"No. I had checked that your coffin was empty, but they all believed that you really died. You look surprised. So you're not the one who put the spell on everyone?"

"Nonsense. I am not a mage or a witch. How can I even do that?"

Without noticing, they responded to each other with loud voices. They apparently shouted at one another to make their thoughts more understandable to each other.

"Then tell me why you ran away. Why do you want to appear dead to everyone? Is someone trying to kill you? Do you think Tope can manage everything on his own? Is there a plan? I can help!"

Robert huffed after asking all the questions he wanted Mila to answer. He grabbed Mila's arms tightly and leaned closer to her, causing them to feel each other's breath.

"I.. I..."

Mila was stunned by Robert's beauty rather than intimidated by his intimidating glaring emerald eyes. She's aware that the concern that Robert showed her was not for her but for the original Mila. She's apologetic for making Robert worry, but there is nothing more important than her own safety. She is still wary of trusting anyone to help and knows her whole situation.

With the original Mila's usual strength, she effortlessly got away from Robert. She then searches for her pouch that she tied on her waist to take her teleportation scroll to run away again, but the spatial pouch is nowhere to be found.

"Are you looking for this? Are you going to run away again? Aren't you worried about Tope? He needs you right now!"

Robert shouted angrily, as he could not believe that Mila was trying to escape again. He doesn't know what made Mila runaway because the Mila he knew was not a coward and always fought problems and troubles head on. He wanted to know the real problem and wished for Mila to seek help from him. At least to him, he wanted Mila to rely on him.

"I could help you too!"

Robert was about to persuade Mila to comeback, but Mila gathered her aura to her legs and dashed away from Robert after saying,

"No thanks. Leave me alone!"