TOPWL 78

“Rather than whether it was right or not… the gazes of the people watching me were more painful. Still, I endured… but when my friends told me to leave because it was too hard to watch, I just couldn’t hold on anymore.”

‘Please go. I know it’s not your fault, but it’s too painful to look at you.’

‘I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.’

‘If you’re sorry, leave and never come back, please.’

The ones who had shared in the sadness turned their backs in an instant. Yudit had no choice but to flee the slums, almost as if running away. That day’s events left a deep wound and a debt for Yudit. Some of the people who had been tortured along with Aldrich could not survive the aftereffects and died, and Yudit’s shoulders grew even heavier. They all left messages saying it wasn’t Yudit’s fault, but that didn’t lighten the burden on his shoulders.

“So you couldn’t run away after all.”

At Khalid’s sharp observation, Yudit gave a bitter smile.

“I thought about trying until the end, and if it still didn’t work, I’d run away.”

“That’s unexpected.”

“I had my mother’s will before my crime.”

Yudit remembered his mother’s voice. “Yudit, you must live.” Even now, despite its fading, the voice remained lingering in his ears.

“Actually, I’m not sure,” he continued. “My mother said that living is the most important thing, but she saved me and died. So sometimes I get confused about what to prioritize.”

Yudit fiddled with the pattern on his teacup.

“The person who made me candy said, ‘Once you start taking this poison, no matter how good you eat, you’ll only live until forty.’ Do you know what I said when I heard that?”

“Hmm?”

Yudit smiled mischievously.

“Forty? I actually wanted to live to that age.”

Yudit laughed, but Khalid did not.

“Anyway, life is finite, so I decided to live making the best choice at each moment.”

“You certainly have a lot of burdens to bear,” Khalid said as he sipped his now cold tea.

“Does His Excellency also carry the burdens of others?”

“It may not be comforting, but not having the burdens of being the one who directly killed them on your shoulders is a blessing,” Khalid said with a self-deprecating tone.

“If you killed them directly… does it feel heavier?”

“Everyone’s different, so I can’t say for sure, but for me, it does.”

“That sounds difficult,” Yudit said.

“Anyway, life is finite, so I’ll make the best choices as I go,” Khalid repeated, echoing Yudit’s words, with a smile.

Yudit had a look on his face as if he had just woken from a dream.

“I think I’ve spoken too much, maybe I got too excited. I’ve never told anyone about this before, so maybe that’s why.”

“It’s an honor,” Khalid said.

Having drained all his energy, Yudit slouched in his chair. He truly felt that this house had become comfortable for him. It was a strange feeling.

“Is the competition going well?” Khalid asked as Yudit fell silent for a while.

“I’m still just thinking about it, not much progress yet.”

“The other princes are all renovating their districts.”

“Luckily, I don’t have the money to renovate, so I don’t feel pressured.”

“Why don’t you have money? I’m here.”

At Khalid’s words, Yudit gave him an incredulous look.

“Your Excellency’s money is your money, not mine.”

“I said I’d support you, didn’t I? No wonder the budget proposals aren’t coming in.”

“Are you serious?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Yudit looked at Khalid in confusion.

“Of course, I won’t just support you without a good budget proposal. Try to convince me with a proper one.”

Yudit hesitated for a moment before speaking up.

“Are you very busy today?”

“I’m not exactly free, why?”

“I was hoping, instead of discussing the budget, if you could listen to me a little more.”

Khalid wiped his mouth with a napkin and placed it on the table.

“Alright, go ahead.”

***

“Didn’t I tell you to never come back?”

Diego growled at Yudit, who had returned to the slums less than three days after being beaten by Hiore. It was understandable, considering he was only accompanied by Shane as his guard.

“Are my words a joke to you?”

“They’re not… but I had to come.”

“What is it? Is there something more important than your life?”

“It’s as important as my life.”

In the tense atmosphere, Eden cautiously spoke to Diego.

“Hey, hey, maybe we should just go in and talk first?”

Diego, biting his lip, turned away irritably, signaling them to enter.

With a loud creak, the door opened, and dust particles floated in the light. Diego’s house, seen in broad daylight, looked far more shabby than at night. He sat down on a creaky chair and glared at Yudit.

“Speak. What’s on your mind?”

“How many people live in this area?”

“Is this not a conversation, but information gathering?”

“About two to three hundred.”

Yudit quickly added, “Only the Lirutians?”

“No, there are a little over a hundred Lirutians, but with everyone else, it’s about that number.”

Yudit, stroking his chin, fell into thought.

“If we built houses for them, how many would leave this slum?”

“Huh?”

Eden tilted his head, not understanding, so Yudit continued.

“If we built houses about thirty minutes away from the capital, how many people would leave and settle there?”

“You’re going to build houses?”

Eden’s eyes sparkled.

“Why would you build houses?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t just give them away. I’d charge a certain amount. There would be a set time limit.”

“Well, that’s the same here. How much are you thinking of?”

Yudit whispered in Eden’s ear.

“That’s too cheap.”

“I thought if they’re moving to a new place, they should be given some benefits.”

“Why go this far for them?”

Diego spoke in a displeased tone.

“Also, these people have strong resentment toward the royal family. Many have lost family members or been disabled by Prince Hiore. Even if you build houses for them, do you think they’ll trust you?”

“That’s… I need your help.”

Diego stared at Yudit as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Just gather people so I can speak to them. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Is your reason for this that Prince Hiore is planning to kill us all?”

Yudit paused at Diego’s question.

“That’s one reason, but now… I’m able to repay the favor.”

“The person you owe that favor to is already dead.”

“Hey, Diego, enough.”

Unable to tolerate Diego’s cold tone, Eden nudged him in the side.

“No matter what you say, I’ll talk to the people. I’d appreciate it if you helped, but I’ll do it even if you don’t.”

“Oh, really? Then why did you come to my house?”

“Because I didn’t know where Eden’s house was.”

At this unexpected response, Diego made a face of disbelief. Eden chuckled.

“Got you, Diego. Yudit, my house is the third floor of the building next to the one with the blue sign hanging outside the window.”

“I’ll go there next time.”

Yudit responded coldly, making Eden laugh even harder.

“Do as you please.”

As Diego stood up, Yudit grabbed his wrist. Diego was caught off guard and tried to pull his hand away, but Yudit clung to him even tighter.

“I hope you’ll help, if possible.”

“…”

“Is that not alright?”

Diego gazed at Yudit with a conflicted expression before sighing deeply.

“Let me hear what you have to say first.”

Yudit’s face brightened at his words.

“What I’m planning to do…”

***

That evening, people gathered at Aldrich’s house in the slums. Though it had been empty since his death, it had been kept in good condition and was used for important meetings on such days.

Some had gathered after hearing there was important news, while others, lured by free bread given out at the door, had entered by accident.

As more people arrived, the house quickly became crowded.