Page 93 of Is It Wrong to Escape My Fate?

I gulped, trembling, but he held me in place, clutching my arms.

He knew the truth aboutme.

“Don’t be alarmed. I won’t hurt you.” He tried to calm me, but all I could think of was getting reported to the Kingdom, my men’s looks of disgust as they realized I wasn’t who they thought I was, my parents’ and my brother’s sadness as they discovered their daughter and sister wasn’t herself, and Mia, who had been with me from the very start, feeling betrayed.

He stroked my hair again, but I couldn’t control the flinch when he touched my head. As he let me go, he looked like he pitied me; the best reaction I could hope for from someone like him.

“I have no intention of putting you in harm’s way,” he clarified, placing his hands on his lap where I could see them. “Let me help you.”

“Won’t it be easier if you just get rid of me?” I muttered bitterly. Why did it matter if I was going to die anyway?

“My duty is to maintain the balance and normalcy within the realm, no matter what it takes,” he sighed; I could already feel the burden of his responsibility. “And it is of the utmost secrecy. Revealing your otherworldliness would violate that completely.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw, sighing again. “Might very well break the world, actually.”

I combed a hand through my hair, frowning at the strands falling off. “I’m just a girl.”

“A girl that can start and end wars,” he chuckled.

I don’t believe that.

But I did believe Felix was some kind of Guardian, someone who was tasked to take care of problems like my existence. I did feel a presence observing me even from when I was still in Baybluff, the travel to Aerahelm, that time at the inn when a voice whispered to me …

He was sincere in his offer; he wanted to help me, and I needed it. Even for just someone to vent to. The one person, the only person, really, who could understand my situation.

“I accept your offer, Felix,” I held out my hand.

He took it, shaking it once. “We shall be friends, traveler.”

I snorted. Traveler, indeed.

To be continued…