Chapter 8 8. From A Fairy-Tale Land

So, he keeps following me and accompanying me like this because he feels responsible for making me hurt?' Grace thought.

"Gosh... I think you've been misunderstanding all this time, Adro. It wasn't you who caused me to be injured this badly. You don't need to feel responsible for my condition." Grace hastily said. "If you want to leave, feel free to go – no need to wait for me," she smiled.

"You're right; I don't need to feel responsible for you anymore. But I don't think I can leave you," Adro replied.

Blinking her eyes several times, Grace felt her heart pound. Can't leave her? Did Adro seriously say that? What did he mean? She hoped he knew that the words 'Abandon' and 'Waiting' had a big meaning for her.

"I don't know about this world and have no destination. For now, you are the only one who believes in me and probably can help me find a way to return to my kingdom." He continued.

"Oh, I see..." Grace muttered while rubbing her arm. Her cheeks suddenly felt warm, and she bit her lower lip a little.

'Control yourself, Grace! Don't get carried away and think he sympathizes with you! You have to remember that Adro already has a woman he loves. She is his future wife! On the contrary, who are you? You don't even know each other well.' Grace scolded herself.

"Anyways ..." Grace looked back at the man when she felt the heat in her cheeks subside. "... should we go back to that door later? Who knows, the dead end might disappear, so you can go home!"

Adro thought for a moment, then answered, "That might happen. But most likely, the wall will not change. There have been rumors about an old male witch who likes to make magic doors. He can only enchant one door one time. If he has passed through it, the door will return to an ordinary door. However, no one could find the witch's whereabouts."

"So, the existence of the witch door is just a rumor?" Grace furrowed her brows.

"I and most people thought so, but after this incident, I believe the rumors are real."

"In that mansion, you asked me if I was a witch. Now, you don't think I'm a witch, do you?" Grace chuckled a little.

Grace's question made Adro laugh. "Of course not. There is no witch as kind and innocent as you,"

"Earlier, you said not to trust other people too much. We haven't even known each other for a day ..." Grace muttered, slowly lowering her face because her cheeks felt warm again.

"Even though you didn't know me, even though I accused you and offended you, you were still willing to try to help me. To do something like that requires a big and sincere heart. That's all enough for me to put my trust in you," Adro smiled.

Grace fell silent. If only everyone could see and appreciate her sincerity like Adro, maybe she wouldn't have to suffer and always be hurt as she had been. But like an idiot, even though she had been hurt thousands of times, her heart never hardened.

"Anyways, are you hungry? Oh, boy... It looks like you haven't had a drink in a while. You can drink the water in this glass. I'm fasting, so I won't drink it," Grace reached for a glass of water on the nightstand.

"I will also ask my friend to buy food for you as well," Grace said before going back to her cell phone.

"Thank you ... Grace," Adro said.

***

The clock was ticking. Coincidentally, in the patient room, which contained three beds, only Grace's bed was occupied. The accident and criminal rates in Torben City were minimal because the residents obeyed the rules and were disciplined.

While waiting, Grace and Adro had a conversation. Unexpectedly, even though they came from different worlds and eras, they could talk in sync. However, they only talked about light things and shared about the condition of their worlds because each of them didn't want to touch on each other's personal lives.

"From your explanation, I think you came from a fairytale land," Grace concluded.

"Fairytale?" Adro repeated.

Grace nodded. "Fairy tales are fictional stories to entertain people, mostly kids. A fairytale contains magical and various other nonsensical things. There are also stories about the lives of animals that can talk."

"So, you're saying that I'm from a fairy tale?" Adro asked with his head tilted slightly.

Grace chuckled as she shook her head. "I didn't mean to say that; I was just guessing. Many things are still mysteries in this world. But if I have to be honest, wizards, ogres, and dragons do sound impossible to exist in this world ... I mean, in my world."

Grace suddenly remembered something. "Speaking of which, can you hide where you come from from my friends, please? Um... actually, it's better to hide it from everyone in this city."

"Are you afraid they will think I'm crazy?" Adro guessed.

With a heavy heart, Grace gave a small nod. "Crazy people will be caught and put in mental hospitals. No one will believe your story nor mine about the magic door. In the end, both of us will have serious problems. And the worst thing is that you will be locked up in that hospital."

Adro was silent for a moment. "I understand. I'll keep my mouth shut about this,"

Grace smiled. "Thank you, then."

The bedroom door was knocked on again. After that, a girl with straight black hair that was combed in half appeared.

"Sarah! Are you here," Grace smiled awkwardly.

"I am ... here." Said the sharp-eyed girl as she continued to look alternately at her best friend and a handsome man sitting beside her bed. "I brought your things." She showed two paper bags in her hands while staring meaningfully at her.

Knowing what was going through Sarah's mind, Grace sweated down her back. If she were in Sarah's shoes, she would wonder who the strange man was sitting next to her best friend's bed.

"He is ... He is my brother, a distant relative-the son of my uncle's wife's cousin's sister. He came from abroad." Grace lied, then gulped down her saliva, which felt like a rock. She didn't even know if she could repeat the family tree she had made suddenly.