It Doesn’t Matter If You’re Broken - Chapter 3

The face of the man who had just crossed the boundary of the young man was as beautiful as a sculpture.

 

His red eyes, like garnets set in between the few strands of his naturally flowing black hair, were watching her.

 

“Did you say you needed help?”

 

Even in the midst of dizziness and nausea, the man’s voice sounded as if it were stuck in her ears.

 

Elise blinked her big eyes.

 

‘But he is not the Count.’

 

Elise knew Count Schuvan’s face, although it was a memory of childhood.

 

As if possessed, the thoughts that came into her head flowed out of her mouth without filtration.

 

“But… you are not the Count.”

 

“What?”

 

“The Count has silver hair and purple eyes. He is older, too.”

 

It was a naive yet unbiased answer. The expressionless face collapsed in an instant, and the man let out a blank laugh.

 

“Yes. As you said, I am not the Count.”

 

A beautiful red jewel shimmered between his lazily opened eyes.

 

“But I can still help you.”

 

He flicked his finger at the aide. Moments later, a heavy pouch fell in front of Elise.

 

However, her eyes caught the man’s jet-black shoes before the pocket of money.

 

The polished leather glossed smoothly. As if he would not tolerate any speck of dust.

 

Elise unknowingly shrank her legs and hid her old, earthy shoes under her skirt

 

“Good luck, then.”

 

“Ah…”

 

The man turned without hesitation, leaving the words behind.

 

Elise did not even think of holding him, but only watched him move away.

 

The regular footsteps fell apart and soon stopped. Then, with a short cry of horses, the wheels of the carriage began to roll.

 

Elise could not leave until the distant carriage disappeared and was never seen.

 

* * *

 

Michael peeped at his master sitting across from him.

 

Cardale Vassenberg.

 

He was a young Duke who inherited the great wealth and high honour of Vassenberg early on.

 

The man was looking out of the window with expressionless eyes. Michael’s eyes, which inadvertently turned his head along his master’s gaze, reflected the figure of a small woman still sitting on the floor.

 

The woman who stopped the Duke’s carriage with her body still looked puzzled as if she could not believe the luck that came to her.

 

‘It’s understandable.’

 

Michael thought it was a miracle.

 

It was no one else, but his master, Cardale Vassenberg, who has shown mercy to the common people, and to a woman whom he had never seen before.

 

“She looks suspicious.”

 

Michael flinched and awakened from his thoughts at the insensitive voice of his master.

 

Before he knew it, the carriage began to run, and the Duke turned his head to look at him.

 

“Are you curious? The reason why I did an unbecoming favour.”

 

“I’m sorry, Your Excellency.”

 

“It’s not your fault to honestly express your thoughts toward your lord.”

 

It didn’t seem like he was reprimanding, but in fact, it was a noble accusation.

 

Michael lowered his head.

 

“I have been told that Gerhard Schuvan has an illegitimate child.”

 

“What?”

 

Cardale kicked his tongue low. His overly righteous aide was appalled by this.

 

“As expected, you are a knight.”

 

“I have never regretted the choice to serve His Excellency.”

 

“That noble loyalty must last a long time.”

 

Cardale didn’t trust anyone. It was no exception for the adjutant who had been by his side for a long time.

 

However, Michael, who has a strong personality, remained firm despite his master’s blatant sneer.

 

“As far as I’m guessing, the woman earlier is the illegitimate daughter of Gerhard Schuvan.”

 

“Really? Oh, so the colour of her hair…”

 

Recalling the silver hair that seemed to have been pulled out with a spinning wheel in the moonlight, Michael shook his head.

 

“And in a little while, Gerhard Schuvan will receive a report that I have shown interest in her.”

 

‘Did you hire spies in the Count’s family?’ Michael asked, straightening his posture.

 

“Do you mean you helped her on purpose?”

 

“Isn’t the person I don’t need desperate to line me up?”

 

The Count was quite a nuisance to strike lightly.

 

“I threw him a suitable carrot instead.”

 

Cardale’s eyes shone heartily.

 

The Count will swell in the vain dream that he may achieve his purpose through his illegitimate child. As long as he was drunk in that dream, he won’t bother him.

 

“Wouldn’t it take at least a few months to put her before me?”

 

Michael’s face turned pale as a cool smile gathered around Cardale’s mouth.

 

“Then do you intend to take the Count’s daughter later?”

 

“No way. It’s the end of her usefulness by taking a short time before the war. Because I will leave Inghel as soon as the contract negotiations with the Emperor are over.”

 

Michael swallowed dry.

 

An innocent woman will soon be thrown into misery. For a man who believes he is a benefactor.

 

And she wouldn’t even know why her misfortune started, that would last for the rest of her life.

 

Meanwhile, the man who made a ruthless decision turned his eyes calmly out of the window.

 

The splendid scenery of Inhel, the archipelago, was formed in Cadale’s eyes. But in fact, what came to his mind was a different scene.

 

“Please help me!”

 

A woman so skinny, and who didn’t have anything to look at.

 

Poverty was attached to the worn-out outfit.

 

It was self-evident that the appearance of a shabby and dirty girl was annoying to him, who had a more noble aesthetic than anyone else.

 

However, the nape of her neck and shoulder blades, reflected through the gaps in the fabric torn by the rough hands of the guards, remained quite clear in his mind.

 

White and delicate.

 

“Find out who the guards were guarding the front door of the Count’s residence.”

 

Leaving Michael embarrassed by the mysterious order, Cardale closed his eyes.

 

The afterimage, which had been intrusive due to the darkness created, slipped out.

 

The woman’s old shoes, which had fallen out of soles, glistened until the end and soon disappeared.

 

* * *

 

The pocket containing ten silver coins showed greater power than Elise expected.

 

The doctor, who had always been at the door, accepted Elise even in the middle of the night.

 

“Bring your mother here.”

 

“She is so sick that she can’t even walk. Can you come with me?”

 

The doctor openly expressed disapproval, but could not overcome greed and set foot in the slum for the first time in his life.

 

The dark back alley was darker due to the darkness.

 

Walking after Elise, who led the way, he held his nose and grumbled incessantly.

 

“Tsk, tsk, living in a garbage dump like this can lead to diseases that weren’t there before.”

 

‘No one would want to live here.’ The words soared to the top of her throat, but Elise swallowed them quietly.

 

Finally, the two arrived at Elise’s house. There was a musty smell in the room, where the only light was a candle.

 

The doctor looked at the woman lying dead and frowned at her.

 

In her hand, where only her skin and bones were left, was a handkerchief stained with her blood. Her condition was so obvious that he looked hopeless.

 

‘How are you going to save a dying body?’

 

It was a serious condition that will not be strange to die anytime if she vomited blood. Even if he was a well-known doctor of the council who only dealt with nobles, he couldn’t help this woman with their abilities.

 

However, Elise’s purse was coveted, so the doctor pretended to treat her in moderation.

 

He pretended to attend to the sick woman, took out some medicine to alleviate the symptoms, and was done.

 

“If you take medicine every meal, the cough will ease a little.”

 

Then he took the purse and stood up. He wanted to get out of this dirty, smelly place as soon as possible.

 

Elise rose in confusion.

 

“Are you leaving already?”

 

“Then what more do you want me to do?”

 

Elise knew nothing about medicine, but she noticed that the doctor’s treatment was insincere.

 

“You didn’t treat my mother!”

 

“Get out of my way!”

 

When the situation became unfavourable, the doctor pushed her out of the door. Elise rushed after the doctor.

 

“Please get him!”

 

But everyone just glanced at her and no one helped her.

 

Her legs, swollen from walking all day, were limiting her ability to follow. The distance had widened significantly.

 

Suddenly, Elise stopped in her seat. She bit her lip, and then she cried out in a loud voice.

 

“You swindler, you’re a fraud! You took my purse!”

 

Purse. That one word drew the attention of the people around.

 

The people who rushed out looked around in search of prey with their eyes shining, and soon found the doctor.

 

“Hey, let go of me! You filthy beggars!”

 

They reached out their hands here and there to the doctor who had been slammed into the pavement.

 

He was robbed of everything he had in an instant, and after being beaten up, he could barely escape.

 

After a while, the faces of the people in the slums turned bright due to the coins, and they started fighting to plunder each other’s possessions.

 

Elise gave a dejected smile.

 

She didn’t expect to get the money back. However, the stark bottom of this place, which she saw every time was…

 

No matter how hard she tries, she can never get out of here.

 

It was when she turned around holding back tears of sadness.

 

“Long time no see, Miss Elise.”

 

Someone greeted her.

 

And the moment she checked who the opponent was, she was suffocated as if she was strangled.

***