Because he'd somehow ended up with this mysterious "demon princess," Lucian couldn't exactly wander around anymore.
He wanted to help her find her "friend," but this mysterious princess spoke in riddles. He couldn't get a straight answer about who the friend was, or where they might be.
That annoyed Lucian to no end. How can she have such a gorgeous girlfriend and not keep an eye on her? What if someone like me—an absolute scumbag—runs off with her?
Since he couldn't get any real answers, Lucian tried something simple:
"What's your name?"
"...Liz," she whispered.
And just like that, Lucian had met Liz—like finding a nightingale by the roadside.
He noticed immediately that she had trouble walking. Her legs looked uninjured, but the issue might've been internal... maybe hidden Oripathy symptoms.
And this mysterious Liz tended to reply at complete random—absolutely the "radio-wave type" of princess.
With no better plan, Lucian brought her back toward the food cart, figuring he could look for her "friend" along the way.
Hunger trumps everything. Lucian offered her a Char Siu Bao.
"Hungry? It's really good."
"...?"
Liz accepted it, her big eyes filled with curiosity. She copied Lucian, tearing off a piece and putting it in her mouth. Her face brightened.
"Sweet. It's really good."
Lucian perked up immediately—food talk was his specialty.
"Right? My Char Siu Cat loves them too. She's even getting fat—her stockings can barely hold her thighs now."
"Char Siu Cat" was, of course, his wealthy superior Swire—and yes, she had put on weight.
The last time she'd almost pushed him down at the hotel, he hadn't mentioned it because the mood had been too good. But her thighs and stomach had definitely gotten rounder. His fault for overfeeding her.
Not that he'd ever say that to her face.
If Swire ever found out, he wouldn't just lose his dignity. She'd probably carve out his kidneys and eat them.
Lucian then pulled out his homemade Red Sugar. Rhodes Island was planning to make a professional medicinal version later, but that was a long way off. His homemade batch still had a place.
As Liz examined the sugar, Lucian warned her kindly:
"Careful when you eat it. It might catch in your throat, so take it slow and—ah, you bit it."
He watched her cheeks puff into a little ball, heard the adorable crunch-crunch-crunch.
And just as expected, she coughed violently, her pale face scrunching up.
Lucian rubbed her back and handed her Soy Milk.
"Open your mouth—slowly, easy there. Good girl, good girl."
Before he realized it, he was treating Liz like a daughter, his hand naturally resting on her head.
She was just too cute. Could I take her home? The idea tempted him.
Once she'd settled, her pale cheeks were flushed with warmth, finally looking a bit healthier.
Then Lucian had a sudden thought.
"Do you want to sit on the cart?"
"...Mm!" Her eyes sparkled.
Liz sat where the cart's handles met, facing Lucian while he pushed her along.
The odd posture made her look like a child riding a shopping cart, and Lucian had to stifle a laugh.
Liz seemed to think it was fun. Her expression stayed blank, but her eyes shone.
Their bizarre setup drew attention from other Infected patients too, which—objectively—helped Lucian's reputation among them.
What surprised him most was how popular Liz was here.
Many Infected children ran over, circling around her and calling her "big sister."
Their parents bowed respectfully—genuinely respectful, even reverent.
Lucian admired her. "So you really aren't normal, huh? Are you actually a princess?"
"...?" Liz tilted her head, confused.
He was only joking. Anyone could see her innocence. Pure as blank paper.
Lucian had no idea why she was like this... but innocence that pure made people want to protect her. Sometimes violently so.
At least she seemed well.
The Infected here treated her kindly. She was weak and couldn't move well, but the "friend" she mentioned so often must've been protecting her.
Suddenly, Liz said, "My friend is here."
"Huh? Where?"
Lucian stopped and looked around.
But the corridor was empty. No presence anywhere.
Liz insisted, "I'll stop here."
Carefully, she let her feet touch the ground, leaning on her black staff to distribute her weight.
She stepped close to Lucian and gave him a one-pixel smile.
"Thank you, Lucian. You're gentle like my friend. You're a good person."
Lucian chuckled. "Good or bad isn't that simple. For all you know, I might sell you the moment I get bored."
"But thank you. Stay safe."
"Mm."
Liz nodded and, with fragile steps that made Lucian's heart clench, slowly made her way forward.
He watched her like a father watching his child's first walk, terrified she'd fall.
But Liz made it across the corridor. She waved from afar and vanished around the corner.
Once she was completely gone, Lucian sighed.
"What a strange girl. Sarkaz aren't all like that, right?"
He wondered what she'd think if she learned he was the Holy Son of the Sankta.
Probably nothing would change.
Liz didn't seem to understand race at all. She probably couldn't tell Sankta and Sarkaz apart.
Lucian sighed again.
"Didn't find Rhodes Island's doctor... but met another odd kid. Can she make it here safely?"
If he'd met her in Lungmen, he definitely would've taken her home.
But this was Rhodes Island.
She was probably an Infected Rhodes Island had taken in. And the others treated her well. Better to leave her in their care.
Meanwhile, after Liz turned the corner—
A woman in black robes, who had been secretly following them the whole time, stepped up and caught Liz gently.
She was tall for a woman. Not quite Hoshiguma's monstrous height, but about equal to Lucian.
And unlike Liz—white clothes, black horns—this woman was wrapped in worn black robes and possessed rare white Sarkaz horns.
"You worked hard, Liz," she said.
Liz shook her head. "It's fine."
She leaned against the woman instinctively, just like she'd leaned on Lucian.
"Lucian is gentle. He smells like you. He's a good person."
"...Liz." The woman's expression twisted helplessly.
"If he has the same scent as me, then he's not a good person. You really need to learn what that word means."
"Good people are good people."
Liz wrapped her arms around her stubbornly.
"Shining is a good person. I like Shining. I like Lucian too."
"...You really are impossible."
The Sarkaz woman—Shining—smiled indulgently and stroked Liz's hair.
Their fellow Sarkaz had rushed over earlier, telling them that the Holy Son of the Sankta had arrived at Rhodes Island.
And just like Lucian suspected, Liz had no understanding of the feud between the two races.
But Shining was different.
She had once been a core figure in the Sarkaz leadership. Even though she'd left the organization, most Sarkaz still viewed her with reverence.
But Shining had no intention of doing anything to Lucian.
She'd abandoned her faction—betrayed her people, really—so she had no right to comment on the Holy Son of the Sankta.
But Liz said she wanted to meet Lucian.
Shining had tried to stop her for a long time. In the end, she lost.
Thankfully, as their fellow Sarkaz had claimed, Lucian was someone Amiya trusted, and he treated the Sarkaz without hostility.
Shining had worried for nothing. She exhaled, relieved.
"In the future, stay with me when you go anywhere. Once you become a Rhodes Island operator, the battlefield will always be dangerous. Don't leave my side."
"Oh, right—your operator codename was approved."
Like a gentle mother, Shining smoothed Liz's long hair.
"Nightingale. A bird that can sing and fly freely. Just like you are now."