I walked out of there.
The fresh air helped me reduce the buzz in my head.
As I waited near the entrance, a faint sound reached my ears-soft, muffled crying.
It wasn't loud enough to draw attention, and judging by the lively buzz of the street in front of me, I doubted anyone else even noticed.
Am I imagining things? Or did I get drunk from just a few glasses?
Curiosity and perhaps concern got the better of me. I followed the sound into a narrow alley next to the tavern, where the light from the street faded into shadows. The moon hung overhead, its glow faint but enough to guide my steps.
The crying grew louder as I approached a stack of old boxes grouped haphazardly near the corner. There, tucked into the corner with her head buried in her arms, sat a small girl.
Her tiny frame trembled with each hiccup, her quiet sobs punctuated by the occasional sharp intake of breath. She looked so fragile, her shoulders jerking slightly as she cried.
I crouched a few feet away, making sure to leave enough space between us so I wouldn't come across as a threat.
"Hello," I said gently. "What are you doing out here?"
Hearing my voice, she froze. Slowly, she lifted her head, her wide, bloodshot eyes locking onto mine.
She stared at me, her expression wary and filled with fear.
"You don't have to be afraid of me," I said, keeping my voice as soft as possible. "I'm just trying to help you."
I offered her a smile, hoping it was reassuring enough to convince her that I wasn't some weirdo creeping around in alleys.
After staring at me for a moment, her tense shoulders finally relaxed, and she shifted into a more comfortable position.
"Can you tell me what happened?" I asked gently.
"I'm waiting for my mother," she said, her voice small and trembling.
"Where did she go?"
"I don't know."
"When will she come back? Did she tell you anything before she left?"
She shook her head. "No... She told me to go with the first person that comes to take me."
I blinked, unsure if I had misheard her. What?
"When did she leave?"
"Three days ago."
"Excuse me?!"
My eyes felt like they were about to pop out of their sockets.
Three days?! Has this kid been sitting here all that time? Has she even eaten? She doesn't look like she's been sleeping properly either.
"Have you eaten anything?"
She shook her head again, and as if on cue, her stomach growled loudly. She flushed in embarrassment, squeezing her small arms around her stomach as if that would silence it.
"If you're hungry," I said, crouching lower to meet her gaze, "how about you come with me?"
I couldn't leave this kid alone. Even though the people I'd met so far seemed kind, trusting others wasn't an option, especially not in a situation like this.
What was her mother thinking, leaving her here like this?
She looked at me, clearly thinking over my offer, but her stomach growled again, louder this time. Her face flushed again, and she seemed to shrink into herself.
"I'll feed you as much as you'd like," I added with a reassuring smile.
After a moment, she nodded.
I reached out a hand to help her up, but she ignored it, attempting to stand on her own. Her determination was admirable, but she fell back almost immediately.
My brows furrowed. Something's wrong.
Her legs wobbled as she tried again, trembling so badly that I flinched just watching her. It could've been from sitting in the same position for too long, but this felt different. Her knees buckled again, and she collapsed back to the ground, her tiny frame looking even smaller in the dim moonlight.
She tried again, but her knees shook so violently that I flinched just watching her.
I couldn't see much in the dim alley, so I moved to help her into the light. But before I could, she flinched and moved away from me, her small frame trembling.
Determined, I took a closer look at her legs under the glow of the moonlight, and what I saw left me boiling.
Purple and black bruises covered her entire legs, spreading like dark, angry shadows across her skin. Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any visible injuries elsewhere, but this... this was bad enough.
"How did this happen?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, though my anger was barely contained.
She averted her gaze, staring down at the ground as if it might swallow her whole.
"Mother punished me," she whispered, her voice cracking. "For breaking her favorite vase."
Tears threatened to spill again, and I knew if I pressed further, she'd break down completely.
Some people should never be allowed to become parents. Instead of protecting their children, they make them live in constant fear.
Her light purple hair was a tangled mess, with soot smudging her entire face. Tear marks streaked down her red cheeks, and her dark eyes, framed by heavy circles, looked utterly exhausted.
"Master Louie, there you are... Who is this, if I may ask?"
Ambrose's voice made me turn. He stood a few feet away, his sharp, dark eyes fixed on the child.
She immediately shrank behind me, clutching the back of my shirt tightly.
"I found her crying in the alley," I said, pointing toward the dark road we'd just come from.
"Hmm," Ambrose murmured, his gaze softening slightly. "Well, what do you intend to do with her?"
His question hung in the air, his tone cautious but firm.
"I'll take her with me," I said without hesitation. "I can't leave her by herself."
"Does Master Aion know about this?" he asked, his brow raising slightly.
Oh, right. I wasn't living alone anymore.
"No... but I'll ask him for permission," I replied quickly, realizing how this might look.
Ambrose nodded slowly, seeming satisfied with my answer. "Very well. Shall we head back, then?"
I crouched down and motioned for the girl to climb onto my back.
"It's a long walk," I said gently. "You won't be able to make it on foot."
But to my surprise, she shook her head, refusing my offer. Her stubbornness was clear, though her legs trembled visibly beneath her.
"Are you sure?" I asked softly, trying not to push her too hard.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she glanced away.
Ambrose sighed lightly behind me. "She may need some convincing, Master Louie. Children in her situation rarely trust easily."
Yeah, I can tell.
She ignored my words and took a shaky step forward, her legs trembling so badly I could barely watch. She didn't make it far before stumbling again.
I reached out, gently grabbing her shoulders to stop her.
"No! Don't touch me, please!"
Her shout startled both of us, the raw fear in her voice freezing me in place.
"Did I hurt you?" I asked, panicked. "Is everything alright?"
She shook her head, her eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears. "Y-you will become dirty if you touch me."
"It's alright," I said softly, trying to calm her down. "Nothing like that will happen. And even if I get dirty, I can just wash it off."
But my words didn't seem to reach her.
"Mother warned me not to get close to others," she said, her voice breaking. "I've tried to wash myself clean so many times, but she always told me I'll never get rid of it." Her gaze dropped to the ground, her small hands clutching at the fabric of her dress. "I don't want to defile anyone else."
I froze.
How is it possible for a mother to say something like that to her own child?
The disdain I'd felt for her mother earlier twisted into something far darker, pure disgust.
"She lied to you," I said firmly.
"What?" Her dull, tear-filled eyes met mine, and my heart clenched painfully.
"She lied to you about being dirty. Here," I said, extending my hand carefully. "Hold my hand."
"But—"
"It's okay. Come closer."
I moved a little closer, but before she could respond, she flinched and fell back down.
"No! Stop it!"
Her reaction made me pause.
Baby steps, Euijin. Baby steps. Don't push her too much.
I crouched down, keeping my tone gentle. "Then how about this? Can you climb on my back? That way, you won't have to touch me at all."
She hesitated, her small frame trembling, but after a moment, she nodded reluctantly. Slowly, she climbed onto my back, her movements tentative and unsure.
"Here, you can use this," Ambrose said, returning with a long piece of cloth. He quickly fashioned a makeshift sling to secure her in place.
"See?" I said, adjusting the sling slightly. "It's alright now. Let's get you home."
With Ambrose leading the way, we began walking through the quiet streets.
"If you're here with us, then who's running the winery?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"I am not the only barkeeper there, Master Louie," he replied matter-of-factly.
"Oh."
But I thought you were...
After that, we didn't talk the entire way back.
We reached the shop easily, and I noted down the route, so I wouldn't need any help if I were to visit them again.
"Enjoy your night, Master Louie."
"You too."
He took his leave, and I stood before the doors, hesitating to enter.
What if Aion-nim doesn't allow her to stay? What will I do then? Should I just go back and ask Ambrose for help?
While these questions were running through my head, I failed to notice the door opening and a tall man standing in front of me.
"Are you coming in, Lou?"
I just stood in there, opening and closing my mouth, not knowing what to say. The kid's hold on my shoulder strengthened as she buried her face in my back.
"Umm about all this-"
"Why don't you come inside, then explain? It is cold tonight."
I nodded and followed him through the store, trailing closely behind.
"Sit," he said, pointing to the chair in front of him.
"You can get off now," I added gently to the girl. She slid off my back with some difficulty, and I helped her into the seat next to me.
"Now speak," Aion-nim instructed, his tone firm but not unkind.
Taking a deep breath, I explained everything. I told him about Lyaeus getting drunk, finding her in the alley, her bruises, and what little I'd gathered about her mother.
Aion-nim listened in silence, his expression unreadable. When I finished, he knelt down and carefully examined her legs. His brows furrowed slightly.
"How about she take a bath first?" he suggested after a moment. "I'll give her some medication later and take her to the doctor tomorrow."
He stood and called for our neighbor, a young woman who ran a clothing store nearby. When she arrived, the girl clung tightly to my shirt, her wide, trembling eyes locking onto mine.
"It's alright," I reassured her softly. "She's here to help you wash up. Once you're done, you can eat as much as you want."
She hesitated, her grip on my shirt tightening for a moment before she slowly let go. With small, cautious steps, she limped after the woman, glancing back at me once before disappearing down the hall.
The moment she was out of sight, Aion-nim's gaze turned sharp.
"What do you intend to do now?" he asked, his tone serious, as though this was a problem that required immediate resolution.
"Can we keep her?" I blurted, meeting his gaze. "I promise I'll take good care of her. I'm sure being around someone as cute as her will make the customers happy too."
I wasn't exaggerating. When the soot had been wiped from her face earlier, her features were so delicate, so innocent, it felt like a jab straight to my heart.
How could anyone treat a child, especially one as adorable as her so poorly?
"You have to be responsible for her since you brought her here," Aion-nim said, his tone steady but firm. "But that's not the issue. What if her mother comes for her?"
Will she?
"It's been three days since she abandoned her child," I replied, trying to sound confident. "I don't think she's coming back anytime soon."
"But what if she does? What if she accuses us of kidnapping her? What will you do then?"
"I don't know..."
He wasn't wrong. We couldn't take this lightly.
In situations like this, people usually side with the mother, regardless of the circumstances. If she came back and accused us of wrongdoing, even Aion-nim could end up slandered.
And to make things worse, I didn't know how the legal system worked in this world or if there even was one.
While I was lost in thought, trying to come up with a solution, a warm hand landed gently on my head. I glanced up to find Aion-nim looking down at me with a faint smile.
"It's fine," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Stop worrying about unnecessary things. If anything happens, I'll handle it. So just focus on taking good care of her, okay?"
I nodded, his words easing the tension in my chest.
I don't know what I'd do without him in this life.
Not long after, we heard the soft patter of footsteps descending the stairs. The girl appeared, her face bright with excitement as she showed off her new dress.
Aion-nim had gone all out when he called for help earlier, buying a variety of clothes from the store. Fortunately, everything fit her perfectly.
We both thanked the lady, and Aion-nim walked her back to her shop.
"You should thank him when he comes back," I told the girl as she hovered near me.
She nodded enthusiastically, her little head bobbing up and down before she wandered toward the front of the store.
Her walk looked awkward, every step hesitant and uneven.
"You have to rest your legs," I called out from the kitchen as I began setting the table. "Don't forget that!"
A soft mumble drifted back to me. "Yes, I remember."
A small smile tugged at my lips as I continued setting up. It didn't take long for Aion-nim to return. I heard him speaking quietly to her near the front door.
She's a good kid.
I smiled and sat down, waiting for them to join me.
A moment later, Aion-nim entered, with the girl following closely behind him. He pulled out a chair for her next to me, then took his seat across from us.
I served her first, placing a generous portion on her plate. Her eyes lit up at the sight of all the dishes, her face breaking into a smile that tugged at my heart.
"Let me know if you'd like more later," I said.
She didn't even wait for me to finish before stuffing her mouth full, her small hands clutching the utensils tightly.
Dinner went by peacefully, with her asking for three more servings before finally leaning back with a satisfied sigh.
It's good for growing kids to have a big appetite.
Afterward, Aion-nim handed her some pain-relief medicine.
"I never asked for your name," I realized suddenly, feeling a bit guilty for addressing her as "kid" all this time.
"I'm Aerin," she said quietly.
"Hello, Aerin. My name is Louie Aldene, but you can call me Lou," I replied with a smile.
"I am Aion. It's nice to meet you, Aerin," Aion-nim added, his soft smile making her relax a little.
Then he turned to me. "Where will she sleep tonight?"
Why are you asking me? You're the house owner.
"The room Grape stayed in last night is empty. She can have that," I said quickly.
"...Grape?"
My eyes widened, and I quickly averted my gaze. Shit. I did not mean to say that out loud.
Aion-nim's lips quirked in amusement. "He does look like grapes, doesn't he? But no, she cannot have that room."
A small laugh escaped him, and I let out a relieved breath. Thankfully, he didn't mind me calling Lyaeus "Grape."
"Why not? Isn't it empty?"
"It is, but I haven't cleaned it in months, including the sheets."
"Then why did you let Lyaeus stay there last night?"
"He's a pig," Aion-nim said matter-of-factly. "I don't care about him. Either way, she cannot sleep there."
...Okay.
"Then, can I stay with Lou?" Aerin asked, looking at me hopefully.
"Indeed, that would be much better," Aion-nim agreed. "Make sure to avoid putting pressure on the bruises, alright? Now, if we're done here, I'll take my leave."
After locking the doors, I brought Aerin to my room. My bed wasn't large, but it was enough for her to sleep comfortably without hurting her legs.
As I rummaged through the drawers for extra blankets, I heard her small voice behind me.
"What is this?"
Turning around, I saw her holding [A Broken Heart].
Right... I forgot about that.
"It's a novel. The cover looks pretty, right?" I said casually.
"A novel?" she repeated, tilting her head.
Does she not know what that is?
"A novel is—"
"I know what a novel is, Lou," she interrupted, rolling her eyes.
"Then what's the problem?"
"You called it pretty, but how come I can't see it?"
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
"To me, it looks like a black notebook with white pages. There's nothing written in it. Were you joking about it being a novel?"
What?
I hesitated, then forced a chuckle. "Yes, I was. You got me there."
Thankfully, she took it as one of my weird jokes and let the matter go.
As she settled into bed, I stared at the book in her hands, a sense of unease creeping over me.
I really need to finish reading this.