Quietly Hiding that I am a Man chapter 170- Fake Execution

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As I headed toward the marketplace, my thoughts raced.

Was there a better way than the one I’d devised?

No matter how many times I ran through the scenarios in my mind, the answer remained the same.

Jeanne, in her current state, had no other options.

I glanced out of the carriage window, scrutinizing the scene outside.

A legion of knights surrounded the carriage, escorting it like a royal procession.

Given Jeanne’s weakened body, evading those robust men was an impossibility.

I sighed, pressing my throbbing forehead.

‘Why did Jerome insist on going to the boutique in the capital?’

If it’s a boutique in the capital, it must be ‘Kelly’s Boutique.’

That’s where I once found Maya’s pocket watch. As I pondered this, the carriage came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived, my lady,” the driver announced.

I passed through the wall of escorting knights and entered the boutique.

The sign outside had been luxurious before, but now it was even more extravagant.

The door opened from within, and as I stepped inside, I removed my cloak.

A line of staff stood with their heads bowed, waiting to greet me.

Kelly, the boutique’s owner, clasped his hands together and greeted me obsequiously.

“Oh, my lady, it’s been so long! Were you satisfied with your last purchase?”

“Yes, thanks to you, I acquired something truly valuable.”

“Ah, valuable items always find their way to those who deserve them.”

Kelly’s perpetually crescent-shaped eyes opened slightly, his piercing golden gaze briefly scanning the knights.

The intensity in his stare, sharp enough to make one flinch, seemed unfitting for his age.

I had noticed the eyepatch he wore on one side before, but upon closer inspection, his body was riddled with deep scars.

His physique, too, was as imposing as that of the knight commander.

A muscular build, an eyepatch, and scars everywhere—it struck me how incongruous his appearance was for a simple boutique owner.

Kelly alternated his gaze between me and the knights before breaking into a hearty laugh and bowing deeply.

“You’ve come at just the right time, my lady! A rare gem that would suit you perfectly arrived last night. It’s truly an honor to present it to you.”

“A rare gem?”

“Yes, a new acquisition as of last night. However, due to its rarity, I would recommend a private transaction—just you and me.”

At his suggestion, the knight commander beside me frowned deeply and shook his head.

“That won’t do, my lady. His Highness the Crown Prince has specifically instructed us not to leave your side for a moment.”

“Hah! And how am I supposed to trust you enough to reveal such a treasure? Our boutique’s policy is clear—private transactions only! If you don’t like it, feel free to shop elsewhere!”

“You insolent fool! Do you know who you’re speaking to—how dare you spout such nonsense about policies…!”

I raised a hand to halt the heated exchange. Watching two burly, stubborn old men stop at my single gesture was oddly burdensome. Sighing, I turned to the knight commander.

“If you’re worried about me escaping, don’t be. If I ran away, your heads would roll. I’m not so heartless as to put you in that position.”

“……”

“And besides, where in this boutique could I possibly escape to? I’ll just take a look at the gem and return.”

The knight commander, silenced by my earnest tone, reluctantly bowed his head.

Kelly, emboldened by this, smugly raised his chin.

“Well then, my lady, please follow me. I’ll guide you personally.”

As before, he led me to a private room.

I nodded and quietly followed him down a dimly lit corridor.

Breaking the silence, Kelly remarked,

“You look thinner than when I last saw you.”

“A lot has happened since then.”

“Yet, the fact that you came to me means you haven’t given up.”

Kelly abruptly stopped and turned to face me, his smile faint but resolute.

Meeting his gaze, I nodded.

Satisfied, he resumed walking.

“You know, I may now run a grand boutique, but I was once known as a hero. Have you heard of ‘Hero Kolly’?”

“Hero Kolly…”

I racked my brain and gasped.

Hero Kolly was a legendary figure in the empire—someone who ventured into the underworld armed with only a sword, fought the Phantom Dragon, and restored peace to the world, only to disappear mysteriously.

To think that Kolly, a figure mentioned only as backstory in the original narrative, had taken on a new identity and ended up here.

The faint sense of familiarity I felt upon hearing the name Kelly made sense now.

I looked him over in astonishment and shook my head.

“No, it can’t be. Hero Kolly was described as a bearded man with a boar-like physique…”

“Haha, I took care of my appearance after retiring as a hero.”

“Why?”

“My wife rejected my proposal, saying she preferred a handsome man who could grow old with her over a hero who might die at any moment.”

A hero who slayed the Phantom Dragon had retired because of his wife?

The absurdity of it left me speechless.

Kelly, grinning, continued.

“During my days as a hero, I was too busy with expeditions to care about my looks. But striving to become the man my wife desired led me to take an interest in grooming myself.”

“……”

“That’s why I was surprised when Jerome asked me to look after you. That stubborn man had changed so much, learning to swallow his pride and ask for help.”

“But Jerome is already…”

“No, he’s not the type to die so easily.”

Kelly’s tone turned serious.

For the first time, I encountered someone who firmly believed Jerome was alive, and it stirred an overwhelming wave of emotion within me.

My vision blurred as tears welled up, but I quickly stifled them with a cough.

Kelly watched me quietly before breaking into a bright smile, spreading his palms.

“See? I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

“Now that you mention it…”

“Yes, I am the sole survivor of the expedition that ventured into the underworld.”

My heart pounded as Kelly’s revelation sank in.

He handed me a warm cup of milk tea in the reception room, his voice calm but urgent.

“We don’t have much time, so I’ll explain quickly. The reason humans who fall into the underworld can’t return is due to a curse born of anomalous formulas.”

“A curse born of anomalous formulas?”

“Yes. Every curse has a counteracting dispel spell, but the curses afflicting those in the underworld are so anomalous that the spells required are exceedingly complex.”

Kelly’s face darkened, his expression pained as if reliving the harrowing memories.

“When I joined the expedition to the underworld, there was a genius mage among us. Using their extraordinary skills, they devised a dispel spell that allowed me to return. But… they didn’t survive.”

“……”

“If there’s anyone who could rival that wizard, it would be Jerome… but now that Jerome is like this, finding a wizard capable of calculating the dispelling magic is nearly impossible.”

Humans who fall into the underworld are cursed with a highly irregular magic, and even the dispelling magic that can lift the curse is exceedingly complex to calculate.

Deep in thought, I carefully spoke up.

“Why does it have to be Jerome?”

“Because there’s no genius like Jerome in the Empire.”

“You might be overestimating Jerome.”

“Do I strike you as someone who overestimates others?”

Kelly chuckled lightly.

Carlisle’s words about Jerome’s death echoed in my mind.

“Even if he’s alive, he won’t be the person you remember. His body would’ve been completely consumed by Mephisto, turning him into something monstrous. There’s no miracle waiting for you.”

No miracle, huh.

There wasn’t a sentence that better described my current state.

It felt like the world itself was urging me to let go.

To accept reality instead of clinging to dreams.

Staring blankly at the tea leaves settled at the bottom of my cup, I spoke calmly.

“Give me the formula for the curse magic.”

“Understood.”

“And there’s one more favor I need from you.”

I laid out the plan that had come to me in the carriage.

Kelly’s eyes widened as he silently listened.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“But if you do that…”

“Kelly, I’m not afraid of anything anymore.”

I clenched my fist resting on my knee and added with a bitter smile.

“Nothing at all.”

✽ ✽ ✽

“I’m scared.”

“Pardon?”

“Carlisle.”

Luke’s hand, holding the teacup, froze mid-air.

The Empress, who had sighed deeply, stirred her milky tea with a teaspoon, the sugar cube not yet fully dissolved.

Her platinum-blond hair shimmered as sunlight reflected off it.

“I tried poisoning him as you suggested, but all I did was earn his hatred. If I had known he was so infatuated, you should’ve told me beforehand.”

“I apologize.”

“Forget it. I went through with it, so it’s my fault too. But I can’t stand it. I always suspected he had a taste for the unusual, but… of all things, a Sacrén?”

The Empress grumbled, observing Luke’s face.

As always, his expression betrayed little emotion.

Resting her chin on her hand, she hummed a tune before asking in a cheerful voice.

“So, what are you going to do now? After this, Carlisle will only dote on that Sacrén woman more.”

“Well… it doesn’t matter. It’s just a fleeting breeze.”

“A breeze, or a storm. Who can say?”

“Your tone suggests you’re hoping for a storm.”

The Empress’s gaze momentarily grew pensive.

He had always been different from other children his age, with a precocious maturity.

He was a child who handled misfortune with remarkable composure for his years.

Perhaps that was why she believed he could become Emperor.

While he might grieve over sudden tragedies, he never let them stop him.

He never tried to turn back time to before the misfortune struck.

Resting her chin on the table, the Empress muttered as if amused.

“It’s fun watching a child who’s always been unnervingly mature act out so recklessly. All because of something as human as emotion. Ah, kids grow up so fast. It’s boring.”

“…”

“A child who never once desired anything for himself… now telling others to keep their hands off what’s his. It’s hilarious.”

The Empress chuckled softly.

Luke, who had been listening impassively, set his teacup down.

“If that’s the case, you won’t need to feel disappointed. I received an interesting report a few days ago.”

“An interesting report?”

“Yes.”

Luke stood up first and gave a brief bow. Then, in a calm tone, he said:

“You might not have to wait long for the storm you’re hoping for.”

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