Snowflakes gently touch the top of my head. The buildings were covered in white and the waters glistened in stillness.
On the way from SURVIVE to Algor District with Harris, the words I had to say to Gabriel seemed to evaporate. My gloved hands were alo shivering, either because of the cold or the black envelope I was holding.
The black envelope, which we bought on the way, secured a letter from someone who had gone in place of the real culprit. It wasn't difficult for us to leave the headquarters, but my steps felt heavier as I approached the Flower Bridge which is very close to the editorial office.
Suddenly, something warm landed on my head, causing me to turn to my side.
"Don't take it off," Harris said while adjusting the position of the warm knit hat on my head. "If this is your first time in winter, you might have a brain freeze."
I buried my hands in my coat pockets while nodding slightly. Seeing the calm flowing in his gaze and voice was enough to ease my worries. Of course, if it wasn't Harris, who else could strengthen me in such vulnerable time?
We crossed the street as the vintage cars stopped and the pedestrians beside us stepped forward. As we arrived at the front of the editorial office, I took the initiative to open the door first.
"Wel…"
Lucia stopped her words, widening her gaze to look at us.
"...Come, Harris, Brissia," she continued with tears in her eyes.
She rushed toward us with her arms spread wide as Harris and I grinned a little. When she hugged us tightly, the cold and piercing longing melted in an instant.
Two cups of hot drinks were served on the small table in front of us. Lucia asked us to take a seat and relax while she called up Gabriel.
"Brissie, remember when we officially met here?"
Harris's half-whispered words tickled my stomach. "You said it like we ever needed Gabriel's concent to get acquainted."
"Concent? He's not our officiant, Brissie. Although to be honest, he might be suitable for that role."
I stifled a laugh. He gave me a grin before covering his mouth, hiding his silent laughter.
After calming down, I sipped my drink slowly. The red leather couch we were sitting on was still the same. Everything about the room beside the typing room flashed back in my mind, even Gabriel's position when he came through the door. The memory was coming back to reality with Gabriel standing by the door, giving us a slightly complicated look.
"There's no need to be that alert about our arrival, Old Man," said Harris casually, breaking the silence.
"I? Alert? You've got to be kidding me, lucky brat. It won't surprise me any more to one day see you walking freely after turning Archtier upside down."
Gabriel's sarcasm made me wince. Whether he was joking, he genuinely seemed annoyed with Harris from day one.
"Oh, I forgot Brissia is with us. What's the matter?"
I cleared my throat, handing out the black envelope that I kept in my skirt pocket. "We're here to deliver a message regarding Tyler."
Gabriel stared at me for a moment with a gaze that was… wistful. Perhaps he already knew?
"That kid too. Why's it that every time one of you heads off to SURVIVE, all I think about is the death certificate?" he said while looking down and massaging his forehead.
His words cut my heart, even made me lower the black envelope and hold it tightly. However, Harris held my hand, looking at me as if to signal that he would take my place.
"Gabriel, I almost died, just like you said."
Gabriel looked up in surprise while Harris smiled, though it looked forced.
"But Tyler, our brave partner, replace that position for the sake of Brissia and I."
Harris then looked down, holding my wrist shakingly.
"I'm so sorry, Gabriel."
The bitterness in his voice prompted one of my hands to hold his hand tight. I handed the letter to Gabriel, who was just sitting on the couch to our left. However, I didn't expect Gabriel to just have a flat expression.
"So the time has come."
Both Harris and I looked confused at Gabriel.
"Tyler, who works in the editorial office, has been in touch with me about your situation at the headquarters," Gabriel said, pausing, looking the other way. "However, one day, he told me that it was tedious to care for people from a distance. Perhaps that's why you witnessed him openly rescuing you."
Gabriel then looked back at Harris and smiled faintly. "No need to apologize, Harris. So do you, Brissia."
My brows knit at the mention of my name.
"Tyler informed me that you might be demanding an apology from someone. Be aware that Archtier has a way of making someone forget what they're responsible for."
***
When we left the editorial office, the sky had turned dark and the street lights were on. The conversation we spent in the editorial office lasted so long that it was enough to erase the tension that had existed between Gabriel and me. However…
"I can't believe he has lied to me."
I turned my head to Harris, who was walking beside me with a displeased face. His stomping was louder than before we came to the editorial office. "I'm sure it was to protect you and Tyler. But… why he didn't seem surprised?" I said.
"Hmph, no idea. Tyler must have reported to him about the incident in the hall and at the clock tower, don't you think?" he said while glancing at me briefly, starting to look doubtful.
"Ah… probably," I said, shrugging my shoulders. He must have had this in mind before the SURVIVE execution occurred to him.
Our steps came to a halt in front of a brown door with a opulent-looking golden doorknob. I took off my gloves and knocked it three times before putting them back on.
As soon as the door was opened from the inside, I straightened my head and put on a smile.
"Good afternoon. Can Benjamin come meet us?"
The butler we met that day was staring at us for a moment. It reminded me of the investigation's findings that he was the only butler who was simply doing his job and not an undercover guard.
"No, Young Master is not here."
Harris and I glanced at each other. He looked as confused as I was.
"However, since both of you are people in whom Young Master has trust…"
I wondered what the butler was thinking as he gave us both a worried smile.
"...Perhaps may I entrust bringing back the Young Master to the two of you? It is late."
I straightened my posture and nodded my head firmly.
"Leave it to us. May we have Mr. Fiero's home address?"
The butler suggested we change into more formal attire by taking us to a boutique. As if his criticism of our outfit styles at that time was no joke, he chose dresses and suits for us that truly characterized an aristocratic appearance.
Saxophone was played along with the piano and other classical musical instruments, filling the medium-sized room. People from our age to fifties gathered there in their formal attire, chattering and enjoying the atmosphere.
Among them, Benjamin was there in his white long sleeve shirt and turquoise silk vest. The closer Harris and I got to him, the more obvious his phony smile to the people in front of him became. I also wondered if that was what he was doing all this time at social events.
"Benjamin."
Turning around, the man with the middle-parted black hair grinned at us.
"Brissia, Harris! It's great to see you here," he said.
He then looked back at the person who had spoken to him earlier.
"They're close friends of mine. You don't mind if they join in, do you, since this banquet is open to all?" asked Benjamin with a small chuckle.
"Certainly not. Welcome! The more the merrier," said the man in front of Benjamin while giving us a warm smile.
"Thank you. Could we please have a moment with you, Ben?" I asked.
Benjamin nodded, set his drink down on the wooden table, then walked up to the stairs and motioned for us to come with him.
.
.
"What?"
Benjamin's cheerful expression faded as we told him about Tyler. If he had brought his glass earlier, he would have dropped it.
Harris and I fell silent as Benjamin supported his hands on the balcony railing while rubbing his forehead. Since there were only the three of us, the music played on the ground floor faintly added to the awkward silence.
"Ben..."
"At least," Benjamin said with a faint smile to us, "you got out of there alive, Harris, so Brissia can see you once more."
Harris sharpen his gaze and I stared at Benjamin in disbelief.
"Hold up. Were you the mastermind?" asked Harris with furrowed brows.
Benjamin chuckled and nodded slowly.
"With the contact lens technology I 'invented', I can easily get you out of the clock tower. Being able to carry out that plan is a short-win for Tyler and I as we have long fantasized about defeating someone who's so reliant on obscure magic," Benjamin explained, staring into the distance while grinning as if he was intoxicated with hope.
"The hell are you babbling about? Be careful, Brissie. I think he drank too much," Harris whispered to me, though I kept quiet for some reason.
"Ah… right. Why don't you two taste the drink, huh? I think we'd better—"
Benjamin staggered, making me and Harris caught him quickly.
"Let me get them. You two stay here!" Harris said before walking down the stairs.
I stared in surprise at Benjamin, who let go of my grip and walked out onto the balcony. Of course I had to follow him. What if he staggered again in a different direction?
"You already know about it, right? How Tyler and I ended up in Archtier."
Benjamin's words made me turn to him. He stopped acting by showing me his usual calm gaze and sober voice.
I said nothing but gave him a brief nod.
"Thus, you can't possibly like Harris more than a friend, can you?"
The question struck me in an unexpected way. Even though Benjamin asked it calmly, the meaning of his words that I understood completely disturbed my mind.
"I... can't say for sure," I said.
As they said, feelings and rational were always contradictory. And as if Benjamin knew my doubts, he approached me.
"So, may I ensure it for you?"
"What?"
Benjamin placed his fingers on my jaw and stared at me intently. There was no room to take my eyes off him because we were so close.
"If we make it back later, will you marry me?"
I jumped when I heard the loud sound of shattering glass. Benjamin distanced himself from me, turning around, allowing me to see Harris standing near the stairs.
He radiated a burning rage through his hazel eyes. His hands clenched into fists, waiting for them to land in the right place.
At the time, I knew that one of us would pay the price sooner or later.