Chapter 67…
Soon the carriage rattled and began to run along an unpaved road. Darkness fell so quickly it was as if night had come from every direction, and tall trees blocked the view.
“What… what is this—!?”
Cynthia quickly lifted her head and shouted toward the driver.
“Is— is this the way back to town?”
There was no answer.
With a face full of dismay, Cynthia peered out from the speeding carriage. Of course — that bastard would do this…
She clenched her fist, thinking of Castleton.
It was clear the carriage was taking her somewhere secluded. Judging by the large trees lining both sides, it looked like a dense forest.
You’re going to ditch me right after I sign the contract termination? Where will he take me? Kill me on the spot? …Or bury me alive?
Frozen in fear, Cynthia looked out again.
“E-excuse me!! Is… is this a shortcut?”
She mustered her courage and shouted again, but the driver still didn’t answer. Instead, he cracked the whip harder and increased the carriage’s speed.
That jerk… he’s one of Castleton’s men!
Cynthia bit her lower lip in distress.
‘I was too careless.’
She had expected Castleton wouldn’t let her go willingly, but she hadn’t thought things would kick off this fast.
This is not the time to—!
Cynthia hurriedly rummaged through the small luggage bag she’d set beside her.
Anything that could protect me…!
“…Nothing!”
Her bag was sparse. There was nothing sharp or useful for self-defense.
“Why did I even bring useless things like this!?”
In frustration she muttered when she found a dark-colored bead at the very bottom of the bag. She’d taken it from Elizabeth’s room thinking it would be awkward to give it to Dale and that maybe she should give it to Violet instead — then forgot all about it when she left and hadn’t returned it. Somehow she’d ended up bringing the heavy thing.
Ah, not the time…!
Cynthia turned back to look out the carriage window.
Should I jump? She might get scraped and torn from rolling, but that seemed better than being dragged somewhere unknown and who knows what happening to her.
“Where even is this…?”
Gripping the carriage handle, she paused.
They were deep in a forest where she couldn’t even guess direction. Even if she jumped, she’d still be in the palm of Castleton and that damn driver who’d brought her here.
“….”
But — if she fell as quietly as possible, then used the confusing terrain and undergrowth to hide…?
She made a quick decision, tightened her grip on the door, and opened it toward the outside.
There’s no other way! It’s better than doing nothing…!
A gust of wind rushed in through the open door. Cynthia lost her balance for a moment but managed to steady herself.
Looking out, she saw sharp, thick branches and rocks whizzing past behind her at speed.
“Whoa, this is fast.”
Her hands were suddenly slick with sweat and her legs trembling. If she jumped from a moving carriage, she wouldn’t die instantly, right? Maybe she’d break something…?
She swallowed hard and counted in her head. Use inertia!
She moved toward the front of the carriage, watched the road ahead briefly, then leapt.
The rough ground hurtled up at her and she lost all sense of orientation.
“…!!”
She tumbled wildly, unable even to scream, and crashed down hard. After rolling the right way for a while, her body finally came to rest and she lay face-down on the ground, letting out a small groan.
“Ugh…”
Her clothes were torn and her face, elbows, and knees stung with scrapes. Fortunately, she’d landed in dense underbrush, so she didn’t seem seriously hurt.
I should get up quickly…
Maybe jumping silently was unrealistic — she heard the driver shouting and cracking the whip to stop the horses, running without looking back.
“Damn it! W-wait…!!”
What a touchy, quick-tempered fellow.
Without time to feel the pain, Cynthia sprang to her feet, clutching at her trailing skirt and sprinted into the thick bushes on the right.
She wanted to throw away the heavy, cumbersome bag, but couldn’t bring herself to forfeit the 450,000 mints she’d carefully saved.
“Ugh…!”
Clenching her teeth, she dashed between the trees.
If she ran opposite to the carriage’s direction, she might eventually find the town. But what if she ran into Bailey again before then?
A thousand thoughts flashed through her head in an instant.
“How long do you think you can run in those clothes?”
From behind came the driver’s rough voice.
“Stop wasting effort! Don’t tire yourself out — come back quietly!!”
Cynthia forced herself not to look back and kept running. Thorns and irregular branches cut at her face and arms, but she couldn’t stop.
“Huff, huff…”
Where should I go to be truly hidden…?
She reached a large tree and briefly hesitated, looking left and right. Right? Left? Which side looked denser…?
“Got you!”
“Aaah!!”
A huge hand suddenly shot out from behind and grabbed her forearm roughly.
Startled, Cynthia swung the luggage bag she was holding and slammed it into the driver’s face.
“Ugh!!”
The driver’s head snapped back and he let go, clutching his nose.
Huh? That had some impact.
She looked down at the bag in her hands.
Inside this bag… the bead!
The heavy bag with the bead could itself be used as a weapon.
Realizing this, Cynthia lifted the bag high over her head and struck the staggered driver three more times while he was still disoriented.
Pow! Pow! Pow!
“Arrgh…! You— you crazy woman!”
The driver fell to the ground cursing.
“If you follow, I’ll aim for your vital points next time!”
Cynthia shouted, pleadingly, then spun and ran again.
With the dark bead, I’m not afraid!
She took the left fork at a crossroads and ran hard. Soon she heard movement behind her again.
“Stop there—!”
“Ugh, persistent bastard…”
Glancing back briefly, Cynthia saw the driver running toward her, his nose bleeding, and scowled.
How many more hits will it take for him to learn?
She tried to pick up speed, but the driver lunged and grabbed her ankle as he fell forward.
“Aaah!!”
Caught off guard, she lost her balance and slid forward onto the ground.
“Damn it, you’re in trouble now.”
She quickly turned to swing the bag again, but the driver was faster this time. He grabbed the bag and flung it far away.
“Did you think that toy could threaten me?”
“Who’s the one bleeding from the nose because of that toy?”
“This is nothing…!”
The driver raised his big hand and grabbed Cynthia’s jaw, forcing her head back. Her skull struck the ground hard from the violent force. Breath cut off, her face flushed bright red as blood rushed to it.
“Ugh…”
“You know what orders I got from the Bailey household?”
“…gack.”
“The moment you stepped outside the Bailey mansion, I was told to get rid of you. As if someone like you should never have existed in this world.”
Instead of answering, Cynthia widened her eyes and glared at him.
The driver curled his lip and continued.
“They say you’re a fake noblewoman. Acting lofty, climbing into a carriage like you own the place, then pretending to be a penniless commoner?”
“…”
“The gracious duke told me I could do as I pleased with you. Young girls like you are worth a lot. Especially one who looks halfway decent — I can make even more selling you to an old man who wants a concubine.”
He leered at her from head to toe with a dirty smile. His yellowed teeth made the sight chilling.
Cynthia tried to keep from losing consciousness and turned her eyes to survey her surroundings. Where’s my bag with the bead…? Is there anything sharp nearby…?
The driver, looking down at her, tightened his grip and shook her.
“Hey, don’t waste your breath.”
“Ugh…”
“Now then… should I just kill you here, or sell you to an old man who needs a mistress? If I present you as some expensive woman, I could get more money, maybe.”
The driver’s voice began to fade. With each breath growing shallow, Cynthia felt her consciousness slipping.
