Chapter 20
I could feel my heart sink.
Even if I tried to think little of this matter, my mind became heavy with speculation.
‘So…was Signus the one who ordered my kidnapping?’
Among all the uncertainty, I was sure of one thing.
That Signus despised me.
That has always been the case since the first time we met, and the way he treated me so far proved it to be true.
Besides, didn’t he say this?
[How many people do you think approached me in a year?]
[I’ve had enough of people like you.]
Signus was approached by people who pretended to be me.
‘…It’s a little unfair.’
You know…being mistaken for imitating myself.
What kind of crazies are they? They’ll just die for nothing.
Why would anyone do that to a crazy tyrant who kills people heartlessly?
And then my anger soared again.
‘Why did so many people imitate me anyway?’
Didn’t they know that Signus would kill them at sight?
Was it because I’m his old friend? Or for some other reason?
“Shouldn’t you wake her up?”
“Go check her out.”
Dururu-!
The sound of an iron chair getting dragged and footsteps were heard simultaneously.
I didn’t think I’d get caught. My body was too weak.
“How much medicine have you used to make her still unconscious?”
“Because it’s going to be annoying if she wakes up and screams.”
That annoyed voice made me realize.
I was drugged. No wonder my stomach was turning upside down.
“But you should have used it moderately. Look, she’s totally passed out.”
“That’s weird. I only put a little bit. Hey, you!”
Someone tapped my cheek. Soon, hot liquid that tastes like blood flowed out of my mouth. My lips were shedding blood again because of the accident that happened this morning, but those guys had no idea about it.
He was perplexed and roughly wiped my mouth, but the taste of blood got stronger and my lips swelled even more.
“…Ugh.”
“Stop it, you crazy bastard! She’s bleeding even more!”
“Wh-What’s wrong with this woman?”
Of course, because I’m weak.
“Do whatever it takes. At this rate, who’s going to buy a damaged product?”
“Hey! Turn on the lights!”
After the light was turned on, a long silence ensued.
“It’s…a bruise, isn’t it?”
I think they saw the bruise I got from falling down this morning. I covered it, but they must be able to see it.
“Did you do it?”
“No way! Our client is a man of high rank.”
Hmm. The men, who made a small noise, spoke again.
“Look. Her whole body is injured. She even has a splint in her hand.”
“Ah, so that must be it.”
What do you mean? When I wondered, I heard voices filled with sympathy.
“What’s the use of having a good reputation when you’re abusing your daughter like this?”
They quickly turned the Marquis into a nasty man who abused his daughter to death.
“What an awful family. Look how small her body is, and yet he’s still hitting her.”
The marquis and Ulysse would feel so wronged if they heard these made-up stories. Then the man spoke to me as if they were sorry.
“Hey. I don’t know if that person will like you, but if he doesn’t, I will sell you to a good place.”
“It looks like you’ve been abused, but if you behave well, you’ll be able to receive love.”
Why did I have to listen to this crap? This made me so angry.
“Yes. Go and live well.”
It was so absurd. But the moment I laughed inwardly, it suddenly became noisy outside.
“What happened? There’s a lot of knights outside.”
I was put on edge as I listened to their murmur. I could also hear footsteps in the distance.
“Go contact our client.”
The naive-looking man scratched his head and said.
“I don’t know how to contact that person.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
“Bu-but it was commissioned from the alchemy guild. So I thought there’ll be no trouble…”
Alchemy guild? So it wasn’t Signus.
Figures, if it’s him, he would have killed me himself.
That’s a relief.
As I suppressed the corner of my mouth that went up, I heard the men sighed.
“Darn it. This is getting messy.”
Perhaps they were tricked by someone. I feel like that person was trying to cut off the tail.
“Idiot. That’s your fault for believing that!”
I know right?
In the meantime, I was able to move my fingers. I tried before, but my body didn’t listen.
“We’re screwed. I think we’re messing with the wrong person. The capital is turned upside down now.”
“Who the hell is this woman?”
Of course, the yellow butterfly you were talking about earlier.
“Shall we throw her away and run away?”
“We’ll get caught later. It’s better to just kill her.”
“But to buy time…”
I checked my physical condition while listening to their conversation. My drugged body couldn’t move, but I had to get out of here no matter what.
In case Signus, who thought I had run away, annihilated the whole Yeronimo family. Besides, no one could ever find the human hunters’ hideout.
If they abandon me here, I’ll die in vain.
“Let’s get out of here for now…”
“…Take…me…”
The men winced and turned around.
“Take me with you.”
I painfully squeezed out my voice, but the men burst into laughter.
“Here comes the princess.”
“Leave her alone. She has no idea what’s going on.”
I waved my hand and opened my mouth again.
“Your hideout….isn’t here…”
I saw a man with a long scar from his forehead to his chin. That scar-faced person seemed to be their leader.
“It’s the capital…and the road is blocked…if you run away…you’ll get caught.”
I knew they built their hideout outside the capital. I capsized it several times.
“Will you be able to go through the knights…and get there?”
The leader’s eyebrows went up.
It wasn’t just an exaggeration. It may be possible for a few people to escape, but bringing everyone along was impossible.
“…Don’t be ridiculous. There must be a way. We can make it somehow.”
“Are you…going to use your friends as bait?”
The man with a scar was a little puzzled, perhaps because he really intended to do so.
“Take me instead. If there’s a hostage…you can negotiate.”
The men exchanged looks at my words. A moment later, the scar-faced man smiled and said.
“I don’t know how you know our hideout, but I could kill you after escaping the capital. Don’t even think that I’ll just let you go.”
I was halfway through.
Smiling inwardly, I softened my voice.
“I don’t want to…go back.”
“…Huh? Why?”
I lowered my eyes.
“I don’t want to be hit anymore.”
Feeling that the men’s eyes were directed to my burst lips, I was feeling sorry for the marquis and Ulysse.
I’m sorry, but I can’t help it. Let’s see if I can survive using this trick.
“Listen up. We’ll move in disguise. I’m an aristocrat from another country and you’re a runaway slave. Of course, you’re not allowed to talk and see. Do you understand?”
The man put a veil over my head. My weak body was dragged on the floor, with both of my hands tied, and my mouth gagged.
But I didn’t expect they’d go this far. I mean, those people said they wanted to save me.
I tried to peek, and there were quite a few people passing by. If only I could make a little noise. If only I could move this weak body.
But the man chuckled as he watched me looking around.
“Why? Have you changed your mind now?”
I shook my head. I couldn’t answer because I was gagged.
“We’ll get on the carriage soon. Don’t try to attempt anything useless and cooperate as you are now.”
“…”
“You never know, right? If you get out of here, you might be free.”
I’m not a fool. I could tell that I was screwed the moment they dragged me like this.
But I didn’t have any strength left in my body. The alley through my vision was distorted and the smell of blood was pungent. But I could sense there were five people on the back and four people on the front.
The movements of the men who cleverly covered my appearance were very natural.
From behind, people would see me as a slave being dragged away.
I opened my eyes because of his strong grip. Before I knew it, I was already getting out of the alley.
‘I just need to get out of the carriage.’
I should look for a chance to escape the carriage. Let’s open the door and jump if necessary.
The carriage got closer. But it was a low voice that stopped the men from moving.
“You there. The scum in front of me.”
***
Paul, the leader of human hunters, turned around instantly.
In the distance, a silhouette of a tall person was seen.
“Who is that bastard?”
“I can’t see because it’s dark.”
Paul frowned at his colleague’s words, and exclaimed.
“Who’s there?”
“I’m just a passerby.”
That low voice was strangely familiar, but Paul just shrugged it off since the carriage was just around the corner.
“Then why don’t you just pass by?”
“I don’t want to.” Said the tall shadow.
“I need to know what you’re doing,” He continued.
Clomp-! Clomp-!
As Paul listened to the approaching footsteps, he clicked his tongue as if he was annoyed and covered Navian.
When human hunters were gathering like that, Navian was completely hidden. Paul, who was making sure she was well-hidden, gracefully stroked his hair upwards.
“I’m from another country to catch a runaway slave. We have to cross the border, so don’t worry and just go on your way.”
A low laugh came out from the mysterious man. And so, Paul got irritated from that obvious mockery.
“Hey. Don’t annoy me and leave! Will you take responsibility for the delay?”
“What a coincidence.”
The tall silhouette tilted his head.
“I’m annoyed, too.”
So Paul, who was about to snap back, hurriedly closed his mouth.
“As I was running around the capital for hours, I got increasingly irritated.”
He didn’t stop walking and continued to speak.
“I turned the capital upside down. I had to search from the main entrance to the unknown road, from every nobles’ residences to the shacks in the alley.”
Paul started to be wary of this unusual man. He was wondering if that man was looking for this woman. But at least, he was alone.
“I was going to give it up because it was so infuriating. I might as well just destroy this empire.”
The human hunters laughed as if it was absurd.
You? Destroy the empire? Are you the crown prince or what?
“But I’m so glad I found you.”
“What the hell are you talking about…”
The laughing human hunters gradually shut their mouths. Mainly because they could feel an unusual atmosphere as he approached.
A languid, arrogant way of speaking and intimidating force.
Don’t tell me…it’s Signus?
Despite the denial, my speculation had become more apparent due to the familiar voice and stifling pressure I felt.
Paul, who was silent for a while, asked.
“…Who are you looking for?”
He, who came closer to Paul, replied.
“The woman next to you.”