"How was it?" Calus asked as he walked outside the restaurant with Lina.

Lina shyly bowed her head.

She had eaten so much that her stomach was bloated, and she felt like she might have done something wrong despite the goodwill shown by this mister.

"Mister… it… it was good. Thank you," Lina said, fidgeting with her fingers as she used her tattered top to try to cover her round, swollen stomach.

Seeing this made Calus chuckle slightly.

"That is good. Also, don't call me mister. My name is Calus, okay?" Calus said as he placed his hand on her head.

Time seemed to stop as Lina froze.

When had she felt this before…?

No one tried touching her. After all, she looked dirty, unkempt, and was a beggar.

Even the commoners despised her and claimed she carried diseases, yet this mister… no, Master Calus dared to?

She felt tears well up in her eyes as she trembled.

"Misterrr…" Lina couldn't control herself as tears fell.

Calus gritted his teeth as he felt a deep heaviness.

He didn't know before, but now it seemed not only the organization needed to be dealt with.

It seemed the way society treated itself was corrupted.

How could people be treated so differently?

"Don't worry. I will make sure you don't feel like this anymore," Calus said.

Lina felt overwhelmed by emotion as she hugged Calus's waist.

The unique scent of Calus made her tense heart calm, and she didn't want to let go.

As for Calus, the feeling of another human, especially a child hugging him made him freeze.

He didn't know what to do.

For years, he had only been killing. No one dared to walk close to him or speak to him, even with his mask off.

He was used to fear… to distance.

But now…

Someone hugged him?

"Ah… mister… I'm sorry… I didn't know… I dirtied your clothes…" Lina said, her body trembling as Calus noticed the fear in her voice.

Calus sighed as he stepped closer to Lina and took her hand.

"Follow me," Calus said, his expression cold.

He knew things were tough for the kingdom's people. The organization had caused massive destruction to cities, villages, and towns, disrupting trade and production.

Prices had skyrocketed.

He had been working hard to wipe them out so everything could return to normal.

But now it seemed some people were exploiting the situation.

They had created a huge gap between commoners and aristocrats.

Even among commoners, a larger gap had formed.

…

Lina never thought she would one day wear the dresses she used to see in expensive shops.

Nor did she imagine she would bathe in warm water that felt like it was soothing her very soul.

She had never dreamed of such things.

Her life had been dark… almost nonexistent.

She only focused on surviving each day. When did she ever have the time or privilege to dream?

But Calus gave her something today.

A glimpse of a life she never thought she could have.

Her eyes filled with appreciation… and devotion toward Calus.

She remembered how others treated her.

"Beggar, what are you doing here? Go away!"

"Don't bring bad luck here, dirty pig!"

"Ahh… she might actually be pretty if she were clean. Should we kidnap her and sell her?"

"So filthy… my horse passed beside her. Once we get back, make sure you wash it ten times over!"

Lina closed her eyes as those voices faded.

She doubted…

Maybe she was dreaming. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

How could this happen…?

No… it couldn't be real.

Slowly, her eyelashes fluttered as she clenched her fists.

Was this a dream? Was it all a lie?

Her heart raced as a strange figure slowly appeared in the mirror before her.

She looked like a doll.

Light makeup highlighted her blooming beauty...small eyebrows, soft pink lips, and cute dimples.

Her cheeks were slightly chubby, and she wore an elegant gown that made her look noble.

"Like I thought… this is a dream. This isn't me," Lina muttered, lowering her head.

"Hey Lina, come show us how you look," a familiar voice called out.

She perked up.

Wasn't that Mister Calus?

Wait… she wasn't dreaming?

Lina slowly looked back at the mirror.

That girl… was her.

Just a cleaner… more beautiful version.

Lina felt happiness swell within her as she smiled, her dimples showing.

"Thank you, Mister Calus," Lina whispered as she opened the curtain and stepped out.

Outside, she was met with a stunned Calus.

"What is it, mister? Is it bad… too expensive? Mister, I'm sorry, I will remove—"

"Child, enough… you just look so beautiful that for a moment I was mesmerized," Calus muttered.

Lina blushed.

"You look good. Come on, try some more. Let's see how many you like and what fits you," Calus said.

"I owe you, Mister Calus," Lina said as she turned back into the changing room.

What girl doesn't like dressing up?

Talk less of a little girl like her.

All her life, she struggled just to eat once a day, while her peers wore beautiful clothes.

At the end of each year, she watched from a distance as parents took their daughters out, buying them gifts and lovely dresses.

Every New Year, she stayed in her tattered clothes, saving her best meal or, if lucky enough, wearing discarded clothes she found.

But now…

Mister Calus did this for her.

…

The day passed quickly, and soon it was night.

Lina couldn't sleep on her bed.

Mister Calus was in the room next door, and in her room were the clothes he bought… gifts from him.

For the first time, she felt love.

A love so pure and genuine.

The love she had always seen but could never touch.

The love she craved… but thought she would never have.

The love of a parent.

---

In Calus's room, his body trembled slightly as his eyes shot open.

"Huff… huff…"

Calus breathed heavily, his eyes reddening as he held his head.

He sat up, his body covered in sweat.

The same dream…

Over and over again.

A nightmare he wished would end.