Obey Me

12. Gray Buchanan

Warning: Minor gore scenes. Readers discretion advised.

When Kyrie carefully opened her eyes, she saw an unfamiliar ceiling. She blinked slowly, remembering what happened before she fell.

After leaving Sel Arellano, the wolf ran for a while. And after crossing a few mountains, he returned to being a white doll as if he had run out of energy. Kyrie walked alone through her snow. It wasn't cold, thanks to the leaves MarryAnne had put here and there on her clothes.

'Then I fell down.'

Kyrie, who had come up to that point, quickly checked the veil. Fortunately, it didn't come off thanks to the front flap. Kyrie was relieved and then looked around.

It was like a small cottage. A fireplace made of stacked stones warmed the surroundings. Looking at the objects in the room, it seemed to be the room of the mountain keeper. The moment she took her foot off the bed and put her foot on the floor, she felt a stabbing pain.

"Ugh...."

The soles of her feet were sore. Sitting clumsily on the edge of the bed, unable to do this or that, the door opened immediately.

"Are you awake?"

It was a deep voice. Kyrie looked up, and was silently surprised. The old man, who seemed to be the landlord, was distracted by how bundled up she was. On the contrary, the old man kicked his tongue at Kyrie.

"How did you think of leaving the road in that outfit, you... You almost died."

The old man spoke in a hoarse voice and set the tin kettle above the fireplace.

"Ah, ah...."

Kyrie, who was about to say something, clenched her throat.

'My voice won't come out.'

She was perplexed, but soon accepted the situation. She had never heard of a problem with vocal cords due to the cold, so it was probably a mental problem.

'Right. I don't want to speak. I don't want to associate with anyone anymore.......'

The old man looked at Kyrie, who sat blankly.

"Can't you speak?"

Kyrie slowly nodded her head. The old man clicked his tongue and took a seat near the fireplace.

"Okay, go take a break. I won't ask how you fell into such a secluded place......."

"Ah, ahah...."

As Kyrie mumbled while pointing at the wooden shutters, the old man's eyes twitched sharply for his age.

"Weather? It is indeed crazy weather. It's not snowing, but the lake is freezing enough to build a house on top."

"......."

"I don't even know how you got here in that outfit, but if you're going to kill yourself, find a better way."

After talking, the old man naturally brought warm tea to the bed. Kyrie gazed at him, knowing it was rude.

'Did MarryAnne's plan really work? Perhaps this old man was also prepared by Nathaniel......?'

When Kyrie hesitated and unwillingly received the cup, the old man grunted and shook the insides off his mouth.

"It seems like a strange situation, but I didn't put anything in it. And I can't even find poison in this cold."

The old man poured the tea again. She received it this time, but she didn't drink it either. Of course it could have been really unrelated to the old man. But Kyrie couldn't trust anyone without any more doubt.