After selling Iris to the Duke, what Fredrick wanted to feel was anger, rage, and displeasure. Instead, all he felt was regret leaving Iris as bait.
'It's starting', he thought. 'Just like as planned'.
Fredrick sat in the carriage as they left the Dukes' Manor with Maria and Marie sitting before him. The twins looked at each other, thinking what was wrong with Fredrick. Maria handed him papers, and Marie sat beside him, leaning her head on Fredrick's lap.
Fredrick looked at the papers Maria gave him; it was about their transaction with the Duke. He folded the document and put it in his pocket as he leaned back, covering his eyes with his arms.
The carriage tottered and bumped. But Fredrick does feel it at all. He was absorbed in his thoughts if it was the right thing to do with that girl.
(FLASHBACK)
That day, when Fredrick was scouting, searching to see if there was an enemy around. Instead, he saw a Lady's back near the river drinking water.
Fredrick was about to capture her, but the lady started to move. He immediately hid behind the bush so he wouldn't be caught. Fredrick decided to observe for now.
As Fredrick watches her closely, he thinks she is a weird girl since she is drenched in blood and full of wounds until she pulls a monster's head.
'what is that?' Fredrick whispered
As he looked closely, it was "A dragon head", Fredrick mumbled.
He could not believe that some girl could kill a dragon, and he never expected that someone would eat a dragon since no one had ever done that for a thousand years. Looking at her was the most fantastic thing he saw.
Fredrick was about to approach this time, but a hand suddenly reached him from the back.
"Did you find something?" the bandit whispered.
Fredrick doesn't want to say anything, but he knows they would still have discovered her even if he didn't say anything.
"I saw a Bonfire there," Fredric said, pointing towards the lady's direction.
"Nice work," the bandit said. "Come on, boys!" as he signals his hands to the others.
Fredrick follows them without much of a choice since he has a role to perform. They investigate the site, but they only find tattered clothes and trash, no valuable items to sell
Fredric noticed that the girl was hiding so he didn't say anything to his comrade, but a voice suddenly shouted "NO! This is mine!"
Fredrick turned his head and saw the lady near the water in the river saying nonsense that no one could have it but her, and after swallowing something, she almost drowned.
Fredrick had to rush toward her and save her. As he pulled her from the water, he saw the most beautiful lady he had seen in his entire life: white hair as snow and very unique rainbow eyes.
"Are you okay, sir?" Marie asked
Fredrick came back to reality. He looked at Marie and patted her head.
"I'm fine", Fredrick responds, assuring her that he is okay.
The ride was long and full of silence. When they arrive at the base, Everyone asks about the great transaction he did, but Fredrick ignores them and heads toward his cabin without looking at anyone.
"what's his problem?" the bandit asked Maria,
Maria just shrugs since she also doesn't know anything.
Fredrick lay down on his bed and closed his eyes, regretting what he had done.
There was a knock on the door at Fredrick's room, but he ignored it. He heard the door open but remained on his be with eyes closed.
"Bad mood?" a husky voice of a man said
Fredrick grunted. "What do you want, Hanro?"
"How was the transaction?" the hanro asked.
Hanro walks toward the chair near Fredrick's bed, but Fredrick remains on his bed, not facing him.
"it was successful," Fredrick said
"And here are the papers." he continued as he handed the papers from his pocket.
The man noticed Fredrick was not in the mood since the girl left their lair.
"what's wrong?" Hanro asked
Fredrick didn't answer and remained silent.
The man pulled out a cigar from his pocket and started smoking.
"you know you have to do it, right?" he stated, "to get closer to the duke."
Fredrick opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling.
"I know", Fredrick answered. Gets up, sits down on his bed and faces Hanro
"But somehow, I feel that this isn't right", Fredrick added.
Hanro blows a cloud of smoke from his cigar into Fredrick's face
"What did I train you for?"
Fredrick had been trained since he was ten years old to never show fear nor regret. He was supposed to act confident even though he was scared. He doesn't need to show weakness since he was trained to fight to get what is rightfully his.
"But - "Freadrinck tried to reason out, but Hanro cut him off.
"When did you get soft?" hanro raved.
Fredric buried his face with his hand. "I don't know"
Hanro knew that Fredrick was not honest with his feelings and didn't know what he really wanted.
"because of that girl?" hanro asked
Silence takes over the room. A cricket can be heard from outside, but people have not spoken for minutes. Fredrick never expects that he would act like this because of a girl; this is the first time he feels this way, and he doesn't understand.
"you know you can always rescue her, right?" Hanro inserted an idea
That idea made Fredricks's face lit up again. He faced Hanro and looked at him, saying, 'How do you do that.'
Hanro laughs at Fredricks's face right now. "I'll tell you later, and besides, you can see her again if your plan works."
Fredrick felt relieved about what Hanro said and prayed for his plan to succeed even though he didn't believe in gods.
Hanro stands up and walks towards the door.
"The money is there, by the way" " Fredrick said
"Keep it. You earned it," Hanro said, leaving Fredrick from his room.