Chapter 48: Midnight Crossroads

I called five more times, but no sound came from inside. The window was dark, and the silence was so complete it felt as if no one lived there. At this hour, where could he be? Lara crouched by the front door, waiting for his arrival.

After about an hour had passed, the sound of a door opening reached her ears and Lara lifted her head. Unfortunately, the noise came not from the door she guarded but from the neighboring house.

“Oh my, are you perhaps waiting for someone from that house?”

A well-dressed lady, as if on her way to a midnight ball, peered over the fence and asked. When Lara confirmed, the neighbor tilted her head in curiosity.

“I live next door too, but I’ve only seen that person a handful of times. He seems to be absent most of the time. You might as well write a note instead of waiting endlessly.”

“Ah… should I do that?”

When Lara offered a hesitant smile, the lady asked her to wait a moment before returning to the mansion. Kind enough, she reemerged with a quill and paper. Lara scribbled a brief note and handed the quill back to her.

“Thank you. May I ask your name?”

“Hehe, I’m Janice Allison. But everyone calls me Mrs. Janice.”

“I’m Lara Schmord. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh my, from the Schmord Viscount…”

They exchanged a few brief words before parting ways within five minutes. Lara then climbed back into her carriage, lost in thought over where to go next.

‘I’m hungry, have no luggage, and if I sleep here, the coachman won’t get any rest either.’

With a soft sigh, Lara suddenly thought of someone. Despite his prickly nature, she doubted he would actually kick her out, so she headed straight for Daeshin Shrine.

“Miss, are you sure you want to be dropped off this far?”

“Yeah, from here you’ll be able to find your way.”

“But won’t the Viscount and Lady be worried?”

“Under no circumstances should my parents know I’m here.”

After instructing the coachman, she strode confidently into the dark garden and wooded area. Though a bit frightened, Lara practically ran to the mansion with its glowing door handle.

“Hey, Mikhail? Are you in there?”

Cautiously peeking from behind the door, Lara stepped inside. The lights in the living room and bedroom blazed. Just as she reached the hallway outside the bedroom…

the door opened from behind, and she turned to see Mikhail emerging from the steam-laden gap between the bathroom door. Clad in a simple shirt, he nonchalantly rubbed his hair with a towel while mumbling.

“You said you were off on a date, yet here you are, as if you’ve been through hell. Sorry, but you’re too far gone.”

“I’m very much alive! It’s like everyone treats me as if I’m dead. Ugh.”

“You can’t even crack a joke, huh?”

Disliking the sight of Lara’s tear-streaked face, he draped a towel over her. Lara wrinkled her nose at the strong scent of shampoo, then pulled the towel down.

At that moment, Mikhail coolly brushed back his damp, light blond hair, his expression showing a trace of annoyance.

“More importantly, why are you here at this hour causing a fuss?”

“I’m sorry… I actually ran away from home.”

“And?”

“Could you let me crash here? Just for tonight…”

“You should know you’re a woman… oh.”

As Mikhail walked toward the sofa, he hesitated and quickly clammed up. His sky-blue eyes glanced at Lara with subtle irritation.

“…Fine. Forget it—go play at being a man if that means you’ll get some sleep.”

“…Oh, so you knew all along I was a woman?”

“What? Did you expect me to ignore the fact you came in a dress?”

“Oh my, goodness gracious!”

One wonders how disorganized his thoughts must have been to arrive like this. If she were a female lead, the reveal of her gender might have been a highlight—but as an extra, it barely made a ripple.

“No need to be so shocked. I knew the truth from the start. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but not now.”

“Then why pretend not to notice until now? In any case, if that’s how it is…”

Lara, looking as deflated as someone drinking flat soda, sighed and murmured, “Ah.”

‘You’re the first woman to come looking for me.’ The cliché was completely shattered. Surely, God would have something to say, but thankfully there was only silence—perhaps He was asleep.

“Could you keep pretending not to notice, even from now on…?”

“Must you insist on masquerading as a knight? Do as you please.”

“Thank you. And since I’ll be leaving early in the morning, I’d be grateful if you could let me stay just tonight…”

“No. I won’t let you stay.”

Pointing rudely toward the door, Mikhail delivered his clear order. Lara had expected him to suggest crashing in the living room, but his curt response left her rattled.

“I’ll sleep in the living room. I won’t disturb you. I’m quiet—you wouldn’t even notice a snore…”

“Don’t you get it?”

Suddenly, Mikhail spun around and approached Lara. His glare, far from the gentle look of a Pope, resembled that of a thug emerging from a dark alley.

With every step he took, Lara flinched and retreated two steps. It wasn’t until the door backed her that the sense of defeat sank in.

“Speak up!”

“Speak what?”

“I said, speak up!”

“So, speak what exactly?”

Cornered like a trapped mouse, Lara opened her eyes wide and looked up at him. At that moment, his hand reached out.

Could this be his version of a ‘wall slam’ reserved for the leads? As Lara’s lips curved into a tentative smile at his approach, Mikhail disdainfully smacked his round forehead.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but the reason I told you to leave is because you sleep so poorly—I end up darting to the bathroom every night.”

It seemed he still had that tsundere streak.

“…Ugh, make way. I’m off to the bathroom.”

“Take your time getting back.”

Lara stepped aside fully, allowing him to enter the bathroom. Then, a sudden pain in her lower abdomen prompted her to check the living room calendar—it was already due.

After Mikhail finished changing his adult diaper in the bathroom, Lara approached him cautiously.

“Could I borrow an overnight diaper? It seems my time has come as well.”

“Sure.”

“Thank you.”

Hastily accepting the overnight diaper, Lara went back into the bathroom. There wasn’t really another option.

Quietly turning off the water and emerging, she saw Mikhail sitting on the sofa. Lara gracefully sat beside him and began to speak.

“Mikhail, don’t you need an overnight diaper when you sleep too?”

“That’s the only way. I worry it might shift if I toss and turn.”

“Exactly! It’s awful when it gets wet, and thank goodness it’s spring—imagine if it were summer… Ugh, just the thought is dreadful.”

“Overnight diapers have a higher absorption rate, but they’re thicker, almost like a sealed compartment. They’re not great for hygiene, smell worse, and require frequent washing.”

After saying this, Mikhail glanced at Lara and added,

“Even women find it a hassle.”

“Compared to you, Mikhail… you’ve been like this since birth. I bet it hasn’t been easy.”

“At least I have a friend who understands this inconvenience.”

Usually gruff and not one for small talk, today he seemed unusually candid.

* * *

It was early dawn, the first light just beginning to break.

After a night of emptiness, a man arrived at the mansion. Wearing a cap that barely tamed his jet-black hair and thick glasses patterned with swirling designs, he was none other than Emperor Karlahee—disguised as an ordinary enthusiast.

With his right arm in a cast, Karlahee used his left hand to retrieve a key. The door clanged open, and a note that had been wedged in the door gap fluttered at his feet.

At first, he assumed it was an advertisement, but then his eyes caught the small lettering. It clearly read “Lara.” Grabbing the note quickly, he noticed a short letter.

[To Rahi.

It’s Lara. I’m sorry for the sudden notice—I ran away today hoping you could let me crash, but you’re not here. ㅠㅠ I’ll leave if you’re not around. —Lara]

‘Run away?’

Emperor Karlahee’s face hardened. Until last night he had arrived at the imperial harbor with me; it seemed she had run away tonight. Clutching the note, he strode into the street.

He wondered if she might be homeless around here. Luckily, this was a safe residential area, but if she had wandered other streets all night, ensuring her safety would have been difficult.

‘First, I need to check if she’s returned to the Schmord family…’

If she hadn’t come back yet, I’d have to find her immediately. Karlahee swiftly turned and left the area.

“They say Lara is missing?”

“Yes, I heard it directly from His Majesty the Emperor. It has to be true.”

Elina II urged for more details, grasping Elina IV’s shoulder and pressing for information.

Elina IV explained briefly: While at the Imperial Library reading a book today, she had met the Emperor. Out of the blue, he asked about Schmord Youngae, and that’s when she learned she was missing.

“Silpid!”

Upon hearing news of a friend’s disappearance, Elina II immediately summoned the Spirit King.

“Go find Lara. Don’t ask any questions—get her immediately!”

A gust of wind flung the window open. While Elina IV sat on the sofa reading, Elina II paced wildly around the room.

Soon enough, it seemed the Spirit King had discovered Lara’s whereabouts, for a swirling wind began circling around Elina II.

“Ah, so she’s off to work. Well, she did disguise herself as a man, so it’s not entirely surprising. She’s with Elina III. Right. Thanks.”

“What’s the update? Have they found Lara?”

“Uh, she apparently went to work disguised as a man with the Knight Order. Phew, I was worried for nothing. How about we bring Lara to my place? No, scratch that—I’ll fetch her myself!”

In true Mudeppo fashion, Elina II leaped over the window and dashed to where the family carriage was kept. Boarding it, she arrived at the Imperial Knight Order and sprinted across the training field into the operations department where Lara was located.