"Unappealing?!" Said Eris, offended by Rowan's words.

" Just for your information, I'm one of the most attractive girls in Madrigal. It isn't my style to boast about myself but, unappealing is a word that has connotations far away to describe myself...." explain Eris.

It seems Rowan's words have touched Eris's sensitive pride. While Eris is furious to counter Rowan's blabbering, Rowan hints me to try to free myself from the girl's restraint. Due to her imprudence and Rowan's help, I manage to escape from her and move beside Rowan. Eris shows her defensive position again, with a tip of her knife is pointing in our direction.

"You trick me!" Said Eris.

"Wait... Wait! Let us talk and act like a civilian. After all, we're fugitives."

"There is no need for us to cross paths, you and we have separate issues to handle already, I will kindly give you information to smuggler route so you can go by yourself, and we can continue our journey." Said Rowan.

".... that will do...." Eris seems to hesitate about this conclusion but is left with no choice. The smuggler route sounds dangerous and I doubt a girl like Eris could handle it. It's like throwing a sheep into the wolf's den. Somehow, I don't know why but I feel I can't leave her alone and I want to help her. On another side, I know Rowan insists we use the front door as it's way safer. I rack my brain so hard and finally get a solution. I discuss the plan with Rowan, asking whether it's a feasible plan and the success probability.

"She might give us trouble. You know, we shouldn't interact with a female." Said Rowan.

"I understand, but leaving her alone with that limited source, means we're just letting her die! She looks like a nice person, just a bit lost... it's like what we have done when met a lost traveler... giving them a hand." Persuade me. Rowan is still hesitating about my request.

"Please.... just make this a present for my birthday tomorrow."

"..... alright, you win. But when something is wrong, we should ditch her right away." Said Rowan.

"Thank you."

I'm trying to inform Eris about my plan and offer her help. She is still nearby, focusing on a docket that Rowan has given to her, about the smuggler route. She is busy reading all the notes and seems confused. Her green eyes look so tired and her pale skin and clothes are covered with dirt. Her medium-length hair is unruly and messy. Yet, I can still see how pretty Eris was. Her eyes lines and nose are sharp, she is also fit. Her eyelashes are thick and long. As her appearance is so different from than typical male here, I am accidentally examining her too long.

"Do you still have any business with me?" Said Eris.

I'm offering my help and telling her about the plan. She looks happy and accepts my plan, although tried to hide it. Now, her face doesn't look so troubled anymore.

"Ok, since it's already late, let's rest tonight. We will execute our plan tomorrow morning."

-----

We can barely sleep for more than 4 hours. The next morning, as Rowan wakes up the earliest, he has prepared several items that we need for our plan. He put all the bandages and big coats on top of the table. We use that bandages to cover up Eris's face and hide her figure. After all, she is too petite and curvy as a male. I help Eris to wrap the bandages, we looks a bit shy with each other. We are gonna use the ID CARD from the dead pursuer because Eris doesn't have one. Rowan asked me to get the ID of the pursuer when we tried to hide the body, so when someone found him, they will take time to identify the body. I don't think anyone has found it though, and it's a piece of good news for us.

After our preparations are complete, we don't take too much time to go to the east gate. It seemed that many merchants have been queuing to enter or exit Houzz this morning. When it is our turn, a guard is approaching us. Rowan gives him the 3 ID Cards, he checks them one by one. He looks in Eris's direction and orders her to show her face more clearly.

"Why are you all covered in bandages on your face and body?" Asked the officer.