CHAPTER 23…………………………………….
The Rogerta region was just as strange as I remembered from the original novel.
If the Kereis ducal estate had the strongest impression, this place was a close second.
Dirt roads lined with randomly built warehouses. People in ragged clothing whistling and laughing crudely.
It was completely different from an ordinary city center.
‘Good thing I came with the Duke.’
I glanced at the people who naturally parted like water to avoid the Duke of Kereis.
Understandable.
A man with blue hair and red eyes.
It was the mark of the Kereis family.
And behind him was a small girl—me, Maryanne—constantly drawing attention.
“What kind of place are we going to?”
The Duke shot a sharp look at Kauz.
“My lady intends to visit the slave market.”
“The slave market?”
“Yes. I believe only that place can alter the young lady’s aura.”
Just as we practiced, Kauz answered smoothly.
His usually messy hair was neatly tied today with a shiny hairpin.
Since he acted so well, I thought I should gift him another pretty hairpin once we returned to the Duke’s manor.
“What nonsense. What ‘aura’ could a slave market possibly have?”
Shevert grimaced at the sight of half-naked muscular men.
Yeah, I knew you’d start complaining.
I rolled my eyes at the eldest and spoke to the Duke.
“I don’t know what might happen, but if it’s necessary, I’ll go—even if that place is a pit of fire.”
“…A pit of fire?”
One of the Duke’s eyebrows twitched.
Was that too dramatic?
“That’s how strong my resolve is.”
I raised my little fist determinedly.
It meant I intended to be of great help to the Kereis family.
For a moment, the Duke’s well-balanced face shifted subtly before returning to normal.
“Very well. Let’s go.”
He turned toward the entrance of the slave market.
Minors weren’t strictly forbidden from entering, but the brutal scenes kept any sensible adult from bringing their children.
But I wasn’t his biological child—just someone who needed to grow into a useful existence.
Right. That was the reality.
Repressing the unnecessary softness rising in my chest, I followed the Duke.
The slave market was a massive dome with an open sky.
To me, it looked like it should host opera performances, but instead it was like an arena—a battlefield.
Slaves brought from who-knows-where fought one-on-one with all their strength.
Wealthy nobles or merchants bought the victors.
Losers went back to labor markets.
That was how things worked here.
‘Wow… unbelievable.’
It was different seeing it in person compared to reading it in the novel.
The audience seats were divided into strict class tiers, and the slaves looked like wild beasts—barely covered, roaring.
I couldn’t help but frown at the raw cruelty of humanity.
“Kauz, you know what to do, right?”
“Yes, my lady.”
We began the plan we had discussed the night before.
I had to stay next to the Duke in the top-tier seats, unable to move.
Instead, Kauz would head for the slave passageway.
‘Preparations are done…’
Afterward, with the Duke’s permission, I left the audience area with a few maids and knights.
I needed to cool my nerves.
The noble-exclusive restroom was clean and quiet.
Makes sense—what lady would willingly visit such a rough place?
I rinsed my hands under cold water, calming myself.
‘The second brother is a year younger than Maryanne, so he’d be twelve now.’
The young boys of the slave market appeared during the final event.
They would shove a small child into a lion’s cage, and the champion slave would “rescue” him.
Of course, the lion was bound with strong chains, so the child was never actually harmed… supposedly.
Still, these people were insane—how could they be so cruel?
In the novel, it was just a text description I glossed over. But imagining it happening before my eyes gave me chills.
A sudden sound of running water snapped me out of my thoughts.
“…Ah, did I scare you? Sorry.”
When had she entered?
A young lady in a neat dress.
She looked like a noble, though she wore no particularly expensive jewelry.
Only a choker-like necklace on her neck stood out.
A face I’d never seen, yet she greeted me warmly.
“I wasn’t surprised. I’m fine.”
“That’s good. Well then, see you later.”
“Huh?”
See me later?
Before I could ask, she was already gone.
What was that? I blinked in confusion.
Still… the choker was pretty.
Maybe I should get one when I visit town next time—
“…Choker?”
Suddenly, a flash went off in my mind.
That slender neck with a choker.
A hand gripping that choker.
A choker ripped off and falling to the ground.
It was from one of the later events in the original story.
Someone who bore a grudge against the Kereis family entered the Duke’s mansion as a servant and tried to assassinate him.
The author described the assassin as wearing a choker—so I remembered.
— Her pale white neck adorned with a choker as she approached the Duke…
Because of that event, the Duke survived but ended up with a scar on one side of his chest.
The assassin was executed immediately.
‘Could it be her?’
Probably not… but I felt uneasy.
Had my interference altered the original timeline and triggered a butterfly effect?
Originally, the Duke and Shevert shouldn’t even have been at the slave market today.
‘Well then, see you later.’
Her pale face and her words echoed in my ears.
As if foreshadowing something.
I stared into the mirror, forcing myself to focus.
I needed to secure Ron.
To find him and open a path for his happiness.
Aja! (Let’s do this!)
Resolving myself, I returned to my seat.
Sitting quietly beside the Duke, something suddenly caught my eye.
Wait… is that…?
“Duke, on your clothes—”
“Ahem, ahem.”
He coughed awkwardly, flustered by my sudden question.
Because of that, the jewel inside his outer coat swung into view.
It was the cheap brooch I had given him.
I thought he’d throw it away—but he actually wore it.
When he noticed my surprised stare, his brows tightened.
“Ahem. Since it was a gift, I put it on.”
“Why inside your coat? Is it because—”
Because it was cheap?
I swallowed the rest.
It felt like I might be right.
Not that it was important.
“…”
I had given him a cheap brooch from a roadside stall, so I shouldn’t have felt disappointed… yet I did.
I forced a smile and looked back at the arena.
“I put it inside because I didn’t want it to get damaged.”
“…Huh?”
That was unexpected.
“If I put it outside, someone might try to steal it.”
“…!”
Who would dare steal something worn by the head of the Kereis family?!
It sounded absurd, but the disappointment I’d felt earlier completely vanished.
The Duke subtly opened his coat to show me the brooch.
It was pinned neatly and straight, looking strangely lovely.
I was glad I’d given it to him.
Tapping my toes from the odd giddiness, I suddenly recalled the woman with the choker.
She had given me an eerie feeling.
I considered ignoring it.
But then I looked at the Duke carefully wearing the brooch…
And I couldn’t.
“Duke.”
“…”
“Duke!”
The Duke, who had been focused on slaves being bought and sold, turned to me.
“What is it?”
“Well, um…”
I couldn’t explain the assassin from the original story, so I spoke vaguely.
“The energy here… feels ominous.”
“What do you mean?”
“Please be careful. A dark aura seems to be drawing near you.”
The Duke’s gaze sharpened.
After a brief consideration, he gestured to one of his attendants and whispered something.
Seeing that he didn’t dismiss my warning as childish nonsense relieved me.
Perks of being the daughter of a magic family, I guess.
I steadied myself.
I wasn’t certain whether the choker-wearing woman was really the assassin or just a passing noble.
But you never know with people.
Better to be cautious.
Time passed until the final first-place slave appeared.
I had spent the whole time watching brutal fights through half-lidded eyes, but my heart began to race now that it was almost over.
‘Ron…! I can finally meet Ron Kereis, the second of the three hidden villain brothers!’
The slave children were herded out to choose one to place in the lion’s cage.
Maybe Ron was among them.
