Please Kill Me - Chapter 19
The greater problem was that Leonid found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Instead, Yekaterina continued speaking in a calm tone.
“With Rostislav and Offenbach not being close, why should I stay here? It’s a big deal to let just anyone stay in your house.”
Even receiving advice, Leonid began to feel a slight sense of self-reproach.
“Haven’t you said you’d be put in the black room if you return to Offenbach?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want that?”
“It’s not a matter of personal preference.”
And this is none of your business, Yekaterina added calmly.
Regardless of Leonid’s frustration, Yekaterina hadn’t asked out of malice. She was genuinely curious.
‘Why does he want me to stay?’
The discord between Rostislav and Offenbach was longstanding.
Even Yekaterin who was usually oblivious to social circles, was aware of this. Plus, Leonid’s reactions didn’t suggest any particular fondness for Offenbach.
Considering his possible fondness for Yekaterina personally, they had just met today.
And now he’s suddenly asking her to stay?
It made no sense.
Yekaterina had her answer and didn’t intend to continue the tiresome conversation.
“Thank you for your concern. I’ll be going then…”
“Yekaterina.”
But Leonid stopped her again.
Yekaterina was starting to find him annoying.
He was spouting nonsense back in the interrogation room, and now this. If he had a specific request, it would be easier to understand his intentions, but why is he doing this?
Is this a characteristic of Rostislav?
Yekaterina was about to voice her questions without a filter when Leonid spoke first.
“Do you think I can let you go after hearing that story?”
“Is there a problem with my story?”
“It’s surprising you think there isn’t. Or do you believe I’m incapable of concern?”
Concern?
Yekaterina was momentarily speechless. The word felt so foreign.
And the face Leonid made while saying it seemed strangely familiar.
– Don’t you want to live?
Yes. That was the face Leonid had in the interrogation room. A face as if he had bitten into something bitter, looking noticeably uncomfortable.
“Do you think I can let you go, knowing what will happen to you? It bothers me. And it’s not like Rostislav lacks spare rooms.”
“I don’t understand why you’d be concerned about me.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t hear him; she genuinely didn’t understand.
Why would he be concerned about her?
“We just met today.”
And it wasn’t even a particularly pleasant meeting.
Yekaterina and Leonid, members of rivaling families. One side had even made a request to be killed on their first meeting. What could possibly be of concern between them?
“Is that really so important? It’s just a gesture of goodwill. I’m not expecting anything in return.”
“There’s no such thing as goodwill without expecting something in return.”
As soon as she blurted it out, Yekaterina felt a bit clearer in her mind. She was always one to act before thinking.
‘That’s right.’
There’s no such thing as disinterested goodwill. People are inherently indifferent to others.
If a neighboring house is struck by a contagious disease, people would lock their doors in fear of infection.
If a child wanders the snow-laden streets, others would click their tongue, pretending not to see.
Therefore, the one who reaches out to that child must have an intention, perhaps to use the child for their benefit. It’s only natural for the child to repay the person who took them in.
Then, what does the person extending a hand to her, someone who was about to die, expect?
‘There must be some motive.’
If she knew the motive, she was willing to consider the offer.
After all, Yekaterina didn’t refuse Leonid’s offer because she disliked it.
It was the lack of a clear purpose and reward in this gesture of goodwill that made her reject it. She would readily accept a clear transaction with a defined purpose and reward.
But with what could she repay?
She came here with the sole intention of dying alone. She didn’t bring anything valuable, nor any particularly useful information.
“Ah, if you want information about Offenbach, I might be able to help. I can easily sketch the layout of the manor in the capital. It could be useful if you’re planning to send an intruder.”
“If I were Offenbach, I might have been very tempted by that offer.”
“Are you accepting it?”
“Regrettably, I don’t indulge in such dishonorable tactics.”
“Then perhaps you need a mercenary?”
This time, Leonid frowned.
“If that’s the case, I can help. That’s my specialty.”
“And where am I supposed to use you as a mercenary?”
“For protection, or maybe to carry out a hit, whatever you need. I understand many families use mercenaries when they don’t want to get their own hands dirty.”
“Why don’t you go to those families then?”
“I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks for the suggestion.”
Yekaterina smiled and reached for the windowsill again. And once more, she was stopped.
This led to another exchange of gazes between the two.
