Melody entered the room.
The moment she stepped inside, she froze.
Her eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat, and a stunned, shocked expression spread across her face. She had clearly heard everything—every word of Lukman's confession.
Lukman and Perun both noticed her at the same time.
Perun's hand tightened around the edge of the table.
Lukman's heart sank.
She heard it…
The realization struck him hard.
Lukman slowly pushed himself up from the bed. Pain shot through his wounded hand, forcing him to clutch it tightly against his chest. Still, he moved toward Melody, step by step, his voice trembling as he tried to explain.
"Melody… listen to me. It's not what you think. I can—"
She shook her head violently, refusing to meet his eyes. Her lips trembled, but she said nothing. Without another word, she turned away, walked out of the room, and shut the door behind her with a sharp thud.
The sound echoed like a final judgment.
Lukman stood there, unmoving, staring at the closed door as if it might open again. It didn't.
After a long silence, he spoke to Perun in a broken, pathetic voice.
"Hey… bodyguard," he said weakly, trying to force a smile that never came.
"I need a favor from you. Please… keep all of this a secret."
Perun frowned. "But Melody heard everything. She can tell anyone."
Lukman lowered his gaze. "She won't… I think."
Then he exhaled slowly. "But even if she does… that will be because of my foolishness."
He turned away, determination mixed with guilt.
"I'm going."
Perun looked up sharply. "Going where?"
"Back to my work."
"If someone asks me about you, what should I tell them?"
"Tell them I had some urgent work."
Lukman left the room.
After walking a few steps down the corridor, he noticed Rumi approaching from the opposite direction. She was carrying packed soup, two bowls, and plates balanced carefully in her hands.
She smiled when she saw him.
"Hey, Luk. Where are you going?"
With great effort, he replied, "Just… to get some fresh air."
Rumi nodded, not pressing further, and walked past him into the room.
Inside, Perun was sitting on the chair, holding a book he had picked up from the bedside table. When he saw Rumi enter, he straightened slightly.
A moment later, Lukman returned and slowly lay back on the bed. Rumi handed them each a bowl of soup. Perun began eating quietly.
Lukman held the bowl in his hands but didn't touch it.
"Rumi," he said softly, "why are you taking so much trouble for me? You're suffering too."
Rumi looked at him in surprise.
"What are you saying?" she replied gently. "You're not well. We are a family. Moreover…" She smiled warmly. "You're like my little brother—or sometimes even like my eldest son."
As she spoke, Lukman noticed the faint scars and wounds on her arms—marks of hardships she never talked about.
Something inside him broke.
His heart clenched with sudden pain. He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling. Tears began to fall uncontrollably onto the blanket.
"Hey—why are you crying?" Rumi asked, startled.
She moved closer and hugged him tightly. Lukman set the bowl aside and leaned into her embrace, finally letting everything out.
After a while, Rumi gently pulled back.
"Now eat," she said firmly but kindly.
They reached for the soup bowls.
They were empty.
Standing there casually was Vaelor.
Perun glared at him. "What did you do?"
Vaelor scratched his head awkwardly. "Sorry… I couldn't control myself. I haven't eaten properly for days—ever since you moved here."
Rumi sighed. "Alright then. I'll go get another bowl."
As she turned to leave, Vaelor added, "Ma'am, sorry about that… and thank you for the soup."
Rumi left the room with the empty bowl.
Lukman leaned closer to Perun and whispered, "Hey… can you ask your friend to explain things to Melody?"
After seeing the moment between Rumi and Lukman, Perun felt a slight shift in his heart—a small but real belief forming.
He replied, "Vaelor isn't good at explaining things. It takes him too long to understand them himself."
Then Perun sighed and turned toward Vaelor.
"But… if you see Melody, tell her she's misunderstanding something. We'll explain everything later. She's in a very emotional state, so be kind."
Vaelor nodded seriously and walked out of the room.
Perun then looked at Lukman.
"Now tell me," he said quietly, "what was the real reason behind all this?"
Lukman took a deep breath.
"You know I own half of a company—Alpha Angel. But that's not all. I work for a special investigation unit called the Red Rose Department. We research potential dangers across Florith. I have information about organizations, illegal activities… everything."
He paused, his voice growing heavier.
"A few weeks ago, I found something. Information that said my family is in danger."
His eyes darkened.
Perun listened in silence as Lukman finally spoke, his voice low and heavy.
"The vice-chancellor… and some other powerful people stand with him," Lukman said. Some powerful people and one them came in Norus, a little before. Their plan is simple to remove the current high chancellor and take control of the nation."
Perun's eyes narrowed. "A coup?"
Lukman gave a faint nod.
He paused before continuing. "Right now, they are deal up with a mafia union known as the Three Families.
Perun clenched his jaw. "Then Caeson…"
"Yes," Lukman replied. "The man who attacked us Caeson. He is the one of the top executive of that union.
A moment of silence followed before Perun spoke again.
"Then why are they after you?"
Lukman looked away. "Because I dare to took something from them."
He exhaled slowly. "I can't tell you what it is."
Perun's expression hardened. "Then this is where I stop. I won't help you anymore."
Lukman shook his head slightly." Okay that starts when".
"I went to Deccan a few months ago."
Perun frowned. "Deccan? The Esper region beside the island country?"
"Yes," Lukman said. "That Deccan."
"I wanted to buy place there—large portions of it. At the time, I didn't know whose territory it was. Or maybe I did… and chose to ignore it."
Perun remained silent.
"I planned to confiscate some of their land," Lukman continued. "To secure it, I hired a private union to deal with resistance named Horris Forn."
Perun's eyes widened slightly. "You hired mercenaries?"
"I thought they were independent," Lukman said bitterly. "But eventually, I learned the truth. Horris Forn was just another arm of the Three Families."
He clenched his wounded hand unconsciously.
"In Deccan, there is no place untouched by them. No street, no port, no official who isn't influenced."
His voice dropped to a whisper."It's like they own the entire country."
Perun finally spoke, his tone grim."And you still chose to take something from them."
Lukman met his gaze.