Chapter 41
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
“A ‘monster’ cannot mingle with people.”
The last words were a self-deprecating murmur.
A monster? Does he mean the Reaper of the Battlefield?
When I silently stared at him, the duke averted his gaze.
It was the first time I’d ever seen him like that. Perhaps that was why my heart ached, and I quickly spoke up.
“If Your Grace is a monster, then I must be one too.”
Startled, the duke cried out.
“What nonsense is that! There is no one as good as you.”
“Then, there is no one as good as Your Grace either.”
“But I…”
“Even if the whole world calls you a monster, to me, you are the best person I know.”
At my sincere words, the duke’s eyes wavered. Soon, he bowed his head deeply.
“…That is the first time I’ve ever heard such words.”
“Then I’ll say it every time I see you. That you are truly a good person.”
When I smiled brightly, the duke looked at me with a peculiar expression.
I gave a faint smile. Just then, the bells chimed to mark the hour. Checking the time, I said,
“I think I should go in now. If someone sees us, it could cause another misunderstanding.”
“Yes. That would be best.”
The duke nodded in agreement. Since the garden was right in front of the annex, there was no need for him to escort me further. I gave my farewell and was about to turn away when he quickly grabbed me.
“Wait!”
“Yes?”
Puzzled, I turned back, and the duke looked at me directly. His lips slowly parted.
“…Thank you, Ciela.”
At his earnest expression and the warm sincerity in his voice, I stood there blankly for a moment before breaking into a wide smile.
“So am I.”
“I hope you have sweet dreams.”
“You too, Your Grace. Have a good night.”
After exchanging our reluctant farewells, I turned away. The smile on my face soon hardened.
I felt sorry for him, but tonight, I would not be able to dream.
As soon as I reached my room, I pulled out the travel bag I had shoved deep beneath the bed.
From it, I drew out a black robe and draped it over my dress. The soft lavender fabric was instantly concealed. I tied up my bright red-gold hair and tucked it away.
I checked the central clock tower for the time.
Thirty minutes past the hour. If I left now, I would arrive just about on time.
With preparations complete, I took my bag and left the room.
The corridor was empty. Everyone was at the banquet, making it easy to move.
I left the annex and glanced toward the main gate. Two knights were standing guard, clearly bored since no one was leaving the palace.
If the main gate was like this, then the side gate would be even less guarded.
I hurried toward the side gate I had discovered while exploring the palace.
At night, the palace gleamed with golden splendor, yet its unlit corners were shrouded in damp darkness. My black robe made it easier to hide.
Moving this way almost made me feel like an assassin. In truth, though, my goal wasn’t to kill anyone, but simply to escape the palace.
When I reached the side gate, I checked the area. Only a single knight stood guard.
I had expected some presence, but seeing it for real was a little disheartening. Still, with only one man, the watch was lax compared to the main gate.
I deliberately rustled as I approached. Startled, the guard turned to me.
“Who goes there!”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
I pulled back my hood. The knight narrowed his eyes.
“I was just returning to fetch something my lady needed from the banquet.”
“Your lady? And who might that be?”
The knight came closer, scrutinizing me. I gave him a sweet smile. His face flushed faintly.
“Lady Ergeban, daughter of Baron Ergeban.”
“Ergeban…?”
The knight looked clueless—as expected. I had just made up the name. But it didn’t matter.
At a banquet where even fallen nobles had to attend, there were too many names for a knight to know them all.
Still, he pressed.
“Then why leave through the side gate instead of the main? Surely your family’s carriage is waiting.”
As if I had one.
“The carriage is being held in reserve, just in case. If I don’t find the item, my lady must return home, you see… She instructed me to avoid drawing attention if possible.”
“That seems odd. And why would that be?”
As expected of an imperial knight, he wasn’t easy to fool. At his sharp question, I turned my head bashfully.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to tell a man directly… Let’s just say it’s something absolutely essential for a lady…”
“…Ahem.”
The knight, caught up in his own imagination, turned red and cleared his throat. Stepping aside, he said,
“Very well. Go on your way.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I smiled again and slipped through the gate. The sound of the door closing behind me felt like passing a great threshold. I rejoiced inwardly and hurried away.
The reason I chose the side gate wasn’t just because it was less guarded—it also lay closer to the downtown district.
This is why one must always prepare thoroughly.
Asking the coachman about the palace surroundings days in advance had paid off greatly.
I moved quickly. Though night had fallen, the city was lively with festivities. Voices celebrating the day echoed all around.
I went straight to the carriage rental.
“I’d like to rent a carriage with a coachman.”
“Yes, and where to?”
The coachman asked lazily as he approached. I answered firmly,
“To Khan.”
“Yes, to Khan… Pardon?”
At my destination, the coachman’s nonchalant expression instantly changed.
I raised my chin. He stammered.
“S-sorry, but… where did you say?”
“I said Khan. Is that a problem?”
“N-no! Of course not! I’ll prepare our finest carriage for you at once!”
The coachman dashed inside as if aflame.
Left alone, I recalled once more the weight of that name.
Khan. A casino where the empire’s bigwigs gathered.
Gambling was illegal by law, but several establishments were permitted by imperial decree.
Among them, Khan was the largest, with stakes that defied imagination.
No wonder the coachman had panicked at the thought of me going there. By now, he was probably speculating about my identity.
Before long, he returned with what was clearly the rental’s finest carriage, still glancing nervously as if afraid I might find it lacking.
The idea of someone headed to Khan using a mere rental carriage was absurd, but as a commoner unused to nobles, he probably hadn’t thought that far.
That worked to my advantage.
“This carriage will do.”
“Ah, thank goodness!”
When I nodded, the coachman breathed a sigh of relief.
This must be terribly expensive.
The thought of the money slipping away pained me, but without such a carriage, I surely wouldn’t be allowed into Khan’s carriageway.
While the coachman made preparations, I boarded. Soon, with a signal, we set off.
As the carriage rumbled along, I thought about the person I was going to meet.
Hoyun…
A beastkin warrior—and future swordmaster to Lodi.
And also…
A former slave.
Hoyun was strong even among beastkin. Above all, her bond with Lodi in the novel was special.
Her sense of responsibility was fierce, making her the perfect guardian for the children.
But first, I have to rescue her.
Judging the timing hadn’t been easy. But knowing Lodi would meet Hoyun five years from now, and that the slave auction was held every Founding Day, I concluded it must be tonight.
The slave auction was held annually beneath Khan.
Still, will I really be able to persuade her?
Hmm. At this time, Hoyun’s hostility toward humans was at its peak, and that worried me.
What if I ended up dead at her hands instead?
Even so, with Hoyun around, the orphanage would be safe from outside threats. So despite the risks, it was the right choice.
While I pondered, the carriage stopped. The coachman hurried to open the door, and I stepped down gracefully.
“You’ve done well. Here is your fare.”
Speaking in a noble tone was still awkward.
I handed him a few gold coins. Bowing low, he asked cautiously,
“Will you need a return trip, my lady…?”
“No, you may leave.”
“Ah, yes. Then…”
At my words, he quickly drove the carriage away.
I lifted my gaze.
This is supposed to be a casino? It looks like a fortress.
Towers soared skyward with intimidating grandeur. Brilliant lights stung my eyes.
Clenching my fists, I donned the golden mask I had prepared and walked toward the entrance. Two burly men blocked my path.
“May I ask your identity?”
At their words, I answered coolly,
“I’ve come to retrieve my child. Will you show me the way?”
At my cryptic words, the men exchanged glances. After a moment, one stepped aside and gestured inward.
“Please follow me.”
Though my mask covered most of my face, my lips were exposed, so I gave them a faint smile as I passed.
Using the words ‘to find my child’ as the code for an illegal slave auction… how utterly vile.
Nausea rose at the sheer corruption.
