"What—"
She turned.
Boran.
"Hey, look, there's a pretty woman here," Boran said lightly as he pulled Mae out from her hiding place, his crooked smile appearing as usual.
In the back courtyard, Aldric froze for a fraction of a second.
Liria was also startled.
But Aldric quickly composed himself.
Calm.
Cold.
"…Healer Mae," he greeted politely, as if the previous conversation had never happened.
Mae looked at him without smiling, then brushed Boran's arm off her shoulder.
Only one thought spiraled through Aldric's mind:
Did she hear everything… or not?
Meanwhile, Liria gave a thin smirk.
"Eh? What's a holy healer doing here?" she sneered. "Applying for work? Brothels always need gentle hands."
Mae's gaze hardened.
"I'm here for Lina," she answered shortly.
Then she stepped forward.
And without preamble—
"And you have no right to slap her."
Her voice was flat.
The courtyard fell silent.
Boran raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Lina.
